Well said and productive thoughts.  Thank you!  Now, how do we approach
AAM? Any AAM staff on this list who would like to share these ideas?

On Tue, 16 Jan 1996, Byron A. Johnson (813) 228-0097 wrote (some cut):

> While it it not impossible to live on under $25,000, the question is
> whether it does the individual or the profession any good to do so.
>
> A starting point would be for the AAM to establish salary guidelines with
> suggested adjustments for cost of living areas. Trade unions (gasp!) do it,
> other professional organizations do it, why not the museum profession? This
> might eliminate the need for us to constantly peruse the AAMD and SEMC
> salary surveys in an attempt to create equity for our staffs and ourselves.
>
> Another step in the right direction would be for AVISO to refuse to accept
> ads for positions that do not (1) list a salary range and benefits, and (2)
> fall within a reasonable minimum salary level. Colleagues have frequently
> told me about applying for a "salary commensurate with experience and
> qualifications" job only to discover that a curatorial position paid
> $20,000 a year or a directorship paid $25,000. They either found that
> asking salary questions up front automatically disqualified them from
> further consideration, or that the hiring committee refused to discuss the
> matter. Frankly, I do NOT believe such limitation on ads would constitute
> either censorship or unduly handicap small museums on limited budgets. Such
> a policy would cut down on the number of applications for low-paying
> positions and encourage some sort of equity between qualifications and pay.
>
>
> Byron A. Johnson
> Incoming Director
> The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
> Waco, TX
> [log in to unmask]
>