Carrie,

Sounds like the typical new/small museum board at work!

It seems you are at the point where some specific plans need to be written,
approved, and applied concerning the roles of volunteers and board members.
This would include responsibilities of volunteers/board members, and their respective
interacting roles.  Remember, however, that the Board President is usually over the Museum
Director or in your case you as a volunteer.  If there is no Executive Director or official
over the museum * and it is operating * then it is time to do so.  

If you are running the "museum" *- that is when the Board members need to back off.  
That is, they write the policy * but staff (or in your case--volunteers) run the day-to-day
operation of the museum.

It is not going to work well, if you have the board members in trying to take 
control or per say, the President * who seems that they want to run the board---plus
the museum and all associated staff.   It will not work.   It is called delegating and trusting
your volunteers and/or staff.  It is also not going to work if board members are not doing
or allowed to do their job on committees or as members of the board....and the President
does all.  The board needs to discuss this in an open setting with volunteer/staff present.

Does your organization have a mission plan, by-laws and other related operational
laws for your organization--that is the boards job to provide such legal papers.  There 
are lots of good books out there on organizing boards and museums, PLUS separating the roles of
boards and staff.  

Best of luck,

John 
Boise, ID


>>> [log in to unmask] 2/9/2006 12:43:40 PM >>>
I volunteer for a small arts organization that is in the middle of a
difficult transition. The organization has been around for about 20 years,
but it still floundering.  By floundering I mean the roof leaks, we can't
really heat the place, maintenance and janitorial issues are often not taken
care in a timely ... <snip>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).