I am not alone in feeling the AAM staff is doing very well on behalf of
America's museums.  After 17 years of membership, though, a period during
which our entire professional universe has changed, I wonder whether the
AAM board wouldn't welcome some solid proposals from the "hired help" to
take on some new and member-useful home office projects?

The AAM board consists of professionals who undoubtedly have demanding "day
jobs."   Our own museum boards are filled with similarly busy people.  They
tend to expect the professionals on  staff to make the recommendations, not
the other way around.

I am glad Andy Finch is a staff conduit for Museum-L meanderings or, at
least, that some of these thoughts are being shared within the home office.

----------
> From: Andy Finch <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Speaking for AAM
> Date: Thursday, July 24, 1997 11:08 AM
>
> Good question.
>
> We have an elected board that makes policy decisions.  Occasionally such
> decisions are subjected to a vote of the entire membership.  An annual
> report published in Museum News informs the membership of board actions
> and of course includes a full financial disclosure.  Three councils --
> affiliates, standing professional committees, and regional organizations
> -- meet with board representatives three times a year.  Each affiliate,
> SPC and regional also has a liaison on the AAM staff.
>
> AAM staff and board members attend state, affiliate and regional meetings
> around the country.  On these occasions we "represent" AAM and to that
> extent we are speaking "officially" for the association.  If we are asked
> about something on which the association has not adopted a policy -- for
> example, salary guidelines or benchmarks -- we can only offer personal
> opinions, as I did on museum-l.
>
> In terms of dealing with the media, the Government and Public Affairs
> Department provides background information, but only the President and
> CEO (Ed) can be quoted as an official spokesman.
>
> For what it's worth, the attitude among most of the staff is that we are
> merely the hired help -- you, the members, are the Association.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Andy Finch
> AAM Government Affairs
> [log in to unmask]
> Standard Disclaimers
>
> On Wed, 23 Jul 1997, Ross Weeks wrote:
>
> > Who DOES speak for AAM anyway?