We (Locust Grove, a historic house/plantation) did inform donors and
their descendents about our recent deaccessions, because they would
probably find out anyway. The auction was public; and we also didn't
want them coming to the site later to show off a gift to us, and find
it... not there. We explained that we were required by policy and law
NOT to offer the items back to them, but they had the opportunity of
bidding at the auction just like anyone else. I think one person
actually did. We had been as open and public as possible about our
re-assessment of the collection, and our re-intepretation and
re-furnishings plan, and we made lots of opportunities for donors,
supporters, and other curious people to see our plans in formation and
to ask questions. 

One woman was so distressed about two pieces of furniture that her
mother had bought for the site that she came by to protest. I took her
on a tour of the House, showed her the changes we were making, showed
her why those pieces were no longer appropriate or needed, and showed
her all the fine furnishings that we WERE keeping. She left not exactly
delighted, but reassured that we truly cared and valued the donated
items. 

It was all a lot of work, but in the end, people appreciated that we
were including them. I don't think it hurt us with donors.  

Carol Ely
Historic Locust Grove
Louisville 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Regan Brooks
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 3:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: While on deaccessioning . . .

As the majority of our donors are (a) still living (b) local and
(c)occasionally have a hard time understanding that when they donate
something to us it becomes legally ours (despite our best attempts to
explain this and the deed of gift saying as much), we do not inform
donors of a deaccession.

Regan Brooks
Registrar
Gaston County Museum of Art & History
PO Box 429
Dallas, NC 28034-0429
704.922.7681 ext. 107
 Don't Know What to Do About H1N1 Flu?  Call (704)-854-H1N1 (4161)

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Norris, Miriam
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] While on deaccessioning . . .

How many of you inform donors, as a courtesy, of your decision to
deacession and object they have donated to your collection?

-- Miriam S. Norris
Collections Manager

The Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art
The University of Alabama
103 Garland Hall
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

[log in to unmask]
205-348-5827




On 11/4/09 7:42 PM, "Jessica Neuwirth" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

This policy is codified in he code of ethics that AAM and AASLH support,
its written into law in New York state, and is considered industry
standard...best place to start is the AAM web site...

On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 5:39 PM, Julie Blood
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some information regarding the use of funds from the
deaccessioning of objects in the permanent collection.  I remember
attending a workshop last year that mentioned that the funds are
restricted to acquisition of items for the collection and that funds not
being used in that way could have repercussions towards the non-profit
from the IRS.  Can anybody clarify this for me and direct me to a site
that specifically has that information.  I was asked by one of our board
members to research this information.  There seems to be a lot of
confusion surrounding this topic, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Julie

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