Comportment Document
Standards of Comportment at the Main Street Museum
58 Bridge Street, White River Junction, Vermont
www.mainstreetmuseum.org
info@mainstreetmuseum.org
The Main Street Museum cares about drunk-driving, underage drinking and obeying all of the laws of the land. Please help us conduct a safe, sane and legal civic organization. We don't want anyone getting hurt. Many Museum events are "byob". If you do choose to bring alcohol onto Museum property please use common sense and obey the law. Please do not drink outside as this violates Hartford's open container law. Hartford, Vermont is not New Orleans, Louisiana! A convenient water-station is located in our center hallway. If you feel you've "had too much"—try water. Its from Vermont. Its clean and pure and its good for you! The museum keeps a goodly supply of sleeping bags on hand, in case you don't have a designated driver and you don't feel you should drive. There are always from two to four liquor monitors at all our public events. Museum staff may let you know when enough is enough. We reserve the right to confiscate your keys and make you sleep on bales of hay in the middle of our exhibits. Don't laugh. Its happened before!
The Main Street Museum aims to promote free inquiry, freedom of expression, and a chance for everyone to “be themselves” without apology. These goals are supported by public spaces at the museum where traditional standards of decorum are upheld and protected.
This is no smoking facility within a no smoking building. The smoking areas are on the deck or in front of the building. Tall, black, recognizable receptacles for ashes and cigarette butts are provided in both of these locations. Please do not throw either ashes or butts over the edge of the deck. There are art-cars under the deck, people. No ciggies off the deck. Or thrown onto the parking lot or driveway. Or into any plant or planter. This applies to unfiltered butts as well. Why do we even have to tell people this?
At public events there will always be at least two liquor consumption monitors—either volunteers or staff—to prevent the consumption or use of alcohol by anyone not legally entitled to consume alcohol. This includes alcohol served at our public events and alcohol brought onto Museum premises by third parties. Bins for recyclables are located in the center hallway, under the cement sink. Traditional standards of decorum in the reading room include honoring the quiet and the dignity of the reading and study area.
Visitors and volunteers to the Museum are reminded that the Museum occupies a specific area within a rental building. The privacy of other studio spaces and the apartment within the building should at all times be recognized.
While using Museum facilities, recorded music from any source (public access computer, personal ipod, etc) should not be audible to other patrons without their clear consent.
There is no sleeping allowed in Museum premises unless approved of by Staff.
No storing of personal items on Museum premises.
No homeless person can recieve the social services or emergency treatment they need, at the Museum. Please refer all such persons to the Upper Valley Haven (802) 295-6500. No exceptions.
Unwelcome behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Prolonged profanity
- Abusive, threatening, violent, or otherwise offensive language or behavior
- Bringing a gun, knife, or any weapon into the Museum
- Bringing illegal drugs into the Museum
- Intoxication
- Sexual language or behavior when any third party is present
- Blood sacrifices, unless performed by the director
Museum staff at all times, and volunteers when on duty and while on-site and performing museum-related tasks, have the authority to keep things running smoothly.
When in doubt, call 911 (or 802.295.9425, Hartford’s emergency services).
Permanent bans of certain persons have been, and may be in the future, imposed by the museum’s director. For instance: Bob Pickering and his companion Elizabeth. A developmentally disabled couple, they lurk around Daniel Johnsons property, sometimes carrying a tiny dog. Bob always wears a hat and claims to be “nightwatchman”. He harrasses people while parking their cars. Museum has filed “No Trespass” papers with Windsor County Court against Mr. Pickering due to his violence and aggression towards Museum patrons, especially women, people of color (yes, he likes to use the "N-word"), and the gay communty.
Remember, we are all in this together. And we just want to help.
Thank You, —The Management
