It seems each day brings more news about cutbacks at museums across the country. Layoffs have been announced at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. No doubt there are many more museums also planning cutbacks in staff and programming. What responsibilities do we as Trustees have to help our museum navigate tough times?

First, it's critical that the Board receive from the Director current and accurate financial reports. In these times quarterly financial reports might be too little too late. As events change rapidly in this economy monthly reports to the Finance Committee and Executive Committee in larger museums and to the entire board in smaller museums are critical. Tracking this year month by month against the same month the previous year can often give us signs of trouble or success. The same kind of reporting in regard to the endowment funds is also critical as the market continues to fluctuate. Many endowment balances have dropped 25% to 40% while Boards sat by and watched the investments decline month after month without taking action. Watching the Dow drop from 14,000 to 7,000 may be a 50% decline but the Board needs to understand to get from 7,000 back to 14,000 requires a 100% gain! Is your board or advisors capable of rebuilding your endowment? If not, the Board needs to work with the Director to find investment advisors who can better protect your endowments.

Secondly, it's important that the Trustees be positive Ambassadors in the community for the museum, promoting the benefits of joining, donating, and participating in the programs of the museum even if times are bad for many in the community. Recently, the High Desert Museum in Central Oregon held a Free Day sponsored by a local credit union and a gentleman approached a staff member and said "I've recently lost my job, had my home foreclosed, and coming here today with my kids helped me forget about all my problems." Even in bad times, museums matter! Visiting a museum, zoo, aquarium, or historical museum can refresh, inspire and calm us in these difficult times. If at all possible, Boards working with the Director should make cuts if necessary "behind the scenes" such as reductions in salary or salary freezes and keeping vacant positions open  and keep programming and museum hours which are visible to the public in place. Projecting stability to the public and progress in planning for the future is critical to maintaining member and donor support.

Trustees bring a wealth of experience to their museums that can make the difference between surviving these difficult times or failing. Let's agree to focus on solutions for our museum, agree to attend more committee or board meetings if necessary, and to promote the positive benefits our museum offers to our community.