1 
from July 1, 1972, it was suggested that the organization should 
be free-floating—i.e., with the executive office located where¬ 
ver the Executive Director may be situated rather than attached 
to any present organization or institution. Membership will be 
divided into two classes: (1) organizational representatives 
from the American Association of Museums, the American Association 
of State and Local History, the National Science Foundation Office 
of Science Information Services, the National Museum Act Program, 
the Directors of Systematic Collections, and other organizations 
which represent any large group of museums or museum-_related dis¬ 
ciplines; and (2) individual membership for any person who meets 
certain minimal requirements (essentially anyone working with 
or developing a museum data bank). The affairs of the Committee 
would be carried on by an Executive Board and an Executive Direc¬ 
tor. Initially, an Organizing Committee consisting of those who 
participated in or were invited to the Hershey Study Group meet¬ 
ing will function as the Executive Board. When the organization 
is better established, the Executive Board will be elected by 
the membership so as to represent a balance of the different com¬ 
puter systems, different disciplines and different kinds of mus¬ 
eums located in different geographic areas. It is the intention 
of the Study Group that members of the Executive Board would serve 
as the points of contact between the Executive Office and any 
discipline -related programs, so that the needs of particular 
disciplines would be protected but still integrated into the 
larger structure. The Executive Office initially will be staffed 
by the Executive Director and an administrative secretary. Com¬ 
puter consultants will be employed on a contract basis to carry 
out specific projects. 
For the first two years Dr. Robert G. Chenhall has agreed to 
• serve as Executive Director of the Museum data bank Coordinating 
Committee. He is located at the University of Arkansas and will 
prepare a grant request under the National Museum Act for the 
funding of the Committee's activities from July 1, 1972 to June 
30, 1974. Any comments, suggestions or requests for information 
should be addressed to him at the University of Arkansas Museum, 
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. 
May, 1972 
Division of Reptiles and Amphibians 
National Museum of Natural History 
Washington, DC 20560 
