Elizabeth, A word of suggestion. You might start by reading Richard Steckel's book " Filthy Rich and Other Nonprofit Fantasies" It contains several excellent examples of thinking outside the square and these sorts of collaborations (cause-related marketing) are usually far more productive than professional committees, especially when you are in 'survival mode'. The idea is to get a bigger pie rather than sharing a smaller one ! I also have Richard's email address which I would be happy to send to you if you wish? best wishes Roger [log in to unmask] Read Global Museum - 82 countries, FREE online subscription, the very latest in International News, Views, Vacancies,Virtual Mall, Travel Service, Resources and more! http://www.globalmuseum.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "elizabeth Nora" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, 27 December 2000 5:03 Subject: Museum Collaborations > Hello and Happy Holidays! I have a few questions regarding museum > collaborations and I am wondering if anyone can provide me with some > information. Recently, my museum began to participate in monthly meetings > for a collaboration that just began. This group includes mostly educators, > some directors and curators. The institutions participating are four > history museums, a metropolitan park well on its way to being a botanical > garden, two art museums, and a planetarium. We have met about 5 times now. > Most of our meetings have concerned what we hope to do, but we have had no > agendas. We have just pinpointed three goals for the year 2001 but have no > committees. Two of us are fighting for the survival of the group and are > willing to work hard. The others are followers. I am afraid that we are > going to fail as a group even though the community we live in needs us > badly. We are centrally located, being within 3 miles of a rapidly > dwindling downtown, but neighbors to a growing university, Youngstown State. > Here are some questions for those of you who participate in successful > collaborations. 1. Have you set up committees or designated individuals in > leadership roles (i.e. president, vice, secretary, etc.)? 2. Who else > should we include? We have some other arts organizations and also social > services agencies, schools, etc. nearby. 3. What kinds of goals did you > set early, and did you accomplish them? 4. Did you get media support? 5. > Did you get funding, or establish yourselves as a separate entity? 6. Is > there any advice you want to offer to us. Whew! I know that is a lot but I > hope someone will help. This is so important to me and it is necessary for > the community. > > Thanks, > > Elizabeth J. Nohra > Assistant Director > Mahoning Valley Historical Society > Arms Family Museum of Local History > 648 Wick Avenue > Youngstown, Ohio 44502 > 330-743-2589 > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).