Thanks for organizing a very informative roundtable!

Cheers,

José

On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 8:58 PM, Jay Cordeiro
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi, folks,
>
> I had no idea the little roundtable I chaired would have such far reaching
> impacts!  Sheesh...
>
> Thanks to all who participated (Rich, Gary, Adam, Liz, Jose).  I think it
> was a real eye opener for all of us!
>
> I think it is important to keep open the various options for a collection:
> retain in your family (my personal favorite), donation (including all the
> various- shell club/society, school, non-profit, etc.), museum/university
> donation (a category in and of itself), sale (auction, direct, dealer, other
> collector, ebay, etc.).
>
> ... or if all of this seems too cumbersome, you could just give it to me.
>
> Best to all,
>
> jay
> Jay Cordeiro
> Research Zoologist, NatureServe
> 11 Avenue de Lafayette, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
> (617) 542-1908
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> worldwide
> Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 6:08 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Shell Collection Insurance
>
> I also learned something quite important at the roundtable
> discussion.  One of the museum participants stated that legally (IRS
> rule) a museum cannot recommend an appraiser.  They can provide a
> non-preferential list of appraisers, but the person or family
> donating the collection must make the selection of the appraiser.
>
> It was also mentioned that many or most museums want the appraisals
> to be done off-site (away from the museum) unless the collection has
> been formerly transferred to the museum.
>
> Thirdly, IRS expects that the appraisal and donation be done in the
> same year.  Often large collections are divided and donated in
> portions; e.g. all of the shells in one family.  Having a long and
> serious talk with a museum curator to which you would consider
> donating your collection is just as important as bringing your family
> up to speed.  A appraiser keeps records of each appraisal in case of
> an audit, and the appraiser must make a visual inspection of the
> collection for it to be validated by IRS.
>
> It should be noted that all or most museums will not segregate and
> store your collection.  It will be incorporated into the larger
> collection, yet with database collection management it is easy to
> find specimens that were donated by you to the museum.  Most museums
> indicate on their data cards housed with the shells the name of the
> donator of the specimen.
>
> No matter what, the museum curator will give you a complete run-down
> on what you can expect when donating your collection to their
> museum.  Not all collections may be of interest to a particular
> museum, but it is one avenue that you can pursue.
>
> Ultimately the decision to donate or sell your collection will be
> yours.  But most importantly, enjoy your collections here and
> now.  The other less-palatable issues can be dealt in between field
> collecting, cleaning, identification and cataloguing.
>
> Rich
>
> -----------
>
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--
_______________________________________________________
José H. Leal, Ph.D., Director
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor, The Nautilus
www.shellmuseum.org

3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL 33957 USA
(239)395-2233
fax (239)395-6706

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