I echo these sentiments. At the Hunter we have a tiered system that we use for membership. After you have led at least 25 tours then you get your free membership. Our front desk also has a list of current docents and they are always admitted free with their guests. We also have job descriptions for them as well.
I believe that docents are a part of our staff.....they are just unpaid. Treat them like staff and they will return that respect seven-fold. We have doubled our docent numbers this year with these new practices. We have 25 "active" docents. That means that all 25 of them participate throughout the year....not half of them or a portion of them. I would be happy to share our docent handbook with anyone who would like a copy. It includes our policies etc. Just shoot me an email with "Docent Handbook" in the subject line. ([log in to unmask])
Hassan Najjar
Manager of School and Outreach Programs
Hunter Museum of American Art
_____
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John E Simmons
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Volunteers and membership
Right on. I think volunteers should get free membership and they should also have job descriptions. They do invest a lot in your institution, and these are simple ways of recognizing their input.
I would go one step further and give your paid staff museum memberships as well. I once worked for an organization that included all staff (from director to housekeeping) as members. The next place I worked did not--staff had to pay to be members. The difference in how invested the staff felt in the institution as a whole was significant. What the memberships did was enlarge feelings of staff loyalty from the particular work unit to the whole institution.
To ask someone who is already working for you (whether in a paid or volunteer position) to also pay to be a member is a bit of an insult.
--John
John E. Simmons
Museologica
1528 ½ Puddintown Road
State College, Pennsylvania 16801
[log in to unmask]
303-681-5708
On Jan 24, 2008 9:30 AM, Nicola Sarn <[log in to unmask] > wrote:
We have been having the same conversation recently. I am an advocate for free museum membership for docents. They are not just volunteers as they truly invest their hearts and minds in the museum. Being a docent is much like being a staff member as they have to study, they are required to have certain skills and keep abreast of museum happenings. Anyone investing so much of their free time to help the museum should not have to pay to be a member when in spirit and commitment they already are. It is gratefulness that should ensue in thanking them profusely on a regular basis and giving them as many free benefits as possible.
Nicola Warren Sarn
School and Educator Services Coordinator
Columbus
Museum
1251 Wynnton Road
Columbus
, Georgia 31906
Phone: 706.748.2562, ext. 653
Fax: 706.748.2570
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
_____
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Keni Sturgeon
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Volunteers and membership
Hello all,
I know these questions have gone around before (should volunteers be required to be members? should their membership be free or should they pay?) , but i have a different spin to ask about this topic:
Has anyone included a free museum membership as a benefit of being a regular, committed volunteer and if so, have you noticed if adding such a membership helped to increase your volunteer recruitment?
Thanks,
Keni
Keni Sturgeon
Curator
Mission Mill Museum
1313 Mill Avenue
Salem, OR 97306
503-585-7012, ex. 232
[log in to unmask]
_____
Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. Learn more. <http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join>
========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
--
========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
