The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball and host of the 2017 International Sports Heritage Association Annual Conference (Oct. 17-20), is located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The conference is titled, Shoot for the “Summitt”, and the ISHA Conference Committee is currently working diligently to build an entertaining and educational program.

Knoxville is often described as a hidden gem sitting at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First-time visitors are typically amazed by all this city has to offer. The fact that some of its most appealing attractions are within walking distance of a very vibrant downtown is a plus. Very few places offer the opportunity to experience live music, culture, outdoor adventure, eclectic shopping and highly acclaimed cuisine in one unique location.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame opened in June 1999 and its mission is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball. With the 2017 Induction, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will celebrate its 19th Anniversary and add six new members to this prestigious Hall, honoring 157 inductees. The outside of the striking 32,000 square foot Hall of Fame is encompassed by the world’s largest basketball which weighs 10 tons and sits on top of a glass staircase that resembles a basketball net. Inside the hall is filled with multiple interactive displays, numerous basketball artifacts, photographs, scrapbooks, medals, trophies, and old uniforms that bring the history of women’s basketball to life. There is something for everyone to love about the Hall of Fame.

With the conference committee working and planning a terrific program, start planning your trip to the 2017 ISHA conference. The conference brochure and registration will be available around June 1, 2017. The host hotel for the conference is the downtown Knoxville Marriott, adjacent to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Four major airlines serve Knoxville’s airport (McGhee Tyson TYS) and is located only 15 minutes from the Hall. So please start making plans to join us for the 2017 ISHA Annual Conference in East Tennessee, where you will enjoy some southern hospitality, a slower pace, some smooth spirits and a relaxed way of life. Come as a stranger and leave as a friend.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum Director Doug Stark

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) has named International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum Director Doug Stark as its 2016 Schroeder Award recipient. Stark was presented the award on Sept. 27, 2016 during ISHA’s annual conference, which is being held at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary.

Presented periodically, the W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor presented by the International Sports Heritage Association and is given to individuals for meritorious service of lasting nature in the sports heritage industry and their communities.

“Doug Stark’s service to sports heritage is extraordinary and worthy of our highest honor,” said ISHA President Marjorie Snyder. “Whether at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the USGA Museum or in his current role at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Doug’s commitment to our industry has never wavered. We are honored to name Doug as the winner and look forward to presenting him in September.”

Stark oversees the day-to-day operation at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. He successfully directed the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s pursuit of accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), thereby making it the first sports hall of fame to earn accreditation. He recently directed a $3 million renovation and complete redesign of the venue while incorporating state-of-the-art exhibits. Most impressively, he has been a part of capital projects that have re-conceptualized and rebuilt three new sports museums.

His wealth of experience has included strategic thinking and new facility planning; exhibit, program, and outreach development and execution; financial management, community and board engagement; collections care; branding and messaging; and product development. He has helped make sports history more engaging, relevant, and accessible to a wider, diverse and worldwide audience.

Stark is also an accomplished author of sports heritage-related publications. He is the author of The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball’s Greatest Jewish Team published by Temple University Press in 2011. He is the co-author of Tennis and the Newport Casino released by Arcadia Publishing in 2011 and he also co-authored a children’s book, Shikey Gotthoffer, published by Maine Authors Publishing in September of 2015. His latest, Wartime Basketball: The Emergence of a National Sport during World War II was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2016. He is currently working on two additional books – one on the integration of professional basketball, and the second on editing oral histories of Jewish Basketball Players.

Stark is a New England Museum Association board member where he serves as the group’s first vice president. He is also an adjunct professor in the Museum Studies program at Harvard University.

Additionally, he has implemented programing at the Tennis Hall of Fame that caters to a wide range of visitors, including an architectural symposium that has grown into an annual sold-out community event.

 ABOUT ISHA

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971 to assist sports museums and halls of fame to develop, operate and promote their facilities. ISHA includes more than 130 members from countries such as China, New Zealand, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Qatar and the United States.  ISHA’s mission is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage.

It’s time to begin thinking about your silent auction item for the 46th Annual ISHA Conference.

The Founders Fund Committee works to raise money through:

• An annual gift program
• Silent auction held at the annual conference
• And through various other avenues

All the revenue raised though these avenues directly impacts ISHA’s ability to support worthy projects and provide grants that promote sports heritage and fund other initiatives important to all of our member institutions and the entire sports heritage industry.

We are looking for items that appeal to sports and non-sports fans.

Helpful Hints:

• Customs allows you to carry (1) bottle of liquor or wine into Canada
• National Park Services (US or Canada) gift certificates make great auction items
• Order an item online and have it shipped directly to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Gift Ideas:

• A unique experience at your facility
• A hand-made item

To submit an application, simply fill out the linked form and e-mail or fax back to Sherry Crose ([email protected])

ISHA 2016 Silent Auction Form

The 45th annual International Sports Heritage Association conference, hosted by the Little League Museum in Williamsport, Pa., received positive reviews after three days of education sessions, networking and an impressive list of speakers.

Mike Mussina

Former Orioles and Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina impressed ISHA delegates during a lunchtime question & answer session. The 18-year Major Leaguer had fun with the audience, engaged in one-on-one dialogue and kept things light by joking with the questioners.

Dr. Story Musgrave

Evening of Champions featured speaker Dr. Story Musgrave, a Little League Hall of Excellence member, shared his story about how he went from a non-high school graduate to a NASA astronaut, grandfather, surgeon and multiple advanced degree holder through a life pursuing his dreams with energy and passion.

The Farewell Luncheon speaker was former Cumberland, R.I., Little League coach Dave Belisle, who earned national acclaim during the 2014 Little League World Series through his inspirational speeches to his players. Belisle’s wife was battling cancer throughout his team’s run to Williamsport and he and his players built a special bond that was evident during the tournament.

Networking is always an important component of the conference and that remained the case in Williamsport. The conference committee even dedicated a session to networking by having delegates spend five-minute segments with a different colleagues for the hour-long session.

The session dedicated to education, which included appealing to different audiences both within and outside of one’s institution received positive reviews. The welcome reception aboard a river boat was also a popular event.

In a conference survey, many attendees responded that they continue to be interested in marketing strategies and technology. The 2016 ISHA Conference will be held at the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary.

Check out a selection of photos taken at the Evening of Champions Dinner at the 45th annual ISHA Conference.