Training Support Programs
The Governance & Social Media Training programs support the boards of small Saskatchewan museums in understanding responsible governance practices and implementing social media as a communications tool. Find out more about each program below...
Governance Support Program

The Governance Support Program supports the boards of small Saskatchewan museums in understanding and developing sound, responsible governance practices by offering three-hour modules on a range of topics: the roles and responsibilities of board members, museum mission statements, basic strategic planning, introduction to human resources, and different governance models.
How it Works
MAS staff work with a MAS member museum to select a date and one or more training modules that will meet the museum’s needs. MAS staff deliver the program to the museum’s board in the museum’s home community.
Module Descriptions...
Strategic Planning Basics
Strategic planning is a critical part of the life cycle of an organization. While the mission statement defines the organization’s purpose, the strategic planning process asks the question: “In order to achieve our mission, what are the primary things we need to do?” The strategic plan is typically developed by the organization’s Board of Directors and senior management, and will provide direction at the highest level to the staff and volunteers of your organization. The strategic plan will typically provide 3 or 4 key result areas or strategic directions for the organization that would be the priorities for the organization for the next 3 to 5 years.
Governance Models
Not all Saskatchewan museums are constituted the same way. Public museums may be not-for-profit corporations, or they may be governed by a level of government with a management or advisory board. This course will explore some of the different models of governance, introduce the concept of governing authority and discuss how this has an impact on decision making.
Board Roles and Responsibilities
The practice of good governance is critical to support the effective operation of Saskatchewan museums. This course introduces the roles and responsibilities of volunteer board members and explores good practices and tools to support the board’s governance function.
Mission Statements
Mission statements succinctly articulate the purpose of an organization. They are an important aspect of the governance framework for Saskatchewan museums. This course introduces the concept of mission statements and explores their purpose, identifies aspects of effective ones and how a board can effective use the organization’s mission statement in its decision making.
Human Resources Management
Human resource management typically involves the development of job descriptions, hiring and firing employees, training and orientation, performance evaluations and managing volunteers. In this workshop, we will look at the basics of each of these areas
NEW! Succession Planning
Having challenges recruiting and retaining board members? This module might be for you. It covers topics like:
- What succession planning is and why it is important
- How to attract and maintain board members
- What boards need to have: balance, commitment, equity, skills, a good “fit” and relevance
- Tools to support the succession planning process
NEW! How Does Nonprofit Dissolution Work?
This module covers your questions about dissolving a nonprofit organization, including:
- What happens when a nonprofit dissolves?
- When should a nonprofit consider dissolution?
- Who can dissolve a nonprofit, and how?
- What happens to the assets of a nonprofit when it dissolves?
Cost: $100 for one module. An additional $50 for any additional module that takes place at the same location and on the same day.
To get more information, or to book training for your museum, email mas@saskmuseums.org or call 306-780-9279.
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Social Media Training Program

The Social Media Training Program supports the boards of small Saskatchewan museums in understanding and implementing social media as a communications tool. The modules offered lay the foundation of understanding social media basics and social media marketing. You will learn:
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What are the major social media platforms, and how they function,
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Choose the right social media platforms and learn how to create social media policies
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How to build and interact with a network
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Basic tools/applications designed to enhance your overall experience
How it Works
MAS staff work with a MAS member museum to select a date and one or more training modules that will meet the museum’s needs. MAS staff deliver the program to the museum’s board in the museum’s home community.
Module Descriptions...
Introductory Module:
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Primary social media platforms and their uses
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Strategy
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Administrative Management
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Creating Engaging Content
Intermediate Module:
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Handling Comments & Complaints
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Graphic Design & Creation Tools
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Scheduling Tools
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Evaluation
Advanced Module:
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Paid Advertising (Facebook & Instagram)
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E-Newsletters
Cost: $100 for one module. Sessions are currently being delivered online via Zoom due to the pandemic. Each module is about one hour and thirty minutes. We hope that in-person training sessions will resume as soon as safely possible.
To get more information, or to book training for your museum, email Em Ironstar community@saskmuseums.org or call 306-550-3463.