or those of you who are searching for jobs (and have already
   graduated from a museum studies program or museum studies
   certificate course...)

   I know, there is a problem with semantics here where the
   definition of "entry-level professional" is concerned but most of
   you know who you are...  I'm working on coming up with a definition
   of some sort--but let's just say, for right now, that you qualify
   if you are:
       a) no longer in school [read "you are a graduate"] and
   haven't been for 0 - 5 years and
       b) in a "junior" position (entry-level, technician, temporary
   consultant or contract, etc.).

   You may also qualify if you've been out of school for 0 - 5 years
   and looking for a job in the museum world but can't find one and so
   have been working in another field.  By school, I mean a graduate
   program in museum studies or museum education, in general.  If you
   feel you qualify under an exception, I'll be happy to hear about
   it...since I'm still fuzzy about the definitive boundaries myself.
   If you are currently a student, please don't take it personally but
   we need you to sit this one out.

   I have been given the opportunity to work with the conference
   program committee for my regional museum association.  The focus
   here is to begin to set up a framework where some of our concerns
   as junior level museum employees (or struggling to find a job
   as a junior level employee after graduation) will be addressed in
   conference programs, workshops, and membership in our associations.
   From what I myself have experienced, what others in a similar
   status as I have experienced, and from what others in a position of
   more influence than I have noticed is that there is a decisive lack
   of support for this part (our part) of the professional population.
   We are not established, widely-known museum professionals nor are
   we students--and as such, our needs and concerns (if we have any)
   may not be getting addressed properly, if at all.

   What I need to know, as soon as possible, is:
   How many of you (us?) are out there?

   Are you members of AAM or your regional association?  Are you
   members of subcommittees under AAM or your regional association?
   If not (for either or both questions), WHY?

   Have you ever been to the annual AAM conference or to your annual
   regional conference?  If so, what did you think and what did you
   wish had been done differently to give you the maximum benefit of
   attending (in terms of programming, registration fees, events,
   etc.)?

   If you never have been to a meeting, why haven't you
   attended?  (I am aware of many of the reasons for not going and I
   need even more!)

   What ideas might you have that would help make your regional or
   national meeting more beneficial in terms of your concerns, needs,
   and interests--what would make you attend?  What kinds of
   programs do you, as an entry- or junior-level employee, want to
   see?

   As a part of the above question, what could be done to make your
   MEMBERSHIP in either national or regional associations more
   beneficial?

   Other general comments are welcome...

   Some of the suggestions I have already are, to list a few:
     *  more roundtable discussion groups at conferences.  This makes
   speaking out much easier for those of us who feel intimidated by a
   room full of important and impressive people who have been in the
   business for years.
     *  sessions on nuts-and-bolts basics complete with handouts.
   Many of us have touched on things but do not have the experience or
   in-depth knowledge of them and no clear way of how to get that
   information.  Some things you just have to learn from other people
   and this would be a great place to start...
     *make conferences, workshops, and memberships less
   cost-prohibitive.  We may be in the work-force but lots of us are
   still living on graduate student (or worse) budget!  Perhaps
   develop some sort of sliding fee scale?

   Specific programs you'd like to see would also be helpful.

   I need to get back to my regional contact sometime before the end
   of next week so if you have a spare moment to comment, please do
   so.  I also urge you to pass this message along to friends,
   colleagues, enemies, what-have-you who may not be on the Museum-L
   list to get feedback.  My standard line lately has been, "you can't
   complain if you don't vote".  You can't whine about frustration and
   lack of committment on your association's part if you
   don't get involved.  I'm getting involved.  Your feedback will help
   you get involved too.

   Sorry for talking your ears off.  Hope to hear from ALL of you
   soon.   Please reply to me directly so we don't clutter the list
   with all of this.  If there is substantial interest from the rest
   of the universe, I will be more than happy to summarize the
   responses.


   Thanks,
   Jennifer
   [log in to unmask]

   P.S.  Yes, I am an entry-level employee (temporary consultant) with
   no benefits, no institutional support for conferences, young,
   enthusiastic, intelligent, suddenly un(der)hireable, etc...just
   like most (some, all?) of you.  Graduate of GWU's MSTD program,
   class of 1994.  FYI...