[SOA] FW: 2026 OMA Annual Conference, featuring our new Affinity Group Lunches!

Wed Mar 11 12:34:54 EDT 2026

From: Ohio Museums Association <oma at ohiohistory.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 12:30 PM
To: Carleton, Janet (she/her) <carleton at ohio.edu>
Subject: Join us for the 2026 OMA Annual Conference, featuring our new Affinity Group Lunches!

View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/ab212312d2f1/3vjt5qjg8q-10113393?e=62cda6f278>

Join us for the 2026 OMA Annual Conference, featuring our new Affinity Group Lunches!
[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/58ece0e9-18cf-5735-f8c8-a985515826c0.jpg]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=f12ec3a6a6&e=62cda6f278>

Join us for the 2026 OMA Annual Conference, featuring our new Affinity Group Lunches!

[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/ffe7a4ff-2fd6-0286-335f-a69d427774ae.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=83c0bfa5d5&e=62cda6f278>

April 18-20, 2026 - Embassy Suites Dublin<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=faeb3bacb5&e=62cda6f278>
Click Here to Register<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=16867f2324&e=62cda6f278>

(Please note: you must be logged in to register)
Defined by innovation and perseverance, Ohio has long been a land of firsts-from transformative inventions and historic movements to pioneering cultural institutions. As we approach America's 250th anniversary, museums are not just reflecting on the legacy we've inherited, but actively shaping the future to come.
In an era of challenge and change, museums have proven their resilience-adapting to new realities, redefining their roles, and continuing to serve as vital pillars in their communities. But resilience is more than survival, it is the soil in which we grow.
What will it take to sustain this momentum? How can we continue to innovate while honoring our roots? What does it look like to grow with intention-driven by mission, grounded in equity, and ready to meet the next generation head-on?
Join us in Columbus, April 18-20, 2026 for the Ohio Museums Association's Annual Conference, Resilience through Growth: From Firsts to Futures<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=dcceee6343&e=62cda6f278>, as we chart a course forward-rooted in legacy, powered by resilience, and inspired by the promise of what's next.

Click here to register for the OMA 2026 Annual Conference.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=05706fc462&e=62cda6f278>
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NEW FOR 2026 - Sunday Affinity Group Lunches

Introducing Affinity Group Lunches for 2026! Continue the energy of our bi-monthly virtual chats, only this time, face-to-face. Join fellow professionals in your area of focus-Directors, Membership, and Underground Railroad Sites-for a guided lunchtime discussion that digs deeper into the topics shaping your work. Connect, share insights, compare challenges, and walk away with ideas you can immediately put into practice.

[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/b053cdcd-b71a-17fb-622d-3b17593375d4.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=b0004301cc&e=62cda6f278>
Building on our Director breakfast from last year, this facilitated, high-level, and interactive forum for museum excecutives features a panel of museum directors - including Dr. Frederic Bertley from COSI, Dr. Sarah Spinner Liska from the Kent State University Museum, Christie Weininger from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum, and you - the attendees - as our "fourth" panelist - to share best practices and solutions for today's challenges.

[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/bf9dff7a-1895-c4dd-6583-77288beac076.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=ff94b0b59c&e=62cda6f278>
Our Membership lunch will be facilitated by Maureen Mason of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and Sue Berryman from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum. Connect with peers working on member initiatives at their organizations and dig deeper into the topics shaping museum membership programs across the state!

[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/a3cc9936-7bf5-d97b-f124-e3d03795ba6b.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=8db6784846&e=62cda6f278>
Continuing our newest affinity group conversations, our Underground Railroad Sites lunch will be facilitated by Taylor Tomu from America 250-Ohio. This is a space for attendees to share ideas, exchange resources, discuss interpretive strategies, and support one another in advancing the understanding and relevance of Underground Railroad history today.

Registration for these events is additional and separate from Sunday/Monday and Monday-Only registration. For complete details, see the Program page.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=9958d7942a&e=62cda6f278>
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Advancing Ohio Museums at OMA 2026
OMA 2026 is packed full of great opportunities, professional development, engaging speakers, tours, awards, networking and more! Attendees at OMA 2026 will enjoy the great conference staples you've come to expect from the Ohio Museums Association, including:

  *   The 2026 Keynote Address - OMA welcomes Laura Huerta Migus<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=f9fd3753f0&e=62cda6f278>, Director of Fellowship Alumni Engagement and National Activation & Impact, Aspen Institute<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=85ec8a9e5e&e=62cda6f278> for our 2026 Keynote Address, Museums as Anchors for Community Resilience

  *   BACK FOR 2026! Keynote Leadership Workshop - Join keynote speaker Laura Huerta Migus<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=8f37fddacc&e=62cda6f278> for the Monday, April 20 workshop, "Leading Resilient Museums"

  *   Saturday Conference Tours - See more of Columbus and join us on Saturday, April 18 for a full day of exploration on our Firsts and Futures tour<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=7978a4829a&e=62cda6f278>. This immersive experience will take attendees to seven organizations that celebrate the city's trailblazers and visionaries. From historic landmarks to creative spaces leading the way forward, these stops celebrate innovators and pioneers who defined Columbus' past, and places that continue to inspire its future.

  *   Our Sunday progressive museum tour - Enjoy an evening of exploring four iconic Columbus museums: Ohio History Center, Columbus Museum of Art, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and COSI

  *   The Annual Awards dinner at the beautiful Embassy Suites Dublin, presented by Museum Acrylics, Co.

  *   BACK FOR 2026! The OMA 50/50 raffle

  *   A perennial favorite - The Ohio EMP Gathering! Join the leadership of Ohio's EMP Chapters welcomes EMPs from across the state, as well as museum pros looking to learn more about these groups. Enjoy networking and fun at this all-Ohio EMP event!

  *   BACK FOR 2026! Sunday Afternoon Workshops - start your conference sessions with one of two topics: The Death of the Gala: Fundraising Reimagined at the National Museum of the Great Lakes<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=b546e8a607&e=62cda6f278> or our off-site workshop, Building the Dream: A Case Study in Designing A Collections Care Center for Diverse Collections<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=c6b603275e&e=62cda6f278>

  *   The OMA Exhibit Hall featuring regional museum service providers

  *   Networking with museum professionals from across the state

  *   NEW FOR 2026! Affinity Group Lunches - Continue the energy of our bi-monthly virtual chats, only this time, face-to-face. Join fellow professionals in your area of focus-Directors, Membership, and Underground Railroad Sites-for a guided lunchtime discussion that digs deeper into the topics shaping your work. Connect, share insights, compare challenges, and walk away with ideas you can immediately put into practice.

  *   Fifteen additional professional development sessions and morning roundtable session ranging in topics from across the museum discipline

  *   NEW FOR 2026! Sunday OSU Walking Tours - Join us for a special walking tour of several locations on The Ohio State University's storied "Oval," with Dr. Loren Babcock, Professor, School of Earth Sciences and Director of the Orton Geological Museum. On this tour, attendees will explore the treasures in OSU's Orton Hall, Hayes Hall, Hopkins Hall, the Wexner Center for the Arts, the John Glenn Center, and OSU's Main Library. Two tour opportunities will be held: Morning<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=5b5a0e5bc4&e=62cda6f278> and Afternoon<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=2e5b6cdb25&e=62cda6f278>

 See the full line-up of conference programming on the Program<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=e44e418981&e=62cda6f278> page.

Visit the Registration<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=c44e039551&e=62cda6f278> page for complete details and to register for OMA 2026!
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2025 OMA Awards
[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/5101646b-8fe4-8e7d-4f6d-4d6742ccfa20.png]
Join us for the Annual OMA Awards Dinner April 19, 2026, in conjunction with the 2026 Conference in Columbus. The Ohio Museums Association  Annual Awards Program, presented by Museum Acrylics, Co., will honor outstanding achievement in both individuals and institutions with the Awards of Achievement.

[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/94ee3435-adb9-8d3c-239b-d917a3c67b9a.png]The awards dinner will also feature the winners of the Visual Communication competition that recognizes creative excellence by Ohio museums and its field professionals. The awards dinner will take place at the beautiful Embassy Suites Dublin. Tickets to this event are included in Sunday/Monday Conference Registrations, or may be purchased separately. See the Registration<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=beb6cf2299&e=62cda6f278> page for complete details.
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Saturday Conference Tours - Saturday, April 18

See more of Columbus and join us on Saturday, April 18 for a full day of exploration on our Firsts and Futures tour<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=47ae86f883&e=62cda6f278>.
This immersive experience will take attendees to seven organizations that celebrate the city's trailblazers and visionaries. From historic landmarks to creative spaces leading the way forward, these stops celebrate innovators and pioneers who defined Columbus' past, and places that continue to inspire its future.
Registration for these events is additional and separate from Sunday/Monday and Monday-Only registration. Learn more about the 2026 OMA Saturday Conference Tours and register here.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=6e2bf62109&e=62cda6f278>
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Sunday Conference Workshops

OMA is proud to present two workshops on Sunday, April 19 as part of OMA 2026:

The Death of the Gala: Fundraising Reimagined at the National Museum of the Great Lakes
Faced with changing donor expectations and post-pandemic realities, the National Museum of the Great Lakes abandoned its traditional gala to reimagine fundraising through mission-driven sponsorships, strategic partnerships, and the creation of The Admiral Society. Learn how intentional innovation can deepen community impact, grow revenue, and align fundraising with core values.

Registration for this event is additional and separate from Sunday/Monday and Monday-Only registration. For complete details, see the Sunday Conference Workshop page.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=947357a803&e=62cda6f278>

Building the Dream: A Case Study in Designing A Collections Care Center
Curators from the Ohio History Connection share their new Collections Care Center, a 29,000 square foot state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable collections storage facility. See and learn how the building safely houses a variety of collection types, from textiles and taxidermy to art and fossils, and accounts for future growth.This off-site workshop will be held at the Ohio History Center.
Registration for this event is additional and separate from Sunday/Monday and Monday-Only registration. For complete details, see the Sunday Conference Workshop page.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=4d998be8cd&e=62cda6f278>

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Sunday OSU Walking Tours

Join us for a special walking tour of several locations on The Ohio State University's storied "Oval," with Dr. Loren Babcock, Professor, School of Earth Sciences and Director of the Orton Geological Museum. On this tour, attendees will explore the treasures in OSU's Orton Hall, Hayes Hall, Hopkins Hall, the Wexner Center for the Arts, the John Glenn Center, and OSU's Main Library. Two tour opportunities will be held:
Morning Walking Tour<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=648a238918&e=62cda6f278>: 10:00 am-11:30am
Afternoon Walking Tour<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=537bd82f73&e=62cda6f278>: 12:30pm-3:00pm
Learn more and register for one of these special opportunities at the links above.

Registration for this event is additional and separate from Sunday/Monday and Monday-Only registration. For complete details, see the Program page.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=275eb7c3e5&e=62cda6f278>
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OMA Raffle

Get your raffle tickets for OMA's 50/50 raffle! Support Ohio's museums and the work OMA does on behalf of Ohio's museum community-and enter to win a cash prize in the process! Tickets are available at the registration desk and with Raffle team members throughout the conference.
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<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=dd4c7dd6a3&e=62cda6f278>[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/b3c96980-817e-2097-1fe3-796d973c622c.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=dd4c7dd6a3&e=62cda6f278><https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=dd4c7dd6a3&e=62cda6f278>Conference Headquarters
Embassy Suites Dublin
5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 800.220.9219

Reservations can be made by calling the Embassy Suites directly at 800.220.9219, or online at this reservation link<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=e436f714d6&e=62cda6f278>. Please ask for the "2026 Ohio Museum Association Conference" group name at the time the reservation is made to receive the special group rate.

OMA 2026 Room Reservation Link<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=b866d25364&e=62cda6f278>
Group Name: 2026 Ohio Museum Association Conference
Group Code: 92X

Room Rate for OMA attendees:
ALL ROOMS: $129 per night (plus tax)

Reservation cut-off date:
March 28, 2026. Rates will be honored pending hotel availability.
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For complete conference details, a full schedule of sessions, conference events, and registration information, visit our OMA 2026 Conference page.<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=b6da2e9610&e=62cda6f278>

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The Ohio Museums Association would like to thank our generous sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor:
[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/6465c6a7-d94c-856f-2294-2402f523ec97.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=820d92ae59&e=62cda6f278>

Gold Sponsors:
[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/94cbd3f9-07e1-58fe-ca25-94473395ab2e.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=bb4ee8344d&e=62cda6f278>

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Silver Sponsors:
[https://mcusercontent.com/5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584/images/29cd0b5b-a62f-5755-c32c-5e82166cf920.png]<https://ohiomuseums.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5b899769a472077f0ff0e1584&id=309003ecb9&e=62cda6f278>

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Our mailing address is:
Ohio Museums Association
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211

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