Messages

1

USS Batfish (SS-310) / Re: For the BLHA Crew part 1 of ??

« on: August 25, 2014, 01:22:49 AM »

Darrin,

Thanks for highlighting this thread. Tons of good information that can prove useful in the near future. I was just in a conversation with a board member about setting up emergency funds in case an event of this nature arises. Good to see the crew interaction and I did pick up the other aspects you were mentioning. 

2

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Introductory Questions for Museum Staff

« on: August 18, 2014, 01:07:04 PM »

Lance,

I fully agree with you that if neglect sets in that the Batfish too could become a save project.

Darrin,

Luckily Correy and portions of the BLHA still do come and put on events for us and for that I am grateful. The living history days are truly a great in that they not only generate extra revenue for the museum, but they are also a great resource for a museum with a staff of one, that often has troubles giving guided tours without advance notice.

I talk to Correy frequently and he has been a great resource in learning about the things that have happened in the past with the museum and some of the problems that have developed over time between the management and volunteers.

I am hopeful that we can meet soon, but until we hire a part-time staff member (hopefully this Wednesday) clearing my schedule on a Saturday is extremely difficult. Correy suggest a dinner on a Saturday after the museum has been closed where we can all talk about moving forward in the future with a positive direction. I have been in contact with Mark Sarsfield and I am working on the differences that have developed between him and our board.

I would appreciate any contacts in regards to generating new plaques or signs for our artifacts that are missing labels. We recently had volunteers go through and repaint our stands and I am eager to actually get a label on them. I would also appreciate help with the lighting and display issues in the museum. Mark Sarsfield sent me an excellent plan to reorganize the museum and modernize it past the dated look it currently has. I have been on the hunt to get rid of my pawnshop display cases and actually move into tiered shelving!

3

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Introductory Questions for Museum Staff

« on: August 17, 2014, 09:03:01 AM »

Darrin,

Yes, I have actually talked to nearly all of the volunteers and the former park manager to try figure out the problem. I did not simply throw my hands up in the air and give up on them. We have been trying to meet up, but it has been difficult working schedules together.

The cause I believe is long term neglect from management. Something done a long time before I got here. These wounds will definitely not heal overnight. Only one person is actually banned and that in itself is something that took forever to figure out if it was official or just claimed by previous management.

When working with a board and the city, things take time. I have so many problems that I am fighting with daily that require so much red tape that it gets frustrating. I hope we can work things out because it is hard to find reliable volunteers with as much passion as these guys.

4

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Introductory Questions for Museum Staff

« on: August 17, 2014, 12:08:11 AM »

This was an excellent thread. I have worked under several different directors and usually the background was at least a masters and some business experience. Mark Allen did hit the nail on the head with job descriptions. Though I will say in a small museum environment you can be everything from marketing to the maintenance person. Our biggest struggle is defining a solid mission statement and figuring out where the museum fits within the city.

I recall talking to a regular the other day about putting new panels out (something definitely lacking) and having the person tell me how they hate when a museum has too much stuff to read. I personally cringed, but some people lack the ability to see things from an outsider who is not a submarine buff.

And yes, I too, personally cringe to see things out in the elements unprotected and rotting away. Especially dealing with people who fail to realize that the damage compounds until a situation is unrecoverable.

The volunteer situation is rough. In my current position it has been rough being tossed in a situation where quite a few volunteers felt they lacked direction and solid leadership. It is definitely hard to repair wounds overnight. At other museums and libraries I either volunteered or worked at, the volunteers and staff seemed so territorial, sometimes forgetting the greater good.

I do hate to see anyone walk away. I hope wherever you end up the staff appreciates you, unlike how it has been in the past.

5

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: As we look at OUR museums around the country struggling by

« on: July 27, 2014, 10:52:53 PM »

Love to see responses like those. I cannot wait to see where the future takes us.