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Isn't the entrance fee $25 for adults and $ 19 for kids, with a $15 for
Thursday evening? Price of an average restaurant meal in a place like SF,
no? Doesn't sound exorbitant.


On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 2:13 PM, Marcia Hale <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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> I've worked at two science centers who did massive expansions and now at a
> small history museum that is in the midst of an expansion, so the
> Exploratorium news is very sad, yet not unexpected.  Sad of course for the
> folks who are losing their jobs, and very sad for the institution that will
> be losing a vital part of it's institutional memory it appears, plus very
> sad for the public at large who will not benefit from the creative spirit
> of these people.  I have always wondered why cutting the people is ALWAYS
> the first answer.  Seeing that folks who have been with the Exploratorium
> for so many years were cut, really troubles me and should trouble anyone
> who is a bit long in the tooth shall we say.  (Yes,  some new hires were
> laid off as well, but it appears some folks were encouraged to take early
> retirement).
>
> Looking to long time staff to take early retirement, as the article
> suggested, smacks of ageism.  Whatever happened to last hired/first fired?
>  Institutional memory, especially for an icon like Exploratorium, is vital
> to an organization.  Change is inevitable and usually good (though
> painful).   Having people who know what has gone before and who helped get
> you where you are, is essential to keeping you on track.  It seems, and
> perhaps I say this because I'm no longer at the start of my career, the
> older, more experienced staff seem to be targeted during these times more
> than younger staff.  Yes, we old folks cost more in terms of benefits.
> When you do the accounting for your annual insurance premium those numbers
> really get noticed.  But what older staff bring to the table in terms of
> experience and wisdom cannot be easily replaced.  Too often in our society
> it appears we no longer respect that wisdom.  New and shiny is not always
> the answer, sometimes old and rusty still works just fine.  People who have
> been around a place for ten or twenty years have loyalty to the actual
> mission.  I don't think I'm making a grand assumption here, especially
> considering the thoughtful comments of the laid off long time staffer in
> the article from SF Gate.  If you've hung on through thick and thin, still
> love what you do, and show up ready to keep doing it, I can't figure out
> why that isn't valued and rewarded?  Why would anyone ask someone like that
> to leave?
>
> What baffles me is why institutions continually project numbers that are
> so unrealistic.  Having sat at  tables where these projection numbers were
> tossed around, optimism, and the more optimistic the better,  is rewarded
> and any doubt or caution is dismissed as negativity.  Since this pattern
> repeats itself over and over during expansions I would love to know why no
> one making these projections takes that historic information from other
> places, into account?   In an effort to appease the people underwriting the
> expansion, (who by and large appear to have no knowledge of how nonprofits
> really work), it appears the numbers reflect what the lenders want to see.
>
> Then again, one wonders where the public has been?  Were their
> expectations not met?  Is it too expensive?  Did you do too many discounts?
>  Is it too crowded to be fun?  The many times I visited the original
> Exploratorium I never encountered a time when I felt it was too crowded and
> I couldn't enjoy the exhibits.  So, if people are now experiencing crowded
> times that diminish the experience, then I would think that would tell me I
> need to rethink how many people should be in the building at any given
> time.  The public appears to have little patience for places not
> immediately living up to expectations.  Once those visitors have a bad
> experience, it is harder than ever to change their minds and get them to
> give you another chance.
>
> Here's hoping that others heading down the expansion path make a phone
> call or two to places like the Exploratorium and learn from their painful
> realities...then revise their numbers to reflect what is more likely to
> happen.  Best of luck to those who must leave their jobs.   Hiring
> managers, here's a heads up, some amazing people are now available grab
> them quick they are worth every penny!
>
> Marcia Hale
> Director Guest Services & Public Programs
> Washington County Museum
> Hillsboro, OR
> [log in to unmask]**org <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>
>
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