I normally wouldn't reply due to my busy schedule. But I sympathize...I have
known too many people in the field that have two or more jobs (like myself),
live at home (years after what is appropriate) or choose not to have
families or marry due to the financial issues within the field.

It is definitely something that a new comer should be aware of before
entering. It is a choice although an unfortunate one. It seems quality work
should be paid a fair wage. Often we are taken advantage of...

I can't imagine today doing anything else but I certainly didn't know what I
was getting into as a student and volunteer.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Martino [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 1:25 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Volunteering for museum jobs...
>
> [snip]
>
> >Perhaps its just a grumpy Friday afternoon, but no one is forced to
> >volunteer and no one is forced to work in the museum profession.  Most of
> us
> >do it because it adds value to our lives and makes a contribution to the
> >community.
>
> And maybe it's just a grumpy Wednesday, but I would like to point out that
> this position is just the fallacy of the excluded middle.  It's like the
> old saying, "America - Love it or Leave it!"  Sure, I love America, but it
> has its warts too.
>
> To say that your only two options are to either completely accept
> everything as it is now or to simply get out of the field altogether is
> doing a tremendous disservice to a lot of professional, talented,
> dedicated
> people.  Yes, I love my profession.  I wouldn't be a lawyer for all the
> money under Bill Gates' mattress.  But I have a family to consider, and it
> remains to be seen whether or not I can continue in this profession and
> also meet my obligations to them.  It all makes me rather sad.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bob Martino                           "I look up to the heavens
> Assistant Director                     but night has clouded over
> Perkins Observatory                    no spark of constellation
>                                        no Vela no Orion."
> http://www.perkins-observatory.org                     -Enya
>
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