what did the 400k do for the W/T last year?

morrey is correct. sjmi is not the appropriate entity to be in control of the artifacts. city staff is misguided in their assertion that having a contract stipulating services qualifies the private corporation to operate in any other structure than the W/T.

Heritage--

Hate to re-plow old ground, but SJMI is the ONLY entity who should be in control of the artifacts, as they own the artifacts. The judge himself said so. In addition, the judge resolved all questions of contracting with another party, including SJMI specifically. Read the decision. THEN MOVE ON.

How about focusing on how to get people to the Museum, at ALL locations? How about focusing on improving the Museum, at ALL locations? It's a fantastic resource. How about spending the time you'd otherwise spend quibbling about binding legal decisions at the Museum? Become a volunteer. Join the Museum, if you already haven't. Attend their programs. Support them.

If you really care about the Museum, it's time to concentrate our efforts on the future of the Museum.

Mr. Saunders - Care to comment on a scenario where the "contract" with SJMI is terminated and the city elects to go in a different direction.
It is exactly the point Mr. Morrey raises and neglected by those supporting the present arrangement. At best, the current situation is eccentric in style and functionality.

Mr. Mastrangelo, I'm not certain what you're asking. The city is certainly free to contract with others besides SJMI. Again, look at the decision.

There is a court judgment which answers Mr. Morrey's questions, albeit not with the answer which he prefers. I'm not certain how you think this situation is eccentric in either style or functionality, but I'm not here to argue.

I believe we need to look forward to make the Museum all that it can be. By faliing to face facts--meaning a binding court judgment--we will not move forward. Mr. Morrey's arguments do not advance the Museum. Those issues have been resolved by the judge, whether you agree with the decision or not. Rather than re-hash each litigated point, let's focus on improving the Museum. How can you improve the Museum, Mr. Mastrangelo? How can each individual who reads these comments add to the Museum? Go to the Museum at each location. Participate in their programs. Volunteer. Do what you can to support this local treasure.

if the museums want to succeed then the first thing they need to do is to Hire a Professional to show them how to appropriately display "their" artifacts. the glore is an embarrassment. it is dirty, and the "dioramas" with the first grade level cardboard box and plastic dollar store illustrations are sophomoric. it is really hard not to laugh as you go through the exhibits. the building is not at all conducive to a museum and it is humiliating to take out of town visitors who have actually been to world class museums and not find yourself making excuses for the complete lack of any vision. comments range from, "that place has potential which is not being realized" to " why did you move here, again?"

i donate to museums which are worthy.

Heritage, they hired a professional, then ran him out of town on a rail. It was quite a drama.

why is joe morrey getting involved? at what gain does he have in this?just another way to mix up the soup?

Mr. Saunders - I fully support the ideals of museums both private and municipal. The assessment by heritage is legitimate and goes toward the arguments over mixing the two.
The wrinkle that some on the council still seem reluctant to address is best summed up by the recent state audit on what is required to be in full compliance with the state constitution where a gap certainly appears to remain.

Assuming for a moment the SJMI's contract is terminated or not renewed, who is going to operate a municipal museum? What are they going to put in it? (Remember SJMI owns the artifacts!) Where are they going to operate it since the w/t will then revert back to SJMI from the City?

Mr. Mastrangelo--

As the esteemed 238er pointed out, who else would run such a museum, and with what exhibits? Ms. Montee's audit never said SJMI cannot run a municipal museum. The judge's decision specifically stated it could.

The same people who so stridently claimed all sort of misfeasance and malfeasance on the part of SJMI and its former director [a professional] failed in their attempt to prove any misdeeds [according to my understanding of the judge's decision]. They did, however, succeed in effectively getting rid of the director. Kudos to them, as the last NP account of his efforts in Wichita demonstrate his very successful fundraising abilities there.

mr. Saunders - I am sure you and 238er, as well as henryallison, are aware of the property evolution where the city put matching funds up to that of Goetz for the house and its transformation to a community museum. It would be most interesting to see any portion sold out from under the city as a part of the current sjmi contract being cancelled. Also, if information provided is correct approximately one half of the artifacts belong to and part of the property exchange.

Given the number of dollars pumped into sjmi during recent years it also seems hard for anyone not think the operation and spirit of such a project could not be managed as well and for far less directly through the city.

As for the upcoming contact with sjmi; had the requirements been crafted any with any tighter specifications the Smithsonian would have questioned placing a bid.

Mr. Mastrangelo-

The judge's decision resolved the very issues you raise, and not in the manner you suggest. I think 238er got it right when he pointed out that the Mansion becomes SJMI property if it isn't used as a public museum. That was in the decision. Matching funds, etc. appear, therefore, to be irrelevant.

As to the hope that the artifacts are owned by anyone other than SJMI, I believe the decision dashed that hope. From time to time someone offers their opinion to the contrary, but really for naught. I do not have a copy of the decision, but have read it. I recommend the same to you.

I looked over the city website. I don't see a department that could effectively run a museum without adding significant staff--a point implicitly made by Heritage.

Finally, I've not seen the specifications you refer to. Given the artifact ownership, I'm curious who else could properly bring their artifacts/exhibits to the W/T and effectively run a museum. There's already one roller skating museum in the midwest...

At this point, I've said my piece. I'm interested in the continuation of quality programming and exhibits at the Museum. It's not perfect, but it is good. With the support of this community, it can continue to improve.

Mr. Saunders - Certainly agree with the spirit of your last paragraph even if most certainly not in the various manners it can be achieved. Many cities operate museums very cost effectively and with outstanding community participation. One of those out of the box options that often seem to be delinquent.

As for sjmi and any challenge over ultimate possession rights should contracts be cancelled; guess we will have to wait and see but should the circumstance ever present itself, there best be some legal minds prepared to compete with those beyond Kansas City.

"It's not perfect, but it is good."

it is substandard. bring on the new blood and new ideas. if the former director bolted for better offers, or was run out of town, then when is the sjmi going to hire someone to bring a level of less than amateurish display to the invaluable artifacts?

has the sjmi not had the time to interview a replacement for the esteemed and former director? was the former director here when the move was made to the really ugly and inappropriate new location? if so, why did he not lend his expertise to the new digs? i honestly don't know the answers to these questions, but would love to hear them.

i am not one of those who vilified the people who worked and volunteered their time for generations. i do not denigrate the "good ole boys" as bad. i would love to see the entire framework function on a higher level, but with so many things in this city, there is now a level of distrust. how do we rectify that? maybe the only solution is...... change.