Open Forum

Hi Charles,

I don't want to stifle any conversation here, but I did want to share some context to explain why I felt it was necessary to address this subject in a letter included with our renewal notices.  If retired museum professionals were the only folks purchasing our Retired Museum Professional membership, there would be no need to issue the letter. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite the fact that we do not market this membership beyond the museum community (nor do we include any language regarding free/discounted admission to museums in any of our marketing materials directed towards any of members or potential members), a number of money-saving or "lifehack" websites have promoted our retiree membership over the years to non-museum folks who would rather pay $50 annually to AAM to secure free or discounted admission to museums rather than support museums directly through admission or membership fees. This not only threatens crucial revenue streams for museums across the country, but it also has resulted in a massive increase in customer service requests from these folks who call or email AAM repeatedly asking for replacement membership cards that have been lost/stolen/lost in the mail. Although we do our best to educate these members about who our memberships are intended for, this takes a great deal of time and results in delays in response to our museum, professional and retired museum professional members who have legitimate membership and customer service issues that require our attention.  Please note that earlier in that same letter, I write "It has come to our attention, however, that some members not affiliated with the museum field have joined our Alliance under the impression that free or discounted admission to museums is one of the benefits of AAM membership. This is incorrect." The purpose of the letter is to discourage folks who have never worked in the museum field from purchasing AAM membership simply to get into museums for free. Although the purchase of these memberships increases AAM's own membership revenues, I do not feel it is fair to museums for AAM to continue to enable these folks to take advantage of a professional courtesy extended to those who have worked (or currently work) in the museum field. This is a difficult issue about which I can assure you we have engaged in a great deal of discussion internally, but I hope you can understand why I've decided to address this issue head-on, as the last thing I want to do is exacerbate decreasing revenue streams at museums whose ability to stay open may be at risk as a result of the pandemic.

Sincerely,
Ryan Bourke

Hi Charles,

I don't want to stifle any conversation here, but I did want to share some context to explain why I felt it was necessary to address this subject in a letter included with our renewal notices.  If retired museum professionals were the only folks purchasing our Retired Museum Professional membership, there would be no need to issue the letter. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite the fact that we do not market this membership beyond the museum community (nor do we include any language regarding free/discounted admission to museums in any of our marketing materials directed towards any of members or potential members), a number of money-saving or "lifehack" websites have promoted our retiree membership over the years to non-museum folks who would rather pay $50 annually to AAM to secure free or discounted admission to museums rather than support museums directly through admission or membership fees. This not only threatens crucial revenue streams for museums across the country, but it also has resulted in a massive increase in customer service requests from these folks who call or email AAM repeatedly asking for replacement membership cards that have been lost/stolen/lost in the mail. Although we do our best to educate these members about who our memberships are intended for, this takes a great deal of time and results in delays in response to our museum, professional and retired museum professional members who have legitimate membership and customer service issues that require our attention.  Please note that earlier in that same letter, I write "It has come to our attention, however, that some members not affiliated with the museum field have joined our Alliance under the impression that free or discounted admission to museums is one of the benefits of AAM membership. This is incorrect." The purpose of the letter is to discourage folks who have never worked in the museum field from purchasing AAM membership simply to get into museums for free. Although the purchase of these memberships increases AAM's own membership revenues, I do not feel it is fair to museums for AAM to continue to enable these folks to take advantage of a professional courtesy extended to those who have worked (or currently work) in the museum field. This is a difficult issue about which I can assure you we have engaged in a great deal of discussion internally, but I hope you can understand why I've decided to address this issue head-on, as the last thing I want to do is exacerbate decreasing revenue streams at museums whose ability to stay open may be at risk as a result of the pandemic.

Sincerely,
Ryan Bourke

Hi Charles,

I don't want to stifle any conversation here, but I did want to share some context to explain why I felt it was necessary to address this subject in a letter included with our renewal notices.  If retired museum professionals were the only folks purchasing our Retired Museum Professional membership, there would be no need to issue the letter. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite the fact that we do not market this membership beyond the museum community (nor do we include any language regarding free/discounted admission to museums in any of our marketing materials directed towards any of members or potential members), a number of money-saving or "lifehack" websites have promoted our retiree membership over the years to non-museum folks who would rather pay $50 annually to AAM to secure free or discounted admission to museums rather than support museums directly through admission or membership fees. This not only threatens crucial revenue streams for museums across the country, but it also has resulted in a massive increase in customer service requests from these folks who call or email AAM repeatedly asking for replacement membership cards that have been lost/stolen/lost in the mail. Although we do our best to educate these members about who our memberships are intended for, this takes a great deal of time and results in delays in response to our museum, professional and retired museum professional members who have legitimate membership and customer service issues that require our attention.  Please note that earlier in that same letter, I write "It has come to our attention, however, that some members not affiliated with the museum field have joined our Alliance under the impression that free or discounted admission to museums is one of the benefits of AAM membership. This is incorrect." The purpose of the letter is to discourage folks who have never worked in the museum field from purchasing AAM membership simply to get into museums for free. Although the purchase of these memberships increases AAM's own membership revenues, I do not feel it is fair to museums for AAM to continue to enable these folks to take advantage of a professional courtesy extended to those who have worked (or currently work) in the museum field. This is a difficult issue about which I can assure you we have engaged in a great deal of discussion internally, but I hope you can understand why I've decided to address this issue head-on, as the last thing I want to do is exacerbate decreasing revenue streams at museums whose ability to stay open may be at risk as a result of the pandemic.

Sincerely,
Ryan Bourke