Here’s something to think about: if this trustee isn’t talking to you, he may not be talking to other trustees either and has ‘surprised’ the board too.  You may consider presenting the board with a recommendation as well as a written policy proposal calmly spelling out the need and suggesting a solution.  A ‘Book of Honor’ is also a way to go… containing fancy certificates printed out and placed near the entrance.   A policy gives you the backing, in writing, to politely say no to a trustee.

 

Writing a recommendation and a policy proposal works. It stopped a few practices on a different subject:  Just as annoying, are board members who clean out their homes and bring items to donate. Or, this is interesting,  they attend the auction containing consigned, deaccessioned objects from the museum that were approved for sale… then they buy the objects and want to donate them back!   Now word of mouth has stopped the trickle of house cleaned objects and  auction items are no longer repurchased.   

 

I hope this is useful.  Not rocket science. If you’ve ever written a policy for collections, it’s the type of paper. Only shorter and in simple language.

 

Cheryl Stoeber-Goff, Museum Curator

Historic Services Division

Monmouth County Park System

New Jersey

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