As a small museum with limited resources for benefits we just have
individual ($25) and family ($40) membership levels with the same benefits
(free admission to the museum, 10% discount in the shop, newsletter and
upcoming events information and invitations to members only exhibit
previews).   None of these benefits has any value (our admission is a
"suggested donation" and you can pick up the newsletters free at the
Museum)for tax purposes.   We then ask (on our membership form) for
"additional donations" to support the Museums programs with suggested values
of $25, $50, $100 and "other"; these we clearly identify as fully tax
deductable.

Early on in my directorial days I saw a museum brochure that tried to come
up with different sets of benefits that (in the words of Click and Clack)
were so booogus that it really had the opposite effect -- instead of
thinking, wow I'm really getting more privileges for more money, I thought,
why would I give more money for these really lame "benefits".

Since all we're really offering is a warm and fuzzy feeling I figure we
might as well be straight-forward about it!

Janice Klein
Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
[log in to unmask]
www.mitchellmuseum.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Richard Seidman
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 10:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Membership levels and brochures


        Dear Friends,

        The Southern Oregon Historical Society is in the process of
revamping our membership levels and benefits. We would really appreciate
seeing how other museums and historical societies structure their
memberships. Please snail-mail or e-mail us a copy of your membership
brochure and membership levels.

        Thanks!

        Richard Seidman, Development Coordinator
        Southern Oregon Historical Society
        106 N. Central Ave.
        Medford, OR 97501
        541-773-6536, ext. 226
        [log in to unmask]

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