CMMV organized our first Board of Directors in November 2018 as we became a 501(c)(3). One of our core values has been to strive to “do it right”. As an emerging museum, we believed one of the ways we could do that was to learn from industry experts.
Early on, we joined the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). We have been fortunate to attend their annual Interactivity Conference they hold each May. Board President Bethany Bell attended ACM’s Interactivity Pre-Conference for Emerging Museums in Raleigh, North Carolina May 2018 while visiting her sister. She learned valuable information to get us started on the right path.
We felt it was important to attend ACM’s 2019 Interactivity Conference held in Denver, Colorado. Tennille Adams and Bethany Bell, Co-founders, attended the Pre-Conference for Emerging Museums. Meghan Scoresby joined for the remainder of the conference. Having multiple board members there allowed us to participate in several sessions happening simultaneously. We made valuable connections to other children’s museums and took detailed notes to share with the rest of the board upon our return.
One of our connections at the Interactivity Conference led us to learn about the Northwest Association of Youth Museums (NWAYM). In November 2019, Tennille Adams, Board Vice President, participated in the NWAYM Conference in Burlington, WA. She was able to talk one on one with the Executive Directors from Hands On Children’s Museum, Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Gilbert House Children’s Museum, and Children’s Museum of Skagit County. These museums, along with Portland Children’s Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, and Imagine Children’s Museum came together to share their successes and challenges over the past year. We love these opportunities to learn from other children’s museums.
In November 2019, we joined the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce, participating in their Twin Falls Today Lunch and Business After Hours as often as we can each month. We have enjoyed getting to know community leaders and collaborating with them.
In January 2020, two of our board members, Chris Kun and Bethany Bell, attended Idaho Nonprofit Center’s Board Bootcamp in Boise! 
ACM’s Interactivity Conference was cancelled in 2020, and was held virtually in 2021. Five of our board members were able to participate in zoom sessions during the two week conference. We are appreciative of the collaborative nature of children’s museums. We find ways to reciprocate with others, sharing what has worked for us.
Between fundraising and outreach events, we also try to attend other various trainings that help us develop professionally. Three of our board members had the opportunity to participate in the first annual Idaho Business Summit. It was phenomenal! Our board spends countless hours working to bring the children’s museum to life.