Hi Deb et al:

> While I agree with you on the paid leave, I don't on the
last
> statement that conference fees should be the
responsibility
> of the employee. Museums should try and pay for these
things
> and put them in the budget. If they are never budgeted
then you
> will never have the chance to get the money for them. I
believe
> that no museum is so strapped for a few hundred dollars
that
> it can't pay at least registration fees. If you are that
strapped,
> then you really need to take a good hard look at your
budget
> and where money is going.

Bottom line:  An interview provides a would-be employee the
opportunity to ask about policies governing
conference/course fees and travel expenses.  If you don't
like the answer you receive - i.e., "There's no money in the
budget - never has been and never will be" - don't accept
the job.  If, OTOH, they state there are monies budgeted, go
for it.  But it seems wholly unprofessional to take a job
and then start demanding all sorts of financial support.

If the museum seems to have money left over every year, by
all means, try to get some set aside to subsidize or pay for
these expenses.  Ideally, the museum should TRY - your word,
Deb - to pay.  But what if they CANNOT?

Also, there are plenty of museums that are so strapped for a
few hundred dollars.  You know, the kind of museum that has
one paid employee and dozens of volunteers . . . the kind
that has buildings falling apart, in desperate need of
conservation/renovation . . . the kind that owes its
survival to a few kind (and rich) hearts on the Board of
Directors/Governors.  These are museums that can't give
raises on an annual basis, the kind that cut staffing, the
kind that accept exhibits that appeal to a mass audience
even though devoid of intellectual content, etc.

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman, Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone)     342-2376 (fax)     www.joslyn.org

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