Tom Vaughan asks a good question: what are some of the means Board
members can use to get independent feedback on museum operations
> without getting personally involved.
>
        I, for one, would never become a board member of a museum--the legal
responsibilities and ethical obligations are just too great--I would
collapse in a quivering heap of jello.  I am not sure that most non-profit
board members understand this.  Board education is the first obligation of
the staff.  And the board owes it to the institution to make an effort to
become informed.

        One way to ensure that they know what is going on is to make sure
they understand how the museum's work looks when it is done right--then seek
reports from the staff that explains what they are doing to see that it
operates according to that plan.  A board also needs a strong committee
structure so that there are members who develop more expertise in each area
the museum operates in--this enables them to translate what the staff is
saying to see if it jives with the way things are supposed to work.  The
board should also insist on written policies and procedures to ensure that
basic work gets done the same way every time.

        The other thing a board can do is encourage and support the director
when he/she wants to bring in outsiders to do independent assessment of the
organization.  In the U.S., this might involve some sort of MAP visit, or
applying for accreditation by the AAM.

        They also need to keep their ears to the ground in the community.
Many times, things going on at the museum may reach the community rumor mill
before they get to the board.  The board has the right, and indeed the
responsibility, to ask the director very pointed questions about what they
might be hearing in the community.

        A good board that is doing its job will not have time to micromanage
a museum operation.

        Just one woman's opinion.

Claudia
Curator
Museum Collections Department
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. W.
St. Paul, MN  55102-1906
  e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
  Phone:  651-297-7442
  FAX:  651-297-2967

> ----------
> From:         Tom Vaughan[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Friday, April 09, 1999 8:34 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: The role of the Board (was: Exhibits Committee)
>
> While I agree in principle with the cautions sounded by
> John Martinson and Harry Needham about Board micro-
> management of museum operations by being personally
> involved, and I certainly agree that responsibility AND
> authority (often forgotten) needs to delegated to staff as
> appropriate, it still seems inescapable that the director is
>
> accountable to the Board for the museum's welfare. In
> that sense, with the power to hire and fire the director,
> and
> with responsibility for overall policy and mission, the
> Board
> IS ultimately responsible for museum operations.
>
> I don't need to go into
>
> the list of names of directors and other high-ranking museum
>
> officials who have hoodwinked their hands-off Boards about
> illegal or unethical activities until a scandal erupts that
> brings
> the whole outfit into disrepute.I should add that this problem of
> oversight is not limited
> to
> museums; I've encountered it in other organizations, too
> (specially nonprofits).
>
> tom
> --
> Tom Vaughan    "The Waggin' Tongue"
> <[log in to unmask]>   (970) 533-1215
> 11795 Road 39.2, Mancos, CO 81328  USA
> Cultural Resource Management, Interpretation, Planning, &
> Training
>