The long-running controversy over the mineral collection and the mineral museum building in Phoenix appears to be morphing into a conflict between lobbyists and kids. Lobbyists want the building for a "reception center", which some read as a restaurant and lounge. Kids, teachers, parents, and grandparents want to restore the mineral museum and it K-12 earth science education programs.
Based on the veto of SB1200, it does not appear to be a fair fight. Elected officials have term limits in Arizona, but lobbyists don't. Therefore, lobbyists can exert too much influence over state government. A recent media release addressed this ugly problem. The links below are for publications which were the first to publish this latest release.
Which interest will prevail for use of these state resources?
K-12 education or the comfort and amusement of lobbyists?
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More articles about AHS in this blog than AHS can send out themselves about good things about the agency. Assuming there are some good things they can promote? I just never see any public relations going out from them...about anything.
ReplyDeleteGuess these will have to do for a while. Maybe that's why there were only 3,000 visitors to the massive AHS at Papago Park in year.
Lobbyists were certainly active in causing the debacle that closed a well respected and used science museum in Phoenix, After Gov. Brewer announced that SHE had plans with AHS for the use of the building (without acknowledging the MMM) a lobbyist for a mining company ran through the MMM and told staff and some non-staff that they were under a gag order! Those of us who did not work for the state of AZ told her off, and continued to voice our opinions. Given her activities, she appeared to be working for the Gov. We came to a confrontation with her when she put an amendment on a water bill that gave the Gov. a Centennial Museum. We got her attention by fighting that bill and getting it in trouble in committee. Then she was willing to deal with the issue separately and took the amendment off the bill. Lobbyists who engage in this kind of activity give the profession a bad name, Unfortunately, the ones with integrity don't get much press. The supporters of getting the MMM back for AZ science students continue to encounter more lobbyist interference in the Gov's office. Let's hope we can finally give back what was taken from our students and teachers under the AZ Geological Survey--a reputable agency that doesn't need to pedal it's influence with a lobbyist.
ReplyDeleteGov. Brewer actually believed Ann Woosley. That in itself is shocking. And that Woosley actually thought that she could raise money to that level is also shocking. For someone who never leaves her office and has no personality or capabilities is shocking again.
DeleteHer Board of Directors also never knew what she was up too. That is shocking and criminal. If you are a board member and reading this ---do something.
I can't think of any other museum director or any government agency director who would have survived this kind of self-inflicted problem. Almost no attendance to it's museums, no public knowledge of it's programs, no public outreach by it's director (My God that would mean actually leaving her office with state built bookshelves), same for her assistant director, and spending $1,400,000 of taxpayers money on a Rio Nuevo Boondoggle. The best of all is of course the destruction of the Mineral Museum in Phoenix---- for what reason? Somebody tell me--why? Notice I didn't add the other three potential mis-uses of the building. Arizona Experience, 48 Women etc etc.
ReplyDeleteSomebody needs to fire this director. Maybe the Board of Directors can do something. Are they listening?
No, the Board is not listening! The new president recently tried to defend the hostile, abrupt, and illegal closure of the MMM in the Sierra Vista Herald. He was given the truth, and we haven't heard from him since--maybe he actually got familiar with the history of his agency's activities. A key player in AHS taking away a successful science museum from kids was the AHS lobbyist. He was present when the bill allowing a 5 C's Centennial Mjuseum along with the MMM in the building was drafted. He said nothing when his agency violated the legislation, which is part of AHS statutes. He participated in a meeting in which DOA told representatives of AHS that they had the Gov's support for anything they planned for a Centenial Museum. Again,he said nothing. Finally,over the effort to restore the MMM under the Geological Survey, he told us AHS was neutral and did not testify at hearings. But, he did use his influence in the Gov's office--he was on the Gov's transition team, and a contributor to Ducey's campaign and now is forming lobbying company with key Ducey people. Never once has he discussed the unfairness of his activities to the students who were thrown out. He did help float a false rumor that the MMM was now in Tempe. It's this kind of shady activity that gives lobbyists a bad reputation. Perhaps its time he and AHS tell us why their proposed "reception center for lobbyists is more important than science education for students in a state at the bottom educationally.
ReplyDeleteFunny that the AHS Lobbyist did not realize that Ann Woosley did not have the capability to pull any of this off?
DeleteLook at it this way. Not only the lobbyist but the Board of Directors....Oh wait they didn't know AHS was doing these things.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the Board wake up. Fire Woosley, fire Ponder.
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ReplyDeleteOh my, we forgot one of the really big unethical egotistical achievements of AHS--getting a 10-year approval on their very poor Sunset Review, using pressure at the closing of the legislature. Yep! Their lobbyist worked extra hard to get that approval and destroy the meaning of the process for all of those who have good reviews. The new legislature, unhappy with these inappropriate antics, now has AHS under a repeat audit with another in two years. (AHS has never respected the audit process.) And in their minutes, the lobbyist was thanked!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a museum. And Woosley can't even run that well.
ReplyDeleteIt is really simple to be a museum director. Do public relations, keep the board on track and raise money. Not hard.
ReplyDeleteIf I was a potential donor to the Arizona Historical Society I would be very concerned. Will my money be wasted? Is the AHS even doing Arizona history? Are they playing with rocks and minerals? Are they shutting down long established history museums? Are they exhibiting South American costumes or Arizona/Southwest history? Are they raising funds? Do they do public relations any more?
And finally does anybody even go in their museums any more?