It is a not-for-profit organization that runs it. It is a beloved institution and a public treasure but now it is fighting for its future.

I served on the Museum board from 1996 to 2002. At that time we had a budget of $12 million. We struggled with whether we should bring in exhibits such as Amber, Butterflies Alive and Egypt. We even struggled with whether we should go ahead with building the Puelicher Butterfly wing addition but due to a large donation it became attainable.

We had great leadership. Bill Moynihan, a man of impeccable Irish charm, was an incredible Museum President. Lisa Froemming, Director of Development, broke the paradigm for high expectations and showed a fund raising prowess that was unparalleled.

Fast forward to mid-2002 and Moynihan retired. A pitiful replacement, Roger Bowen, was hired. Bowen lacked grace, charm, poise and showed a greater interest in ruffling feathers than charming donors. He convinced the boards search committee that he could translate his work in the academic sector to an ability to lead our natural history museum.

Personally I questioned Bowen’s hiring. I thought Jim Krivitz, Moynihan’s right hand man and a one time County Supervisor, had the expertise and political savvy to make sure the Museum stayed on the right path. Bowen’s disregard for donors and his unwillingness to get past his own moodiness earned him a smack across the head by the board but he was allowed to stay on with an understanding that he needed to change course or else.

Shortly after I left the board in 2002 Bowen resigned. It’s safe to say the “or else” clause kicked in.

Michael Stafford came on board as the new President. Froemming moved on. In just a few years, the Museum had lost its best President ever and its best fundraiser ever. As a team, Moynihan and Froemming had grown the Museum to a budget of $12 million, most of it paid for by fundraising. Stafford had big shoes to fill.

Last month when the Museum finances imploded, the museum had a budget of $24 million. Expenses had doubled in just three years.

So why am I writing this? I’ll admit it, I’m pissed off. The endowment we were working on as board members was something that was sacred. Board members back from 1996 through 2002 wanted to wean the Museum off of the need for County funds. The county had given only $4.3 million for the last several years — a small percentage of what the county had been putting in before MPM Inc, a private organization, took over the management of the museum. Receiving flat-line funding despite growing inflation was a matter of irritation among us. Recently County Executive Scott Walker won approval by the board to cut funding for the museum. This at a time when the museum is in crisis — it gives you a sense for how out of touch todays County leaders are.

When I was on the museum board, dipping into the endowment for anything was verboten. It was a way to establish long term stability for the museum. It is frustrating that in the three years since I have been gone, the endowment has been whittled away to pay for operating expenses.
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Follow up Link: New York Times: A Struggle for Solvency at Milwaukee Museum