Amen!  I agree 100% with this comment.  Thank you.

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Jeremy T. Chrabascz [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
	Sent: Mon 12/23/2002 9:31 AM 
	To: [log in to unmask] 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Mr. Maurer, Pay Scales, etc.
	
	

	"There is no such thing as being underpaid."  -William Maurer, Director,
	Gomez Mill House.
	
	I beg to differ.  Did anyone consider the fact that museum jobs continue to
	pay so little because so many simply "accept" it as "the way it is?"
	
	Museums, in an effort to compete for the attention of an increasingly
	sophisticated and discriminating audience, have begun to behave more and
	more like for-profit corporations (and rightfully so).  Professionalization
	and specialization are now tantamount as can clearly be seen in the
	proliferation of museum studies and museum-related MBA programs throughout
	the country.
	
	Perhaps if those coming out of such training programs (or bringing
	significant experience with them) DEMANDED higher salaries, the market
	would change.  Museum administrators might hold their ground at first but,
	eventually, as the quality of their product suffered and visitation
	dwindled they might reconsider their position.  If museums wish to conduct
	themselves more like for-profit corporations then they must appropriately
	compensate their professional staff.  Otherwise, they will suffer the same
	fate as corporations that are poorly run (or out-of-touch)--poor
	retention/public image, poor production, and incredible turnover.
	
	Earlier someone suggested a union.  Some municipalities do have union
	museum workers but they typically do not include those at the professional
	or administrative levels--they are usually for maintenance & security.
	Would be it be a good idea for museum professionals to unionize?  I'm not
	sure.
	
	Mr. Maurer's comments were symptomatic of the problem.  We will not make
	progress as an industry if other museum administrators share his views or
	if others simply "accept" them as the reality.
	
	That being said, you must be careful what you wish for.  If you wish to be
	managed and compensated according to corporate standards, then you will
	also be held more accountable for your work product.  But in my view,
	increasing accountability and raising the standards of our industry are
	good things.
	* (My comments do not reflect the views/opinions/position of my employer.) *
	
	Jeremy T. Chrabascz, Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites
	
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