Dear friends and colleagues,
I began my term as WCG President one year ago, and during that time the Guild has produced a large volume of scholarly lectures, historical tours, and other delightful entertainment ventures. The 2024/2025 season featured four in-person meetings, three virtual lectures, one full-day workshop, four private tours, two community-outreach initiatives, and one book-club-style event; the full breakdown of programs can be accessed at https://washingtonconservationguild.org/past-seasons-meetings/.
The paradox that preoccupies our recent days is a mixture of some personal and professional joys, while simultaneously experiencing an immense amount of political suffering. This letter, unfortunately, cannot focus only on the joy, because we must face National issues that have prompted a different discussion.
Starting in 2025, several Executive Orders (EOs) and actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have instigated salient and disturbing federal policy changes—including budget cuts, grant terminations, and employment insecurity. Many of these federal changes deliberately target cultural heritage collections, workers, and vulnerable communities. This letter reconfirms WCG’s commitment to its core ethical values and support for the membership through this turmoil. WCG Officers and Directors will remain guided by our bylaws (as amended April 3, 2023) to serve as “a forum for the discussion of, and interchange of, information on problems and other matters of concern to conservators and others interested in or responsible for the conservation, restoration, preservation, technical examination, and protection of objects of art, archaeology, anthropology, history, library and archival materials, or monuments or historic structures…”
- Together with Membership Secretary, Lindsay Cross, WCG plans to release an addendum to the 2024/2025 Member Directory in the late Fall. This modified document will include updated contact information for members who joined after the Three-Ring Circus on January 29th, 2025, as well as for members whose positions or contact details have changed between February and May. People who want to revise their contact information for the addendum are invited to email us at Membership@WashingtonConservationGuild.org until September 1st, 2025.
- There are no plans to dissolve WCG’s DEAI Action Committee, which was originally established during the 2020/2021 season. The Board of Directors will continue to collaborate on DEAI initiatives throughout the upcoming season’s programming.
- 2025/2026 WCG membership dues will not increase for standard members, and they will remain free to emerging professionals who are entering their first season. Emerging professional memberships are also free to individuals who actively volunteer on the Board. More details are available on the Membership & Renewal Application webpage.
- Everyone is welcome to send ideas, questions, concerns, or feedback to WCG@WashingtonConservationGuild.org. How can WCG help its members navigate the path forward? Can you comfort others or spread hope by contributing expertise or resources?
WCG takes a break from programming in the summer to transition the Board and to brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming year. Although, just so you are all aware, I will still be checking and responding to emails throughout this period. My heart is with all our members—whether they reside in the District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) or beyond the National Capital Region (NCR). Thank you for your ongoing support for this amazing nonprofit, and I hope that you too can live with this paradox, finding some joy that remains untouched by darkness.
Yours in service,
Keara Teeter (she/her)
President, Washington Conservation Guild
