Whenever I get into these discussions during retreats or planning sessions,
I always try to get the staff & board involved in determining the PURPOSE
of a museum rather than a definition.  If one considers the PURPOSE of a
museum, it is easy to see that collecting and preserving are not the
PURPOSE, but rather a PROCESS.

One can also see that education is not necessarily the PURPOSE, but it
comes close to the goal of preserving the important aspects of our society
so that future generations can (hopefully) learn from the past and work
towards an even better future.  Of course, we are not sure that society
learns from its past, but we in museums can be eternally hopeful.
*****************************************************************
D. Neil Bremer
Bremer Communications
Image and Communication Skills for Business
Office: (708) 848-5945
Fax:    (708) 848-6011
Email:  [log in to unmask]
URL:    http://www.bremercommunications.com

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