Open Forum

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

AAM has largely abandoned support for the courtesy membership benefit (invisible in their website), particularly since a publication for seniors touted an AAM retiree membership as a hack for getting into museums free. I agree it's a shame. I'm planning a trip and counting on NARM, ASTC, and gardens reciprocal membership benefits. In contrast, in Europe, most major museums honor my ICOM card.

------------------------------
Laura Roberts
Principal
Roberts Consulting
Cambridge MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 5:57:00 AM
From: Laura Roberts
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

AAM has largely abandoned support for the courtesy membership benefit (invisible in their website), particularly since a publication for seniors touted an AAM retiree membership as a hack for getting into museums free. I agree it's a shame. I'm planning a trip and counting on NARM, ASTC, and gardens reciprocal membership benefits. In contrast, in Europe, most major museums honor my ICOM card.

------------------------------
Laura Roberts
Principal
Roberts Consulting
Cambridge MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 5:57:00 AM
From: Laura Roberts
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

AAM has largely abandoned support for the courtesy membership benefit (invisible in their website), particularly since a publication for seniors touted an AAM retiree membership as a hack for getting into museums free. I agree it's a shame. I'm planning a trip and counting on NARM, ASTC, and gardens reciprocal membership benefits. In contrast, in Europe, most major museums honor my ICOM card.

------------------------------
Laura Roberts
Principal
Roberts Consulting
Cambridge MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

No surprise here. NARM is intended to serve those with personal supporting memberships in over 1,000 participating museums, with those museums signing on to honor visiting family memberships as their own. AAM membership is for professional members in a professional context. I recall a bit of a row a few years ago when the fee for AAM retired members was changed, so as to not be considered and used as a "master pass" to other institutions. The rationale made sense then, and still does.

I'm impressed that Edison and Ford participates in NARM, and I hope you enjoyed your visit there anyway. Thank you for vacationing in our area - we can use all the support we can get after Hurricane Ian.

------------------------------
John Wharton
Museum Docent &
Retired Museum Professional
Bonita Springs FL
http://linkedin.com/in/john-wharton-9629149
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

It’s my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:16:00 AM
From: James Bryant
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

It’s my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

I have received numerous free admission passes to museums with my AAM card. Just recently, the Met, Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, the Frick at the old Whitney Museum and Parrish Art. In Boston; the MFA and ICA and Isabella Stewart Gardner. In Philly, the PMA, the Rodin. Perhaps, bigger museums are honoring the AAM card. And since Ft Myers suffered so much loss from Hurricane Ian they may not be able to afford giving away admission.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:46:00 AM
From: Laura Roberts
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

In fact, from the AAM website: https://www.aam-us.org/programs/membership/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

Museum Admission

Does AAM membership include free or discounted admission to museums? Are you a museum pass program? What museums can I get into?

No, admissions to museums is not a member benefit. The Alliance is an association for museums and museum professionals. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.

Although some museums may extend a professional courtesy to our members, we are not a reciprocal program, and free or discounted museum admission is not one of our member benefits. Every museum maintains its own pricing policies and we have no agreement with any museum regarding admission. If you are interested in free or discounted museum admission for museums that you frequently visit, we recommend that you purchase a membership directly from those museums.

________________________________

Laura B. Roberts

1715 Cambridge Street

Cambridge MA 02138

617.640.0015

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:16:00 AM
From: James Bryant
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

It’s my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

Original Message:
Sent: 2/28/2023 6:42:00 AM
From: Deborah Disston
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

I have received numerous free admission passes to museums with my AAM card. Just recently, the Met, Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, the Frick at the old Whitney Museum and Parrish Art. In Boston; the MFA and ICA and Isabella Stewart Gardner. In Philly, the PMA, the Rodin. Perhaps, bigger museums are honoring the AAM card. And since Ft Myers suffered so much loss from Hurricane Ian they may not be able to afford giving away admission.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:46:00 AM
From: Laura Roberts
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

In fact, from the AAM website: https://www.aam-us.org/programs/membership/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

Museum Admission

Does AAM membership include free or discounted admission to museums? Are you a museum pass program? What museums can I get into?

No, admissions to museums is not a member benefit. The Alliance is an association for museums and museum professionals. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.

Although some museums may extend a professional courtesy to our members, we are not a reciprocal program, and free or discounted museum admission is not one of our member benefits. Every museum maintains its own pricing policies and we have no agreement with any museum regarding admission. If you are interested in free or discounted museum admission for museums that you frequently visit, we recommend that you purchase a membership directly from those museums.

________________________________

Laura B. Roberts

1715 Cambridge Street

Cambridge MA 02138

617.640.0015

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:16:00 AM
From: James Bryant
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

It’s my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

I share Vivian Zoe’s interest in this discussion. Reflecting on the topic, I’ve never been so gratified as when I’ve been spontaneously welcomed at an institution when simply dropping by - as a tourist, but nevertheless a traveling museum professional. At personal and professional levels, the sharing that’s taken place on each occasion gave these visits a far greater dimension than would otherwise have occurred. I’d like to think AAM’s approach to reciprocal admissions was originally intended to inspire communication and collaboration. Perhaps this could be refreshed as a way to encourage all members to identify themselves as museum professionals when casually visiting their colleague's museums.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 3/1/2023 8:28:00 AM
From: Vivian Zoe
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

I find this discussion interesting.   I'm now retired,  but was for decades the director of very small museums with lean staffing and financial resources. 

When "colleagues" appeared wanting to enter without fee, often presenting membership cards from a variety of regional museum service organizations which were not on our reciprocal list,  as well as AAM, my front-of-house staff frequently called me to ask for guidance.

I always felt it was wise to allow them in and frequently would try to come down to greet them.   In my opinion, the goodwill and collegiality gained was invaluable. 

I realize that larger museums usually are not as flexible,  but I offer this thought to the field. 

I've often found that for-profit museums tend to be less flexible. 

Original Message:
Sent: 2/28/2023 6:42:00 AM
From: Deborah Disston
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

I have received numerous free admission passes to museums with my AAM card. Just recently, the Met, Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, the Frick at the old Whitney Museum and Parrish Art. In Boston; the MFA and ICA and Isabella Stewart Gardner. In Philly, the PMA, the Rodin. Perhaps, bigger museums are honoring the AAM card. And since Ft Myers suffered so much loss from Hurricane Ian they may not be able to afford giving away admission.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:46:00 AM
From: Laura Roberts
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

In fact, from the AAM website: https://www.aam-us.org/programs/membership/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

Museum Admission

Does AAM membership include free or discounted admission to museums? Are you a museum pass program? What museums can I get into?

No, admissions to museums is not a member benefit. The Alliance is an association for museums and museum professionals. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.

Although some museums may extend a professional courtesy to our members, we are not a reciprocal program, and free or discounted museum admission is not one of our member benefits. Every museum maintains its own pricing policies and we have no agreement with any museum regarding admission. If you are interested in free or discounted museum admission for museums that you frequently visit, we recommend that you purchase a membership directly from those museums.

________________________________

Laura B. Roberts

1715 Cambridge Street

Cambridge MA 02138

617.640.0015

Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2023 11:16:00 AM
From: James Bryant
Subject: RE: Museum in Ft Myers

It’s my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

Perhaps you should consider getting a membership and support these museums which are struggling financially and want to maximize revenue after the massive hurricane from last year. 

------------------------------
Juan Almeciga
Membership Coordinator
Lowe Art Museum University of Miami
Coral Gables FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2023 11:15 AM
From: James Bryant
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

It's my understanding that AAM no longer expects reciprocal admissions for its members at affiliated institutions.

James Bryant
SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
Santa Fe, NM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


Original Message:
Sent: 2/25/2023 9:18:00 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

AAM has no "discount admissions policy." There is zero expectation that presenting an AAM card will get you in anywhere for free, though it often does.

------------------------------
Sean Mobley
Social Media Specialist
The Museum of Flight
Seattle WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone

I remember visiting a museum in Texas during COVID and they had a minimum number of tickets each day due to restrictions. I was there to do a walk through for a meeting about upgrading their technology, I insisted that we pay the admission since we were taking up two of their valuable spots. I too would encourage people to not even try to gain free entry to institutions as the vast majority are still trying to recover from the pandemic. Every penny counts.  

------------------------------
Brian Norris
Senior Project Manager
Bowen Technovation
Indianapolis IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2023 09:17 PM
From: Roslyn Persky
Subject: Museum in Ft Myers

Vacationing in Ft Myers.
Went to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum.
They refused to honor my American Alliance of Museums card!
The representative had no knowledge of the existence of our organization!
However, numerous museums in NY are part of their discount admission policy. They only participate in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) as well as the American Horticultural Society (AHS).
Thought this information would be of interest to AAM.
Member ID 300667
Sincerely,
Roslyn Persky

Sent from my iPhone