In a message dated Thu, 4 Nov 1999  7:45:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, TXlime <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> It was suggested to me during a discussion last week
> that people who volunteer in museums are actually
> doing their profession a dis-service, and that while
> qualified people are willing to work for free, museums
> are never going to look for the money to employ them.
> Having been a volunteer myself, it was not something I
> had thought about...does anyone have any opinions on
> this?

As Elena Mayberry once said about the SI interns not getting paid (paraphrased), "If we could afford to pay all the interns, we would.  As is, we could pay the interns and only give a few people a year the chance to intern or we could not pay them and give hundreds of people the chance to intern."

I think it's up to the individual to determine whether they are being taken advantaged of because they are giving a museum work for free or gaining valuable work experience as a volunteer because the museum can't afford to pay them.

Personally I think museums need to get up to speed when it comes to raising and managing money as I think the money is out there for people who are agressive at getting it.  This is an entirely different arguement entirely.

Deb

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).