This is always a touchy subject but the appropriate volunteers will
understand your position. Many museums ask that their volunteers pay a
one-time fee for screening. $25 commonly covers the cost of
finger-printing. Checking with the local police station should provide
you with a firm price. 

Don't forget to check with your insurance company about insuring your
volunteers. There are a variety of coverage areas including
transporation to and from their destination and while they are in the
act of volunteering both at and for your organization. For liability
purposes, you should seek to insure your volunteers.

If you go to www.energizeinc.com, you will find an outstanding website
for volunteer coordinators. They even have great ideas for volunteer
recognition, something never to be forgotten!

Good luck with your new museum!


Jennifer M. Lane
Marketing and Events Manager
Wilmington Music School
p (302) 762-1132 x18
f (302) 762-3422

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Liz N.
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 2:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Volunteer Screening

Hello! I have recently taken the position of Executive Director of a new
children's museum in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. I am going to start our
volunteer program but have some questions and was hoping for some input.
We have received a generous gift to pay for the fingerprinting of all of
our potential volunteers. I was thinking that we would do a volunteer
recruitment night soon, schedule interviews, and then send the
volunteers we choose for the background check. My first questions is
whether this is the route to go. Secondly, we will not be an institution
that allows just anyone to volunteer, as many of you can understand (for
protection of young
visitors.) How do we communicate this to the public? Do your volunteer
manuals or volunteer applications cover this? We have had some people
with questionable backgrounds already pursue opportunities here. How do
we determine who we accept and who we don't accept. Are their legal
ramifications? Also, if anyone out there wants to share a manual with
us, we would appreciate it. We are new and need help. My other e-mail
account is [log in to unmask] Thank you!

Liz Nohra, Executive Director
Children's Museum of the Valley
139 E. Boardman Street, PO Box 6101
Youngstown, OH 44501-6101
330-744-5914

_________________________________________________________________
Check out Election 2004 for up-to-date election news, plus voter tools
and more! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx

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