2^nd part of the seminar of the European Network of River Museums

Discussion on the future of ENoRM:

The main goal of the ENoRM meeting in Bydgoszcz was to find an answer to the question: what’s next with our network? And that’s what we started the meeting about.

AS:

Meetings alone are not enough for the survival of the network. We need specific results. Not necessarily a joint exhibition, but e.g. joint activities in the field of Internet presence, perhaps a website. Matthias Wagener from LWL is still ready to prepare our website.

In order to prepare the website, it will be necessary to provide the administrator with:

– photos,

– information about institutions – members of the network,

– reports from previous meetings,

– a general introductory text about ENoRM, in which we will explain who we are and what our vision is.

The website will include those museums whose directors will sign a letter of intent containing a commitment to participate in the network’s activities. This commitment is not legal or formal, but is rather an expression of the will / intention to cooperate.

The partners from Germany read the previously prepared text of the letter of intent. It was agreed that after smoothing the translation of the text, it would be sent to the participants of the meeting (Jagoda) for comments. After considering the comments, the final version will be sent to the members of the network.

AS:

Should we formulate any criteria for belonging to the network? Does anyone who wants to join is allowed to do this?

RD, JK:

We should not formulate rigid criteria. This type of problem has never arisen before. Let us leave this matter to run its course. If any doubts arise, we will react on a regular basis.

RD:

First of all, we should focus on achieving the following goals:

1) Signing a letter of intent,

2) Recovering the interest of potential partners, mainly thanks to the interesting program of the next meeting. The website is less important in this context, although both of these matters should be carried out in parallel. The site can be modest and uncomplicated. On the other hand, information about an attractive conference (e.g. about threats to museums) will surely arouse interest.

The most important thing is to find a reason why we want to be members of ENoRM. An attractive agenda of the meeting is the most important in this context.

AS:

Our meetings have always been the driving force behind the network’s activities. You have to use this idea, tradition when organizing the next meeting.

SJ:

The website should contain short information about museums. The most important question we need to ask is: what do we expect from the network? Our expectations will, of course, be different. These expectations should be included in the signed letter of intent.

WH:

Meetings cannot be just about sitting and drinking coffee.

RD:

I agree with prof. Januszewski on the need to formulate the goal. This meeting is a good opportunity to formulate the vision, mission and goals of ENoRM.

AS:

Each museum should define the mission, goals and possible activities (exhibition, meetings?).

Should our mission be internal for us, or public, targeted at external audiences?

DB:

Our institutions have public missions, so ours should be the exchange of professional knowledge.

RD:

Museums are public, they take care of artefacts, but today it is not enough. We should be open and available.

Brainstorm. Common formulation of the vision, mission and goals by the participants.

BW:

What about the publication of information about the network in the media?

SJ:

We have the periodical „Industrial Archeology“ and other publications in which we can publish the texts of museologists associated in the network.