[GreenKeys] Now here's a lesson for all of us...

[Merz Donald S]

Let me add to what has been said. Be very careful about making donations =
to museums of any kind. Certainly if they are a qualifying organization, =
you need the tax write off and they are willing to give you a receipt =
for $5,000 for your Model 15, then obviously you should go ahead. Just =
don't be surprised if the M15 never sees the light of day. Or if it is =
advertised for sale next year in their "de-acquisition catalog."

The stories of rare and beautiful equipment disappearing into the bowels =
of the Smithsonian are legendary. The whole Perham foundation debacle is =
an absolute disgrace and an embarrassment to dedicated organizations =
like the AWA, the Hammond Museum and NADCOMM.

The stuff is certainly much safer in the hands of private collectors.

73, Don Merz, N3RHT


-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Wills [mailto:pdwills@voicenet.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 7:22 PM
To: Greenkeys
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Now here's a lesson for all of us...


Generally, I would agree with Mr. Ross' statement although there are
certainly some private collectors (and some museums run by a certain Don
House) that would certainly appreciate a free gift.  I've received many
myself that are valued parts of my collection and have given many to =
others
who appreciate them.  I suppose it really depends on your knowing who =
you're
giving things to.

I doubt if I would ever make a gift to a corporate or government =
sponsored
museum again though.  I've seen too much stuff destroyed or, at best, =
hidden
away in a warehouse somewhere.

As far as individuals, never push stuff on them.  If they beg for it,
however, they would probably appreciate it.  ;-)

PDW

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Ross" <ross@hypertools.com>
To: <greenkeys@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 4:42 PM
Subject: [GreenKeys] Now here's a lesson for all of us...


> Greenkeys folks -
>
>
> AI2Q Alex wrote:
> >
> > Yup. I wish I still had my FRXD-3-EL non-typing reperf.
> >
> > A few years ago I donated it to the Science Museum of Long Island, =
and
the
> > museum director tossed it in the dumpster!
> >
>
>   When you give something away, it is worth zero dollars to the person
> you give it to and it is likely that they will treat it as if it has
> exactly that value...
>   If you want your stuff to be preserved then your best bet is to sell
> it -  try find a person who has enough regard for your gear to =
actually
> give you money in exchange for it.
>
>   Even if the person or organization to which you donate the item is
> completely reputable & aboveboard, sometimes their situation (read
> 'money' or 'storage space' or 'interests' or 'charter') changes over
> time, and whatever treasured items you donated in the past are tossed =
in
> the dumpster or sold off to pay the rent or put into some cold & leaky
> long-term storage facility.
>
>   Witness Don's example of AT&T Bell Labs/Lucent, and also the Perham
> Foundation's loss of it's fine museum & storage facility on the =
Foothill
> College Campus.
>   I do not know much about the state of the Lucent collection, but =
from
> what I've heard the Perham Foundation's holdings are either in =
long-term
> storage in 40' containers scattered around the San Francisco Bay Area =
or
> in a small display at Fry's Electronics in Sunnyvale -  see:
> http://www.perham.org/exhibits.html
>

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