Dear Docent Family,
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
If you google this statement, it is attributed to many different people, but most often, George Bernard Shaw. And I must tell you, this quote has been bouncing around in my head the last few weeks.
Why, you ask?
I am guessing most of you know why. A land acknowledgment email was sent a couple of weeks ago stating that docents must read a statement prior to giving any tour. You have since received another email, from Ann Thompson (chair of the CAC board of trustees), Lynn, and me putting any procedure related to land acknowledgement on pause.
It is now clear that there was a communication breakdown across the organization. Many on staff worked hard with the local indigenous community to come up with a comprehensive land acknowledgement for the CAC, but docents were not consulted about the reading of the statement. While the idea of a land acknowledgment garners broad support across the docent community, the idea of reading such a lengthy statement met with tremendous resistance. So, we are stepping back and reevaluating.
The start of this re-evaluation will be the April meeting of the executive committee of the Board of Trustees. This will be a process, and I do not anticipate quick decisions and conclusions. For now, the recommendation to docents is to continue to give your tours with your current acknowledgement regarding the people who lived here before us (and still live here today!).
Another important issue is the search and hiring of a new CAC President and CEO. I am on the search committee, which has already met. This, too, will be a process, likely to take months to find candidates, interview them, and select a new leader. This is clearly a challenging time for the organization and staff, so I would like to ask all of us to be extra caring and understanding as the organization navigates these next few months.
Change is happening and can be not just good, but great. But communication among all of us is critical. I am glad so many of you have clearly shared your feelings with me, and I invite you to continue to do so. With open communications, we will get to where want to be and make the CAC a better place for us and our visitors.
Happy April!
Kent
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Thank you for involving docents in these processes