Jean.Jean, My short answer is no - at least regarding the use of any overly creative new recruitment methods. I pretty much do the things you listed. We also do a statewide RFP press release, article in our newsletter, article in the state museum association newsletter, and put information on our website. I haven't tried a leaflet drop from helicopters yet but I am putting a chopper request in our next We the People application! We have never been inundated with applications either. Typically we get around 10 or 12 applications or about one-third the number of inquiries. Once they get the application and see what is expected of them the pretenders are usually separated from the contenders. I don't see anything wrong with recruiting specific sites though I've only done it a couple of times. All I've ever done is make certain that a particular organization that I felt might be a good site (for whatever reason) knew about the opportunity. But I would never coax. Receiving a specific invitation to apply can sometimes give a group the confidence to take a chance. I did that for one of our upcoming Way We Worked sites. They were thrilled to be made aware and I expect them to be a crackerjack site. And a guiding principle of MOMS is to help small or emerging organizations get in the game. Mark Payne, Program Officer West Virginia Humanities Council 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301 304-346-8500 ~ 304-346-8504 (fax) www.wvhumanities.org Visit the West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jean Wortman Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 2:15 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: recruiting host sites Hi and Happy New Year! I am wondering if any of you have some good tips and creative ideas for recruiting MoMs host sites. We will be bringing Journey Stories to Maryland in 2012. For past MoMs tours we've done emails and sent snail mail to museums, libraries, cultural orgs on our database and used our museum association's mailing list and I have spoken at the annual regional museum conference, we've never had an overwhelming response to a request for applications. Does anyone have the secret to successful recruiting? Catchy appeals or promotions? Has anyone directly recruited specific host sites and, if so, has this been successful? Thanks for your help. Jean Jean Wortman Program Officer Coordinator Maryland Center for the Book Maryland Humanities Council 108 W. Centre Street Baltimore, MD 21201-4565 (D) 410-685-4187 (0) 410-685-0095 (F) 410-685-0795 Email: [log in to unmask] Website: htpp://www.mdhc.org <htpp://www.mdhc.org/> cid:image001.jpg@01CBB32D.F4E68780 MHC wants to hear from you! Do you have a transportation story about Baltimore City? Submit your story idea to Beth Barbush at [log in to unmask] or call 410-685-3715, and plan to attend our free event "Moving Stories: Getting Around Baltimore" at the Walters Art Museum February 10, 2011 at 6 p.m. See www.mdhc.org/programs/practicing-democracy/moving-stories-getting-around-bal timore/ for more information.