A "tiny but welcome bit of income"?  Ten thousand dollars from an
opinion
poll, even over 5 years, is absolutely astounding!

I think it's a brilliant idea.
-------------------------------------
amalyah keshet
director, visual resources, the israel museum, jerusalem
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
date: 05/30/96

-------------------------------------

On Wed, 29 May 1996 13:35:19 -0600  John "Imawiz" Arnold wrote:
>I haven't followed this theme on the list in its entirety, but I'll
share
>an experience at my Museum:
>
>In December 1990 (in conjunction with the traveling "Wolves and
Humans"
>exhibit), we developed our own small exhibit on the Mexican Grey Wolf
>(which may be introduced in New Mexico or Arizona in the nearish
future).
>
>As part of that exhibit, we placed our "Two Bit Opinion Poll," posing
this
>question: Should the Mexican Grey Wolf be reintroduced in New Mexico?" We
>have two tubes -- one yes, the other no -- with a slot at the top, inviting
>visitors to vote at 25 cents per vote. It's still there, and in the five
>and a half years it's been up, our visitors have spent $10,104.67 to vote
>on the issue (Yes = $9,499.89; NO = $604.78). And these are people who
>spent anywhere from $1 to $4 to visit the Museum!
>
>What's the point? If you have a controversial (or well-known) issue, you
>may be able to generate some money from it by providing an inexpensive
>opportunity for your visitors to show which side they favor. Obviously,
>this may not work in every Museum, and some of the issues may be better
>left alone. But, it does provide a tiny but welcome bit of income for my
>Museum. All the money, by the way, goes into the black hole known as the
>general operating budget.
>
>John Arnold
>Public Information Officer
>New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
>Albuquerque
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