Jean, For the most part we've done the things that you've done. I have done some recruitment of specific host sites with mixed results. With Journey Stories I mailed personal letters to several museums that had obvious journey stories to tell, inviting them to apply. Pretty good response from those. With New Harmonies I tried museums in communities that had music festivals. I don't remember receiving any applications from those. We have occasionally recruit in specific areas of the state with much hand holding and nudging through the application process. Those sites were not as engaged or successful for the most part as those who enthusiastically submit their applications. In two of three cases it was worth it, though, to reach the particular demographic. Mary Yager Senior Program Officer Nebraska Humanities Council 215 Centennial Mall South, Ste 330 Lincoln, NE 68508 402-474-2131 ext 103 FAX 402-474-4852 www.nebraskahumanities.org "Cultivating an understanding of our history and culture" Become a fan! Nebraska Humanities Council on Facebook --- On Thu, 1/13/11, Jean Wortman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Jean Wortman <[log in to unmask]> Subject: recruiting host sites To: [log in to unmask] Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011, 1:14 PM 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 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-baltimore/ for more information.