As you’ve now read, MMA is going to say goodbye to Claire Johnston in her current role. To say we are sad is an understatement. As you obviously know, she is very good at her job. She has brought thoughtfulness and class to everything she’s done.

I was an MMA Board member when Claire joined that group in 2010. One of my first memories of Claire on the board was her asking a question about how MMA was serving small museums. She has been an advocate for them, and all MMA members, every since. As Vice President for Programs, Claire did so much, but I especially remember her efforts on the 2014 conference, which was very frustrating at times.

I was thrilled to pieces when she applied to be the Membership Assistant in 2017. She has done much in that role including establishing a process for engaging lapsed members and implementing several membership level transitions. I don’t think the back-end management of the membership program was Claire’s favorite part of her job, but I know that engaging with members was, and she leaves that program in wonderful shape. We shifted Claire's role to also include communications in 2018, and that has been a game changer for MMA. She grew the communications program, which did not exist as an actual program when she took it on, to a robust set of communications tools and systems that not only “share the news”, but also connect the Michigan museum community with resources and expertise to help their museums thrive. She has set a high bar for whoever comes next.

I know I can speak for Yitzack and the MMA Board of Directors when I say that though we will miss all that Claire did in her “job” at MMA, we will miss all that she is as a colleague, co-worker, and friend even more. She has made our lives better and our work easier for having been part of MMA, and we wish only the best for her.

 
Lisa Craig Brisson
Executive Director