This is not an official communication.

AAM staff will do what the institutional and individual members, who pay
our salaries, and the Board, which sets our policies, want us to do.  If
you want us to do something, i.e., start some kind of certification
program, then organize yourselves and figure out how to affect policy.
Make a case that not only addresses your own concerns but also the needs
of the field as a whole (institutions of every kind and type, and
professionals, and non-professionals).  Investigate whether the issue
has been considered in the past, and try to ascertain the objections to
such a policy.

With respect to service to members, my own department instituted the
Museum Advocacy Team in part because we felt that it was in the interest
of individual members.  We thought that every museum worker ought to
have a better sense of how government policy affects his or her job, for
many reasons, the most obvious being that some of them, one day, will be
directors, and advocacy/policy, especially on local issues, will be an
important part of their jobs.  Thus, we saw MAT as an instrument of
professional development, and we realized that we could both lobby for
the field and serve individuals at the same time.

I'm not a spokesperson for the AAM staff; nevertheless, I would say on
their behalf that they work hard, and that if they were in it for the
dollars, they'd be in the wrong place.  The field's needs are paramount.
Unfortunately, those needs are also vast, and we're never going to be
able to do everything for everybody.  But it's not for lack of trying.

Andy Finch
AAM Government Affairs
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lisa Holt [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 1998 1:02 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Where is the museum profession going? (was entry-level
> jobs)
> 
> A recent article in the Washington Post, "Exhibiting a New Enthusiasm:
> Across U.S., Museum Construction, Attendance Are on the Rise" (By
> Jacqueline Trescott, 6/21/98; Page A01) should be required reading for
> all museum folk.
> 
> It's already been mentioned that progressive museums are headed in a
> new direction.   But what direction is that?   Well, pay attention,
> guys, The Post will try to explain:  According to Ms. Trescott,
> "museums are coming into their own as big-time travel destinations,
> economic engines and gathering places."  This tread in the museum
> world has been building steam for awhile.  But, having reached its
> destination, the impact of this philosophy upon the hiring practices
> in the museum field is notable.
> 
> The article goes on to mention a few whirlpools and waves created by
> this business approach:
> 
> "The day when museums are temples is fading..." juxtaposed with "...
> [the] Memorial [museum] started a happy hour with two bands every
> Friday night."(!)
> 
> "New museums are going up everywhere..."  (Think temporary consultants
> here, rather than permanent professional museum staff.  Then think
> unregulated outsourcing--a scary thought.  Just for starters, this has
> negative repercussions on morale, on  professional standards, on job
> security, on ....  The recent concerns to this list regarding
> outsourcing are real.)
> 
> "Many [museums] have had to reorganize [and when the dust settles, how
> many of the professional museum staff are left?] and expand their
> staffs..."  (But where are they expanding to?  Two words:  "Crowd
> control."  [This is not completely a bad thing.  For instance, it
> opens the door wider in order to put one's foot in.  The point here,
> however, is where are the jobs in the museum field growing?  Crowd
> control, and other visitor services, for large and some mid-size
> museums is certainly a currently a significant area.])
> 
> It seems to me that there are quite a few new directions emerging in
> the museum field.  Some are good.  And others are not so good.  This
> is where the idea of certification *backed by AAM* should come into
> play.  Many professions (doctors, lawyer, architects, planners, etc.)
> require that their members earn a certain number of continuing ed
> credits per year.  Often a lecture, a workshop, or the work one does
> for a professional committee will count for some, or all, of these
> credits.  Most of us do these kinds of things all the time, but never
> get credit (at least, it's not reflected in are salaries or the kinds
> of positions we are [or aren't] eligible for). What if we could run
> potential continuing ed credits by AAM, who would then deem them
> creditworthy or not creditworthy?  And what if these credits were
> applied toward a professional certification?
> 
> I agree with Jennifer, AAM should be doing a lot more for their
> members. I was in a planning program for awhile, and I can tell you
> that the American Planning Association works really hard for their
> contingency.  And, the AIA does some interesting things for their
> members, as well, including various partnership projects, workshops,
> etc., with affiliated professions--at least in DC they do--and their
> professionals do get continuing ed credit for these activities.
> 
> I think Bob and Jennifer are headed in the right direction--I'm
> willing to sign up.  But I also think a firm commitment has to be made
> by AAM,   Any work done by members in isolation from the authority of
> AAM will be for not, I'm afraid.  In addition, more than just three
> members have to be willing to make it happen.
> 
> The Post article also claims that, "The resulting surge in museum
> popularity is easing some of the perpetual money problems facing
> cultural institutions at a time when federal funding has been cut
> back..."  In truth, so far I have not seen this happening (has anyone
> else?), but if trends continue, we may see it sometime down the road.
> If so, wouldn't AAM also be in a much better position to meet the
> needs of its members? If the membership is willing to do the legwork,
> can't AAM put its weight behind those efforts?
> 
> Because of this new "business" orientation, the things that make a
> museum a museum are gradually eroding away.  And that is definitely a
> scary thought.
> 
> Lisa Holt