Association of Holocaust Organizations
The Association of Holocaust Organizations was created in 1985 with the purpose of advancement in Holocaust education, remembrance and research. The Association consists of various organizations and individuals around the world and acts as an intermediary between them. The Association holds annual conferences in June and a seminar during winter. The Association plays a vital role in preserving the historical value of the Holocaust; the last generation of Holocaust survivors are few in numbers and the genocide of the prodigious numbers of those killed is an important part of the history of the world (more so to the Jewish people). An annual directory is published every year since 1988 which consolidates the various organizations, individuals, etc. into one book which is distributed to keep them informed of other organizations which they may collaborate with.
AHO Website
In addition to the annual directory, the AHO website is a significant facilitator in networking the various organizations. The website is equipped with Home, About AHO, Members Directory, Affiliated Members, Archives and Traveling Exhibits pages. The Home page displays the various conferences, seminars, and other events are posted on this page as well as their locations, dates etc.; in addition, there is a downloadable document which consists of the specific agenda broken down systematically into the various time slots and who will be speaking and what they will talk about. Another significant aspect of the AHO website is the Members Directory which alphabetically lists the countries which have AHO members in them as well their major contact information. A rather interesting page is the Traveling Exhibit page which shows the available exhibits for rent by their “home” museums’ the page also has descriptions, contact information, availability of the exhibits.
Organizations
The various organizations, museums and other memorial, educational and advancement facilities receive funding from multiple sources, however, they are categorized by the organizational structure, type of organization, and by their mission statements. Often the case with colleges and universities there is a research aspect in addition to the educational and remembrance piece. The primary function of the centers is for the remembrance and education of teachers, students and the public. The main difference between the Holocaust centers and museums is that the centers do not have a curatorial piece to them.
Government Supported
The organizations supported organizations are primarily supported by tax levied funds.
Examples:
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) Yad Vashem
Independent Holocaust Museums and Organizations These facilities and organizations are primarily supported by private funds which may include individuals and corporations.
Examples (of Museums):
Holocaust Museum Houston; Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Examples (of Organizations):
Jewish Foundation for the Righteous League for Educational Awareness of the Holocaust (LEAH) Holocaust Centers
Colleges and Universities
Example:
Holocaust Education Development Programme (London) Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (Keene College, New Hampshire); Independent Centers
Example:
Vancouver Holocaust Education Center;
Budapest Holocaust Memorial Center;
Jewish Community Centers
Example:
Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (Overland, Kansas)
Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Centre (Toronto)
Survivor Second and Third Generation Organizations
Example: American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and Descendants
Generations of the Shoa International State Sponsored Holocaust Commissions
Example: Tennessee Holocaust Commission; South Carolina Counsel on the Holocaust Museums and Authentic Sites
Examples: Anne Frank House (Amsterdam)
House of Wannsee Conference (Berlin)
Camps
Examples: Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
Dachau Concentration Camp (Germany)
Membership
In order to become a member, an organization must meet a certain criteria and be voted in by the board. The criteria are: An organization or individual must be involved in holocaust education, remembrance or research. Full Organization Members (Pay Annual Dues) Affiliated Organizational Members (Do not pay Dues) Individual Members (Pay Dues)