Amen!  I agree 100% with this comment.  Thank you.



	-----Original Message----- 

	From: Jeremy T. Chrabascz [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 

	Sent: Mon 12/23/2002 9:31 AM 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Mr. Maurer, Pay Scales, etc.

	

	



	"There is no such thing as being underpaid."  -William Maurer, Director,

	Gomez Mill House.

	

	I beg to differ.  Did anyone consider the fact that museum jobs continue to

	pay so little because so many simply "accept" it as "the way it is?"

	

	Museums, in an effort to compete for the attention of an increasingly

	sophisticated and discriminating audience, have begun to behave more and

	more like for-profit corporations (and rightfully so).  Professionalization

	and specialization are now tantamount as can clearly be seen in the

	proliferation of museum studies and museum-related MBA programs throughout

	the country.

	

	Perhaps if those coming out of such training programs (or bringing

	significant experience with them) DEMANDED higher salaries, the market

	would change.  Museum administrators might hold their ground at first but,

	eventually, as the quality of their product suffered and visitation

	dwindled they might reconsider their position.  If museums wish to conduct

	themselves more like for-profit corporations then they must appropriately

	compensate their professional staff.  Otherwise, they will suffer the same

	fate as corporations that are poorly run (or out-of-touch)--poor

	retention/public image, poor production, and incredible turnover.

	

	Earlier someone suggested a union.  Some municipalities do have union

	museum workers but they typically do not include those at the professional

	or administrative levels--they are usually for maintenance & security.

	Would be it be a good idea for museum professionals to unionize?  I'm not

	sure.

	

	Mr. Maurer's comments were symptomatic of the problem.  We will not make

	progress as an industry if other museum administrators share his views or

	if others simply "accept" them as the reality.

	

	That being said, you must be careful what you wish for.  If you wish to be

	managed and compensated according to corporate standards, then you will

	also be held more accountable for your work product.  But in my view,

	increasing accountability and raising the standards of our industry are

	good things.

	* (My comments do not reflect the views/opinions/position of my employer.) *

	

	Jeremy T. Chrabascz, Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites

	

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