Our thanks to the nearly 100 members who offered their thoughts about the potential Museumwise - MANY consolidation in our survey last month.  We're combing through hundreds of comments and are buoyed by your interest and support.  The general consensus of opinion regarding future consolidation is a positive one.  Taskforce board members are currently conducting one-on-one interviews with about 30 stakeholders - many of them program partners and funders.  Like the survey, the interview questions are focused on the pluses and minuses of consolidation as well as where a consolidated organization should focus its programs and services.  Directors Catherine Gilbert and Anne Ackerson are drafting frameworks for three future scenarios: 1) enhanced collaboration, 2) consolidation of the existing organizations, and 3) creating a new organization.  Budget scenarios are being developed as well.  All of this input will help inform our decision-making, which should come before year's end. 

We're busy settling on a date for the second joint meeting of the two boards to review what we've learned from you and reach consensus around a scenario that best fits all of our needs - yours and ours.  Once this decision is made, we will begin the process of implemention, which we expect will take all or most of 2012 to accomplish.