Function: The Networking and Career Development Committee (NCDC) connects individuals from a variety of disciplines and experiences who work with natural history collections. The committee focuses to expand awareness and involvement from all levels of professionals and students into the Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC).
A primary focus of the committee will be the development and execution of a mentor-mentee program. This program will introduce early career professionals and students to established professionals who have shared interests at the annual conference. With the efforts of this committee, we encourage these relationships to continue after the conference has ended.
This committee was formerly known separately as the SPNHC Emerging Professionals Group/Committee and Professional Development Committee. Thus, we will continue some of the ongoing programs of these committees, such as the Networking Luncheon event and the conference travel grants program.
Leadership and Composition: The committee will consist of three co-chairs and any SPNHC members interested in assisting with committee’s activities. The duties of these co-chairs can be found below.
Duties and Products:
Publicity Co-Chair
- Manages the committee’s social media presence (Facebook and Instagram) and the Cracking the Collections blog
- Posts new content and opportunities to the committee’s social media accounts
- Responds to constituent questions and concerns on these media
- Aids in proofreading and preparing any correspondence or documents that are shared with members or colleagues
Conference Co-Chair
- Serves as the main point of contact between this committee and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
- Spearheads the planning of the SPNHC Networking Luncheon for each conference, an event where attendees of all career stages are invited to chat and network over lunch during the annual conference
- Works with the LOC to prepare the registration process so that registrants can self-identify as mentors, mentees, emerging professionals, first-time attendee, etc.
- Leads annual revision of SPNHC Conference Preparation Packet, which provides information about the upcoming conference and tips for first-time conference attendees and emerging professionals
- Coordinates registrants to aid in their finding of a conference roommate if desired
Professional Development Co-Chair
- Searches for professional development opportunities (e.g., workshops, conferences) and shares those with member list-serv and Publicity Co-Chair
- Spearheads the conference travel grants program and its associated subcommittee
- Coordinates with Conference Co-Chair and LOC to ensure availability in conference workshops/field trips for travel grant recipients
- At their discretion, develops professional development opportunities (e.g., panel discussions, virtual workshops) for members
- At least an annual event or meeting of some sort to maintain engagement during time between conferences would be ideal
All three co-chairs are involved in the development and execution of a mentor-mentee program. This program introduces early career professionals and students to established professionals with shared interests at the annual conference; however, we encourage these relationships to continue after the conference has ended. Co-chairs will recruit mentors, acquire a list of mentees through the LOC, match mentees to mentors, and send regular correspondence and expectations to these parties. The SPNHC Networking Luncheon can serve as the initial meet up for these pairs.
Calendar items:
Committee meetings are held monthly throughout the year. Please reach out to the committee’s leadership to learn about the current meeting schedule.
Annually, the committee will host the SPNHC Networking Luncheon at the conference. This event invites conference registrants of all career stages to network with other attendees over lunch within the first few days of the conference. Attendees should register for this event as part of their registration for the conference.
Workshops or other professional development opportunities will be shared opportunistically.
February: Report of committee work sent to Newsletter, Announcement of travel grants due for Newsletter
March: Work on revision of SPNHC Conference Preparation Packet
April: Send report to Secretary for Annual Business Meeting, develop mentor-mentee pairings for upcoming conference
May: Share Conference Packet at least one month ahead of meeting
December: Begin working with Local Organizing Committee to discuss and plan committee needs for the conference