Supporters of the former Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum are "lawyering up" to prevent conversion of the facility into the Arizona Experience centennial musem, according to a story in the new issue of Phoenix Magazine.
Reporter Dolores Tropiano doesn't go into detail but says opponents of the centennial museum [right, credit, Arizona Centennial Commission] "want to stop construction of the new museum through legal action, turning public opinion against it and drying up contributions."
She opines that for some, "recent happenings at the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Downtown Phoenix have been as polarizing as a certain local sheriff."
I REALLY miss the Ming & Mineral Museum . . . sigh!
ReplyDeleteFor those interested in details, the current Arizona Historical Society plans for the centennial museum include multiple violations of Arizona Revised Statute 41-827 which follows in its entirety
ReplyDeleteCentennial museum; mining and mineral museum; donations
A. The Arizona historical society shall operate and maintain the centennial museum that HOUSES the mining and mineral museum for the following purposes and with the following authority:
1. To promote the recognition and celebration of the historical, cultural, economic and social contributions to this state made by the "five C's" of cattle, copper, cotton, climate and citrus for the observance of the centennial of Arizona as a state.
2. To MAINTAIN the mining and mineral museum as the state depository for collecting, cataloging and displaying mining artifacts and specimens of various ores, gemstones, lapidary material and other valuable mineral specimens.
3. To apply for and accept grants, donations, gifts, bequests of legacies of real or personal property, or any other contribution, financial or otherwise, for use in accordance with the direction of the donor, or, in the absence of an express direction, to be disposed of as prescribed by the board consistent with this article. Monies received pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in a separate account of the museum for the purposes of the museum.
4. To accept from the federal or state government, any local government or any of their agencies restricted and unrestricted monies made available to the state for the purposes of this article.
5. To establish and collect entrance fees to the museum for persons who are at least eighteen years of age.
6. To operate a retail gift shop including the acquisition, purchase and resale of MINERAL specimens and mineral-related items.
7. To authorize the director to employ a curator for the museum. The curator shall possess knowledge or experience in mineral collections or shall have other museum experience.
8. To operate EDUCATIONAL programming for the museum.
9. To accept the services of volunteers and provide oversight for their activities.
B. The Arizona historical society shall maintain the items, artifacts and other inventory received for display or storage, including EQUIPMENT AND OUTDOOR DISPLAYS, and shall not sell or otherwise dispose of materials received for the centennial museum or the mining and mineral museum.