thanks for a wonderful conference!
Affiliations Director, Harold Closter, greeting conference guests at the Welcome Reception at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
We were so delighted that so many of you were able to join us for this year’s Annual National Conference. The spirit of friendship permeated our gathering as did the passion and commitment that you bring to our profession. We were sorry that some of you were unable to attend, but know that you were with us in thought, and that we’ll see you next year, if not sooner.
Thank you for your many kind words of praise. We try hard to build a conference that offers the right mix of intellectual challenge, workshops on cutting edge topics, new ways of engaging the Smithsonian, and enjoyable networking opportunities. We hope our blend worked for you, but if not, let us know so we can try something different next year.
Conference attendees brainstorming with Smithsonian experts at the "Grand Challenges" roundtables.
This year we had more Affiliate presenters and more Smithsonian participants than ever before. We are grateful to all of you for taking the time to prepare and share your experiences. They were informative, enlightening, and ever indicative of the impact that we create together through Smithsonian Affiliations. I am confident that everyone left with a suitcase full of new ideas; we can’t wait to begin unpacking.
Wish we all of you a wonderful summer, certainly one not as hot as in Washington, and continued success in serving your communities. We are proud to be your partners!
Harold A. Closter
PS- Missed something at the conference? Click on these links to review Conference Presentations, browse the Conference Guidebook, and enjoy photos from all three days of activities.
Have ideas for next year? Please email Elizabeth Bugbee with ideas for topics YOU want to learn about next year!
Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody, Wyoming) was awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to begin preparation of a thematic, illustrated digital edition of the papers of Buffalo Bill Cody, a symbol of the American West in the popular imagination. BBHC was also granted $10,250 from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund to develop the exhibition “Arapaho Journey: Photographs and Stories from the Wind River Reservation.” 
