MTA E-News - October 2008

Welcome to the latest news from the Museum Trustee Association, The Network for Informing, Advising and Inspiring Museum Trustees. We want to share our monthly newsletter with all your museum trustees. If we don't have a current roster for your institution, please email it to Donna McQuery at office@mta-hq.org . MTA keeps these names and email addresses confidential of course.

A Message from MTA President Jim McCreight

With the financial turmoil of the past few months more museums are focusing on how their development programs can be strengthened in 2009 and trustees play a large role in helping provide the financial resources to their museums. We not only give personally but play an important part in finding new donors.

Before you begin a campaign to find new donors MTA suggests your board, along with your Director, evaluate your current development program. Several questions should be asked and answered before beginning your solicitations.

What value does your museum bring to its community? Does your community have real needs that your museum fills?
Why should a donor support you? There are hundreds of organizations asking for support. What is compelling about your need?
Do you have a clearly defined mission? Donors whose personal interests are similar to your mission are the easiest donors to obtain.
Does everyone on your board make an appropriate gift? Are gifts based on ability to make or a minimum expectation to serve on the board?
Do you have an effective board, staff, and volunteer organization? All must work together to effectively raise funds for your museum.
How does the community perceive your museum? Would it matter if it closed tomorrow?
How many legitimate prospects do you have? You will need many more prospects than eventual donors.
How has your museum raised money in the past? What worked and what didn't work?
Are your fundraising goals realistic? Your goals need to be based on past experience, current prospects, and your compelling value proposition.
How much money does your museum have to spend on fundraising? It costs money to raise money.
Do you have a deficit? How do you plan to retire it? Many donors will not donate to pay off past debt. They are interested in new programs or facilities. Address the debt before starting new programs or building new buildings.
How experienced is your board in raising money? Not every board member can "make the ask" but all can provide introductions or assist in cultivation events. Determine who your "ask" board members are and who are the "helpers".
Is your board really committed to raising funds for your museum? Do you tell new board members that serving on the board means giving what you are able as well as assisting in the museums fundraising efforts?

2009 may be a difficult year for many museums to maintain their present program levels and expand if desired but a well trained and committed board who share a common passion about the museums mission and value to the community will succeed! Good luck with your fundraising.

MTA Chairman Aaron Milrad elected to AXA Art Insurance Corporation Board of Directors

NEW YORK- (September 27, 2008) - AXA Art Insurance Corporation announced that Aaron M. Milrad has been elected as a member of its Board of Directors. The company now counts thirteen esteemed board members. Aaron M. Milrad is a celebrated arts and culture lawyer, serving Canadian, U.S. and international clients in the areas of the arts, media, and intellectual property. An avid patron of the arts, Milrad is widely recognized as a collector of contemporary and modern paintings, sculpture ceramics and photography, and for his contributions to the international cultural community.

Welcome to Our Newest MTA Members

Tampa Bay History Museum

Tampa, FL

www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

The Tampa Bay History Center grew out of a Historical Museum Task Force created by Hillsborough County's Commissioners in 1986. The History Center's exciting mission is to educate visitors about the important history that has shaped and continues to shape the Tampa Bay area. Today, the Tampa Bay History Center provides quality historical and educational services and programs. The beneficiaries over time are the region's three million permanent residents and more than 15 million annual visitors.

The goal of the permanent exhibit experience is to encourage visitors to understand the value of the Tampa Bay area's history in the larger context of our shared national heritage and to see themselves as history makers. Like the individuals who have gone before them, visitors will realize that their motivations, actions and decisions will also play an important role in influencing the course of human events.

While the exhibit content will focus on the history and events in and around the Tampa Bay region that have shaped our community today, the themes will provide activities and encounters designed to appeal to a broad audience, from children to adult learners. The permanent exhibits will explore approximately 500 years of recorded history and 12,000 years of human habitation in the region. With the aid of a variety of audio- visual and interactive components, Native Americans and Spanish conquistadors, pioneer settlers and cigar workers, immigrants and cowboys, military and sports heroes will all transcend time to make their acquaintance and introduce museum visitors to their memorable and unique bygone experiences.

More information on specific exhibits in the new museum will be coming soon.

Thanks to MTA Patrons

Many THANKS to our MTA Patrons for 2007 and 2008 who have been an important part of the success of MTA the past two years!

Mary Beth Adderley - Barb Barbatelli - Elizabeth Bergan Jack Bogart - Pam Bruder - Andrew Camden - Ellen Charles - Mary Clark - Dede Feldman - Anna Garner - Charles Janson - Karen Johnston - Richard Kelly - Mo King - Gordon Lankton - Greta Layton - Don Luria - Richard Manoogian - Sheila McGinity - Van Merle-Smith

Aaron Milrad - James Moore - Lenny Nelson - Richard Platt - Josh Prottas - Wendy Rebanks - Kathy Rines - Ben Schore - Joel Sugg - Murray Tarnapoll - Sam Thorne - Nell Waltz - Indru Watumull - Jean Wente - Dick Wheatland - Mary Wieler - Dede Wilsey - Amira Zahid

If you would like to support MTA as a Patron contributor contact Jim McCreight at president@mta-hq.org.

Regional Museum Conferences

MTA has presented workshops on Building Better Museum Boards at three regional museum association conferences this fall and will appear at another next month.

MTA has have presented at the Western Museums Association conference in Anchorage, AK, the Southeastern Museums Association in Birmingham, AL, the Association of Midwest Museums and Mountain-Plains Museums Association joint meeting in Kansas City, MO and the Mid-Atlantic Museums conference in Washington, D.C within the past two months.

MTA is scheduled to present at the New England Museums Association in Rhode Island in November and hope to see you there.

New England Museums Association

Warwick, Rhode Island
November 12-14, 2008

MTA participation in workshop: Beyond Board Orientation: Inspiring and Sustaining Trustees

2009

American Association of Museums Annual Meeting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 30-May 4, 2009

Join Us for Trustees Day on

Saturday, May 2, 2009

MARK YOUR CALENDAR to attend the AAM Trustee Day program in Philadephia on May 2, 2009

MTA is working with the American Association of Museums in developing an outstanding program for the second annual Trustees Day program at the AAM annual conference. Mark your calendars for Saturday May 2, 2009. An outstanding keynote speaker has been obtained and we will tell you more about that next month.

GUIDEBOOKS AND SOFTWARE TEMPLATES

A reminder that our Guidebook and software template Building Museum Boards has been reprinted and is available for only $50 for MTA members, $60 for AAM members and $75 for non-members.

Order by calling toll-free 1-866-640-7555.