Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go Quick Links:

Conference Venue

Parking

The hotel offers valet service, and there are a number of self-parking structures nearby, the closest being the “World of Wonders” garage at Pan American Plaza. Linked here is a PDF map of Crowne Plaza parking as of 2022. Note that the availability of garages is subject to change due to construction in the area.

Transportation

Bus transportation will be provided for evening events (July 26-28) and the Saturday Retreat at Conner Prairie (July 29) for individuals who registered and have tickets for the events. Buses will pick up outside of the Crowne Plaza hotel on Illinois Street.

Locations of pre-conference workshops and other museums in the city may not be walkable from the Crowne Plaza or Union Station. Uber and Lyft are available services in the Indianapolis area for attendees without vehicles. Attendees can also take advantage of public transportation options like:

  • Indiana Pacers Bikeshare is a program of Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. (ICT, Inc.). Thanks to the generous gift of the Herb Simon Family Foundation, Indy’s public bicycle-sharing system is named after our very own Indiana Pacers basketball team. There are 50 stations and 525 bikes available to anyone. To ride a bike, visit any bikeshare station kiosk or download the BCycle App. All stations are located on or near the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick.
  • IndyGo, Indianapolis’ public transportation provider, offers bus service in Downtown Indianapolis. The nearest bus stops to the hotel and convention center are Pennsylvania St. and South Street, and Delaware Street and Louisiana Street, for buses 16 and 31. Transfers can be made onto these lines at the nearby Carson Transit Center. IndyGo also offers paratransit service, as well as visitor status with application. For information on fares and trip planning, please see IndyGo’s website.

Walkable Eats

Breakfast/Brunch: Cafe Patachou, Lincoln Square Pancake House, Spoke & Steele, fat Rooster diner

Lunch/Dinner/Drinks: Social Cantina, Harry & Izzy’s, Slippery Noodle Inn, The District Tap, Spoke & Steele, Nada, YardhousePearl Street Pizzeria

Fine Dining: St. Elmo’s Steakhouse, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, The Eagle’s Nest, The Capital Grille

Accessibility Information

Conference Guide

We have set up a Conference Guide containing additional logistical details to assist individuals with navigation of conference programs and events. The guide also contains detailed information on accessibility initiatives in place for this year’s conference, such as ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices, and a quiet space. Access/download the version that works best for you with the links below:

Private Use/Nursing Mother’s Room

A nursing space, in the Erie Room, is also present. This single-occupancy space can be reserved at the onsite registration desk.  There will be a table and some chairs in this space.

Find Help

Volunteers and staff will be wearing green “ASK ME” buttons on their lanyards. If you can’t find a session room or have general conference questions, please find a volunteer or staff member. They’ll help you or direct you to someone who can.

This year, we are also offering first-time attendee mentoring. The goal will be to connect long-time attendees with new attendees with similar interests to facilitate networking opportunities. First-time attendees will be able to meet mentors at a virtual meetup in advance of the conference (stay tuned for details) and

Virtual Access & Social Media

Virtual Platform/Mobile App

About Whova:

This year, we’re testing out Whova as our platform for accessing virtual activities and getting in touch with colleagues before, during, and after the conference. In the mobile app or web portal versions of our virtual platform, you can:

  • Profile: Access your profile by clicking on your photo/icon at the top of the app and then clicking on “Edit My Profile.” Update your profile to include any relevant information to help your Midwest peers connect with you before, during, and after the conference – interests, where you’re from, your resume, etc.
  • Contact and QR Code: When you click on your photo/icon, you’ll see a menu including “My Contact Info & QR Code.” Think of this as your digital business card. Your email and phone number are required. All other information is optional. NOTE: Attendee contact information is private unless shared with another attendee through the app. If you exchange info with a fellow attendee, their contact information will appear in “My Contacts.”
  • Agenda: View a list of sessions and activities and build your own schedule by saving sessions to your personal agenda. Access handouts, session recordings, or Zoom information for live virtual sessions within session listings.
  • Attendees: See who’s attending this year’s conference, request their contact information, or start a private chat.
  • Community: Exchange with your fellow attendees using Discussion Topics.
  • Notifications: Receive updates such as last minute session changes from the organizers.

For assistance on how to use or navigate Whova, check out their Attendee User Guide.

Accessing our conference in Whova:

There are two ways to access the platform:

You will receive an email notification from AMM/Whova when the platform is open to conference attendees. This email will contain the same links above for downloading the app or accessing the web portal. You will need to use the same email address you used to register to sign into the platform. Only registered attendees can access the event.

If you are a Whova user already or choose to set up your mobile app login with a social media account, you will be asked to enter an invitation code to access the event. The email notification you receive from AMM/Whova will also contain this invitation code.

Social Media

Connect with us on social media and use this year’s hashtags with your posts: #BrakingPoint #AMM_2023 #MidwestMuseums and #IndianaMuseums. We also encourage you to follow and tag AMM and AIM in your posts.

Association of Midwest Museums

Association of Indiana Museums:

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Room Setup

Session rooms have varying furniture arrangements, based on the shape and size of the room. All rooms will have a head table and/or lectern with microphones for presenters.

Here is a list of the breakout session rooms and the setup each room will have:

  • New York – Classroom (6ft tables with chairs facing the front of the room)
  • C&O – Classroom
  • Milwaukee – Classroom
  • B&O – Classroom
  • Nickel Plate – Theater (rows of chairs facing the front of the room)
  • Edison North – Rounds (round tables with 8-10 chairs)
  • Edison South – Rounds

Presenters may adjust the placement of furniture for activities during their sessions but are required to return the furniture to its original placement upon completion of the activities.

Session Room Capacity: All session rooms will be able to accommodate at least 48 attendees. The Nickel Plate, Edison North, and Edison South Rooms can accommodate approximately 70-80 attendees.

Posters and Conversation Stations

Posters and Conversation Stations are free-flow, one-one-one style presentations. Presentations will take place during the Afternoon Reception on Thursday, July 27th, from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Poster Presentations:

  • Poster Presentations are posters displayed on a backer board on an easel in a free flow space.
  • AMM will provide easels and have foam board and binder clips available for your use. Presenters must print their own posters. Visit the “Onsite Registration” desk to confirm your poster’s location.
  • Posters may be set up at any time between 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27th.
  • Posters must be picked up and foam board returned to registration by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 28th.

Conversation Stations:

  • Conversation Stations are presentations that take place at a round table.
  • Presenters will set up their table (displays, handouts, etc.) in a free flow space any time between 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27th. Visit the “Onsite Registration” desk to confirm your poster’s location.
  • Conversation Stations must be dismantled immediately following the Afternoon Reception (6:00 p.m.).

Audio-Visual Equipment

Virtual Sessions (July 19):

  • Concurrent sessions and the opening virtual session on Virtual Day will be hosted in Zoom Webinar. Presenters should have access to the internet and present their sessions from their own desktop or mobile device.
  • Presenters will receive panelist login information from Zoom/AMM prior to the conference and on the day of sessions. Virtual presenters should check their inbox and spam filters for these notifications. Logging in with your unique panelist link will ensure that you have access to presenter/panelist tools in Zoom, such as screen sharing.
  • Only presenters will be seen on screen during virtual sessions in Zoom Webinar. Attendees will be able to engage presenters using the chat or submit questions using the Q&A tool in the Zoom menu. A member of the conference team will be in the Zoom with your panelists to get the program started and provide tech support during the session.

In-Person Sessions (July 27-28):

  • Each breakout session room will be equipped with 2 handheld microphones at lectern or head table, either a projector or 65″ television for videos or presentations, and either an in-room audio system or speakers.
  • Standard cables will be available, such as HDMI cables and 3.5mm audio jacks, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own specialty cables if applicable.

Posters and Conversation Stations (July 27): Electricity and AV equipment are not supplied for posters or conversation stations. If you have a need for either of these items, please contact AMM to be put in touch with the hotel’s team.

Presenter Responsibilities

Virtual session presenters should have access to the internet and present their sessions from their own desktop or mobile device.

In-person breakout session presenters are responsible for bringing a laptop to run their presentations and any specialty adapters (e.g. lightning or USBC) required to connect to the HDMI cables for projectors or TVs in the session rooms.

Presenters were asked to confirm their availability for the conference as part of the proposal process. We know that emergencies happen that may prevent a presenter from appearing in-person, but we do not recommend having “virtual” presenters for in-person sessions (joining via Zoom or other platform). Session rooms may not be equipped to support this type of presentation.

Presenters may be asked to share slides or handouts digitally with attendees following the conference. AMM is happy to include your materials in the virtual platform/app, before or after the conference. If you wish to supply these items, please email them to us at info(at)midwestmuseums.org.

Photography/Videography

Photography, Video, and Image Capture During the Conference 

We will have a photographer/videographer partner (Midwest Virtual Experiences), staff, and volunteer social media ambassadors helping us capture all of the activities taking place at this year’s conference.

By registering for and attending the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) conference, you grant AMM and its state or regional association conference partner(s) and their authorized representatives permission to film, photograph, or otherwise record your participation in the event. You further agree that such images, photographs, and recordings may be used by AMM without your prior approval in any form and for any lawful purpose including, without limitation, promoting AMM. Such use will not entitle you to any credit or compensation. You release AMM, their officers, and employees from any liability connected with the use of any image, photograph, or recording taken during the conference.