The Bow Tie Is Back at the MAC...Are You????

Click on the Bow Tie to become a Member or Donor TODAY!!!

The Bow Tie may be back at the MAC, but what about you? When was the last time you visited the National Historic Campbell House? Did you know without Helen Campbell Powell's donation of her family's home and adjoining property there would be no MAC in the Browne's Addition Neighborhood? Have you visited Cafe MAC recently? Run by Chef Victor this is one of Spokane's most top rated dining spots. When is the last time you visited the exhibit halls? There truly is something for everyone to be found at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture...but you'll never know if you don't go!!

The Spokesman-Review couldn't have stated it better: "Rodgers is back, but the MAC needs you" it's true Spokane this is YOUR MUSEUM and it will never succeed WITHOUT you. NOW is the time to become a member and or donor to the MAC.

To get more information on becoming a MEMBER to the MAC today CLICK HERE

To find out more information on Membership prices and how to DONATE today CLICK HERE

You helped Save the MAC by seeing order restored by reinstating the Bow Tie, but now it's time to step up and show how much you love the MAC by being an active participant in its future here in the Inland Northwest!

July 20, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Rodgers is back, but the MAC needs you - The Spokesman-Review

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has a new boss. Same as the old boss.

Assuming an offer from the MAC directors is accepted, Forrest Rodgers will return as museum director three months after he was summarily dismissed by an unauthorized vote of the board’s executive committee.

The subsequent uproar focused more attention on the MAC than have any of the fine exhibits shown in recent years featuring everything and everyone from a Tyrannosaurus rex to Leonardo da Vinci. That’s too bad, but indicative of the attendance problems shadowing the MAC when it does not have a superstar show.

That, and ongoing financial challenges, were the reasons Rodgers was brought in from the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., last August.

The Washington Legislature has funded the MAC and the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma only through 2013. Unless there is a significant turnaround in the state’s economy by then, the possibility of additional money from Olympia is speculative, at best.

Rodgers says he was poised to undertake a fundraising campaign and, presumably, that will be his first task once his reconciliation with the board is accomplished. He should certainly have the support of the museum’s foundation in that effort. The foundation’s 40 board members were unanimously in his corner, no doubt a major factor in his reappointment.

Others who rallied to Rodgers’ cause will also have to step up. Clearly, there is a lot of passion for the MAC within the arts community, but the whole of the Inland Northwest has just as great a stake in the museum’s future. It is the museum in Spokane, but has the profile of a bas-relief despite the quality of the facility, its wealth of artifacts from Native American tribes from around the region, and the excellence of its exhibits, some made possible by its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution.

It doesn’t get much better than that for an institution the MAC’s size.

But all those attributes are meaningless if the public does not come through the door to see, and appreciate, just what they’ve got a little out of the way in Browne’s Addition. For example, when he was hired Rodgers talked about “living exhibits,” like those that were popular in Bend, and at the museum’s own Campbell House. Properly done – they can be cheesy if not done well – they can be an effective way to attract and educate visitors.

More outreach throughout the region is needed to make more people aware of the MAC as a historical resource for Eastern Washington.

Rodgers was brought in as a marketer. Unfortunate as his dismissal was, it did focus attention on the museum as a valuable but fragile institution that needs help. For a turnaround artist, there’s no better canvas right now than the MAC.

To respond to this editorial online, go to www.spokesman.com and click on Opinion under the Topics menu.

July 18, 2012 in City

MAC board votes to reinstate former director - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Rodgers
(Full-size photo)

Three months after firing its director, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture board says it wants him back.

The MAC board voted 11-3 early this afternoon to ask Forrest B. Rodgers to return to the helm of the financially struggling museum following weeks of outcry from museum members, volunteers and donors who argued that Rodgers was making positive changes when he was booted without warning.

“We won,” said Nima Motahari, a museum member who has led a campaign to persuade the board to rehire Rodgers. “I hope that this means that we have turned a new page, and I hope that the donors will continue to contribute.”

After the firing, MAC board members appeared shocked by the opposition and anger to the firing, and the board refused to give any explanation for Rodgers termination until two months after he was let go. The museum’s separate foundation board and American Indian Cultural Council took votes criticizing the board and asking for Rodgers’ reinstatement.

The board’s offer is contingent on Rodgers dropping his wrongful termination lawsuit. It has agreed to pay Rodgers for the time he was unemployed.

Chris Schnug, who was president of the board when Rodgers was fired, joined Ginny Butler and Barb Stanton in opposing the offer. Schnug declined to comment on the decision.

Bruce Howard, who became the MAC board president last month, said he supported the decision. The president only votes in the case of a tie.

“I certainly would have liked to have avoided where we ended up,” Howard said. “We’ve certainly lost time and lost ground.”

Rodgers, who was hired by the MAC the first time last summer, is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.

The board’s executive committee fired Rodgers in April in a decision that violated board rules requiring that the museum director be terminated only by the governor or a vote of the full board. The full board later voted 13-7 to uphold the firing.

Following the firing, Rodgers filed a lawsuit alleging the executive board of the MAC “egregiously orchestrated and implemented the unlawful April 24 termination” while violating both state termination and open records laws.

The lawsuit followed a June 21 deadline Rodgers’ attorney, Bob Dunn, set to rehire his client or pay him $750,000. The MAC board had indicated the termination was related to Rodgers’ “poor performance” and offered two months of pay and a letter of recommendation if he didn’t sue. Dunn called the offer “ludicrous” and “insulting.”

Write, Write, Write...Let Your Voice Be Heard

Turns out the Board of Trustees are looking for more members and they have finally posted their meeting schedule as well

The turn out at today's Board Meeting was great. But it is clear there is still more work to do in this fight. Please do your part to make sure your voice is heard...attend the Board Meetings, write letters to the Editor, and of course keep sending your letters to the Board as well: board@northwestmuseum.org and if you haven't done so yet, please sign and share the Petition.

Here's a letter to the Board from one of our supporters sent out following today's meeting:

Date: July 3, 2012 4:44:17 PM PDT
To: board@northwestmuseum.org
Subject: Comments

To the Board of Trustees / MAC,

Today I attended your board meeting, my third. It has been interesting, to say the least, to follow the progression of the original, illegal firing of Forrest Rodgers, to the subsequent board meeting and then the next two under new presidential leadership of Bruce Howard.

Bruce, you keep marveling at how community members are "just now" attending meetings. It comes across a bit like, "where was your interest in the past" -- and, forgive me if I am misinterpreting your intention. The short answer is: the actions of a few, illegally violating your own by-laws, woke us as if with a sharp stick. Prior to that, we had every right to assume the museum was being run with integrity.

Well, we're awake, we're listening, we're concerned, we're going to be unstoppable for a relevant, thriving cultural center for the arts.

So very, very rude of Joyce Cameron to kick off the public comment portion of the board meeting by chiding us as if we were children. "Be respectful, and Use your indoor voices!" --- Really? Did you really just say that to a group of concerned people who are taking time from their day to put some energy into saving their museum - ? To insinuate right off the bat that we would be disrespectful was the height of disrespect. It is part of the toxic energy that appears to be keeping the "US" vs. "THEM" attitude alive. And, we are not schoolchildren. We are people who care enough to give of our energy to save something we care about. And that brings heated remarks at times - but, Joyce, you yourself interrupted one of us at the June board meeting ("Then quit going on TV!"). My point is: there is passion on both sides. It doesn't reduce the faction not sitting at the table to uncivilized and rude.

It is refreshing to see new (Foundation Members) on the board ... some brave enough to say the "F" word .... Forrest ~ and that they support bringing him back. They are the ones who spoke most respectfully to the visitors today. -- Whether Forrest is reinstated, or not, a new, inclusive attitude of the board towards the community at large is CRITICAL. Why would you alienate passionate people with myriads of talents that could be utilized for bridges to solutions? Joyce Cameron (and others, Chris Schnug in particular) are visibly disdainful of us and this will only continue to polarize us all.

Part of the problem is that the general public does not have a SATISFACTORY outlet for their frustrations. We have limited time at your board meeting to say our piece, often with no substantial response, always blamed on the litigation factor. All of these issues aside, PLEASE be willing to do something different, meet us where we are, understand that the old way of treating the community is over. Victor said it brilliantly -- your customers ...the public, MAC members, donors, tribes, concerned citizens - deserve your utmost care. We are not the enemy, we happen to believe that current leadership is harming the future of The MAC, that Forrest must be reinstated immediately, that we deserve to be heard, not demonized.

Bruce, thank you for being responsive to adding some narrative of the public comments portion of you meeting into your minutes. Also, thank you for your overall tone of respect. All of us in attendance at the meeting today (and those who were unable to attend) hold hope that the change you spoke of is indeed on the horizon. In time to reverse damage done.

Respectfully,

Lori DeCicio

This Is More Than A Simple Firing...

Attendance at the Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 Board Meeting is vital:

June 28, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Easy fix for MAC: rehire Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

There is a way out of the mess created by the firing of Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Director Forrest Rodgers.

Just undo it.

That’s how the University of Virginia Board of Visitors (directors) ended an eruption of demonstrations opposing the forced resignation of President Teresa Sullivan. The crisis at UVa, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson, has many parallels to that now gripping the MAC.

Both Rodgers and Sullivan had held their positions for a relatively short time: eight months for Rodgers, two years for Sullivan.

Both were caught off-guard by their ousters, which did not follow procedure. In the case of Rodgers, the executive board acted without the consent of the full board. There was a complete lack of transparency.

Rodgers was faulted for some non-board-approved spending of about $50,000 and for not undertaking a fundraising campaign that would alleviate the financial pressures on the MAC. Sullivan, too, was not raising additional funds needed by the university. Nor, according to the board, was she moving forward fast enough to institute reforms that would introduce new technology and control costs.

Expectations apparently were not well-defined in either case – until after the fact. But in neither case were stakeholders buying board explanations that did not square with the experience or observations of those who care about the institutions.

Significant minorities of the UVa and MAC boards opposed the ousters, as did every member of the board of the MAC foundation charged with raising private money to supplement shrinking state appropriations.

But the students, faculty and other constituencies at UVa were vocal enough to attract the attention of Gov. Robert McDonnell, who wanted nothing to do with managing the university but was not going to allow a bungling board to keep one of the nation’s most storied universities in an uproar.

Decide between Sullivan and an already designated interim appointee and explain yourselves, he wrote. If the board did not comply, he would fire the lot.

The board unanimously reinstated Sullivan.

The whole affair took only two weeks. The board chairman, a developer who had engineered the ouster, apologized. Sullivan is back in her office.

It isn’t over, of course. Boards do not fire and rehire a president at a prestigious university without repercussions. But the university moves on.

Meanwhile, two months after dismissing Rodgers, the MAC board is still looking for a way out. There have been minor changes in membership, a change in chairman and some recognition that dissing supporters is no way to restore goodwill. A task force has been appointed to work on a resolution of Rodgers’ status. A meager settlement has been offered.

The board meets again Tuesday. Members might want to take a look at how UVa leadership came to terms with its own errors and walked them back. A reset of the relationship with Rodgers, on a probationary footing, with clear goals and deadlines, would help repair the fragile MAC.

"What Next?" You Ask, Here's An Answer....

Click Bow Tie to Sign Petition

Many have asked "What Do I Do Next?"

Well there are a couple things...first, make sure you sign the petition which can be found by clicking on General Patton's Bow Tie.

Secondly, and most vitally at present, is to write to the MAC both on their web page as an e-mail and also on their FB page asking:

*Where are the dates of all board meetings posted?

*Where is the agenda, and list of attendees posted?

*Where are the minutes for the last 4 meetings posted?

Every State Agency IS required to post these. Any board(s) activity past or future is suppose to be posted so people can attend. Even an emergency meeting is suppose to be posted. Members of the MAC staff have even asked MAC administration where these are posted and no one has an answer.

For example apparently there is a meeting on July 3rd. Which board is meeting? Where? When? How come the public does not know about it.

They had a meeting yesterday, June 21, 2012, that NO ONE was informed about.

Please make sure that you make your voice heard with the MAC Board of Trustees as they are far from OPEN when it comes to making the public aware of their meeting times and minutes as required by law:

RCW 42.30.030 states that: "All meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the governing body of a public agency, except as otherwise provided in this chapter."

In the spirit of OPEN & PUBLIC meetings, board meeting dates should be easily accessible to the public. Which they currently are not. Please contact the MAC through all means necessary demanding a public postings announcing meetings in advance of the meeting time and then public postings of meeting minutes after those meetings occur.

They want to keep us in the dark so they continue their business as usual private club on the public dime...we cannot allow that to be the case.

Demand OPEN & PUBLIC accessibility to OUR facility and its Board Meetings:

Email: board@northwestmuseum.org
info@northwestmuseum.org

FB: http://www.facebook.com/NorthwestMuseumofArtandCulture

June 22, 2012 in City

New members could change MAC board’s stance on dispute - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Rodgers
(Full-size photo)

Four new members of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture board could shift how the museum resolves its dispute with its terminated leader.

The new president of the board, Bruce Howard, this week appointed four new members who were on the museum’s separate foundation board when that group voted unanimously to criticize the April firing of Forrest Rodgers.

Early Thursday afternoon, the MAC board met privately to discuss a possible lawsuit that could be filed by Rodgers. But the board appears unlikely to avoid a lawsuit. Rodgers’ attorney, Bob Dunn, said Thursday that Rodgers never received a response to a letter demanding he either be reinstated or paid $750,000. In a phone call Thursday, however, the MAC’s attorney said the museum is interested in mediating a settlement, but she was not prepared to offer a specific deal, Dunn said.

“My client has done his best to avoid a lawsuit,” Dunn said. “No one has even bothered to respond to our letter.”

The board’s bylaws give the board president the power to appoint members to vacant seats if the board’s operations committee recommends the new members. Howard said the committee recommended the appointments of all new members.

At the end of the meeting, the board publicly voted to give Howard the right to represent the board in working to resolve the dispute with Rodgers.

The new members are Al Payne, a local developer; Rich Marll, who works for Itron; Cece Perko, the former owner of a travel agency and tour company; and Shaun O’L. Higgins, managing partner of a local consulting firm and retired director of sales and marketing for The Spokesman-Review.

Perko, who was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting, said she believes rehiring Rodgers remains a possibility. She said Rodgers has “a wonderful track record.”

“Our goal is to see how we can pick up the pieces,” Perko said. “That would be a goal … to get Forrest back in the job.”

Rodgers was terminated by the executive committee of the MAC board in April in a decision that violated board rules requiring that the museum director be fired only by the governor or by a vote of the full board. The full board later upheld the decision to dismiss Rodgers.

Earlier this month, an attorney representing the MAC board offered Rodgers two months of pay and a letter of recommendation if he didn’t sue and signed a “non-disparagement” agreement. The board also for the first time outlined reasons he was fired, including “poor performance.”

Dunn rejected the MAC’s offer last week and set a deadline for today for the MAC to rehire Rodgers or pay him $750,000, according to a letter he sent to Assistant Attorney General Maureen McGuire, who represents the MAC. If the deadline is missed, Dunn said last week, he will file a lawsuit against the museum, which is a state agency, and some members of the executive committee that made the original decision to terminate Rodgers.

Dunn said his lawsuit will name the museum and three board members, Chris Schnug, Ron Rector and David Brukardt.

June 21, 2012 in City, News

New MAC board members could shift power - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Four new members of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Cultures Board could shift how the museum resolves its dispute with its terminated leader.

The new president of the board, Bruce Howard, this week appointed four new members who were members of the museum’s separate foundation board when that group voted unanimously to criticize the firing of Forrest Rodgers, who was let go in April.

Early this afternoon, the MAC board, including some of the board’s new members, met privately to discuss a possible lawsuit that could be filed by Rodgers.

At the end of the meeting, the board publicly voted to give Howard the right to represent the board in working to resolve the dispute with Rodgers.

The new members are Al Payne, Rich Marll, Shawn Higgins and Cece Perko. Higgins is a retired executive at The Spokesman-Review.

Bob Dunn, who represents Rodgers, called the reasons listed for the firing as “after-the-fact, cover-your-butt rhetoric.” He rejected the MAC’s offer last week and set a deadline for today for the MAC to rehire Rodgers or pay him $750,000, according to a letter he sent to Assistant Attorney General Maureen McGuire, who represents the MAC. If the deadline is missed, Dunn said last week, he will file a lawsuit against the museum, which is a state agency, and some members of the executive committee that made the original decision to terminate Rodgers.

A Thank You to all those who attended the Rally to Save the MAC

Click Image to see full photo album

Last night's Rally to Save the MAC at the Bing, was a success. An excellent turnout from people on all sides of this issue took the time to come out and show their love and support for this Spokane cultural icon and the mess that it currently finds itself in. Here is a message from one of the event's organizers:

"THANK YOU SPOKANE for such a fantastic turnout last night at the Bing. I find it hard to find the words to thank you all for the incredible passion, and truly unbelievable commitment to this cause. I know we had a lot of people who came not knowing the full story and many who came in opposition but we all said goodnight in unity. From them I kept hearing words of apology and that "we didn't know".

We have obviously not had the chance to get all the names and e-mails in our system yet, but we are working on that. With all the new signatures on the paper petition we have managed to yet again grow and make more people in Spokane aware of what has taken place here. Thank you to all the young people that came and who are bringing their friends into the fold.

The video, Spotlight Spokane, will be shown soon once the edits are done. I know a lot of people have already called me asking when it will air. Jeff Moorning, the producer, will let me know when it will show and I will let everyone know then.

As I mentioned last night still many ask me why bother with the MAC. Let it dwindle down and die. Please do not look at the MAC as it is now, an empty, soulless, lifeless building sitting somewhere in Browne's Addition, irrelevant and unknown to 80% of Spokane. Think of what it could be, a vibrant, bustling hub of art and culture filled with plays, local artists as well as national and international ones, programs catered to our youth, not just a school walkthrough, a place where the Natives get a meaningful way to tell their story, where our local colleges can have a hand in with their programs, we could start so many annual events that will bring people in from Canada, from Idaho, from Montana. The MAC is an imprisoned child in a basement. Help us get it out and let it grow and become all it can be. They have done their best but they are out of their element and they know it. Do not settle for a few musical chair shuffling from them. Be part of this and I promise you the MAC will be something you will be proud of. Keep the Forrest Fire burning until Forrest Rodgers stands in the MAC and we have freed it from the hands of a few and given back to the people.

Standby for next rally dates and action items. Again, thank you all.

Nima"

A sincere thank you to everyone who has supported this cause and campaign thus far. If you haven't taken the time to sign the petition yet please do so right now. And as always stay tuned for more on this issue right here for all the latest news and updates.

The Inlander

Meeting about the future of the MAC tonight

Posted by MIKE.BOOKEY 24 minutes ago

It looks like the MAC's board of trustees' decision to replace some of its executive board has done little to quell those still a little hot about the museum's decision to fire it's executive director, Forrest Rodgers.

Tonight at the Bing Crosby Theater, a group is holding a "Rally to Save the MAC." The event, which is not sanctioned by the MAC, kicks off at 7 pm and is an open community meeting to discuss what organizers see as a mishandling of Rodgers' firing, which looks like it could end up being handled in the courts.

"Show them we stand for a new MAC. New leadership from top to bottom and we will not be silenced, we will not lose our direction, our purpose or our passion. The MAC does not belong to the few, it belongs to us all and we have spoken," the group wrote on the event Facebook page.

Again, this kerfuffle looks like it's far from over.

A Message From The MAC's Communications and Public Relations Manager:

Click Image for Event Details

The following text is from the desk of Rebecca Bishop, Communications and Public Relations Manager at the MAC. What Ms. Bishop fails to realize is that the community members behind this effort to Rally at the Bing DO have the best interests of the MAC in mind:

Rebecca Bishop wrote:
To Spokane friends: Don't be fooled about a 'save the mac' meeting tomorrow night at the Bing. It is not a MAC event nor sanctioned by the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. A few folks have called this gathering because they are upset about a personnel change at the MAC. It seems a personal agenda for them and not in the best interest of the MAC, the staff, volunteers, members and future exhibits/programs. IMHO

Those in attendance will be there because there is more at stake than "personnel change" or "personal agenda", those in attendance will be there with the very best of intentions for the future of the MAC, the staff, the volunteers, the members, and the future exhibits. What will most likely be surprising to Ms. Bishop is that not only will Foundation Board Members, MAC members, Tribal Council Members, the general public, but also Members of the Executive Committee will be in attendance, all because they want the very best for the MAC and its future.

It is misguided statements like this from the Communications and Public Relations Manager that lead one to believe that there is more than just Executive Committee Members responsible for this conspiracy to remove Executive Director Forrest B. Rodgers, it is becoming more clear that there are obviously some complicit staff members who are working with or for members of the Executive Committee behind the scenes.

JUNE 20, 2012 - Bing Crosby Theater - SAVE THE MAC!!!

Be at the Bing Crosby Theater this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Please pass this on to anyone that you think may be interested in saving the MAC, particularly the younger generation. The event will begin at 7. We will have the t.v. show Spotlight Spokane there with host Roger Nelson. They will be discussing the issues with you, our community. Forrest Rodgers will also be there.

MAC Foundation Resolution

June 15, 2012

On May 21st, the Foundation Board of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture adopted this resolution concerning the firing of Forrest Rodgers.

RESOLUTION OF THE NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOUNDATION

WHEREAS, the MAC Foundation fully supports the mission of the MAC to actively engage all people in the appreciation of arts and culture and its vision to foster understanding of the history, cultures and art of the Inland Northwest, and

WHEREAS, the MAC Foundation has the fiduciary duty to its donors and to the MAC itself to use due care in managing the funds donated to it to fulfill the purpose of the MAC, and

WHEREAS, the MAC is an accredited institution under the rules and guidance of the American Association of Museums and has been accredited by that body for decades, most recently having been the subject of a site visit and thorough review of its operations and governance during its reaccreditation process ending last year, and
WHEREAS, the MAC is an independent state agency established by RCW 27.34, et seq., and thus holds its priceless collections as a public trust for the benefit of the citizens of the State of Washington, and

WHEREAS, the MAC has received a significant portion of its annual operating budget from state funds, which has been in severe jeopardy over the last several years, and

WHEREAS the MAC has known that the most recent appropriation of state funds was for the purpose of allowing the MAC to explore alternative funding and operating methods; and,

WHEREAS the MAC Foundation recognizes that MAC Executive Committee members have undertaken heroic measures in past legislative cycles as well as the current legislative cycle to preserve that funding and to demonstrate widespread public support through the Save the MAC campaign, and

WHEREAS, the MAC Executive Committee has recently taken unanimous action in violation of RCW 27.34.080 its own Bylaws, its own rules of practice and of state law to allegedly terminate its Executive Director Forrest Rodgers, and
WHEREAS, Forrest Rodgers is also the Executive Director of the MAC Foundation and the Foundation was not given notice of this action nor given any explanation for the reasons behind this action nor included in the recent closed meeting of May 2, 2012; and,

WHEREAS the Executive Director is and acts as the primary liaison between the MAC and the Cultural Council as it relates to the maintenance, preservation and exhibition of the Native American collection and the Cultural Council was not given notice of this action nor given any explanation for the reasons behind the action, nor included in the recent closed meeting of May 2, 2012; and,

WHEREAS, the MAC Executive Committee has clearly operated in violation of its own publicly published Values Statement to respect Board, staff, volunteers and the people of our region, to have open and honest communication both internal and external and to behave with integrity and ethical conduct in all activities of the Board, and

WHEREAS, the MAC Foundation believes that the actions of the Executive Committee violate the principles of good governance set out by the American Association of Museums, and

WHEREAS, the MAC Foundation believes that the actions of the Executive Committee have brought the institution into disrepute, held it up to public ridicule, violated its duty of public trust and threatened the viability of the organization,

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the MAC Foundation has no confidence in the ability of the MAC Executive Committee to govern the MAC and requests the immediate resignation of all members of that committee to ensure the continuance of the MAC as a healthy organization.

Adopted this 21^st day of May, 2012

___________________________
Paul Ellyson, President

June 15, 2012 in City

Rodgers rejects MAC offer of two months pay - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Rodgers
(Full-size photo)

The terminated director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has declined an offer to go away quietly.

Last week, an attorney representing the MAC board offered the museum’s former director, Forrest Rodgers, two months of pay and a letter of recommendation if he didn’t sue and signed a “non-disparagement” agreement. The board also for the first time outlined reasons he was fired, including “poor performance.”

Bob Dunn, who represents Rodgers, rejected that offer on Thursday and set a June 21 deadline for the MAC to rehire Rodgers or pay him $750,000, according to a letter he sent to Assistant Attorney General Maureen McGuire, who represents the MAC. If the deadline is missed, Dunn said, he will file a lawsuit against the museum, which is a state agency, and some members of the executive committee that made the original decision to terminate Rodgers.

“If it was your clients’ intent to be insulting in its proposal to Mr. Rodgers, then it was successful,” Dunn wrote. “Your clients’ offer to resolve this dispute on such a ludicrous basis is rejected.”

The MAC board later voted 13-7 to uphold the firing, but Rodgers’ ouster has been extremely unpopular among many supporters of the MAC. The museum’s separate foundation board voted unanimously last month to call for resignation of the MAC board’s executive committee. The group has since asked the American Association of Museums to mediate the dispute between the two boards.

Meanwhile, MAC Board President Bruce Howard on Monday appointed a task force to examine the controversy. On it are two MAC board members who supported Rodgers’ termination – Joyce Cameron, chief development officer of Providence Health Care Foundation, and U.S. District Court Judge Frem Nielson – and one member who opposed the firing, Mary Joan Hahn, Gonzaga University’s community and public relations director.

“I was looking for trustees who I believe are open-minded and who are interested in preserving what we talked about before – an amicable resolution,” said Howard, who became the MAC board president earlier this month.

Howard said he hasn’t given the task force a deadline to make a recommendation to the full board.

The MAC’s determination last week to make Rodgers an offer may have violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act. The board met in private for about two hours before opening the meeting to the public. But no decisions about making Rodgers an offer were made in the public session.

McGuire, who represents the MAC board, said last week that no votes were made in the executive session. She said, however, that the letter was sent as a result of the consensus of the board “to move forward.”

Government bodies are prohibited from making decisions in secret even if a decision isn’t made by an official vote, said Greg Overstreet, the former Washington special assistant attorney general for government accountability. Although a board can meet privately with an attorney to discuss pending litigation, a decision based on board consensus to make an offer or send a letter would have to be made in public, he said.

“On the face of it, it would seem that a decision was made in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act,” said Overstreet, who is a private attorney based in Olympia.

RALLY TO SAVE THE MAC - June 20th, 7PM - Bing Crosby Theatre

Click on image for more Event details

There will be a meeting on the 20th at the Bing at 7 p.m. Please bring as many supporters as possible. Jeff Mooring of Let's Talk Spokane would like to interview a few people during this rally. I am hoping the Spokesman Review and possibly KXLY will cover the event also.
They thought they just fired Forrest cause he was not one of them. They didn't know we would fight back with Forrest Fire. Show them we stand for a new MAC. New leadership from top to bottom and we will not be silenced, we will not lose our direction, our purpose or our passion. The MAC does not belong to the few, it belongs to us all and we have spoken.

If anyone would like to help donate money towards posters and signage or add any other additional support please contact Nima Michael at nima@wwomer.com

FIRING FORREST
or
"HOW THE MAC BOARD STARTED A FORREST FIRE"

There is a new blog site that has popped up dedicated to this whole fiasco...please check them out at by clicking HERE or by clicking on FBR's bow tie in the image to your left.
Here is some information about the new blog site, taken from their "About This MAC Mess" section:

This page was created to raise awareness of the illegal firing of Forrest Rodgers, the executive director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) in Spokane, Washington. The MAC is owned by the Eastern Washington State Historical Society and is, firstly, a regional history museum. It contains regional archives and content, art content, and Native American content.

The MAC’s board of trustees hired Forrest Rodgers as its executive director starting August. 1, 2011. Then, without warning or reason, the executive committee of the board of trustees fired him on April 24, 2012, after eight months on the job. The firing was illegal, violating the board’s own by-laws. Later, the full board was convened to uphold the first firing, setting off a firestorm within and without the museum. The second firing is also on questionable legal ground.

Both the museum’s foundation board and the American Indian Cultural Council have roundly condemned the firing, as have many museum supporters. At stake is the integrity of the museum, its board, and the ability of the museum to remain open. Rodgers was working to find new sources of funding, but the backlash over his firing has eroded the MAC’s credibility in the community.

Please check them out, check back here often as well, and if you haven't done so already be sure you take a moment to sign the online petition to fire the Executive Board as well!

June 9, 2012 in City

MAC board’s letter outlines reasons for firing Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture board is accusing its popular former director of “poor performance” and is standing behind his controversial termination.

In a letter sent this week to former director Forrest Rodgers, the board offered to provide essentially two months of severance pay and provide a letter of recommendation to assist in his search for a new job. But despite community outrage over Rodgers’ dismissal, the board gave no indication it wanted him back on the job.

A copy of the letter, sent by the board in response to Rodgers’ threat to sue if he wasn’t reinstated, was obtained Friday by The Spokesman-Review.

The letter for the first time outlines reasons for Rodgers’ termination, though the board also argues that Rodgers is a probationary employee and that no reasons are needed. In it, the board’s attorney, Maureen McGuire, an assistant attorney general, argues that the decision was based on “poor performance” especially related to Rodgers’ “failure” to implement plans to solve the MAC’s financial problems and for his decision to spend “a significant amount” of funds that were not approved by the board. The MAC is a state institution that has suffered in recent years as a result of state spending cuts.

Rodgers was fired by a committee of the MAC board in April in a decision that has angered many museum donors, members and volunteers. Rodgers’ supporters say he has brought innovative leadership to a museum that has been led for several years by directors who have no museum experience, and they question how the board could expect Rodgers to have fixed the MAC’s significant financial problems after only eight months on the job.

The MAC board’s new president, Bruce Howard, said Friday that he’s disappointed that the letter became public and said it was meant to respond to a letter from Rodgers’ attorney last month that argued that his firing was illegal and threatened a lawsuit if the termination was upheld.

“This is a response to a specific letter,” Howard said. “It’s an invitation to further discussions.”

On Wednesday, Howard, who voted to terminate Rodgers, announced that he would appoint a three-person task force to deal with the controversy. He said Friday that he still hopes to do that, though he hasn’t yet selected the committee.

A new slate of board officers was elected at Wednesday’s meeting, and seven members leave the board at the end of the month, mostly as a result of their terms expiring.

The board is not fully united against Rodgers. Trustee Jim Sullivan, who opposed Rodgers’ termination, said late Friday afternoon that he remains supportive of Rodgers’ leadership.

“The only people that have referred to his poor performance relates to the executive committee,” Sullivan said. “Nobody else on the board was ever aware of poor performance.”

Bob Dunn, one of Rodgers’ attorneys, dismissed the reasons given for Rodgers’ termination as “after-the-fact, cover-your-butt rhetoric.” Despite a claim in the letter that there was a “series of meetings” with Rodgers to discuss his performance, Dunn said, Rodgers had no warning that his job was in jeopardy until the meeting in which he was fired.

Earlier this week, Rodgers said that two contracts raised as concerns during the open portion of Wednesday’s MAC board meeting were never cited to him as reasons for his termination. They totaled about $50,000, and he said they were under the amount that needed board approval according to rules in place at the museum and in his previous jobs. The contracts were covered with the MAC’s private funds.

Sullivan said the board was aware that the museum would contract for the work long before Rodgers was fired.

“It wasn’t a secret,” he said. “It was never controversial.”

Further, Sullivan said the contracts, which included a study about what museum visitors felt about their experiences, were needed to boost the museum’s finances. Rodgers, he said, was committed to generating interest in the MAC.

“What was occurring was people weren’t going to the MAC,” he said. “What the MAC needs to do is turn the turnstiles.”

June 8, 2012 in News, City

MAC board offers Rodgers two-months pay, not his job - The Spokesman-Review

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Cultures board is standing behind its termination of its popular director.

Forrest Rodgers was fired by a committee of the MAC board in April in a decision that has angered many museum donors, members and volunteers.

After meeting in private on Wednesday, MAC Board President Bruce Howard announced that the board is “committed to working toward an amicable resolution.” But board members refused to explain if that meant that it was reconsidering Rodgers’ termination.

A letter sent to Rodgers’s attorney after the meeting, however, appears to show that the board isn’t open to rehiring him.

Instead, the board offered him a deal to pay him through the end of June if he agreed to release any claims against the MAC and board and sign a “non-disparagement” agreement.

The letter for the first time outlines reasons for the termination, though the board also argues that Rodgers is a probationary employee and that no reasons are needed.

In the letter, the board’s attorney, Maureen McGuire, who works for the state Attorney General’s Office, argues that the decision was based on “poor performance” especially related to Rodgers’ “failure” to implement plans to solve MAC’s financial problems and for his decision to spend “a significant amount” of funds that were not approved by the board.

Bob Dunn, Rodgers’s attorney, called the reasons cited by the MAC board “after-the-fact, cover-your-butt rhetoric.”

Earlier this week, Rodgers said that two contracts raised as concerns during the open portion of Wednesday’s MAC board were never given to him as reasons for his termination. They totaled about $50,000, and he said they were under the amount that needed board approval according to rules in place at the museum and in his previous jobs. The contracts were covered with the MAC’s private funds.

Rodgers’ supporters say he has brought innovative leadership to a museum that has been led for several years by directors who have no museum experience. They also question how the board could expect Rodgers to have fixed the MAC’s significant financial problems after only being on board for eight months.

Rodgers was terminated in April by the board’s executive committee in violation of board rules because it was not decided by the entire board. The full board of trustees later upheld the firing in a 12-7 vote.

A new slate of board officers was elected at Wednesday’s meeting, and seven members’ leave the board at the end of the month, mostly as a result of their terms expiring. But the board still will be controlled by supporters of Rodgers’ firing.

June 7, 2012 in City

MAC board officers elected - The Spokesman-Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

The board that leads the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is under new leadership, but the fate of its recently terminated director remained unclear after a two-hour private board session on Wednesday.

Bruce Howard, who was elected president of the board at the start of the meeting, said he will appoint by Monday a three-person task force to deal with the controversial firing of Forrest Rodgers.

“The board is committed to working toward an amicable resolution of the situation with Mr. Rodgers,” he said. He declined in an interview to say if the board is open to rehiring Rodgers.

“I don’t want to speculate on what the range of outcomes could be,” he said.

The new slate of officers, which was approved in a 17-1 vote, is split between those who opposed and supported Rodgers’ ouster. Howard and the board’s new treasurer, David Green, supported the termination. The new vice president of the board, Mary Joan Hahn, and the board’s new secretary, Patty Dicker, were opposed.

Howard, who is the director of environmental affairs for Avista Corp., replaces Chris Schnug, a retired partner at the accounting firm Moss Adams, as president, though Schnug remains on the board.

“I think the board as a whole was looking for a slate of officers that could try to work constructively together moving forward,” Howard said.

Many museum members, volunteers and donors have been angered by the decision, especially by the refusal of the board to give an explanation. The museum’s separate foundation board voted to call for the resignation of the board’s executive committee.

No executive board members have resigned, though two trustees not on the executive committee who opposed the termination resigned last month in protest. Those resignations have hurt Rodgers’ chances at reinstatement. Seven trustees’ terms expire at the end of the month – mostly those who supported termination. But the board still will have a majority of members who supported Rodgers’ ouster.

Green said the board might share details of the termination in the future.

“We would love to be able to say our side of the story, and at some point in time if we cannot resolve the issue with Mr. Rodgers, the board’s side of the story will come out,” Green said. “But at this point in time, the best advice we can receive and have received is we have to be as quiet as we possibly can because we’re interested in settling it without it blowing up any further than it already has.”

During a portion of the meeting about the MAC’s budget, some board members raised concerns about two contracts Rodgers approved without first briefing the board.

“It’s not a question of authority to spend, it’s a question of approval of the budget, and then there’s a third issue of did we follow state law in the procurement process,” Green said.

In a later part of the meeting, Jerry Dicker, a developer and museum donor, accused the board of slander for questioning the contracts without Rodgers “being able to speak.”

“I heard someone start doing things that sounded like it was staged, staged to cast doubt on Forrest,” said Dicker, who is married to trustee Patty Dicker. “This is not an open and candid and credible board. And I fear that at the end of this meeting that you’re going to go further downhill in the public’s eyes. I fear that’s what you’ve orchestrated here today.”

Rodgers said Wednesday that no one on the board ever told him they were concerned about the contracts, including when he was terminated. He said Schnug once asked him about the contracts in a one-on-one meeting.

“In my previous experience I had the authority to commit to such contracts,” Rodgers said. “I had never been told by anyone on the board or by the (chief financial officer) that that was inappropriate, much less illegal.”

Rodgers said one of the contracts was for about $30,000 to study what MAC visitors thought about their experiences. The other, for about $17,000, was to develop an interpretive site plan for the museum grounds and exhibit hall.

He said he doesn’t believe the contracts needed to be bid publicly because they were paid for with private donations, not public museum funds.

Wednesday night Rodgers said he wasn’t certain what to think about Howard’s call to resolve the issue.

“I haven’t had the courtesy of a call, so I don’t know what to think about it,” he said. “I have always said that I want litigation to be the last resort to resolve this controversy.”

JUNE 6th - NOON @ the MAC - BE THERE!!!

On Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 at Noon, there will be a public board meeting at the MAC. If you are able, please come and show your support for the museum, Forrest Rodgers, and the responsible and professional handling of a modern day Spokane landmark. Please do everything you can to make this public meeting, and hey don't forget to sport a Bow Tie!!!

With funding cut and director fired, MAC sits at crossroads - KXLY

June 5, 2012 in News, City

MAC board may get new leadership - The Spokesman - Review

Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Change could be afoot among those leading the embattled Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

The museum’s Board of Trustees meets on Wednesday and will consider a slate of new board officers, according to a meeting agenda released by the MAC today.

The board has faced a significant outcry from MAC donors, members, volunteers and the museum’s affiliated foundation board and cultural council following the trustees’ decision to fire Executive Director Forrest Rodgers.

Attempts made to reach Chris Schnug, president of the board, were unsuccessful today. She previously has declined to comment on calls for her and the rest of the executive committee to resign.

The board’s eight-member executive committee, which includes the officers of the MAC board, fired Rodgers in April in violation of its rules because the decision wasn’t made by the full board of trustees. In May, the full board backed up the executive committee by voting to terminate Rodgers in a 12-7 vote.

Trustees who supported the firing have repeatedly refused to explain why Rodgers was fired.

Attorney Bob Dunn, who represents Rodgers, said there could be a shift in direction at Wednesday’s meeting.

“Information that I have received is that some of the executive committee members who voted to oust Rodgers feel like they were strong-armed into doing it and are reconsidering,” Dunn said.

At least one member of the board has changed her position on Rodgers’ firing.

Katherine Fritchie, a trustee who is not on the executive committee, said in a letter to the other board members that she made a mistake by voting to terminate Rodgers and that “immediate change” is needed to “restore faith in the museum.”

“The best option I see here is for the executive committee to voluntarily step down and allow for new leadership. Forrest should also be reinstated and worked with, not against, to meet our goals,” Fritchie, who owns the Garland Theater, wrote in the letter. “I do not want to be a part of the board that is digging a grave for the MAC.”

After the board is scheduled to select new officers, it is scheduled to meet behind closed doors for an unspecified purpose.

Rodgers, who was hired by the MAC last summer, is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.

Dunn said he has heard no response from MAC officials to his letter he sent to he MAC board last month explaining that Rodgers remained the director because he was terminated illegally. Dunn also warned that Rodgers may filed a tort claim for more than $750,000.

He said Tuesday that if it were up to him, he likely already would have filed a lawsuit but that Rodgers has him “on a short leash.”

“It’s not my client’s desire to escalate this before he knows whether or not they’re going to make this permanent,” Dunn said.

May 27, 2012 in City

The MAC Attack - The Spokesman-Review

Doug Clark The Spokesman-Review

Welcome to Clark Knows It All.

I will now provide answers to the pressing problems that nag at us like a stage mother at a recital.

Let’s begin.

Problem 2. MAC attack.

Why was Forrest Rodgers fired after spending less than a year as executive director of Spokane’s Museum of Arts and Culture?

And did it have anything to do with becoming amorously involved with one of those nudie Rubens paintings?

We may never know.

But there’s a bigger issue here, and that is: Why do we even have a museum that has the word “culture” in the title?

This is Spokane, after all.

Our idea of fine sculpture is the garbage goat that sucks up trash at Riverfront Park.

I went to the MAC once to see this traveling art exhibit by some dude named Monet.

What a rip-off. They had all these big paintings of water lilies that were out of focus.

I say we close the MAC and turn it into a cool museum like the one I went through at the Tropicana in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago.

It was called the Mob Attraction. The whole thing was about the killers and crooks who transformed acres of dry, worthless desert into David Copperfield’s retirement home.

The museum featured actors who played the parts of mobsters and also glass cases filled with brass knuckles and assorted weaponry. I went through it with my son, Ben, and at the end we got rubbed out in a blaze of gunfire.

This was way better than looking at blurry flowers.

So let’s turn the MAC into an educational and interactive tribute to our local brand of organized crime.

The Spokane Police Guild Museum, we could call it.

Doug Clarkcan be reached at (509) 459-5432 or dougc@spokesman.com

May 26, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Explanation essential to unity at MAC - The Spokesman-Review

The trustees of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture owe Spokane an explanation for the firing of Forrest Rodgers as museum director.
At a special board meeting held Wednesday, Chairwoman Chris Schnug drew a line in the sand with a Caterpillar, absolutely refusing to tell an audience filled with museum supporters why Rodgers was terminated after less than one year on the job. Many in attendance would have walked out had they not been encouraged to stay and speak their piece.
Speak they did, some in anger, some in tones that suggested they were looking for an avenue toward reconciliation despite the board’s obstinacy.
The premise of the meeting was to lay out the magnitude of the financial obstacles ahead as the state’s support shrinks to the minimum necessary to maintain the archives of the Eastern Washington Historical Society within the museum. At the end of June 2013, even that is not assured.
Memberships, admissions and contributions from lovers of the arts cannot pick up the slack, at least not immediately. One of Rodgers’ charges was to ramp up efforts to raise more private sector money and explore the potential advantages of building alliances with other arts organizations locally and statewide.
He did similar work in Bend, Ore., where he headed the High Desert Museum, as well as foundations at Central Washington University and Oregon State University.
No coordinated fundraising campaign was yet under way at the MAC. Was that the reason Rodgers was fired?
We don’t know.
Had he mismanaged what resources there are? What could have justified what amounts to a summary execution by the board’s executive committee without consulting the full board?
We don’t know.
Schnug says it’s a personnel matter the board legally cannot discuss. Rodgers has repeatedly said he wants a public explanation. In fact, he wants a personal explanation.
He, we, deserve one, and the claim there is a legal defense for the board’s silence is wrong. The decision on privacy is up to Rodgers.
Wednesday’s audience was not buying it, nor should they. And if board members do not feel like explaining themselves to museum supporters, they may have to explain themselves in court, where Rodgers’ attorneys could file a tort claim.
Nobody wants to go there, least of all Rodgers, who just wants his job back.
The board of the museum’s foundation, a separate organization, has voted unanimously in support of Rodgers’ reinstatement. He also has the backing of the museum’s American Indian Cultural Council.
The foundation board has suggested the American Association of Museums be asked to mediate the dispute. It need not come to that if those involved will simply unpaint themselves out of their respective corners.
The MAC desperately needs the good will of everyone in the artistic community, the Native American community and the community as a whole to go forward as a viable, vibrant institution. Without that unity, it will be very difficult to overcome the challenges ahead.
To respond to this editorial online, go to www.spokesman.com and click on Opinion under the Topics menu.

May 24, 2012 in City

MAC faces angry crowd - The Spokesman-Review

Board says Rodgers’ firing will remain unexplained

By Jonathan Brunt
The Spokesman-Review

Colin Mulvany photo
“You have divided the community; we need a new board,” said Nima Motahari during the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture special board of trustees meeting on Wednesday. Motahari was expressing his displeasure with the firing of MAC Executive Director Forrest Rodgers.

Members of the Museum of Arts and Culture board appear to be digging in for a protracted battle with other supporters of the financially strapped institution.
They gave little sign on Wednesday that they will reverse their controversial decision to fire its executive director as donors, museum members, volunteers and artists warned that they may withdraw support for the MAC without resignations from the board, reinstatement of the fired director or at the least an explanation for why he was fired.
Chris Schnug, president of the MAC board, told a crowd at Wednesday’s special MAC board meeting that the public will never get an explanation for why the director, Forrest Rodgers, was fired after less than a year on the job.
“I am going to repeat to you today, and I will repeat to you this over and over again: This is a personnel matter. It will not be discussed in public. (Discussing) it is absolutely something that is inappropriate in any terms,” she said soon after the board opened a public forum. “I apologize if you can’t deal with that.”
About 100 people attended the meeting, many of whom got up to leave after Schnug’s comments. Grumbling from the audience included, “This is a sham!” and “Why do you think we came here?” Most stayed, however, after others implored them to keep asking questions.
Despite a few more attempts to prevent the audience from talking about Rodgers’ firing, the board eventually gave up and those who testified roundly criticized the board and Rodgers’ termination, often to loud applause.
Some argued that as an institution supported by taxpayers, the public has a right to know more about the decision and noted that Rodgers had asked deliberations over his firing to be conducted publicly.
“I would ask the board of this museum how it would explain that it would have so little respect for those taxpayers and those donors and those volunteers and those ticket buyers that it would do its most important business in secrecy?” said Jim Price, a museum member and donor who is the former chairman of the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission.
The board scheduled the session in the aftermath of the controversial firing, but it labeled it a “special session,” scheduled presentations on museum funding, and told the audience that discussion was limited to the topics discussed in the presentations.
Anne Hanenburg, a city arts commissioner who helped a campaign to save the museum last year, said the controversy is eroding support for the MAC.
“I feel very passionate about this organization and I fear that we are going to lose it. We’re going to lose it because of the public image of what’s happening here,” she said. “I’ve had nothing but favorable encounters with Mr. Rodgers and what he represents here for our community, and if this isn’t rectified, we’re not going to exist.”
Nima Motahari, an architectural engineer and local musician, asked the audience not to abandon the museum, but to keep pressure on for a new board.
“This is an embarrassment to this community and it has nothing to do about Forrest,” he said. “The reason you guys (board members) are staying on is there is something else that you guys are not telling the public and one way or another we’re going to get to what that is.”
The museum’s separate foundation board and American Indian Cultural Council have both unanimously called on the board to rehire Rodgers. The foundation board also has called for the resignations of the executive committee. Schnug said after the meeting she had no comment on calls for her and other members of the executive committee to resign.
The executive committee of the MAC board violated its rules by terminating Rodgers late last month without conducting a vote of the full board. The full MAC board upheld the firing on May 2 in a 12-7 vote.
Rodgers’ attorneys sent a letter to the MAC board last week arguing that he remains the executive director because the termination was conducted illegally. They also said Rodgers would file a tort claim for more than $750,000 if the termination is upheld.
Jerry Dicker, a prominent local arts contributor who along with his wife, Patty Dicker, purchased the Bing Crosby Theater earlier this year, said if the executive committee has the best interest of the MAC at heart, they would resign. Patty Dicker is a MAC board member who opposed Rodgers’ termination.
“As a donor I would not contribute any more money to the MAC under its present circumstances,” he said. “The issue is you have, in my opinion, an arrogant, self-centered, jackass of an executive board.”
Local artist and MAC supporter Catherine Bergeron said trustees were being hypocritical and called for the board to be dissolved.
“You have a board of trustees who are breaking their own laws and say they’re going to abide by the law of keeping employee information private. You’re really throwing mud on your own face,” she said. “And I can’t wait to see the art that comes from this. It could be very embarrassing for the Board of Trustees.”
Craig Conrad, an architect who has been a liaison between the MAC and a proposed aerospace museum, said Rodgers worked hard to build relationships in the community.
“My wife is ready to burn our membership cards and send the ashes back,” he said.
The museum’s foundation board has called on the MAC board on Wednesday to ask the American Museum Association, which has accredited the MAC, to “investigate the issues and act as a neutral facilitator to bring all the interested parties” together.
MAC board member Jim Sullivan, who opposed Rodgers’ termination, tried to introduce a motion to deal with the foundation board proposal, but he was prevented by other members from doing so.
Schnug said after the meeting that she’s confident that MAC supporters only want what’s best for the museum, and in the long-term will continue their support, though she added: “The information that’s been in the media creates additional challenges for the MAC and I hope these are short term.”

MAC boards hold open forum: Still no answers on Rodgers firing - The Inlander

Posted by MIKE.BOOKEY at 07:07 PM on Wed, May. 23, 2012

Those who came to the joint meeting of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture's board of trustees, executive board and tribal representatives this afternoon expecting an answer as to why Executive Director Forrest Rodgers was terminated last month left disappointed...and, for some, angry.

The ongoing kerfuffle over the dismissal of Rodgers after less than nine months on the job continues, despite what appeared to be an effort on behalf of the MAC's board to calm the waters.

The meeting, which included presentations on the museum's financial strategies for the first hour, featured an open forum for the public to voice opinions. Quickly, the mood soured among the public gathered in the Cheney Cowles Center when the board president made it clear that the issue of Rodgers' firing would not be addressed.

"I've said this over and over again, as has every other board member. This is a personnel matter," said board of trustee president Chris Schnug. "It will not be discussed in public."

Soon, a chorus of boos of boos erupted, at which point nearly half of the non-board members in attendance got up to leave. Someone shouted out for people to stay. Many of those who'd gotten up stuck around.

In the hour that followed, several community members and museum stakeholders spoke.

Included was John Matt of the Spokane Tribe, who spoke on behalf of the American Indian Cultural Council, stating that the group had unanimously voted that Rodgers should be reinstated as director.

Several other donors, volunteers and former board members spoke in support of Rodgers and expressed concerns over the handling of his firing.

Others had more pointed criticism of the executive board that chose to terminate Rodgers.

"The issue is you have, in my opinion, an arrogant, self-centered, jackass of an executive board," said Jerry Dicker, a real estate executive who has become a key player in downtown Spokane and the city's arts by purchasing the Bing Crosby Theater, the Ruby Hotel, and most recently, the Interplayer's Theater building.

Dicker, whose wife is one of the dissenting voices on the board of trustees, then called on the executive board members to resign, a sentiment that was echoed throughout the public comment period.

"If their interest is benefiting the MAC, helping the MAC, and helping the MAC, they should resign," he said.

Board of Trustees member Jim Sullivan then took to the podium to announce that the MAC's foundation — the museum's fundraising arm —had asked that "the American Association of Museums to be called in to investigate the issues and act as a neutral facilitator" to bring the boards and tribal representatives together to formulate a plan to move the museum forward.

URGENT -- LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

On Wednesday, May 23rd at 3:30, there will be a public meeting at the MAC to supposedly clear the air. If you are able, please come and show your support for the museum, Forrest Rodgers, and the responsible and professional handling of a modern day Spokane landmark. Please do everything you can to make this public meeting, and hey don't forget to sport a Bow Tie!!!

PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO MEETING AGENDA:

Letter to MAC Board about the firing of Forrest B. Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

This letter from attorneys representing the terminated executive director of the Museum of Arts and Culture, Forrest Rodgers, claims that Rodgers technically wasn’t fired because the voters were conducted illegally.

lettertomacboard.pdf
File Size: 1603 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 22, 2012 in City

MAC panel supports Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

Foundation’s vote sets up a showdown

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Chris SchnugEastern Washington State Historical Society BoardForrest RodgersMAC foundation boardNorthwest Museum of Arts and CultureRon Rector

Meeting
The MAC board will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the museum’s Eric A. Johnston Memorial Auditorium, 2316 W. First Ave.

The group that oversees much of the private funding for the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture says it lacks confidence in the leadership of the museum’s board following the controversial firing of the executive director.
The MAC’s foundation board on Monday voted 14-0 in support of a resolution requesting the reinstatement of the museum’s terminated director, Forrest Rodgers. The foundation board also called on the executive committee of the MAC’s board, which made the original decision to fire Rodgers, to resign, said Paul Ellyson, president of the foundation board.
“Our goal is to clean up the problems created by the executive committee of the MAC board,” said foundation board member Cece Perko. “We do not feel that Forrest Rodgers was at fault in any way for all of this.”
An attempt made to reach Chris Schnug, president of the MAC board, was unsuccessful on Monday.
Another member of the executive committee, Ron Rector, who is a former interim director of the museum, declined to comment.
The vote sets up a showdown on Wednesday when the MAC board holds a public meeting. Members of the foundation board are among the invited guests.
The seven-member executive committee of the MAC board, formally called the Eastern Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees, fired Rodgers last month in a decision that violated its rules because the full board didn’t participate in the decision. The full board later voted 12-7 to uphold the termination after a closed meeting that Rodgers had asked to be open to the public.
Rodgers’ attorneys wrote the MAC board last week and asserted that Rodgers technically remains the director of the museum because the termination was conducted illegally. They said Rodgers is willing to assume his duties but if the termination is upheld he will file a tort claim for more than $750,000.
The MAC board has repeatedly declined to provide reasons for Rodgers’ ouster. Besides the foundation board, Rodgers enjoys strong support from the museum’s American Indian Cultural Council and from some members of the MAC board.
Rodgers, who earned $120,000 a year as the MAC’s director, was hired last summer. He is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
Ellyson said the foundation board may reconsider its resolution asking for resignations if the MAC board changes course and reinstates Rodgers and allows him to follow through on plans to stabilize museum finances.
Ellyson said he and some other foundation board members likely will resign unless Rodgers is reinstated.
“I don’t want to abandon ship at a time of need, but we’re powerless at this point unless they make some changes,” he said.

May 19, 2012 in City

MAC’s ex-boss wants job back - The Spokesman-Review

Rodgers has backing of foundation board; tort claim threatened

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review
The fired executive director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture says he’s ready to go back to work, while his lawyers say he’s still technically in charge.
Meanwhile, some members of the museum’s foundation board are calling for the resignations of MAC board members who led the effort to fire Forrest Rodgers.
Attorneys representing Rodgers say their client’s firing was illegal and should be treated as if it never happened.
Rodgers remains the executive director of the museum, and if the board votes again to terminate him, he will “assess his legal options” and may file a tort claim for more than $750,000, according to the letter Rodgers’ attorneys, Susan Nelson and Bob Dunn, wrote to Chris Schnug, president of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees, which oversees the MAC.
The support he’s received from the community has given him confidence that he would remain an effective leader for the museum, Rodgers said Friday.
“What that letter reiterates is my desire to get back and do the job I was brought here to do,” said Rodgers, who expressed disappointment that the letter was made public because it might worry museum employees.
Rodgers has requested a contract through June 30, 2014, that would require the board not to fire him without cause.
The executive committee of the society board violated its rules April 24 when it fired Rodgers without a vote of the full board.
Members of the MAC board’s executive committee have given no reason publicly for his firing, but they convened a meeting of the full board on May 2 and met privately before voting 13-7 to uphold the termination.
Rodgers, who earned $120,000 a year as the MAC’s executive director, had requested that deliberations about his future be open to the public, but the board voted to meet in secret.
Dunn said Friday that the members who participated in the “illegal” vote of the executive committee should not have been allowed to vote in the follow-up meeting.
Attempts to reach Schnug were unsuccessful Friday.
Rodgers was hired last summer and is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
His firing was extremely divisive, and Rodgers continues to enjoy support of the museum’s separate foundation board.
Paul Ellyson, the foundation board president, said he supports the reinstatement of Rodgers and that the board remains united in support of him. He added, however, that it’s difficult to make a full assessment of Rodgers because the MAC board still has not explained the reasons behind Rodgers’ firing.
He said the foundation board may consider a vote of no confidence against the executive committee of the MAC board at a meeting on Monday.
Peter Moye, the immediate past president of the foundation board, said the executive committee of the MAC board has damaged the museum’s reputation and “brought it into disrepute.” He supports holding a no-confidence vote.
“The best possible way to move forward is for them to resign,” Moye said.
Some museum donors have warned that they are holding back support as a result of the controversy, he said.
“They’re not going to give until this mess is cleaned up,” Moye said.
MAC board member Jim Sullivan, who opposed Rodgers’ termination, said Rodgers’ letter “accurately portrayed” the handling of the firing.
“I still think that Forrest is a really good fit for the community and the institution,” he said.
The letter from Nelson and Dunn said that the executive committee’s action is enough to trigger liability.
“However, Mr. Rodgers desires to act in accord with what he perceives to be the best interest of the community and the MAC. His preference is to retain his position at the helm and continue the fresh, innovative and professional leadership he has been publicly acknowledged to have demonstrated during his tenure.”

May 18, 2012 in News, City

Legal showdown looming over museum firing - The Spokesman-Review

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Forrest RodgersMuseum of Arts and Culture

The controversial firing of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Cultures director could be headed to a legal showdown.
Attorneys now representing former museum chief Forrest Rodgers say their client’s firing was illegal and therefore should be treated as if it never happened.
In a letter addressed to Chris Schnug, the president of the MAC’s board, attorneys Susan Nelson and Bob Dunn say Rodgers remains the executive director of the museum and if the board votes again to terminate him he will “assess his legal options” and may file a tort claim for more than $750,000.
The executive committee of the MAC board violated its rules April 24 when it fired Rodgers without a vote of the full board. Members of the MAC board’s executive committee have given no reason publicly for his firing, but convened a meeting of the full board on May 2 and met privately before voting 13-7 to uphold the termination.
Rodgers had requested that deliberations about his future be open to the public, but the board voted to meet in secret.
Dunn said Friday that the members who participated in the “illegal” vote of the executive committee should not have been allowed to vote in the follow-up meeting.
An attempt to reach Schnug was unsuccessful this morning.
Rodgers’ firing was extremely divisive and Rodgers continues to enjoy support of the museum’s separate foundation board.
Paul Ellyson, the foundation board president, said he supports the reinstatement of Rodgers and that the board remains united in support of him. He added, however, that it’s difficult to make a full assessment of Rodgers because the MAC board still has not explained the reasons behind Rodgers’ firing.
He said the foundation board may consider giving the executive committee of the MAC board a vote of no confidence at a meeting on Monday.
The letter from Nelson and Dunn said that the executive committee’s action is enough to trigger liability.
“However, Mr. Rodgers desires to act in accord with what he perceives to be the best interest of the community and the MAC. His preference is to retain his position at the helm and continue the fresh, innovative and professional leadership he has been publicly acknowledged to have demonstrated during his tenure.”

The Community's Voice Has Not Gone Silent...

I SMELL A RAT!!! - Flickr.com

I'm not really back, but felt the need to post something else concerning Spokane's own landmark museum, the Pacific Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC).
This cartoon was spotted on the door of a Museum Administrator, proudly displaying contempt for those people who have been posting on the MAC's FaceBook page and elsewhere on the internet. Postings, I might add, that they are efficiently deleting every day from their own FaceBook wall (who's the rat?)
I'm not on FaceBook, but I post here on Flickr, so I guess this makes me "dumber" than some rats as well.
Those responsible for the unexplained firing of executive director Forrest Rodgers are responsible to you and me, the people who pay their wages through our taxes, to come clean with their reasons for dismissing Rodgers.
Anybody who frequents my photostream here on Flickr knows that I spend a great deal of time at the MAC. It is one of my favorite photographic subjects. But I have always been dismayed at the lack of interest the MAC's leadership has had in the museum itself. They seem to have been more concerned with sitting back and earning some easy State money, rather than publicizing the museum and making it known to the general public. I know personally of several instances where they have turned down free opportunities to market themselves in creative ways.
MAC leadership apparently believes they can keep getting money from the State of Washington and doesn't believe they need to ween themselves from this dependence and latch onto the teat of alternative funding. Or so it would seem, since this was Forrest Rodgers' goal.
In doing so, he has ruffled the political feathers of some staffers with influence over the board of trustees. The vote to remove Rodgers was barely a majority, and Rodgers still has the support of many of its members and staff of the MAC, as well as many of its donors.
They have violated their own bylaws by not disclosing the reason for Rodgers' firing, and they post cartoons like this in their office. Unable to contain their disdain for those who only ask for truth and disclosure, they have tainted the museum with their arrogance.
The MAC will possibly lose its State funding in one year. If they have no other way to replace that money, the museum faces closure. Once an institution like the MAC is closed, it is much much harder to reopen. Forrest Rodgers wanted to face this dilemma head-on and he was told loudly and clearly that many under and over him were not interested in this undertaking.
The MAC is practically unknown to the majority of Spokane and its surrounding communities. Some of that is due to public apathy, but much of it is due to lackadaisical attitudes among its staff and the board itself. I guess for them the museum must just be a hobby.
We don't need hobbyists in charge of the MAC, we need professionals. They are firing the wrong people and thumbing their noses at us in the process. The above cartoon says it all.
On Wednesday, May 23rd at 3:30, there will be a public meeting at the MAC to supposedly clear the air. If you are able, please come and show your support for the museum, Forrest Rodgers, and the responsible and professional handling of a modern day Spokane landmark.
For more detail:
!!!!!PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK!!!!!
Lastly, I'd like to say that there are many people at the MAC who are sincere, hard-working folk, and this posting is not meant for them. The guilty ones know who they are. The others have my gratitude and respect.

Mending Fences - The Inlander

The fallout continues over the MAC's firing of its executive director
Mike Bookey

Talking over the phone last week from the side of the road while on his way to Bend, Ore., to visit his daughter, Forrest Rodgers still can’t offer an answer as to why he was fired as the executive director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, with less than nine months on the job.

“Aside from receiving calls from donors and trustees and friends of the museum and people who are disturbed by the lack of explanation, I’m not aware of what conversations are happening [at the museum],” says Rodgers.

In the time since Rodgers was fired in an off-site meeting in late April — just a day after submitting a funding plan for the museum and a self-evaluation — little of the dust surrounding the financially embattled arts organization has settled. While members of the mu seum’s board of trustees, its staff and many in the public have been asking why the director was terminated, the museum’s board has offered no explanation.

While board president Chris Schnug says she still can’t give the exact reasoning for Rodgers’ termination because it’s “an ongoing employee matter,” she did say that the museum is making efforts to open lines of communication with the museum’s board and staff. On May 23, the MAC’s board of trustees, the board of its foundation (the museum’s fundraising arm) and tribal representatives are scheduled to meet at 3:30 pm for an open public meeting to discuss the state of the MAC.

“It’s a great opportunity to hear and be heard and make sure there’s a mutual plan for making sure that the MAC prospers,” says Schnug.

There will likely be questions for all parties at this meeting, especially considering the complaints critics have already voiced over the process by which Rodgers was fired.

The board of trustees’ executive committee originally decided to terminate Rodgers without input from the rest of the 24-member board, thus effectively breaking the board’s bylaws. It wasn’t until the following week that the board at large voted to uphold the termination, which they eventually did after more than two hours spent in executive session. During this meeting, Rodgers was given, by his account, eight minutes to address the board.

In the end, of those members present, 13 members voted to uphold the termination, while seven voted to keep Rodgers in his job. And two of those who voted in favor of keeping Rodgers resigned immediately from the board. The following week, one of the museum’s staff members also resigned.

Rodgers has been consulting with legal counsel to see what his options are, but he told The Inlander that he has no current plans to bring a lawsuit against the MAC. While he no longer has a role at the museum, Rodgers did express continued support for the organization.

“I’m very concerned that confidence in the board leadership has been diminished, if not destroyed,” says Rodgers.

John Drexel, the current CFO of the MAC, has added the title of interim executive director to his duties. He says that he has not been informed of the board’s long-term plans for the position and that he also has not been told the reasoning behind Rodgers’ firing. Nevertheless, he stands behind the board.

“I think the board did what they believe is best for moving the museum forward. I don’t question that,” says Drexel, “I don’t have the information they have, so I have no idea what they acted on. I just know they’re doing what’s in the best interest of the museum.”

The day before he was let go by the MAC, Rodgers submitted, upon the board’s request, two documents. One was a selfevaluation outlining his accomplishments during his first seven months on the job. The other was an “External Funding Strategy,” a plan, and several alternatives, for maximizing the museum’s funding — an issue at the top of the MAC’s priority list.

The MAC is set to receive state funds from the Heritage Center fund through June of 2013. After that, it’s uncertain what money would be coming from the state.

In his plan, obtained by The Inlander, Rodgers stated that the museum needed to raise between $1 million and $1.2 million from private donors in the 2013 fiscal year. That plan would also include hiring two part-time development officers.

The plan also includes two options for how the museum could approach state funding going forward. The first option marks a path that diverges from the museum’s current structure by outlining how the MAC could release itself as a state agency, yet contract with the state to receive “‘permanent’ funding to preserve special collections (regional, tribal and military).”

Rodgers’ plan notes that this would require the MAC to remain dependent on the Legislature to provide at least $870,000 and would also mean that the organization’s employees would no longer receive state benefits. Rodgers did, however, point out that he felt this option would strengthen the “case for local tax-based funding and private giving.”

The next option Rodgers outlined for state funding would be to stick with the current status of remaining a state agency and remain "dependent on legislative decision-making and [the] uncertainty of biennium-to-biennium funding." He also noted that this format "weakens [the] case for local tax-based funding and private giving."

Schnug says she couldn’t comment as to whether or not Rodgers’ funding plan played any part in the decision to fire him or whether the timing of the decision was connected to either his self-assessment or funding documents. She did, however, say that the board would consider plans that might, for example, end the MAC’s standing as a state agency.

“Everything is on the table right now. Achieving a permanent funding platform is going to require innovative approaches,” she says.

After the board voted to uphold Rodgers’ termination, two of the seven board members who diverged from the majority — Charlotte Lamp and Maureen Green — immediately resigned.

“I would have to say that the executive committee lost all credibility with me in their actions and their process, or lack thereof,” says Lamp, a family business consultant who holds a Ph.D. in leadership studies.

Lamp says she knows of (but declined to name) at least two other board members who disagreed with Rodgers’ termination, but voted in support of the decision in an attempt to provide a united front.

Then, on May 12, the interpretation coordinator of the MAC’s historic Campbell House, Stephan Zacharias, submitted his resignation. In addition to citing issues with other staff members, Zacharias cited the handling of Rodgers’ firing in his resignation letter as a reason for his departure.

Schnug says the dust-up surrounding Rodgers’ termination hasn’t gone unnoticed by the board, and she’s well-aware that the public is also paying attention, which is part of the reason for next week’s public meeting.

“I think as you begin to look out for support from the community, any controversy that’s in the media certainly doesn’t help,” says Schnug.

Rodgers agrees.

“Obviously I need to take care of myself and my family, but my concern is with the MAC and the community and how this is being interpreted and how this is being perceived statewide,” says Rodgers.

May 13, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: MAC needs to turn mess into better, stable future - The Spokesman-Review

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is in trouble.
The region’s foremost collection of the visual arts and repository for historic and cultural artifacts has dismissed its executive director, so far without explanation, and in the process violated trustee bylaws. Forrest Rodgers, hired only last July, was the fifth person to hold the job in the last five years.
Never adequately endowed, the museum has been dangerously dependent on state funds appropriated to support its role as the Eastern Washington Historical Society. A move three years ago to combine funding with its Western Washington counterpart in Tacoma was blocked by Sen. Lisa Brown. A potential cutoff of all state funding – which threatened to close the museum – was headed off last year when money was appropriated from the state’s Heritage Center Account.
But that funding is assured only through June 2013. If the state’s economic fortunes do not improve in the meantime, the $1.5 million annual allocation could go away or be substantially cut back. That sum represents more than one-half of the museum’s total $2.75 million budget.
The MAC has brought in some impressive exhibits in recent years, like those featuring works by Leonardo da Vinci and major impressionists, and historical presentations on themes like women’s suffrage. For the last decade, the museum has benefited from a relationship with the Smithsonian Institution. But attendance, like the endowment, is not where it should be at the handsome buildings and grounds in Browne’s Addition.
Sadly, the handling of Rodgers’ departure has tested relationships between the museum board and a separate board responsible for fundraising, between the board and staff members, with area tribes that have entrusted the museum with treasured artifacts, and among members of the museum board itself. Trustees and staff members have resigned.
Even with an explanation for the precipitous firing, said to be forthcoming, the way forward will be difficult.
Rodgers and board Chairwoman Chris Schnug say they are confident a well-managed fundraising effort could easily lift annual donations to $1 million and up from the $800,000 budgeted for 2013.
Other cities have cultural districts to help support the arts. The MAC could find common cause with institutions in other Washington communities that could explore similar options at the state or local level.
The MAC could cease to be a state-funded institution and instead contract for maintaining state materials. The change would give administrators a freer hand, potentially cutting operating costs.
But the people of Spokane, Eastern Washington and Olympia are going to want some sign the MAC can get its house in order. Because it works, at least in part, as a state agency, the best course may be to request a performance audit that evaluates how well the MAC functions as an organization and where improvements might be made.
The MAC is an underappreciated, undervalued, incredibly important resource to the region. Unfortunate as this situation has become, it may be an opportunity to renew the community’s focus on what, really, is the only museum we have.

May 12, 2012 in Opinion, Letters

MAC is boring - The Spokesman-Review

I know this letter won’t do any good, but I want to express my disappointment at the firing of Forrest Rodgers from the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. I wrote a letter when he was hired to tell you how happy I was that he had been hired.
My family has visited the High Desert Museum many times. We loved the displays and I was looking forward to visiting the MAC again, hoping it would be much more interesting and hoping to see some of the things that have been in storage for such a long time.
But, no, it didn’t happen. I haven’t enjoyed going to the MAC since it left the Gonzaga University area. Frankly, I think it’s boring! It’s a dull, not-much-fun place to visit.
I suppose Rodgers didn’t do things the way the powers that be in Spokane wanted him to. Too bad some other museum’s gain is our loss.
I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out why he was terminated. The $10 fee to visit in Bend, Ore., was a lot more worth it than the $6 fee here.
Dorothy Matteson
Spokane

Clouds Gather Over the MAC - Save the MAC!!! - Flickr.com

I wanted to post something pretty before I take my break, but this prettiness is tinged with sadness. It would seem that the executive director of the MAC, Forrest Rodgers, has been fired less than a year after they hired him.
I met Forrest and had the pleasure of dining with him, his wife and two daughters less than a week before his firing. I was impressed with him, saw that he truly cared about the MAC and wanted it to succeed.
I won't pretend to know the politics that were behind this decision. All I know is that Forrest believed the MAC needed to ween itself off of State funding. They nearly didn't get their money last time, and as budgets grow ever tighter, museums are not a high priority. I'm not sure the past leadership of the MAC has ever considered what's possibly down the line for them. Personally, I can see them losing their state funding altogether, and that may happen in less than two years.
Yet the majority of Spokane and the surrounding areas don't even know where the MAC is located, or haven't even heard of the museum. It always amazes me when I mention the MAC to somebody and get a blank stare. So I don't know for sure what Forrest Rodgers was supposed to be doing wrong, but they sure haven't been doing things all that right before him, have they? Otherwise I wouldn't be getting those blank stares. A city should know about its museums, especially one like the MAC.
Now's the time to decide, Spokane. Are we a town or a city? It's time for Spokane to grow up.
I would hate to see the MAC close. It has been a refuge for me for a number of years now, a place where I meet a multitude of different friends. Beyond that, it is a place of education and culture, and an important center of learning for children and adults.
If you'd like to read more:
www.inlander.com/spokane/article-17899-mac-shake-up.html
I posted this photo over a week ago and took it down the next morning. Something about it wasn't quite working for me. Ironic, huh? Well, I fixed the photo to my liking but I can't fix the rest. I'll do what I can to help, though, starting with this post.
OK, I need to go away for a little while, so this is my last photographic post before my sabbatical. Got something to do and I have to do it. See you a little later!
ATTENTION!!!!!
I've just been sent a another link, Save the MAC. I think it speaks for itself and is timed quite well with what I've just posted above.
!!!!!PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN EVEN MORE AND TO HELP!!!!!
Please forward the above link (or my posting, for that matter) to anybody you would like and/or post it on your Facebook thang, or wall, or whatever it is you Facebookers call it. Thank you.
If you have the time, please also browse my At the Mac set of photos. I've been shooting there for as long as I've had a camera.
www.flickr.com/photos/jibbyimages/sets/72157623032073461/...

May 6, 2012 in City

Tumult follows firing at MAC - The Spokesman-Review

Foundation board, with purse strings, still backs Rodgers

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Tags:American Indian Cultural CouncilChris SchnugEastern Washington State Historical SocietyForrest RodgersJim SullivanmacMAC FoundationNorthwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Rodgers’ firing has shaken the MAC board.
(Full-size photo)

The fallout from the controversial firing of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture executive director has put the financially struggling institution in a perilous spot that MAC supporters fear threatens donor support, relationships with regional Indian tribes and even the museum itself.
Two members of the board that oversees the MAC – the Eastern Washington State Historical Society board of trustees – resigned last week in protest of the decision to fire Forrest B. Rodgers.
“It’s just jeopardizing the institution,” said society board member Jim Sullivan, who voted against Rodgers’ termination and remains on the board. “Now the cover-up is worse than the crime.”
Sullivan said he still hopes the decision will be reversed.
Society board chairwoman Chris Schnug said the society board and museum are focused fully on moving forward.
“The real issue is not a particular individual but the future and the support of the MAC as an institution,” Schnug said.
Meanwhile, the MAC Foundation board, which controls much of the private money that supports the museum, is fully behind Rodgers. Foundation board members said many had planned to also resign in protest but decided they could do more good by remaining active. Members of the MAC’s American Indian Cultural Council, which helps oversee the museum’s vast holdings of tribal artifacts, also have expressed support for Rodgers.
Foundation board member Cece Perko said members are considering their next step. Asked if the foundation may withhold from the MAC private money it controls, she said: “At this point, anything’s possible.”
Some foundation board members said they have heard from donors who are worried about the decision and may withhold support.
Schnug said she understands that the foundation board wants to be kept better informed but was unaware of efforts on the foundation board to reverse the termination.
“At this point we are optimistic that we can bring together our community and supporters and come up with a plan that everyone can support,” Schnug said.
Rodgers was fired by the seven-member executive committee of the society’s board on April 24 in violation of society bylaws, which require a vote of the full board or a decision from Gov. Chris Gregoire to terminate the MAC’s executive director. Many trustees not on the executive committee were furious that they were kept out of the loop. Even so, on Wednesday, the full board met and agreed to uphold the termination in a 13-7 vote.
Some on the foundation board are particularly angry about executive committee member David Brukardt’s vote to fire Rodgers. Since Rodgers’ dismissal, Brukardt has been announced as a candidate for a finance position at the museum. Yet, Brukardt did not recuse himself from voting to terminate Rodgers, who as executive director was in charge of hiring decisions.
Schnug said a final decision has not been made to hire Brukardt. Hiring him to perform part-time work will be considered at a future board meeting, she said.
Attempts to reach Brukardt were unsuccessful Friday afternoon and Saturday.
Perko, a foundation board member, said Schnug made it sound as if Brukardt was all but certain to get the job in a presentation she made to the foundation board on Thursday.
“She made it appear that it was pretty much in the works,” Perko said.
Rodgers said Friday that he was unaware that Brukardt was being considered for a position at the museum, but added that he has the “utmost respect” for him.
Board members who supported Rodgers’ ouster still aren’t saying why he was fired.
“It’s an ongoing personnel matter and it’s confidential,” Schnug said Friday.
Rodgers’ supporters say he brought professional leadership to the museum after years of unsteady direction. With the termination, the MAC has had five directors in the past five years. John Drexel, 53, the MAC’s chief financial officer, has replaced Rodgers on an interim basis. Drexel has worked at the MAC for nearly 10 years and has a business degree with an emphasis in accounting from Washington State University.
“There was nothing that I saw that even began to warrant anybody’s firing,” said society board member Charlotte Lamp, who resigned from the board in protest of the firing. The other member who resigned was Maureen Green.
Rodgers was hired last summer by a search committee led by Brukardt. Rodgers is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
Lamp said he was selected “to take us toward private funding” after legislators warned that the state may not be able to maintain current levels of support.
Rodgers crafted plans to maximize state funding to preserve the MAC’s state-mandated functions related to collections, and to stabilize other parts of the museum without state funds. One option Rodgers said he suggested was to negotiate with the state to allow the MAC to become a private institution with a state contract rather than remain a state agency.
“When push came to shove (executive committee members) just could not recognize that the state is not going to be there,” Lamp said.
State Rep. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, who fought to preserve funding to keep the MAC open, said it is prudent for the museum to “be ready for alternatives in case the state money is not available.” He added, however, that decisions about museum funding won’t be finalized until next year’s legislative session.
Lamp said the decision to fire Rodgers without consulting a majority of the society board caused her to lack trust in the board’s leadership.
“Integrity is probably my No. 1 value and what occurred led me to see that the people on the executive committee, in particular certain members, just do not operate in the same mode,” Lamp said. “In order to execute your fiduciary responsibility, you have to have open, honest communication, and when that isn’t happening, then from a legal standpoint, you’re jeopardized.”
Schnug said that she’s “sorry that anybody would feel that way.”
“I can’t speculate as to what people are thinking,” Schnug said. “The ongoing support of the MAC itself is the very issue in people’s minds.”
Asked Friday if he would consider returning to his former position at the MAC, Rodgers said he “wouldn’t know what to think about that.”
“None of what happened diminishes my belief in what the MAC could become and my respect for the staff and volunteers,” Rodgers said.

MAC Shake-up - The Inlander

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture suddenly fires its executive director.
Mike Bookey

Forrest Rodgers was suddenly fired last week. [Photo: Young Kwak]

Forrest Rodgers was surprised, to say the least, when he was fired last week as executive director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. He’d only been in the position for about nine months and had not been provided any hints that his employment at the helm of the museum would come to an end. Now, he’s questioning the legality of the firing.

“I was caught off-guard by the decision, the lack of process and the timing,” says Rodgers, who came to the MAC, which has battled ongoing financial woes, after a stint as the director of the Central Washington University Foundation. Before that, he was the CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore.

Rodgers contends that the decision was made exclusively by the board of trustees’ executive committee, without input from the board as a whole, which he says violates the nonprofit organization’s bylaws.

Chris Schnug, the president of the MAC’s board of trustees, confirmed that Rodgers had been let go but would not elaborate as to how the board came to the decision.

“It’s an ongoing personnel matter. We’re not at liberty to provide any further details,” says Schnug.

Museum staff confirmed that John Drexel, the MAC’s current chief financial officer, has taken over as interim executive director. Drexel did not return calls or emails for this story.

Rodgers says that the day before his termination, he submitted a self-assessment to the executive committee that also included, as he says, “a strategy for securing external funding as we head toward the legislative session,” which would be presented at a board meeting. He did not, however, see the request as a harbinger of his dismissal.

In the days since he was let go, Rodgers says, several members of the board and museum donors have contacted him to voice their disapproval with how his firing was handled. As of press time, Rodgers had not decided if he would attend this week’s board of trustees meeting, where, he says, the legitimacy of his firing will be discussed. Still, despite everything that’s transpired in the past week, he offers praise for the museum and is hopeful for its future.

“It offers something that nothing else in Spokane offers. It’s really important to the city and region. It deserves the community’s support.”

MORE BREAKING NEWS:

How they voted:

MAC board members who voted to terminate Rodgers:
(We've provided links to contact info for members that could be found online)

David Brukhardt,
Executive VP, Sterling Savings

Ginny Butler,
Curator, Dayton Historic Depot Society

Joyce Cameron,
Cheif Development Officer Providence Healthcare Foundation

Katherine Fritchie,
Owner, Garland Theatre

David Green,
David Green, CPA, PLLC

Bruce Howard,
Spokane River Licensing Manager, Avista Corporation

Carolyn McConnell,
Vice President Private Banking, Washington Trust Bank

Stan Miller,
Water Resources Consultant

Frem Nielson,
Senior Judge, U.S. District Court

Ron Rector,
Retired IBM Executive, Former Executive Director the MAC

Barbara Stanton,
Community Volunteer

Imelda Williams,
Community Volunteer

Ann Wilson,
Officer, ECOVA, INC

Board members who voted to retain Rodgers:

Dave Bonga, Patricia Dicker, Maureen Fowle Green, Mary Joan Hahn, Charlotte Lamp, Jim Sullivan and Donna Weaver.

Other members:

Karen Mobley was absent for the vote. Chris Schnug, chairman of the MAC board, only votes in the case of a tie.

May 3, 2012 in City

Formal vote fires Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

Board divided on MAC director’s termination; members decline to explain controversial move

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Chris SchnugEastern Washington Historical Society Board of TruForrest B. RodgersForrest RodgersmacmuseumNorthwest Museum of Arts and Cultures

Dan Pelle photoBuy this photo
Forrest Rodgers, left, waits for the MAC board to make a decision about his employment Wednesday.
(Full-size photo)

The board that oversees the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on Wednesday upheld the firing of the museum’s executive director, a decision that revealed significant division between the board and many museum supporters.
After a closed-door meeting that lasted nearly three hours, the MAC Board of Trustees voted 13-7 to terminate Forrest B. Rodgers, who has led the museum since Aug. 1. Board members refused to explain the decision.
“This is a confidential employee matter,” board president Chris Schnug said after the meeting.
Last week, the seven-member executive committee of the board violated board rules by firing Rodgers without a vote of the museum’s full board. The termination took some trustees by surprise and angered many members of the museum’s foundation board, a separate body that controls the MAC’s endowment.
Schnug and other museum trustees declined after the meeting to comment about the process used to fire Rodgers.
Rodgers, who waited outside the meeting, said he will meet with his attorney today to consider the termination agreement the executive committee presented to him last week.
“The MAC is more important to this community than I think the community realizes and perhaps more than even the MAC has demonstrated,” Rodgers said. “It really does deserve the support of the community moving forward.”
After the board met for about 2 ½ hours, the board invited Rodgers into the board room for about 15 minutes. Rodgers said the board told him that it had voted in the closed session to allow him into the meeting.
Rodgers said he was only asked two questions before the meeting was opened to the public and each trustee was given a chance to make a statement. There were only a couple hints in the public session about why Rodgers was fired.
“I just find that the decision of the executive committee to determine that the executive director is unable to raise funds in a period of six weeks – and he didn’t perform in six weeks – I just find that unacceptable to use that as a rationale to make a decision to terminate,” said board member Jim Sullivan, who voted against Rodgers’ termination. “I frankly find as much at fault with the executive committee and the board as I do with the potential problems that we discussed with the director.”
Board member Imelda Williams responded to Sullivan: “It was not six weeks, it was an accumulation of nine months that we evaluated.”
Rodgers said he knew some board members disagreed with his thoughts about stabilizing the museum’s budget but was shocked last week by his firing. He had been working on plans to lower the museum’s dependence on state funding.“There are some members of the board who are absolutely convinced that the state will continue to fund the museum at its current level or higher and that funding will be permanent,” Rodgers said after the board’s vote. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to run a business that requires a three- to five-year planning horizon when state funding is never secure.”
Some trustees who supported the termination said they were confident that the museum would get past the turmoil caused by Rodgers’ firing.
“What I’ve seen here is a lot of passion and deep commitment to this organization by everyone,” said board member David Brukhardt. “I know that however this all turns out we are looking forward to our next 100 years because of that dedication and where we’re going.”
But a few trustees questioned the secrecy of the executive committee.
Frem Nielson, a MAC trustee and U.S. District Court judge, said “there has been some damage done” by the way the termination was carried out. Even so, Nielson supported Rodgers’ firing.
“The MAC is bigger than any of us, including the director,” Nielson said. “Decisions of this nature cannot be personal. I’m satisfied that they’re not.”
Rodgers, 60, was hired last summer after years of financial turmoil at the museum. He is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
Supporters of Rodgers say he brought the museum fresh, innovative and professional leadership after years of instability and interim directors.
Francis Cullooyah, chairman of the museum’s American Indian Cultural Council, said the board hasn’t revealed to the cultural council why Rodgers was fired. He said the council has been impressed with Rodgers’ leadership, and those who work with the museum and other supporters deserve answers for why he was removed.
“It just seemed like they disrespected us,” Cullooyah said.
Rodgers had requested that board discussions about his employment remain open to the public, but the board voted at the start of the meeting to close the meeting.
Sue Bradley, a member of the museum’s foundation board, said she hoped the board would keep the meeting open.
“If the decision is well-based, there should be no hesitation in letting the stakeholders know what it was based on,” she said.

May 2, 2012 in News, City

MAC board fires director again - The Spokesman-Review

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

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Tags:Forrest B. RodgersForrest RodgersmacmuseumNorthwest Museum of Arts and Culture

The board of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Cultures upheld the firing of the museum’s executive director this afternoon, in a decision that has revealed significant division between the board and many museum supporters.
After a three-hour closed-door meeting, the board voted 13-7 to terminate Forrest B. Rodgers, who has led the museum only since last summer. Board members refused to provide reasoning for the decision.
“This is a confidential employee matter,” board president Chris Schnug said after the meeting.
Last week, the executive committee of the board violated board rules by informing Rodgers that he had been fired even though the museum’s full board hadn’t voted on the termination. Some board members said they were even unaware that there was dissatisfaction about Rodgers’ among executive committee members until after Rodgers had been fired.
Schnug and several other board members declined to comment about the process used to fire Rodgers.
Rodgers, 60, was hired last summer and started his new job Aug. 1 after years of financial turmoil at the museum. He is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
Supporters of Rodgers say he’s brought the museum fresh, innovative and professional leadership after years of instability.
Francis Cullooyah, chairman of the museum’s American Indian Cultural Council, said the board hasn’t revealed to the cultural council why Rodgers was fired. He said the council has been impressed with Rodgers’ leadership. Those who work with the museum and other supporters deserve answers for why he was removed, he said.
“It just seemed like they disrespected us,” Cullooyah said.
Rodgers had requested that board discussions about his employment remain open to the public, but the board voted at the start of the meeting to meet privately.
Sue Bradley, a member of the museum’s foundation board, said she hoped the board would keep the meeting open.
“If the decision is well-based, there should be no hesitation in letting the stakeholders know what it was based on,” she said.

BREAKING NEWS:

May 2nd, SPOKANE, WA --- Stay tuned to the Spokesman-Review for we can only expect will be a complete report on this issue, however, we here at Save the MAC 2.0 have been informed that in a 13-7 vote the Executive Committee of the MAC Board of Trustees has voted to uphold their previous judgment and oust Executive Director, Forrest B. Rodgers. Stay tuned as there is more to come we are all sure.

CORRECTION ON DECISION MAKERS:

****It has been brought to the attention of this website that despite the information that was released in the newspapers, the decision to fire WITHOUT CAUSE, Executive Director, Forrest B. Rodgers was in fact made by the members of the Executive Committee of the MAC Board of Trustees and that this decision was not made by the members of MAC Foundation Board as these are two separate boards.

A simple look to the MAC Foundation Board of Trustees website shows that the list of members of this Board have not been updated since July 05, 2011. This leads this page to believe that the list of members is not current. However, this does not diminish the fact that this decision is still horrible, and moves the MAC in the wrong direction yet again.

We encourage you to support the MAC by demanding the Board of Trustees be held accountable for their actions and that the Executive Director is reinstated. Please follow the advice listed below in voicing your displeasure with this horrible decision!!!*****

SAVE the MAC....BRING HIM BACK!!! Respect the Bow Tie!!

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012 after only a brief eight months on the job, a surprising decision was made to remove the Executive Director, Forrest B. Rodgers, from his position at Eastern Washington State Historical Society's Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. At this time it is still unclear as to the rhyme or reason for this decision, as the MAC Foundation Board has released nothing, and is saying very little publicly, save for the article posted below from the Wednesday, April 26, 2012 edition of the Spokesman-Review, in which Board President, Chris Schnug states: "This is an on going personnel matter..."

To this date it still remains unclear, as the article states, if this is a decision that was made by the full Foundation Board or not. At this point this highly questionable and controversial action taken by the Foundation Board seems to be avoiding publicity....as the Foundation Board have already made HUGE efforts to "Save the MAC" once in recent history, in large part by making the decision to bring Forrest B. Rodgers in as Executive Director, effect August 1, 2011.

However, now it would seem the MAC needs saving once again, but this time the Foundation Board wants to remain silent on its latest decision and probably if they had their way would like this latest decision and whatever their justifications or reasons for it to stay as far away from the public's view as possible....THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!!!

This decision by members of the Board has once again put the MAC in jeopardy, removing this Executive Director who has been nothing but an asset to the Foundation, the Museum, and the Community-at-Large has been wrongfully removed from his position. This appears publicly to be an action taken without merit or cause. It is time for the citizens of the Inland Empire, true supporters of the MAC, and all those in support of true leadership, vision, and growth for the community to rise up and demand some answers from the MAC Foundation Board, at the very least....and ultimately the desire should be to demand the renstatement of Executive Director Rodgers ASAP!!!

Take action now!!! Contact the Foundation Board directly to voice your disappointment with their decision and their efforts to keep this terrible decision quiet. The following contact information is provide from the Office of the Washington Secretary of State, Sam Reed:

NORTHWEST MUSEUM OF ARTS & CULTURE FOUNDATION
Registration #7279

Mailing Address:
PO Box 201
Spokane WA 99210-0201

Street Address:
2316 W. First Ave
Spokane WA 99201-5906

Other Names Used:
Eastern Washington Museum Foundation
EWMF

Phone: (509) 363-5338
FAX: (509) 363-5303
Email: macfoundation@northwestmuseum.org
Web Site: www.northwestmuseum.org

Stay tuned to this page for any updates or publicity in the efforts to correct this terrible action....

Let your voice be heard, and at the very least sport a bow tie until the Executive Director is reinstated:

SAVE the MAC.....BRING HIM BACK!!!!

April 26, 2012 in City

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture fires director - The Spokesman-Review

By Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Chris SchnugForrest RodgersmacNorthwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Rodgers
(Full-size photo)

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture fired its executive director on Tuesday, less than a year after recruiting him to Spokane.
Forrest B. Rodgers confirmed that the executive committee of the museum’s board terminated him on Tuesday. It’s unclear if the museum’s full board voted on the termination.
Rodgers said he wasn’t fired for cause and was told that the board was looking for a new direction.
“I was surprised by the lack of process, the decision and the timing,” Rodgers said. “I know that there were different views about how to manage the museum’s uncertain finances.”
Rodgers, 60, was hired last summer and started his new job Aug. 1 after years of financial turmoil at the museum. He is the former president and CEO of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., and former executive director of the Central Washington University Foundation.
Chris Schnug, the president of the museum’s board, declined to explain Rodgers’ departure.
“This is an ongoing personnel matter, and I’m not at liberty to provide any more details at this moment,” Schnug said.
John Drexel, the museum’s chief financial officer, was named interim executive director. He is the fifth person to lead the museum within the past five years.
Rodgers said the board proposed a termination agreement, which he is reviewing with an attorney.
“I am proud of the work toward the two most critical goals that I was recruited to achieve,” Rodgers said.
Those goals, he said, were stabilizing the museum’s funding and “improving our mission performance – that is to say, increasing attendance and our community engagement.”
“We shifted our focus from exhibits to creating a more engaging, family-friendly experience,” he said.
Rodgers said he had been asked in the past six weeks to prepare recommendations for stabilizing the museum’s finances for the board’s May 2 meeting. Rodgers said he has mostly completed his concepts for the report, but “apparently they don’t reflect the leadership the executive committee seeks.”
“The MAC is really important to this region,” Rodgers said. “It has significant challenges ahead of it, and it really needs strong and enthusiastic support and financial support from the community.”

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12 comments on this story so far. Add yours!
MaryMCarrSpokane on April 26 at 6:31 a.m.
Take notice that Ron Rector is still on the board. He’s the one
responsible for all the layoff’s three years ago. The MAC used to be a wonderful addition to the city and Browne’s Addition. Thanks to Rector’s work cutting the staff and the hours and days the MAC is open it’s becoming another sign of urban blight in our town. Way to go Rector!
RSGraf on April 26 at 7:20 a.m.
I visited a couple weeks ago.
Arrived and couldn’t find a bike rack but they’re there if you go to the other side of the other building. Somebody doesn’t like bikes.
Paid $7 which I thought was a tad hefty but then thought maybe it’s worth it.
There were only three small rooms of art with the Northwest Indian display, the Impressionists and the Modernists.
The Impressionists paintings were the best but were hung too low and the MAC guard seemed to think for some reason that he should shadow me the entire time I was in there. I’ve been to many art museums and the guards are always there but always discreet and always out of the way. I’d turn to go to the next painting and there he’d be standing. I’d change the side of the room and he’d follow me over. I felt like a criminal.
The worst part was their using the lower portion for a display on Palouse soil.
It sucked! It was $7 wasted.
Nice grounds but I doubt I’d ever again pay to go inside.
I can understand why they might fire some people.
SugarShane on April 26 at 8:19 a.m.
Yup, keep putting stodgy old white dudes in charge and wondering why things are sucking. I’d love to see the salary they handed this guy.
ldchristi on April 26 at 8:35 a.m.
With turnover history of the museum, it seems most business sense would say there may be a problem with the board, rather than with the five directors who have come and gone in such a short period of time. Perhaps there needs to be a board cleansing??????
Diana on April 26 at 9:10 a.m.
Agree, Idchristi. Five museum directors in five years tells me they are dysfunctional. Fire the board and get some people who know what they’re doing.
johnclarke on April 26 at 9:48 a.m.
The fish stinks from the head down, so yes agreed Diana. These directors just sound like whipping boys for the Board. The sad thing is the amount of tax dollars being wasted on this building.
RedCedar on April 26 at 9:49 a.m.
“The MAC is really important to this region,” Rodgers said
The reporter should have asked him “Why?”, unless this article was just quoting from a press release. I’ve never been to the museum, and judging from what I read about it, neither have a lot of people — at least not enough to pay the bills.
It’s clear that those who think the MAC is important need to get serious about articulating that to the public. Or they need to come out of their elite bubble and face the reality that their museum is NOT important to the public, at which point they need to either shut it down, maintain it out of their own pockets, or change it to make it more interesting and relevant.
cdspokesreader on April 26 at 9:58 a.m.
If you want to see some great art in Spokane without paying the $7, take a walk around downtown on a First Friday and visit some of the great galleries we have.
johnclarke on April 26 at 10:13 a.m.
Thank you Red Cedar, agreed.
MrNatural on April 26 at 10:33 a.m.
I’m with you cdspokesreader…and concur idchristi…
The MAC seems to be suffering from a little Spokaloo blue blood stodginess. I used to like the MAC a lot more than I do now as a pleasant diversion where First Friday’s are fresh, innovative and challenging…hard to say that about the MAC these days
mtharves on April 26 at 2:02 p.m.
The room of Impressionist paintings is worth the $7 all by itself. You pay that much to see some lousy Hollywood crap. The First Nation stuff is also fantastic. Yes, the soil exhibit sucked, it’s a Smithsonian traveling thing, so blame them. Some of you must have missed Da Vinci show last summer, you’ve never seen anything like that on First Friday. Also, the Campbell House is part of the admission price and if you ask, you can get into the Historical Research Library which houses the largest collection of photos, writings, etc of the Inland Northwest. It isn’t generally open because they can’t staff the reception desk (40% staff cuts in the last 4-5 years) but you can get in. The auditorium is often used for lectures and other presentations and there’s a BeGin Friday that has music and drinks on every second Friday to try and get at a younger crowd. Also, try the cafe, Chef Victor does a great job for lunch.
No, I don’t work for the museum, I have volunteered there, am a member, and have given the board my feed back on how the museum can get better. MrNat, I agree, it is getting a bit stodgy and new blood might be a good idea. But, as I live in Browne’s Addition, the MAC makes a nice neighbor.
hunternomore on April 26 at 9:14 p.m.
Hilarious my comment was removed, just goes to show
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Our Use Of Logo is NOT Affiliated With the MAC or EWSHS...

It seems the folks over at the MAC are concerned about the traffic our page and FB site are receiving and that somehow our page is reflecting negatively on their operations. Of course, while we believe that our site does nothing but help keep the taxpayers in the loop that the Board of Trustees are working so hard to keep us all out of, we wanted to share the following correspondence with you all in the effort of FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, keep in mind this is all in regards to the use of the image you see posted here with the Bow Tie on the MAC logo. The use of the MAC logo on our site is considered acceptable under the US Copyright Laws regarding fair use, derivative, and parody works. This site is in no way affiliated with the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, their Board of Trustees, their MAC Foundation Board, the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, or anything else they might be associated with. Please click on "USE OF LOGO" for complete disclosure regarding the use of this logo.

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The Bow Tie Is Back at the MAC...Are You????

July 20, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Rodgers is back, but the MAC needs you - The Spokesman-Review

July 18, 2012 in City

MAC board votes to reinstate former director - The Spokesman-Review

Write, Write, Write...Let Your Voice Be Heard

This Is More Than A Simple Firing...

Attendance at the Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 Board Meeting is vital:

June 28, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Easy fix for MAC: rehire Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

"What Next?" You Ask, Here's An Answer....

June 22, 2012 in City

New members could change MAC board’s stance on dispute - The Spokesman-Review

June 21, 2012 in City, News

New MAC board members could shift power - The Spokesman-Review

A Thank You to all those who attended the Rally to Save the MAC

Meeting about the future of the MAC tonight

A Message From The MAC's Communications and Public Relations Manager:

JUNE 20, 2012 - Bing Crosby Theater - SAVE THE MAC!!!

MAC Foundation Resolution

June 15, 2012 in City

Rodgers rejects MAC offer of two months pay - The Spokesman-Review

RALLY TO SAVE THE MAC - June 20th, 7PM - Bing Crosby Theatre

FIRING FORREST or "HOW THE MAC BOARD STARTED A FORREST FIRE"

June 9, 2012 in City

MAC board’s letter outlines reasons for firing Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

June 8, 2012 in News, City

MAC board offers Rodgers two-months pay, not his job - The Spokesman-Review

June 7, 2012 in City

MAC board officers elected - The Spokesman-Review

JUNE 6th - NOON @ the MAC - BE THERE!!!

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June 5, 2012 in News, City

MAC board may get new leadership - The Spokesman - Review

May 27, 2012 in City

The MAC Attack - The Spokesman-Review

May 26, 2012 in Opinion

Editorial: Explanation essential to unity at MAC - The Spokesman-Review

May 24, 2012 in City

MAC faces angry crowd - The Spokesman-Review

Board says Rodgers’ firing will remain unexplained

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URGENT -- LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

Letter to MAC Board about the firing of Forrest B. Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

May 22, 2012 in City

MAC panel supports Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

Foundation’s vote sets up a showdown

Meeting

May 19, 2012 in City

MAC’s ex-boss wants job back - The Spokesman-Review

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May 18, 2012 in News, City

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I SMELL A RAT!!! - Flickr.com

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May 13, 2012 in Opinion

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May 12, 2012 in Opinion, Letters

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Clouds Gather Over the MAC - Save the MAC!!! - Flickr.com

May 6, 2012 in City

Tumult follows firing at MAC - The Spokesman-Review

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MAC Shake-up - The Inlander

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture suddenly fires its executive director.

MORE BREAKING NEWS:

May 3, 2012 in City

Formal vote fires Rodgers - The Spokesman-Review

Board divided on MAC director’s termination; members decline to explain controversial move

May 2, 2012 in News, City

MAC board fires director again - The Spokesman-Review

CORRECTION ON DECISION MAKERS:

SAVE the MAC....BRING HIM BACK!!! Respect the Bow Tie!!

April 26, 2012 in City

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture fires director - The Spokesman-Review

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12 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

FIRING FORREST
or
"HOW THE MAC BOARD STARTED A FORREST FIRE"