ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Dear Beryl,

As a longtime member of this list (and a number of others (like  
Museum-L,
Webhead, and AAM), I am dumbfounded by your news. Personally, I have
never met you, but have noted your marked participation over the years.
OK, I lurk in the background most of the time and reply to a few folks  
about
particular problems: I'm now an independent contractor, but have been  
chairman
of exhibits at the Bishop Museum, manager of design at the Field,  
curator
of exhibits at NEAquarium, and a designer at Boston Children's Museum
in the 1970s. I'm no Spring chicken, my roots are in New England
(though I'm now in Hawai‘i) and have been through the mill.

I really feel for you, especially so since you have made so many
contributions to this hive of inquisitiveness. Please keep it up, no
matter what your job status is. The museum education field needs more
participative folks like you. Hey, the NPS is so burdened with seniority
issues that there is (seemingly) no way to get into the service, no
matter how good you are. Maybe this will change in the years to
come: We can only hope so. FWIW- I applied for an NPS job at Lowell  
recently
but they rejected my app because I didn't specify that I was a US  
citizen,
though I was born in NYC, supplied my SSN as required, and have a resume
longer than your arm. The NPS system is so totally screwed up that
it needs to be rebuilt from bottom to top. (I'd use stronger words but
am sensitive to the delicate sensibilities of folks on this list).

It is no better for people who work for places like the Bishop Museum
which has much more "churn" than most institutions. The turnover
is staggering; eat 'em up and spit 'em out. But politics is politics:
Keep your head down, do what you're told, don't ask questions.
But keep those questions coming to this group and others about
your hopes, intellectual pursuits, and exhibit problems. You'll
find much support and good wishes, even if it is off-list.

Aloha,
Richard D.






On Nov 24, 2008, at 7:01 PM, ISEN-ASTC-L automatic digest system wrote:

There are 5 messages totalling 393 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

   1. budget cuts
   2. Creative Dramatics for Paul Taylor (2)
   3. Temperatures of Different Materials activity
   4. ASTC 2009 Session Proposal - seeking collaboration

Date:    Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:36:35 -0500
From:    Beryl Rosenthal <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: budget cuts

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
institutions.
************************************************************************ 
*****

As you know, the economic tidal wave is only just beginning.  My job is
a joint program of the National Park Service (federal) and the
University of Massachusetts (state).  The federal government has begun a
series of budget cuts which have impacted all federal agencies and
partnerships.  In Massachusetts, the governor identified what are being
referred to as 9C cuts to state government; the Lowell campus of UMass
was asked to take a $4 million hit.  Unfortunately, my program lost
positions, including mine.

I have projects underway with many of you; it is not clear yet who will
take them on.

I leave with the assurance by university and National Park senior
administration that my performance was above and beyond what was
expected of me, and that  administration is keeping an eye out for me
(yes, they will write letters for me).  The cuts were purely financial.

If anyone hears of anything in MA, please let me know.  My email going
forward is
[log in to unmask]  Home phone is 978-749-9774.

When the dust settles, I intend to be standing!
Beryl

-- 
Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Director
Tsongas Industrial History Center
Boott Cotton Mills
115 John Street
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 970-5081 (t)
(978) 970-5085 (f)
[log in to unmask]
www.uml.edu/tsongas/index2.htm
A joint program of UMASS Lowell's
Graduate School of Education and
Lowell National Historical Park

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------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:14:06 -1000
From:    Amber Inwood <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: ASTC 2009 Session Proposal - seeking collaboration

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
institutions.
************************************************************************ 
*****

The Bishop Museum is looking for institutions/organizations wishing to
collaborate on a session proposal for the 2009 ASTC Conference. The
theme for the 2009 conference is 'The Art of Science - El Arte de la
Ciencia'

=20

The proposal submitted wishes encompass the following questions:

=20

-         Community: How does your organization tap into the rich art,
cultural and creative resources of your community and apply them to you
learning environments

-         Creativity: how can science centers nurture creativity - a
human trait that crosses all ages and cultures - and use it as an entry
point into science, mathematics and engineering.

=20

For more information and/or you are interested in collaborating as a
facilitator, please contact Bishop Museum Science Educator, Amber Inwood
at: [log in to unmask]

=20

The deadline for the proposal submission the 15th of December 2008.

=20

Mahalo!

Amber Inwood

Science Educator

Bishop Museum

1525 Bernice Street

Honolulu, HI 96817

Email: [log in to unmask]

=20

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