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    We received a response from the NPS regarding the request to have
    the "custodianship" agreement (aka the "Smithsonian" agreement) and
    while some of you may yet succeed in getting a better agreement from
    the NPS, perhaps even the custodianship agreement, working
    individually with the NPS, we have reached the end of a 20-year
    effort to achieve a systemic resolution. <br>
    <br>
    I encourage you all to consult with your legal counsel when
    approached by the NPS to sign any agreement be it the loan
    agreements, the repository agreements, or something else. <br>
    <br>
    Sorry, all. <br>
    <br>
    I was asked to advise the museum community as follows:<br>
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      <p
style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i>After
          careful consideration of the proposal to draft a common
          repository agreement with multiple institutions, consultation
          with the NPS Director and legal counsel, and review of NPS
          laws and policies, we have identified some key principles that
          will guide our future relations with partner institutions:</i></p>
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style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"
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        <li style="margin-left:15px"><i>Working directly with individual
            institutions provides our best options for addressing the
            unique opportunities presented by each partnership.</i></li>
      </ul>
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        type="disc">
        <li style="margin-left:15px"><i>Direct discussion between the
            principal representatives of both parties -- partner
            institution's staff and NPS staff -- will be needed to
            produce legally sound agreements that consider unique
            circumstances of each proposed partnership.</i></li>
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      <i><br
style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
      </i><i><span
style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">These
          principles will guide us as we move forward. I would recommend
          that you advise the institutions, share this email with them
          so they have an accurate understanding of our working
          principles, and encourage the principal representatives of
          each individual institution to work directly with the
          appropriate NPS staff in developing and securing appropriate
          agreements. </span></i><i><br>
      </i><i><br>
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          Ellen Paul<br>
          <pre cols="72">-- 
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Email: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ellen.paul@verizon.net" target="_blank">ellen.paul@verizon.net</a>
Phone (301) 986 8568
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" target="_blank">"
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET"</a>
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