Part of the problem is funding. At the historic site I work for, I always
get at least a handful of people who assume it is free to go in and that
all our staff are unpaid volunteers. Even more complain about our entry fee
of $7.

I'd love to earn more but where is it going to come from? Government sites
are getting their budgets gutted too. I think the core problem is a lack of
support from the public at large. Without their support (and money) you
won't see an increase in pay.

No site is going to operate at a loss for very long. Just the reality.

KAJ
On Sep 6, 2013 8:46 AM, "Adrian Miller" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Thank you for clearing this up. The profession seems to have a significant
> volume of unpaid "interns" or volunteers, whatever the institution chooses
> to call them.
>
> Even still, the paid employees are so vastly underpaid compared to almost
> every other business / profession. I recently saw a posting for a $15/hour
> job that required a Master's degree in museum studies plus 5 years
> experience (approx $31,200/yr)
>
> Compare this to an entry level admin position (general business) that pays
> $43K to start with a 6-month review. (I just helped a client find someone
> to fill that spot.)
>
> Passion aside, everyone has to eat.
>
> How has it been that the world of museums and historic houses has fallen
> so far off the grid in terms of pay scale?
>
> Why isn't there more of an unpromising?:)
>
> Best
> A
>
>
> Adrian Miller
> Business Growth Architect
>
> We help build your business.
>
> 516-767-9288 (office)
> 516-445-1135 (cell)
> www.adrianmiller.com
> www.adriansnetwork.com
>
> My blogs:  <http://www.theblatanttruthsalesblog.com/>
> http://www.theblatanttruthsalesblog.com
> http://www.bestnetworkingnow.com
> Linkedin:  <http://www.linkedin.com/amillersalestraining>
> http://www.linkedin.com/amillersalestraining
>
> Read My Book:  The Blatant Truth: 50 Ways to Sales Success<http://www.theblatanttruth.com/>
> http://www.theblatanttruth.com/
>
>
> Adrian's Network - Freestyle Networking.  Real Business.
> http://www.adriansnetwork.com/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 6, 2013, at 8:28 AM, Michelle Zupan <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> @ Matthew White -- testy are we?? Don't know where you got the "scut work"
> implication from my post because I never mentioned any actual work.
>
> The regulations are clear (we've checked this through our attorneys as
> well as HR) that if the intern will be doing the same work that a paid
> employee would do (scut or not) and it is to the employers advantage then
> the "intern" must be paid otherwise they need to be called a volunteer.
> Internships are meant to be for the benefit of the intern more so than the
> institution.  Non-profits are absolutely going to fall under this ruling
> whether they like it or not.  The DOL information clearly uses the term
> "volunteer" for unpaid work.
>
> --
> *Michelle Zupan*
> Curator
> Hickory Hill & the Tom Watson Birthplace
> 502 Hickory Hill Drive
> Thomson, GA  30824
> 706-595-7777
> FAX: 706-595-7177
>
> Visit us at www.hickory-hill.org or on Facebook.
>
> Historic homes of the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc<http://www.watson-brown.org/>
> .
>
>
>
>
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