Thanks for your positive, creative ideas toward a possible solution to
our problem. Its easy to forget how much we can change our own situations
by thinking about them creatively.

On Fri, 12 Jan 1996, Sharon Koomler wrote:

> Jenni Rodda <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> >
> >I have watched this thread of discussion with interest,
> >because it is pertinent to many of us who work in
> >museums, academia, or other non-profit situations.
>
>
> There is little satisfaction in knowing that fellow museum
> professionals and acdemics are feeling the same monetary squeeze that
> I do.  ANd it is even harder for me to know that our boards calmly
> overlook the fact that we earn so little, while at the same tim emany
> of them are attorneys, bankers, and have good benefits, retirement,
> etx.
>
> Well, I was nearing the end of my rope, and realized that no one is
> responsible for my salary cap but myself.  I gave my board and
> director enough credit for realizing how valuable I was to the museum,
> and enlisted their support to let me write grants for additonal money
> to support my salary.  This year, that means I am doing a two week
> residency in an elementary scho0ol which will boost my income $1000.
> I am marketing my expertise to other museums (with money!) and being
> well paid to support their exhibits with programming.  I will travel to at
> least three museums this year to do this...and will also teach a
> gifted/talented class at the local university...  and all of this will
> allow me to quit the second job I have held for 2 1/2 years on top of
> the 50-60 hours I put in for my museum job, which I love.
>
> Long story short, is that I think museum professionals (especially
> educators) have an idea opportunity to earn and learn and build that
> resume!  Good luck to all of us.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Sharon Duane Koomler
> Director of Education
> Shaker Museum at South Union, KY
> (502) 542-7734
> e-mail [log in to unmask]
>
> "The attainments of tomorrow are dependent on the efforts of today,
> and are related to them as the blossom is to the bud,
> and the fruit to the blossom."
>
>                                   Eldress Catherine Allen, Mt. Lebanon
>