This has been an interesting thread, IMHO.  I'd certainly
subscribe to a professional standard related to pay and
benefits, but ours are set by the legislature and I (we)
have little control over the amounts, benefits, etc.  The
Governor just announced this morning that he recommends 3%
raises per year for state employees (which we are) for the
next two years.  1.5% will be given to all and the other
1.5% (of the agency's total salary line item) will be
"merit" based or discretionary.  This is generous compared
to what we've been provided in the past several biennial
budget periods.  All-in-all, we have fairly good pay and
really good benefits despite the relative lack of control or
input.

On the value of Accreditation by AAM, we are the only
accredited museum in this state.  I haven't observed that it
does us any good in grant applications - they're still
dependent on how well we prepare the application.  And I
doubt either the legislature or the local populace gives a
hoot whether or not we're accredited.  Accreditation (and
the IMS-GOS application process) give us a standard toward
which we strive, and that's useful.  I'm able to use both as
levers occasionally to get the Board or the politicians to
take a position, but I really think we strive to meet these
standards to impress ourselves and our colleagues more than
the visiting public.  Like another post today mentioned,
they care more for the edutainment we provide than for the
how's and why's of our work.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -