samantha depergola, adult education coordinator, ATTENDS MUSEUMS ADVOCACY DAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
For more than 15 years, the American Alliance of Museums has hosted a group outing to Congress in honor of Museums Advocacy Day. This is a space to provide essential training and allow advocates to speak with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C. Samantha DePergola, Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) Adult Education Coordinator, was among the nearly 350 professionals in attendance at the event, February 23-25.
Attendees benefit from unique learning opportunities and advocacy experience. DePergola was given the chance to network, hear an in-depth breakdown of relevant industry concerns and create a plan of action before presenting concerns to Congress. Matters on the table included opposing the taxation of non-profits, supporting the bipartisan Charitable Act (S.317 and HR.801), preserving the deductibility of gifts to museum collections, removing the House earmark ban on museums and maintaining the same level of funding for the Institute of Museums and Library Sciences (IMLS).
DePergola met with the offices of many senators and representatives and had the opportunity to discuss ESE’s mission and the significance of Storrowton Village Museums with Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Richard E. Neal directly. Members of Congress from Massachusetts vowed to support the aforementioned causes and offered to host press conferences at various locations to drive engagement and revenue for museums.
While reflecting on her time in D.C., DePergola said, “While this was Museums Advocacy Day, I found that, by working for Eastern States Exposition, I was able to provide examples of all the other non-profits that would be affected by these issues–not just museums.”
Day to day, DePergola maintains programming, preservation and presentation at the Storrowton Village Museum and the ESE History Museum, which are both located at the ESE complex in West Springfield, Mass. Outside of the workplace, she serves as president of the Ramapogue Historical Society and manages the Josiah Day House, a historic property in West Springfield, Mass.
DePergola expressed that she made valuable connections both congressionally and among fellow industry leaders during Museums Advocacy Day. Through the support of Congress, she and other museum representatives from Massachusetts hope to collaborate and continue drawing statewide support for places of learning.
Help preserve a precious piece of history when you visit Storrowton Village Museum, whether it be for a docent-led tour of the village or a special event like Maple Harvest Day & Pancake Breakfast on March 15. For more information, visit StorrowtonVillage.com, find the Village on social media or call (413) 205-5051!