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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>
<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>
<i>
</i>
<ul
style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"
type="disc">
<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>
<ul
style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"
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>
</ul>
<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>
</i><br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
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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