In response to Jessie Johnson's query concerning the separation of collections and public programs.... (she answered my Tyvek query, so I owe her) I believe there is serious separation due to the fact that there is so much work to be done in collections, while there are so many public minds to feed, and no one can tackle it all. It's curious, however, that while public programs staff coordinates events for exhibit openings, newsletters, and other special events, the one most members attend is the Open House this museum holds every summer. It allows the members to go into the collections area, see dead stuff in cases (high security, I assure you), and ask the collections staff & researchers questions. A helluva lot more interactive than some exhibits nowadays. We also host an Ask-the-Experts night, where members can bring in some treasure they've found on the beach, on a hike, or in auntie's attic. Our staff will identify it, and tell the owner where thay can have it appraised if it may be of value. Meanwhile, back in public programs, the education staff is hosting hikes and reef walks, now with REAL researchers as guides - previously they ran these things without anyone knowledgeable enough to really teach anything. Also, they used to never ask "what does a botanist really DO in the field?", but they'd run a program anyway. OY! So the research staff has gotten p.o.'ed and stuck their noses in and volunteer their Saturday mornings in order to free their consciences of any wrong-doing the education staff may be doing. We've even gotten into producing our own little one wall displays to keep the staff and publisc up-to-date on what the collections & research staff really does do in the field, lab, etc. Senior management misunderstands the common goal that museum staff often hold dear to their hearts. Units can have some serious dividing lines, but I really believe that these lines can be broken down with some hard communication between staff. Have a potluck lunch to introduce yourselves, share ideas, pound on desks! And ask questions yourselves! Karen J. Kroslowitz phone: 808-848-4118 Natural Sciences, Malacology fax: 808-841-8968 Bernice P. Bishop Museum [log in to unmask]