I have read a lot recently on this list about how salaries are too low, how the value of the museum community is perceived as low compared to other, more fundamental areas, and how we need to start thinking of ways to get more money. What I haven't seen any mention of is how the existing money is managed. As a former museum employee and now a consultant who works with many non-profits, I have learned through observation that the non-profit mentality can really be a detriment to a non-profit institution. What I mean by this is that, because the environment lacks the pressure to turn a profit that exists in a corporate environment, museums lack the incentive to make the smartest, most efficient decisions. In many cases, they don't draw (or seek) top-level management who have the sort of experience that would allow them to make those decisions. I know that many people on this list will be opposed to the idea of viewing a museum as a "corporation." I'm not proposing that extreme, but I do think a lot of benefits could be derived from switching to a more businesslike mentality. There is a lot of room within every non-profit to make changes that will improve efficiency and allow the existing money to go a lot farther. There are ways to build success and revenue without compromising the institution's integrity, and I think this is an avenue that should be carefully explored. Kez __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.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).