While I agree that financial support from the public would be greatly
appreciated, I think that museums who develop or foster an attitude of quid
pro quo are not serving the public in the way in which I personally believe
museums should.

The museum I work for spent years wondering why they weren't getting more
from the community. In order to answer that question, we've started asking
the question, "What have we done for them lately?"

We are in the business of serving the community and providing public benefit
to all. That might not be part of the technical definition of "non-profit"
but I think it is part of the spirit.

Erica S. Maniez
Museum Director, Issaquah Historical Society
425/392-3500
[log in to unmask]
www.issaquahhistory.org

> The museum doesn't "owe" its
> visitors any more than what a for-profit business owes its customers:  you
> get what you pay for.
>

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