Call for Session Proposals

North Carolina Preservation Consortium – 2019 Annual Conference
Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for Collecting Institutions
NCSU McKimmon Center, Raleigh, Friday November 15th, 2019

Deadline for Submissions: July 1, 2019
North Carolina Preservation Consortium 2019 Conference Proposal Form

NCPC’s 2019 annual conference will focus on disaster preparedness, response and recovery for cultural institutions. The planning committee is seeking presenters who can share model practices, planning and response tools, lessons learned from past events, and resources for staff training and networking. The goal of the conference is to present ideas and strategies for meeting future disaster challenges; to learn from past planning, response and recovery efforts; and to connect with individuals and organizations that can assist with disaster management. We’d like to include presenters who have experienced disaster events and hear how their plans (assuming there was one) worked or didn’t work.

Sessions should align with one or more of these topics:

• What are the elements of an effective disaster plan, what should it include?
• What are effective ways to train staff?
• How to pack out materials and deal with vital/important records and artifacts.
• What actions should be taken after a disaster?
• What roles do/did staff have during disaster recovery?
• What types of disasters occurred (bomb, active shooter, flood, system failure, mold, pest, fire, etc.)?
• Assessment, salvage and recovery.
• Response checklists, what steps should be taken once a disaster happens?
• Importance of establishing and maintaining channels of communication. Who needs to be notified (staff, EMS, vendors), who has authority during an event?  How to deal with media and the public?
• How do insurance companies and FEMA assist during and after a disaster?
• Tools and resources to assist: disaster wheel, pocket response plans, CREST, local support groups.
• How to deal with mold, and other health and safety issues.
• How to deal with the emotional, personal side of a disaster.

Conference & Presentation Format

Presentations can be from 30 to 60 minutes with single or multiple presenters. The conference will be a full day from 9:00am to 4:30pm (subject to change). If an applicant has time restrictions during the day of the conference (e.g., the presenter is only available in the morning or the afternoon) please indicate this information in the “Other Information” section of the session proposal form. Registration and lunch will be complimentary for all presenters.

Please plan to follow one of these session formats:

• Panels: Discussions presenting differing perspectives or approaches on a topic or question. Panels must include a moderator, and a maximum of four panelists. The final 10 minutes of the panel should allow for audience question and answers. Audio-visual equipment will be provided.
• Traditional Sessions: A talk or media presentation focusing on a single topic or program followed by a short discussion with one or two presenters (maximum of three). The final 10 minutes of the session should allow for audience question and answers. Audio-visual equipment will be provided.

Audience

The intended audience includes museum (art, history, natural sciences, etc.), historic site, library and archive staff of all skill levels.

Compensation

Do you anticipate needing compensation and/or some form of reimbursement? If yes, please indicate in “Other Information” section of the session proposal form linked at the top of this announcement.

Questions?

Please contact Jeff Futch: jeff.futch@ncdcr.gov or 828-296-7230 x222.  Completed forms can be emailed to jeff.futch@ncdcr.gov, or mailed to:  Western Office, 176 Riceville Road, Asheville NC 28805.