Historical society affecting the future

In a continuing effort to expose the wasteful and unethical behavior of the Arizona Historical Society, the following text was released to 750 news media contacts last week. The Arizona Range News (Wilcox) and the White Mountain Independent (Show Low) were among the first to publish it.

The Arizona Historical Society, a state funded agency, is having an effect on Arizona’s future, and it is not a good one. In 2010, the AHS gained control of the state owned Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Phoenix. At the time, 40,000 children per year were served in various ways by the museum’s K-12 earth science education programs. Memorable learning experiences at the mineral museum inspired some students to pursue careers in science and engineering. In early 2011, the AHS locked the doors, even though it continues to receive approximately a half million dollars of state money a year to operate the museum. The reason for the closure, which violated state statutes, has never been explained.

In 2015, the State Legislature voted to transfer all mineral museum assets to another state agency that is able and willing to restore the mineral museum and the K-12 education programs. Bipartisan support for the transfer was overwhelming. Only two representatives (out of 60) and three senators (out of 30) voted against the bill. Unfortunately, AHS lobbyists were able to persuade Arizona’s new Governor to veto the bill. The AHS wants to convert the building into an “event center” with restaurant and cocktail bar. Many suspect the goal sounds like a lounge for lobbyists on the Capitol Mall.

Professors in Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon report that universities in the USA are producing less than half the economic geologists that will be needed to support our industrialized economy. Arizona is the number one non fuel mining state in the USA and produces two thirds of the nation’s copper. Arizona will therefore be disproportionately damaged by a shortage of geologists. The AHS must not be permitted to damage education and the economy to pursue selfish interests that will only benefit lobbyists.

 Complete details are available on the blog Mineral Museum Madness at www.minmumad.blogspot.com

Rewriting history

In a somewhat nonsensical response to an editorial in the Sierra Vista Herald, the AHS has attempted to defend its senseless destruction of the mineral museum. Not surprisingly, the response is filled with with misinformation and a distortion of history.

Annoyed with the following editorial in the Herald;

OUR VIEW: Let's end the honeymoon

http://www.svherald.com/content/staff/2015/04/13/395457

The AHS submitted this response;

OUR READERS' VIEWS: Taking issue with an editorial |

http://www.svherald.com/content/letters-editor/2015/04/23/395682

 

The Herald subsequently published the following rebuttal:

OUR READERS' VIEWS: AHS misreads history

http://svherald.com/content/letters-editor/2015/04/27/395757

Will the Governor listen to the children?

Children, along with teachers, parents, and grandparents, sent letters and emails to Governor Ducey in early 2015. They also made phone calls to request support for SB1200 (Mineral Museum Restoration).  They were very disappointed when the Governor vetoed the bill.

There were a lot of bills, and there was little time before the end of the Legislative session. The Governor could not possibly give individual attention to every bill. However, he did not veto that many bills. Before he vetoed SB1200, why did he only listen to AHS lobbyists? In view of the overwhelming bipartisan support for the bill in the Legislature, why did he not communicate with at least one supporter of mineral museum restoration?

Perhaps the story has to be taken to the people of Arizona, so that the people can  make it even more clear that they want a mineral museum rather than entertainment center for lobbyists. An excellent article by reporter Elizabeth Stuart of the New Times summarizes the current situation.  The link to the story is as follows:

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2015/04/geology_buffs_vow_to_bring_back_mining_museum_despite_governors_veto.php

Who are the Friends of the AZ Historical Society?

The March 24th post presented a document purportedly from the Friends of the AZ Historical Society.  The March 29th and April 10th posts provide detailed rebuttals of the statements in that document.

A copy of the April 10th rebuttal was sent to the address shown for the  Friends of the AZ Historical Society (101 N. 1st Ave, Phoenix) by USPS (snail mail). It came back with a notation of: "return to sender, not at this address."

The information in the Friends of the AZ Historical Society document was either misinformation or a lie, depending upon the knowledge of the writer.

Who are the  Friends of the AZ Historical Society?

Why the mineral museum must be reopened

The Arizona Historical Society cannot understand the value of the mineral museum. They are determined to replace it with an entertainment center. How will a lounge for lobbyists help Arizona?

The members of the AHS should consider some questions about the fututre:

Would they like the lights to come on when they flip the switch?

Would they like to own another new car someday, or would they just as soon learn to ride a horse?

Do they like the internet, or would they prefer to go back to using paper, quill pen, and pony express?

The link below describes a shortage of economic geologists that may eventually jeopardize our economy and lifestyle. Where will future economic geologists come from if K-12 students do not have an opportunity to be exposed to mineral science education programs?

 
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/19/8/article/i1052-5173-19-8-26.htm