As the Director of a small historic house, I am asked to talk at a number of
meetings.  These meetings fall into three categories: the first are luncheon
meetings of civic clubs like the Lions or Rotary. Secondly are Senior
Citizen meetings in the afternoon and third, historical societies in the
evening.

The first usually provide lunch and this is a fifteen minute to a half hour
presentation on the house, site and its history.  If close by, takes up my
lunch hour. The second, the Seniors, want to see the half hour video and
have a full presentation.  Coffee and cookies are provided.  The talk goes
on for an hour or so and sometime can last into the middle of the afternoon.
No money is offered and really, none expected. Note that both of these take
place on "company" time. There is the promise of visiting the house in the
future.

The historical societies have their meetings in the evening and get the full
treatment. Video, talk, maybe a special show and tell artifact or two.  For
this I ask for a donation for my historic house.  Last night was $50.  This
meeting was 36 miles from my office. I arrived there about six o'clock,
walked around the town, killed some time, bought my own dinner and after the
meeting was over, drove 81 miles home, arriving after 11 PM.


Two weeks ago I spoke to a group that handed me a check for $100 but after
hearing their budget and their projects (and their balance) returned the
check. (An aside to this was the following weekend a contributor to my site
stopped in and asked if I had talked to that historical society yet. I said
yes and he asked how much was I paid? I said they were in such bad shape, I
donated it back to their archival program. He was upset because the
historical society had hit him up for the "fee" and he wanted me and my
house to have it!)

My question is a two parter.  Do you charge for talks to these groups and,
do you personally keep the money or does it go to the site's budget? I think
a written policy would help everyone involved with this and want your ideas.
Any thoughts?
Bill Maurer
www.gomez.org