Mr. Govan said that he also wondered how the economic crisis would affect memberships, a crucial revenue stream for all museums.
(Government subsidies and private donations are considered unearned income, and memberships, a form of philanthropy that also buys free admission, straddles the two categories).
For most people who resolve to shed pounds after the holidays, the decision means shelling out cash — on packaged foods, books, health club memberships, a scale, liposuction consultations.
At Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, a new Web site, which features streaming videos of Komodo dragons, has been used to recruit 10 to 50 new memberships a day since it was put up two months ago.
Many chief executives are getting lavish perquisites like the personal use of company planes, country club memberships, a car and driver and services like secretarial help even after they leave or retire.
He wrote on his blog that, upon arriving in America, "I heard about 'Golf Club Memberships,' a bizarre concept where you pay thousands of dollars in advance, for the privilege of paying hundreds of additional dollars each time you play golf at certain courses".
