The bolding of #1 and #5 are my doing. The public must be made to know that museums all loose money and if we wish to have them we must be willing to pay for them. Now the question becomes does Greensboro want the ICRCM or not? The fact that the N&R would report a $Million Dollars in City funding that has not been provided is very troubling.
Great story about the Science Center. Bad story about the Museum."Subject: Susan Ladd: Civil Rights Museum should take a lesson from Science Center - Local News - News-Record.com
A few of us had the opportunity to meet with Natural Science Center board member, George House last week. He said that he couldn't understand why the museum was being held to a different standard, a double standard. Unfortunately, the information about the museum is incorrect in the article, I offer in order:
1. The museum is not alone culturally in its financial struggle as I was told Mr. House. No cultural entity, the historical museum, Children's Museum, Coliseum, Triad Stage, Greensboro Opera....is financially sustained, they actually lose money.
2. The board was not "unhappy" about the former directors candidness.
3. The museum's internal and external partnerships resulted in one of the most substantial tax credit arrangements in excess of $23 million dollars that won't have to be paid back.
4. The museum is a major attraction to and for the city and the state. It is rated very favorably by its visitors.
5.The city has not made an annual allocation of $1 million dollars to the museum to help enhance program offerings, merchandising, staffing, etc.
6. Board expansion processes began before Mr Ward and approved last year, the museum nearly doubled its size None of the new members were selected by the Co-Founders and most of them were recommended by leaders in the community.
7. The comparison of the museum and the science center are not measured correctly. Exhibit space, current staffing nor purpose and content. While the museum does not "currently" have large exhibit space it has sponsored highly rated conferences, summits and panels that unfortunately don't get mentioned because people have made it taboo to even say you are at the museum.
8. Many of the recommendations from the Haas Assessment are and have been implemented. There have been substantial changes board structure, financial operations and general management. I'm stunned by the persistent criticism of the museum!
Susan Ladd: Civil Rights Museum should take a lesson from Science Center - Local News - News-Record.com
http://m.news-record.com/news/local_news/susan-ladd-civil- rights-museum-should-take-a- lesson-from/article_10000430- cf4c-11e4-8373-4756c2f800d8. html?mode=jqm
Deena Hayes-Greene"
Indeed, it's time the News & Record presented both sides of the story. Deena wrote this e-mail to friends and supporters of the ICRCM but I decided it's time all of you knew the truth the media and the City of Greensboro doesn't want you to know.
