Thank you Jerry, that really does address the question!
Cindy Boyer
Director of Museums and Education
The Landmark Society of Western New York
133 S. Fitzhugh St.
Rochester NY 14608
(585) 546-7029 ext. 12
The Landmark Society: Revitalizing Yesterday, Protecting
Today, and Planning for Tomorrow
From: Museum discussion
list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jerry symonds
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 4:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Committees that have oversight for your events
or programs
Dear
Cindy,
I'm
not quite sure whether your question is about the role of trustees or how
events should be managed! I'll stick with the former (as this is what I know
more about ) and please take into account that I am describing a "UK
model", specifically relating to Registered Charities, which many museums
are. (That's kind of like your not for profits).
Over
this side of the pond, the Board of Trustees are both ultimately responsible
for the actions of the organisation and are independent. The way independence
is achieved is (a) they receive no remuneration from the organisation and (b)
they normally do not get involved in the day to day running of the
organisation. The day to day running is delegated to
the "Executive". So, if you have an Events Committee in the
organisation, it would come up with a program, which they might seek
approval for from the Trustees ( if that's the way the
organisation likes it) but would then get on with setting it up
and running it.
In
practice there can be tensions between the trustees and the
executive. Sometimes the trustees can get more involved in the "day
to day" than the executive like and this is viewed as
"meddling"! It's a difficult position for the trustees as they
are ultimately responsible, so sometimes they will rightly get involved if
the executive are in trouble or some organisations welcome
it, if the trustees have certain expertise that the executive lacks! My
personal view is that if the trustees do start to get involved in the day
to day, then there is a danger that this can compromise
their independance...as in most situations, personal "chemistry"
can play a key role in the dynamics at play here...
UK
subscribers to MUSEUM-L may well find my overview simplistic and no doubt can
cite many variations on this theme, however I am trying to give Cindy a model
to think over...
I'm
not sure if that helps you at all?
Kind
Regards,
Jerry
Symonds - Senior Internal Auditor
Historic
Royal Palaces
Surrey
England