Yes, I sent in a proposal and applied for the job of museum MANAGER and not CURATOR.
The proposal included a plan of study, a marketing and curatorial plan, and a salary scale. Ian Bowering, the retiring curator, had suggested in the last year, that I should apply for his job. Since the SD&G Historical Society seemed to be going the way of a manager instead of a graduate of Museum Studies Curator, I created this opportunity for myself. I sent the proposal in to the then President of the Society and was told that there was no open position, funding was uncertain from year to year and they would not open the position. The President then suggested I should apply for the Tourism Coordinator position that would open up in the near future, offering to put in a good word on my behalf. I did not pursue this of course, it was totally unrelated. My application was about taking opportunities for myself, and not about the present manager. I have nothing really to say about Mr. Don Smith, I barely know him, we just had a few interactions in the last year, while I was writing my book and doing the newsletter for the Society.
What has prompted my last letter to the editor was not about hiring practices but more about Board procedures, transparency, growth of the membership and Board nomination process. Having been a member of the Board myself until 2015, I could see that things were not as they should be, a staff member was dictating the succession process. In a day and age when most volunteers are getting few and far between, growing the membership is essential to the survival of any organization. Yesterday, the SD&G Historical Society and their lawyer did a presentation in front of City Council and the ensuing question period demonstrated problems that go way beyond their excuse of a media campaign by a frustrated applicant for a non existing position.
My interest lies in preserving the invaluable collection of artifacts that has been acquired over the last 63 years. I love history, I am a member of many historical and heritage preservation groups. I do research and love to write and share stories. The SD&G Historical Society is the publisher of the first book I wrote and I am grateful to them for that opportunity and support. If the working relationship has been poisoned it is not by my actions, but by their own choices. I bear no grudges against anyone, it is not my way.
In choosing to be a whistle blower of sorts, I realized there were personal consequences, and I assume my choices. One has to stand up for one’s beliefs.
Ginette Guy
