FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Courtney Patterson Coordinator Museum Trustee Association 2025 M Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 202.367.1180 extension 2 [log in to unmask] April 7, 2003 (Washington, DC) The Museum Trustee Association (MTA) has published Executive Transitions, the third in its series of Templates for Trustees. Many museum boards feel overwhelmed and under-resourced in their search for a new executive. Using Executive Transitions enables a board to focus its time and energy on filling the leadership void for the short term and selecting the best new executive for the long term. This publication, designed for the board that is conducting its own search, helps the search committee identify the leadership skills, qualities, and experience needed to move the institution forward, and shifts the focus from the previous director's strengths or weaknesses to the museum's current needs. Executive Transitions includes information, guidance and electronic templates that help a board: develop a search process timeline; create a search budget; form the search committee; conduct an institutional assessment to determine what the museum needs in terms of leadership; identify and prioritize attributes needed in the new director; write a job description and position announcement; evaluate the initial pool of applicants; conduct an interview; conduct a reference check; extend an offer; and set the stage during the transition period for the director's future success. Executive Transitions also includes ground rules for effective meetings; suggested search committee retreat activities, and a list of publications and organizations that provide useful resources on board and director assessment. Templates for Museum Trustees is a series of software-based tools designed to focus attention on the processes and tasks of governance. Executive Transitions is the third publication in the four part series. Other templates address board development, mutual assessment of the board and director, and strategic thinking and planning. Each one helps boards create documents, worksheets, and presentations tailored to their own needs. Using fill-in-the blank forms that are provided on disks, trustees or staff liaisons enter specific information about their museum and their board. The completed templates help boards to organize their thoughts, identify their priorities, and plan their actions. Each Template has two supporting components: The "User's Guide" - geared to those who will facilitate the process and interpret the data; and "Working with the Templates" - for the staff liaison or board member who will enter the data. The Templates were developed using Microsoft Office 2000. They are also compatible with Microsoft Office 97. Building Museum Boards and The Leadership Partnership and Executive Transitions are $50.00 each for MTA members; $60 for AAM members; and $75 for non-members plus shipping and handling. Executive Transitions is $90.00 each for MTA members; $100 for AAM members; and $115 for non-members plus shipping and handling. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a Federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, supports the Museum Trustee Association Templates for Trustees. The Museum Trustee Association, a national non-profit organization founded in 1986, is dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of museum governance and leadership. The MTA provides resources, programs and tools that address the major issues facing museum leaders throughout North America in areas such as strategy, policy, ethics, inclusion, sustainability and stewardship. The MTA is located in Washington, D.C. For further information or to order Templates for Museum Trustees, contact the Museum Trustee Association: 202.367.1180 or [log in to unmask] Courtney E. Patterson Coordinator Museum Trustee Association 2025 M St. NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036-3309 202.367.2476, 202.367.2180 (FAX) www.mta-hq.org <www.mta-hq.org> ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).