Please share!!
Regards,
Ella Aderman
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Hosley William
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2014 11:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] The plaqued museum -- dedication plaques
Its gets so so tiresome. People who do the work we do - most of us for peanuts - we care so deeply about content, public service and institutional advancement. Having made personal sacrifices (some, not all) to serve this business - even
though we get paid - you then wind up with some trustees whose cluelessness is only exceeded by their selfishness. The other trustees are often too polite to admonish one of their own and there you have it - a mess.
I developed a trustee recruitment rights and responsibilities survey and checklist that I think is effective and could screen out wingnuts. Happy to share it. Not that every org can or should have the same policies - but trustees should
have skin in the game - and it shouldn't be left to them entirely - or be utterly subjective what constitutes an in kind contribution and what is just self-serving nonsense - of the sort you describe.
William Hosley
Terra Firma Northeast
Cultural Resource Marketing & Development Consultant
860-944-8349
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Skype - william.hosley
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On Nov 19, 2014, at 10:28 AM, David Lewis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
A quick rant, and then a follow-up question.
We have a board member who seems to be wanting to thunk a dedication plaque on anything and everything that doesn’t move. This board member is a wood-worker, and decided to make a new exhibit case (without talking to us, or asking if we wanted or needed a
case) using materials that the museum purchased. He then puts a large brass plaque on this custom made case with the words "Built by (his name) and dedicated to (his father)" . . . . and the kicker -- this board member then submits the invoice to be reimbursed
for the cost of the plaque?!
*head thunk!*
The same well-intentioned fellow stuck (he’s using double-sticky-foam tape) a brass dedication plaque —- this time dedicated to all who used to work in the building —- directly ON the original door to the museum’s historic building. This door had been removed/replaced
and is considered an artifact in our collection that he was asked to mount on a free-standing frame for an exhibit.
*deep-sigh!*
So, we’ll certainly have a “conversation” with him about not mounting a plaque directly ON an artifact, but does anyone have any suggestions, guidelines, that I can share. If this isn’t nipped in the bud I’m envisioning a museum that has little brass dedication
plaques on everything, making it look like Minnie Pearl’s hat at a tag-sale!
What I am really looking for is some photos per perhaps a cartoon of what NOT to do. Anyone have anything to offer? Anyone want a hard-working, self-motivated board member? I’ve one to donate to you -- and I won’t even ask that you put a dedication plaque
on him crediting me! (he'll probably put the plaque on himself!)
- David -
Curator, at some plaqued museum
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