Ross Weeks said:  "The question is, when does a
     volunteer relinquish the freedom of being a private
     citizen?"

     Hmmm.  We they cross the "barrier" into our secure
     areas and start working with our artifacts?  When they
     "go to work" for us, and become part of our public
     relations team?  When they become something more than a
     public level visitor to the museum, and, in fact,
     become part of our crew - team - staff?  Any of these
     will suffice for me :)

     Obviously we're not going to do anything horrid to a
     volunteer who collects in competition with us, but do
     we want them representing us?  I don't, because their
     loyalty is elsewhere.  Seems to me that the AAM Code of
     Ethics has a whole section entitled "Loyalty and
     Conflict of Interest," and specifically mentions
     volunteers.  So does ours.

     Chris Dill

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
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Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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