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Do you work or volunteer at a small museum? Is your organization facing disruption due to climate change, or do you think you might in the future?

At this year’s AASLH Annual Conference, presenting in partnership with the Ohio Local History Alliance, the AASLH Climate and Sustainability and Small Museums Committees are holding a joint luncheon.

The speaker is Rodney Rowland, the Director of Environmental Sustainability at Strawbery Bank Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Rowland is also a member of the AASLH Climate and Sustainability Committee.

For the last two years It is often quoted, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The story of Strawbery Banke and its race to become resilient certainly fits this saying. Blessed by its geographic location in terms of beauty and tourism, it is also plagued by some of the worst surface and groundwater flooding in the region.

Rowland’s talk, titled Water Has a Memory: Strawbery Banke Museum Teaching History, Preparing for the Future, will examine the museum’s saga to become resilient and will help you understand there are solutions. Resiliency is critical in this changing climate we find ourselves in, but it can also be connected to the very history we promote and teach in museums across the country. One might argue our history is part of why we find ourselves at this critical juncture and that too can be an interesting and important message.

In addition to Rowland’s presentation there will also be time to meet other people from small institutions or those interested in climate and sustainability work at history organizations, network, and share ideas through group discussions. There will also be prizes!

Join us on Thursday, September 11. The cost of the luncheon is $55. Make sure to register for the luncheon when you register for the conference.

Thanks to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum for sponsoring this event.