>It is up to the museum's CEO to put before the nominating committee the
>names of minorities who might be willing to serve on the board.  The board
>typically will not take that initiative.
>
>You don't identify the kind of museum you have, nor where it is.  Those make
>a difference in how an institution builds the diversity of its board, in my
>experience.
>
>If the museum has an educational program, for example, the educational
>community has a stake in it.   Schools typically have ethnic diversity in
>faculty and administration.   Social service agencies and government bodies
>include potentially helpful board members.  Corporations are more and more
>ethnically diverse, and encourage their executives to provide expertise to
>the non-profits in their communities.  There are businesses owned by various
>minorities.
>
>My personal view is that "ethnic diversity" is a means to an end.  A museum
>board needs to represent its constituency, and also find ways to broaden its
>following.  No board member "ought" to be chosen unless that individual can
>assist the museum in its mission and its support.  Ethnic nominees should be
>proposed on the same basis that other members are nominated -- how can they
>help?  Having token ethnicity on the board for the sake of looking good on
>grant applications, being politically correct, or whatever, serves no good
>purpose.
>Ross Weeks Jr.
>http://histcrab.netscope.net
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: jennifer marie cohlman <[log in to unmask]>
>Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Tuesday, March 16, 1999 9:20 AM
>
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I was wondering if anyone had ideas on approaching your mueum board to
>>become ethnically diverse?  Particularly if the board seems open to the
>>idea, but unsure how to take it to the next level.



----------------

Angela L. Fox
Curator, American Indian Collections
Spurlock Museum
University of Illinois
E-Mail:  [log in to unmask]
Phone:  217-244-3900