what admission fees pay,....

[IndianaCarGuy]

I talked to a friend the other day who administers the entrance admission fees for a couple of museums in Wisconsin. It seems that, even though they have yearly admissions revenues of over $780,000, for about 120,000 people a year (average) the actual maintenance, administration and programming cost about a million and a half, which they fund through grants, state matching funds for educational programs, and fundraising through a museum association and endowment. However, endowment money is ONLY allowed to be used for upkeep, maintenance and emergency repair, no staff funding or EXHIBIT conservation or purchases. The volunteer staff is about 240, and the day to day staffing is about 20, with 8 historic buildings on 30 acres. Amazingly, the director is ALSO in charge of facility maintenance (engineering and history background) and he makes just over 100,000 a year, and the rest are low $40's or less. This museum is about 20 years old, and was begun by a farmer who donated all buildings, land, and about $50,000 in cash to the non-profit organization when he died. By the way,...it does not bear the name of either the former owner, or any director.<P>So what is a yearly budget going to look like when a museum is running? <P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-30-2000).]

[Guest]

OK ~ There MUST be at least ONE Museum director who looks at this forum occasionally, not counting Father Ron.<P>If you could possibly answer RS's last question it would be greatly appreciated. Maybe even just a statement that SOMEBODY is working on that would be useful.<P>A complete absence of any comment by a Museum director would be indicitive of either a lack of future planning for the operation of the Museum or a lack of regard for the members and their questions expressed here on this Forum which, by the way, IS sponsored by the AACA.<P>hvs

[novaman]

We all know Father Ron is still kicking. What about the other directors? Are they already stuffed to be put on display when the museum opens? Is there life out there?