What's in a name?
 

If the Laconia Historical & Museum Society were ever to consider changing it's name, what would you prefer?

Laconia Historical Society
Laconia Museum
Laconia Heritage Center
Laconia History Center
-or- keep it as is

Just food for thought! Thanks for your input.

How long has it had the present name?

Take this for what it's worth...
 

this is from someone who worked for the nations oldest boarding school and was present during its tulmutous year after it decided after 220 some odd years that a name change was in order - name changes for no good reason are ill-advised and create angry patrons, friends, and donors!! Why would you want to change the name of your organization? It appears to be pretty well suited to the foundations of your program.

If you are a Historical Society and a Museum - then why change your name?

Like this
 

Though this would sound more prominant
Laconia Heritage & Museum Center
To me when you here historical you think of government zoning laws and restrictions. With Heritage it feels like a celebration of our past that we are very proud to show off

Lhms
 

Thanks so much for your replies thus far. We've been an organization since 1951. We've had the current name for 10 years when in 1998 the Laconia Historical Society and Laconia Museum Society merged. There's a general thought that if your own staff and board stumble over the name, then perhaps the general public does. 16 syllables can be quite a mouthful. We'd most likely keep it as our legal name, but is there a more user-friendly name to use for the public? Of course, there's also the question of what we'd like to be in the future as we begin to do our next 10-yr plan. Right now, we have offices in the public library (we also host our programs and exhibits there) and a storage facility elsewhere in town. If we work towards having our own building in the future, what would we like it to be (not that we'd ever end our partnership with the library)? What does the public perceive as a need in Laconia-- another local historical society, another museum, or a combination of the two?

Some additional thoughts....
 

YIKES! If the public cannot pronounce or stumbles through a recitation of Laconia Historical & Museum Society - then we as a society are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

LHMS Laconia Historical and Museum Society - It is what you are!!

If you feel like you need to shorten it - Laconia HIstorical I guess would suffice - it still says what you are. I cannot believe that your board feels this would make a difference.

Sad - that a Historical Society would feel pressure to change its name. You should hire a marketing company or team to "brand" your society - figure out what really is working for you and what is not. It may not be your name!!

Just some things to consider.

Laconia Historical Society & Museum -- all the words and no tongue twisting.

Name change
 

My vote would be to go back to the original name, as it was called before the merger with the museum. People searching for the organization on the web or elsewhere would be more apt to find it under Laconia Historical Society than if it were changed to something else. However, kjbathe has a good idea. Sounds good to me.