Well said, Ross. It is NOT a question of passing the buck; it is one of
acting in the true sense of ethical responsibility. I compare Ross's
approach to that of the former senior VP of a well-known museum who
personally negotiated more than twenty amendments to a large contract - all
to the contractor's benefit and none, as far as I know, with the knowledge
of any member of the board.

As an auditor of more than 20 years experience and a Certified Fraud
Examiner (bet some of you wondered what the CFE meant, eh?), May I say that
Ross's approach is the ONLY one to take. Wriggling through the IRS
guidelines just don't seem to cut it, somehow,

Harry

"Those who play with cats must expect to get scratched"

               -  Cervantes, "Don Quixote"

Harry Needham, M.A., CFE, etc.
President
Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc.
Training & consulting services for heritage institutions - and others!
74 Abbeyhill Drive
Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1
Canada
email: [log in to unmask]
(Voice) +1.613.831-1068
(Fax) +1.613.831-9412
----- Original Message -----
From: Ross Weeks <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: Ethical question


> The whole matter of conflict of interest in government or non-profits, I
was
> taught once, revolves around appearances.  Does this consulting
arrangement
> pass the "smell test?" in the sense that no one would have reason to raise
> eyebrows?
>
> The decision to hire this consultant ought to be deferred to the board or
> its executive committee because they will get the flak, if any emerges.  I
> have done this on several occasions, and was never made to feel I was
> passing the buck, or putting the boards on the spot.  Conversely, in every
> case the board members were glad to know up front.
>
> It would be beneficial if the hiring of this consultant were the result of
> some competitive process, unless the amount involved is trivial, i.e.,
$200
> or so.
>
> Ross Weeks Jr.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chuck Stout" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 12:17 PM
> Subject: Ethical question
>
>
> > I'd like to tap the wisdom of the list on yet another ethics question.
Is
> it ethical for a museum board member to also be a paid consultant to that
> museum? The board isn't involved in making the hiring decision (the museum
> director is), and the board member has no influence on the hiring decision
> (beyond what any "outsider" would have). The consulting work is related
to,
> but in no way a part of, the person's duties on the board-- so it's not a
> matter of being paid to do work that other board members do for free.
> >
> > I've turned it over and tried to examine it from all angles in my mind,
> and can't see any problem with it, but I'd really like to hear from others
> with more experience. Is this in any way a conflict of interest?
> >
>
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