I have been both a volunteer and a paid employee at museums of varying sizes, and strongly believe that the least a museum can do is to give their volunteers a free newsletter.  Please be sensitive to the fact that people come from very different backgrounds and economic situations. While a student I could donate time but not money. For those with limited income even a $30 membership fee can be impossible. Why restrict involvement to those with money? 

As for sense of ownership, I think putting in sweat and time is just as important as a financial donation, if not more so. That sense of ownership has stuck with me. I'm now a member of the museum where I first volunteered (and was not a dues-paying member at the time), and hope to be able to donate financially over the coming years. 

Some people choose to give money, others give time. Ideally a museum can use and appreciate both. Relationships take time to develop, and just because a volunteer doesn't initially give money doesn't mean that they won't ever, or that they aren't contributing something worthwhile to the institution.

Cedar Phillips

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