Museum Store Association

News Items:

The MSA News Page

Leslie Hartman, MSA President, photo

President's Message: Strategic Planning—Achieving Our Goals
Aug. 23, 2010
The board had a very productive and dynamic meeting this summer in Rosemont, IL. As promised, we focused on updating the strategic plan to the new economic reality we all must adjust to. The plan is the map that will guide MSA over the next three to five years and help us add value to your membership. The board’s goal and responsibility is to build an effective operational action plan that is realistic and within our budget and capabilities. We identified the path that best defines the direction for serving our membership and the industry.

We accomplished several important goals from the 2008 plan and made good starts on others. For example, we convened a work group to study and draft the Knowledge Standards now used as a framework for magazine articles and the educational programming of the annual Conference. We published a series of white papers on a cutting edge issue of interest to the museum field—tourism development. We utilize outside professional assistance to increase membership. However, the economic downturn in 2008–2009 sharply curtailed our progress.

It is the board’s responsibility to identify the issues of strategic importance that represent challenges and opportunities to MSA and its membership. Using this knowledge-based approach to gather insights enables the board to bring focus to MSA’s annual allocation of discretionary resources. Tracking action plans and milestones will be indicators of MSA’s progress toward each goal.

We examined the Association’s core purpose—to advance the success of cultural commerce and of the professionals engaged in it—and determined that it is still our primary purpose.

Our process included a review of the assumptions about the relevant future of MSA. While some assumptions from 2008 remain, others no longer apply and thus we added some new statements. In the review, we looked at and discussed all of the following: demographic trends, social, cultural and consumer trends, legislative/regulatory trends, economic trends, industry trends and technology trends.

We also conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis to lend further reality to our planning. For example, one of our outstanding strengths is the loyalty of our members and affiliates to MSA. One of our weaknesses is limited financial resources in the midst of an environment that requires change. One of our opportunities that can be further capitalized on is a better use of technology to enhance member communications. A significant threat that we all face is the very slow and uneven path of the economy and the impact it is having on our association, making funding of new initiatives extremely difficult. We must make excess revenue to continue to offer existing programs and we need revenue growth to implement anything new.

At the top of our goal list is consistent and ongoing communication and engagement of the entire MSA community. We acknowledged and discussed the issues raised by our membership over the past four months. Despite our limited resources, MSA will send board representatives to each chapter meeting that has 20 or more registered institutions this year. Together we can add to the dialogue about our future.

With input from members, we are changing our website to increase functionality and communication options. MSA has had great success communicating with both members and non-members through various social media tools about current issues and trends.

As we continue to work with our consultant to fine tune an action plan, we want to hear about your successes and suggestions. We have an amazing pool of very talented members that are committed to MSA, and we are relying on the interest and commitment of our members for our continued success. We are continually striving to find ways to channel this positive energy toward moving MSA’s strategic plan forward.

Leslie Hartman, MSA President

A Message From the MSA President: Results of the Motions Election
July 8, 2010
Thanks to all who took the time and effort to register their vote. We share, appreciate and recognize the passion for MSA that was exhibited this past month and the ideas that have been proposed.

Your new board is eager to move forward with updating our strategic plan at our board meeting at the end of this month. We assure you that your concerns have been heard. We continue to be committed to advancing the mission of MSA.

The election was open to all voting members starting June 9, 2010, and closed at 12 p.m. Eastern Time on July 8, 2010. Following are the results:

Motion 1	Against = 65%	For = 35%
Motion 2	Against = 69%	For = 31%
Motion 3	Against = 59%	For = 41%
Motion 4	Against = 65%	For = 35%

I do not doubt the sincerity of the intent. Now is the time to get to work together on solving some of these issues. I have faith that this board of your peers will be addressing actionable plans for the future of MSA.

Leslie Hartman, MSA President

President's Message: Stewardship Is a Legacy
June 21, 2010
Stewardship has many meanings. But, in the plainest sense, it means taking good care of things that have been passed on to us. The board of directors is committed to good stewardship.

The resources that enable and enrich MSA came to us from those before us and will be passed on to those after us. Remembering that the core purpose of MSA is to advance the success of cultural commerce and of the professionals engaged in it, I am grateful for the legacy of past boards. They are responsible for laying the groundwork that we will build on this year.

This year, the board will focus our work on how to live in this new economic reality. We have engaged an independent consultant to assist us in updating the Strategic Plan to our new economic circumstances. We experienced an unraveling of many of the 2008 Strategic Plan assumptions, so the board must engage in this review in order to bring it in line with this new reality.

MSA must run like a business. We must have a viable revenue base to support our programs. The reality of our financial position and the board’s fiscal responsibility is going to require us to make some difficult choices. We started in 2008 and 2009 but we must do more this year.

While we do have solid resources from our investments that make it possible for us to have choices, our resources are not unlimited and we must think beyond the immediate crisis that our museums face. Some MSA budget cuts, although disappointing to some in the membership, were absolutely necessary for the long-term health of MSA. For example, one of those decisions was to delay much needed updates to our technology infrastructure and the Web site. We cannot put that off any longer. We are in the process of redesigning the functionality of the Web site to accommodate what members expect to experience. Our Web site needs this functionality to help us increase and retain membership.

The MSA Conference & Expo is an extremely important MSA program. Severe budget cuts among our members’ institutions, store closings, outsourcing and the like, are creating a significant challenge to our meeting attendance. But we must have sources of revenue to manage the Association programs, and the Conference & Expo are a significant part of that picture.

To gain the respect we so earnestly want, we must present a credible, professional image for your retail operation and the personnel managing it within the museum. The Knowledge Standards Program is the basis of our educational focus and lays the groundwork for our professional development.

Our strategic partnership with the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council and the Shop America Alliance has positioned MSA as a leader in cultural commerce and we have used it to build a relationship with the American Association of Museums. I am very pleased that with the assistance of our partners, we made a presentation at the recent AAM annual conference in Los Angeles. Our executive director was on the panel speaking directly to the importance and value of the store as a partner in building institution attendance. These are just some of the initiatives that address new cost effective programs for the changing needs of our membership.

We are ready to ask and answer some tough questions! Your MSA is working for you and values your input!

Leslie Hartman, MSA President

MSA Welcomes New Staff Member: Stephanie Peters
June 8, 2010
The Museum Store Association would like to introduce its newest staff member. Stephanie Peters joins MSA as the Senior Manager of Communications and brings 19 years of experience in marketing communications and publishing. She most recently was the publisher of Premier Bride of Colorado where she directed all aspects of producing the bridal magazine. Earlier in her career, she managed marketing and communications activities in the staffing and leisure travel industries. Welcome Stephanie!

FedEx and UPS Announce Rate Increases for 2010 – MSA Members Can Still Save Money!
Jan. 12, 2010
FedEx and UPS have announced their respective rate increases for 2010. FedEx Corp. has announced it will increase the net average shipping rate for FedEx Express by 3.9 percent, which is composed of a 5.9 percent increase in standard list rates, offset by a 2.0 percent reduction in the fuel surcharge. The new rates will be effective Jan. 4, 2010 and apply to U.S. and U.S. export express package and freight shipments. Additional changes will be made to other FedEx Express surcharges effective Jan. 4, 2010.

FedEx Corp. will increase the standard list rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by an average of 4.9 percent. The new rates were effective Jan. 4, 2010. Additional changes were made to other FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery surcharges, which were effective Jan. 4, 2010. View complete FedEx rate information.

UPS has also announced new list rates for 2010, including an average 4.9 percent increase for UPS Ground and Ground Hundredweight shipments and a net average increase of 4.9 percent on all air express and U.S. origin International shipments.

The increase for air express and international shipments is based on a 6.9 percent increase in the base rate, less a 2 percent reduction in the current fuel surcharge. Find updated UPS rate and service information. Customers may also use this link to download the “2010 Rate and Service Guide,” which provides an explanation of the fuel surcharge calculation methodology along with the new rate tables. The new UPS rates took effect on Jan. 4, 2010.

PartnerShip LLC administers the MSA Discount Shipping Program and offers MSA members discounts up to 29% with FedEx and 66% with UPS Freight®, YRC and Con-way Freight. Members can enroll in the free program online or contact Keith Korhely at (800) 599-2902 x2254.