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	MUSEUMS AND BUSINESS: A NEW PARTNERSHIP TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS ANNUAL MEETING TROPIC DINING ROOM—VILLA INN AMARILLO, TEXAS FEBRUARY 26, 1982

FRIDAY

[HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS- OU & OSU. SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LAST WEEK.]

(LUNCH BEGINS AT 12:15. YOUR SPEECH WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00. YOU HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED 45 MINUTES, MARK WILLIAMS WILL INTRODUCE YOU.

I. THANK YOU, [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: GEORGE] FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION.

A. I WANT TO THANK DAVID TURNER FOR ASKING ME TO SPEAK {STRICKEN TEXT: WITH YOU} TODAY. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE INCLUDED ON THE OUTSTANDING PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR YOU AT THIS ANNUAL MEETING.

B. I SUPPOSE DAVID ASKED ME TO JOIN YOU TODAY BECAUSE HE KNOWS VERY WELL THAT MY WIFE, BEA, AND I HAVE BEEN LONG-TIME COLLECTORS OF ART AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MUSEUM WORK.

C. HE ALSO KNOWS THAT MESA PETROLEUM CO,. HAS LONG BEEN AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS, INCLUDING THE AMARILLO ART CENTER, THE SQUARE HOUSE MUSEUM IN PANHANDLE, THE PANHANDLE PLAINS MUSEUM IN CANYON & THE DISCOVERY CENTER.

D. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DIRECT MY COMMENTS TO THE TOPIC OF CORPORATIONS AND THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS.

E. MY BRIEF COMMENTS WILL ADDRESS TWO QUESTIONS:

1. WHY DO BUSINESSES SUPPORT MUSEUMS? AND,
2. HOW SHOULD CORPORATIONS BE APPROACHED FOR SUPPORT?

F. {STRICKEN TEXT: I WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR MINDS BY ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.}

II. BEFORE I PROCEED, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VERY IMPORTANT AND VITAL CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU ARE MAKING TO OUR SOCIETY.

A. MUSEUMS PROVIDE A REPOSITORY OF VARIOUS ART FORMS WHICH MIRROR OUR HERITAGE.

B. WE ARE PARTICULARLY BLESSED IN TEXAS WITH A RICH AND COLORFUL HISTORY WHICH IS BEING PRESERVED AND PERPETUATED BY MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS YOU.

C. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED AND ENERGETIC EFFORTS TO BENEFIT OUR SOCIETY.

III. NOW, LET'S CONSIDER THE QUESTION, WHY DO BUSINESSES SUPPORT MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS?

A. EACH COMPANY HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS.

B. SOME REASONS ARE BASED UPON ALTRUISM,—SOME DECISIONS ARE MADE FOR BUSINESS REASONS.

C. THE MANAGEMENT AT MESA HAS IDENTIFIED THREE PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUPPORTING MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS:

1. TO PROVIDE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
2. TO HELP PRESERVE THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF OUR HOME STATE. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: AND IT JUST LOOKS GOOD ON THE WALLS]
3. TO HELP ENSURE THAT A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE IS OFFERED BY OUR COMMUNITY TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

D. THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT COMPANIES CONSIDER WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT SUPPORTING THE ARTS.

E. SOME COMPANIES RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR SUPPORT OF THE ARTS ENHANCES THEIR COMMUNITY, WHICH IN TURN IS A POSITIVE RECRUITING TOOL. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: 10 MINUTES TO THE OFFICE]

1. PEOPLE NO LONGER JUST EVALUATE A COMPANY WHEN CONSIDERING A JOB OFFER.
2. THEY ALSO EVALUATE THE COMMUNITY—AND WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER THEIR FAMILIES.

F. AND, OF COURSE, COMPANIES USE THEIR SUPPORT OF MUSEUMS FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS REASONS—TO COMMUNICATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO AND INVOLVEMENTIN. THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

G. COMPANY MANAGERS ALSO REALIZE THAT A COMMUNITY WITH A GOOD VARIETY OF ARTISTIC FACILITIES WILL ATTRACT TO THE COMMUNITY ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM TOURISTS AND VISITORS—THUS STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY FOR ALL TO BENEFIT.

IV. HOW SHOULD CORPORATIONS BE APPROACHED FOR SUPPORT?

A. THE 1980'S ARE PRESENTING MANAGERS OF MUSEUMS WITH SOME MAJOR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

B. WE CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OR WE CAN ACCEPT THESE CHALLENGES AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY.

C. HISTORICALLY, CULTURAL LEADERS HAVE GONE TO THREE SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT—GOVERNMENT. INDIVIDUAL PATRONS AND BUSINESS.

D. [UNREADABLE TEXT] [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: GOVERNMENT BUDGET CUTS WILL BE FELT BY OUR MUSEUMS—IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN HOW MUCH THIS CUT BACK WILL.] [STRICKEN UNREADABLE TEXT] [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: IMPACT THEM.] HOWEVER, I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THE CUT BACKS ARE SUCH A NEGATIVE FACTOR FOR OUR MUSEUMS. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: WE CAN BROADEN THE BASE OF SUPPORT- AIR BASE STORY.]

1. WE CAN USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERISM.
2. MANY CITIZENS ARE READY TO HEED PRESIDENT REAGAN'S CALL, BUT THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.

E. INDIVIDUAL PATRONS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE LONG PROVIDED THE PRIMARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS IN TEXAS. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: TAX REFORM ACT '81 SHOULD ACTUALLY TREE-UP MORE FUNDS.]

1. HOWEVER, COSTS HAVE INCREASED SO RAPIDLY THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER CARRY THE LOAD.
2. WHICH MEANS THAT THE ONLY OTHER PLACE TO TURN FOR LARGE DOLLARS IS THE BUSINESS SECTOR.

E. WHEN APPROACHING A BUSINESS FOR SUPPORT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO SO ON A PROFESSIONAL BASIS.

F. FIRST OF ALL, DO YOUR RESEARCH.

1. LEARN ABOUT THE COMPANY YOU WANT TO APPROACH.
A. LEARN ABOUT ITS BUSINESS, ITS OFFICERS AND ITS PHILOSOPHIES.
B. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE COMPANY'S HISTORY AND INTERESTS, IN PRIVATE FUNDING.

2. YOU CAN OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION FROM ANNUAL REPORTS, MAGAZINES, REFERENCE BOOKS AND [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: PLENTY OF DETAIL IN THE] 10-K FORMS. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: 1%]

G. DEVELOP A POSITIVE, STRAIGHTFORWARD CASE STATEMENT.

1. REMEMBER THAT ALL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NEEDS.
2. STRESS YOUR ORGANIZATION'S UNIQUE SUCCESSES AND THE BENEFITS YOUR PROGRAM WILL OFFER THE COMPANY, ITS EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY.

H. AFTER PERFORMING YOUR RESEARCH AND ORGANIZING YOUR THOUGHTS BY PREPARING A CASE STATEMENT, [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: AMA ART CENTER DOES A GOOD JOB AT LUNCH] WRITE A CONCISE LETTER TO THE COMPANY OUTLINING YOUR PROGRAM AND REQUESTING A SPECIFIC AMOUNT TO BE CONSIDERED.

1. YOU CAN SUGGEST A PLEDGE PERIOD TO MAINTAIN SOME CONTINUITY.
2. ALSO, CONSIDER STRONGLY THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHALLENGE GRANTS AND GIFTS FOR ENDOWMENT.

I. AFTER THE LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE COMPANY, YOU CAN ASK FOR A PERSONAL APPOINTMENT OR INVITE THE APPROPRIATE PERSON WITHIN THE COMPANY TO VISIT YOUR ORGANIZATION TO EXAMINE YOUR REQUEST IN MORE DETAIL.

J. REMEMBER, YOU WILL HAVE BETTER RESULTS IF YOU [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: HUNT WITH A] {STRICKEN TEXT: USE THE} RIFLE {STRICKEN TEXT: APPROACH} RATHER THAN THE SHOTGUN, CAREFULLY CHOOSE YOUR TARGET, THEN FIRE YOUR BEST SHOT.

K. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE I HAVE TO OFFER IS—DON'T BE INTIMIDATED OR AFRAID TO ASK FOR SUPPORT, BELIEVE IN YOUR "PRODUCT" AND TELL THE CORPORATE MANAGER HOW THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH YOU WILL CREATE A PARTNERSHIP THAT [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: DON'T UNDERSHOOT! MDA] WILL BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.

V. IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT BUSINESS IS INTERESTED IN MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS—THIS INTEREST IS GROWING IN TEXAS. I WISH EACH OF YOU WELL.—[HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: AND GOOD HUNTING]

VI. NOW, I WILL BE PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. [HANDWRITTEN ADDITION: PETE GILVIN, TEX COMMUNICATOR, THE ARTS, SEN. GRANT JONES. CH. SENATE FINANCE COMM. FROM ABILENE.]