Remember the roar of that 55 Chevy you used to own?

Someone only known as "kjk" addresses the issue of the discrimination of
Anglo males in museums.  Mr. kjk, for the record, it has only been within
the last quart er of a century that we have seen people of color work in
museums and within that timeframe, a handful of individuals have risen to
high levels, in administrative and curatorial decision-making positions.
I think your concerns regarding the "White male minority," is a but a
pebble cast in the pond, causing ripples, but it isn't going to capsize the
status quo any time soon, by any means--but a hurricane is approaching
from the West Dorothy.

Our apologies to Tongariki because to this day, we do not know whether
he/she is a man or woman.  A first name would help.  Yes Tongariki begins
to lay down the groundwork for out next discussion.  In Tongariki's post
on Sat March 8th, Tongari ki said: "As for BOARD representation; it was
only natural given the bi-national, bi-cultural mission statement that
locally raised and recently migrated Anglo-Americans, Mexican Americans
and Mexican nationals all served on the board in equal numbers."
Tongariki's comments are in line with the New Mexico Farm & Ranch
Heritage Museum's experiences in Las Cruces, NM.

Jump starting the discussion on the need for diversity on museum boards,
Carrie Hernandez, Education Coordinator said, " As far as our boards
(both the museum and foundation) are very diversified and we feel
fortunate to have a good representation from those across the state."
She adds that the need for diversity is warranted because their museum
seeks to "tell the story of the multiculturalism in the state as
it relates to the movement of the peoples in and out throughout history.
We will present the past, see today and allow those to make sound decisions
about tomorrow," she said.

So to recap last week's dialoque, we talked about the NEED for DIVERSITY
in decision-making administrative and curatorial positions in museums,
and now we're extending the discsuiion to the need for DIVERSITY to board
representation and participation (when applicable, of course).

I can just hear it now.  Many of you will say, "We don't have any people
of color in our community or we don't know any individuals we can
approach.  So this topic is of no concern to us at the moment"  If this
describes you and your institution, then say tuned, you too can pick up
an idea or two for when THOSE PEOPLE finally make it into your neck of the
woods.

So my question to Museum-L people is should museum boards represent the
demographics of the area?  If you agree, how do you recruit those "board
members of color" if your organization doesn't have the connections in
those communities?
And how can you make sure these board members of color act as good
representatives of "their" people?  What should these board members of
color be expected to do for the institution?  Attract other prominant
board members of color or bring in specific funding?  I'd also like to
hear from actual board members on this one topic if there any of you lurking
out there in the shadows.

So, ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

Miguel