The Friends' organization in both the Twin Cities (and elsewhere, I suspect)
are essentially creatures of well-intentioned people creating what amounts
to a sub-foundation, often funded and controlled by the larger foundation
community. That's where the clout comes in, because those who control that
level of the non-profit world are very wealthy, very powerful people in any
of those communities.
In St. Paul, the Friends office is/was housed and managed by staff of the
St. Paul Foundation. I believe some separation was ultimately required, but
the wonderful people who believe in the library system and join the friends'
groups are perhaps unaware of just how exclusionary they can and have become
over the years.
Very powerful bunch that needs some eye-opening on the public responsibility
front. These are not private libraries for satisfying the well-heeled. They
are public institutions requiring public sensibilities in their management
and policies.
Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
------
"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied
corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of
strength, and bid defiance to the laws of the country."
--- Thomas Jefferson,1816
> From: "Erik Riese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Organization: Decisive Moment
> Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 12:21:59 -0600
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] MPL, The Friends & Fundraising
>
> Greetings,
>
> This discussion about fundraising for the Minneapolis Public Library an
> the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library is quite interesting to
> me. Wizard Marks and Joe Barisonzi are rightfully concerned about the
> "fundraising muscle" of the Library and the Friends. Colin Hamilton and
> Kristi Gibson, by virtue of their positions must defend the
> organizations.
>
> When I applied to be Executive Director of the Friends, I did some
> research into fundraising because I could see then (about eighteen
> months ago) that the Executive Director at the Friends would need to
> raise significant sums for the Friends and the new Library. It was the
> most daunting aspect of the job. At the Friends of the Saint Paul Public
> Library they were just completing a capital campaign that raised $5.8
> million and had contributed over $1 million to the Saint Paul Public
> Library in each of the past five years. This was an awesome and
> impressive feat. I called Peter Pearson right to away to find out how he
> had done it.
>
> I wasn't hired by the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library but, I
> am very supportive of their work. On the other hand, if Minneapolis
> wants a top quality Library system we need to start exercising the
> "fundraising muscle" of the MPL and the Friends of the MPL. There are
> many ways that we can do this. Rather than whipping off short attacks on
> the staff of the Library or the Friends we need to encourage the Boards
> of these two organizations to build stronger development offices. We all
> need to respond be Friends of the MPL which means sending them money!
> Most important we need to use our Minneapolis Public Library system and
> speak well of it to our neighbors.
>
> My history with the Friends and the Minneapolis Public Library stretches
> back almost forty years. I want these organizations to thrive. If you
> are not a member of the Friends, join now! A public library is vital to
> a free and informed citizenry. Build our library institutions don't tear
> them down. Our library systems need us involved, active and generous.
>
> --
> In cooperation,
> Erik Riese
>
> Seward:
> a great place to live, work, learn, and play!
> Some pretty good restaurants too!
> (612) 242-8528
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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