I would advise extreme caution with this idea. While I see no harm in
collecting oral histories from donors and making them part of a collection
(one criteria for selecting interview subjects is as arbitrary as another) I
do have a problem in terms of cost. I don't know what the going rate for
interviewing and transcribing interviews is in Georgia, but in our neck of
the woods it is $20+ per hour. Five hours of interview would cost $100. In
addition, I have found that transcribing a taped interview runs
approximately five to seven hours per hour of interview. This would mean an
additional 25-35 hours of cost, or $500-$700 in cost (I am not counting
accessioning costs, etc.) In short the VALUE of the gift would be in the
neighborhood of $600-$800. This value would be non-tax deductible to the
donor. In short, too much time and expense for the range of donors
suggested. I would not have problems of giving such a benefit to a $10,000
donor, or would cut the interview to no more than one-half hour for a $1,000
donor ($60 cost).
nburlakoff

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Katie Anderson
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 11:07 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: sticky fundraiser

A volunteer is helping us organize our annual auction.  One of the
additional programs she wants us to undertake leading up to the auction is
called Time in a Bottle.  We would give this package to $1000 donors.  They
would get five hours with an interviewer to record their family history.
Then the transcripts and tapes would be kept in the museum archives (the
family would also receive a copy).  I'm concerned about saying these will be
a permanent part of the archives.  She has even told me I would need to be
careful about doing interviews "for free" since other people would be paying
to have their family stories kept at the museum.   I tried to explain to her
how backwards this thinking is but I'm having difficulty.  She truly
believes that this is a way to raise money while fulfilling our mission.
She does not see any issues with exclusivity.

Has anyone tried anything like this?  She's got some people very excited
about this and it sounds like it would be a successful fundraiser.  Is there
a way to do this without compromising our standards and looking like an
elitist institution?

Thanks,
Katie

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Katie Anderson
Museum Director
Rome Area History Museum
305 Broad Street
Rome, GA 30161
706-235-8051
cell 678-908-7751
fax 706-235-6631
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
www.RomeHistoryMuseum.com <http://www.RomeHistoryMuseum.com>

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Come see our new exhibit "Textile Mills, Baseball, and Strong Communities:
Floyd's Professional Baseball of the 1930's and 40's."  This fun exhibit
explores two of the most difficult decades in American history by looking at
the special place that baseball held in the hearts of the textile mill
communities in the Rome area.  Runs through December 2003.

A separate permanent exhibit created by DH Advertising and a team of
community members was recently installed at the new State Mutual Stadium.
It highlights the general history of baseball in the area from the
mid-1800's to present.  Be sure to see this other great baseball exhibit the
next time you see a Rome Braves home game.
***********************************************************************


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