MoNA facts: From a board member

Editor:

Your March 7 news account and editorial contained the following misstatements:

Board members live in Seattle: Current Board members live in LaConner, Anacortes, Edison, Bow, Burlington, and Seattle. The one Board member who lives in Seattle grew up in the Skagit Valley.

Why Board members resigned and when: Board members that resigned before Christopher Shainin tendered his resignation in February include two new and two long-serving members. One member resigned over concern that the current controversy might impact their business and another resigned over the controversy’s impact on family members. Another resigned because of competing professional demands and the fourth resigned because of retirement plans to live out-of-country for a good portion of each year. All members were dedicated to the continuing solvency of MoNA and were neither aligned for or against any present or former Board members or staff.

Financial conditions facing MoNA: MoNA must raise enough money to offset the $129,262 deficit that accumulated through 2017, finance $301,500 to fix the roof and HVAC to protect the collection that had been deferred as a result of the deficits, and provide operating funds sufficient to get MoNA through the June Auction that has been the museum’s largest single source of revenue.

This is a significant challenge that has been difficult to resolve. However, MoNA members, donors, docents, volunteers, staff, and Board have gradually begun to build the momentum necessary that could see the museum through this challenge if the above parties and larger community work together. We desperately need time (and support) for MoNA to overcome its current financial crisis and to complete development as well as implementation of a sustainable business model.

Tom Beckwith

MoNA Board Member

[the editorial read: “live in Seattle or have only recently moved to the Skagit Valley.” – Editor]