John Peterson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
University of Northern Arizona Anthro. Museum,
________________________________________
Just a point of clarification, splitting hairs etc.... the museum
mentioned above is the Museum of Northern Arizona, a private nonprofit
that is not associated with Northern Arizona University. This is a common
confusion, so I wanted to clarify.
I am former collections staff member of MNA and an alumni of NAU, and
they are separate. The issues at MNA include a drop in membership and
visitation, less return on endowment investments, fewer donors (large and
small), less money involved in donations, issues with Board and
administrative leadership. Financial stability has been an issue for MNA
for as long as I and my colleagues at MNA can remember (15 years or more
perhaps?). The current financial challenges have lead the Board of Trustees
at MNA to sell the "gems" of the MNA Navajo textile and fine art
collections, and "reorganize" the paleontology/geology dept., including
the lay-off of the two paleo/geo curators and a half-time paleo staff
member (who has since been made a full-time collections staff person).
Needless to say these Board decisions are causing extreme concern, shock,
dismay, etc. etc. among the MNA membership, staff and the museum community.
Since MNA is not associated with the state of Arizona or the university,
state budget crunches are not directly impacting MNA (though no doubt they
are indirectly), but regardless, as mentioned above, there is plenty to
be concerned about and it is a real challenge to determine what is the best
course for the future. No easy answers (though my anger is extreme and my
heart is completely broken over the collections sale, to say the least,
but that is a whole other rant).
Tracy Murphy
Museum Specialist - Curation
ARGUS System Administrator
BLM - Anasazi Heritage Center
27501 Highway 184
Dolores, CO 81323
(970) 882-4811, ext. 143
http://www.co.blm.gov/ahc
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