Well, I am a proud Gen X-er, and I agree with Lucy that we should support
our museums if we are financially able to.  However, I also feel that we
often don't do enough to honor and appreciate our volunteers.  While its
true that what we often need is money, TIME is just as valuable.  I don't
mean to be disparaging, but I actually think it is sad that this question
had been raised in the first place; it should be a no-brainer to send
volunteers, members or not, a newsletter.

As for requiring (or even suggesting) that volunteers become members, I feel
this is inappropriate for a "volunteer-friendly" atmosphere.  However, there
is nothing wrong with some "insider help" in the guise of loyal volunteers
like Lucy who set GREAT examples and encourage those who can to give.

Someone mentioned that you could use your state's minimum wage to calculate
volunteer "in-kind" wage donations.  Actually, there is an "official" dollar
amount that can usually be found without much ado.  I quick google led me to
an older article on the AVA website that listed the 2003 dollar value of a
volunteer hour as $17.19, CONSIDERABLY more than minimum wage.
(http://www.avaintl.org/resources/dollar.html)

>I worked for a large history museusm for many years and there were
>always concerns expressed by management about using volunteers because
>it would be illegal to use unpaid people who directly and
>demonstrablely contribute to the production or income of the business,
>even if it was non-profit.

By this standard, you better not have any volunteers!  I mean, even people
who smile and greet people at your door contribute to your business.  No,
what the law states is that you cannot volunteer for a position that you are
paid for. (Example: a [thankfully] past employer threatened not to pay me
for hours I worked over a certain allotted number, stating he would consider
it "volunteer time".  I immediately contacted my state's Bureau of Labor and
Industry and found I was within my rights to file a complaint simply for
being told this).  This is a protection for employees.. If you aren't sure
how this works, look at any number of recent Wal-Mart labor suits.

Also, I know in many state agencies, you cannot replace a paid position with
an unpaid position.  Labor contracts protect this.

Finally, if what your former employer said was true, we wouldn't have
Boards.  Don't forget that Board members are also volunteers (I hope
everyone logs their hours, too!).

Again AVA is a great resource for many of these issues. If you'll forgive me
for being on the "Volunteer Admin Soapbox" for a minute, I'd like to remind
everyone that these issues are precisely why professional Volunteer
Administrators should be valued.  Too many agencies think anyone can run a
volunteer program ("I know, lets get a volunteer to run our volunteer
program!"). Its an H.R. Job, will all kinds of legal and liability issues,
and should be respected as such (I won't say paid, because who of us gets
paid what we are worth?)

Okay, stepping down now, thanks :)

Robyne Erica Miles
Graduate Student, Consultant, and former Volunteer Administrator
-- 
Vita Brevis, Ars Longa
--


On 3/25/05 1:48 PM, "Lucy Sperlin" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Glenn,
> 
> I don't disagree with you in any way. Nor do I disagree with others who have
> volunteered as students and couldn't afford to buy a membership (that can
> apply to older people also), and I agree that volunteers should all be sent
> newsletters. None of that is mutually exclusive to what I was saying.  There
> are always exceptions, (churches find ways to be inclusive of people who
> can't afford to pledge) but those who can afford to support the museum
> should, just like those who can afford to support the church should.  I was
> reacting to what sounded like an idea that volunteers in general shouldn't
> have to be members. I still think that the giving adds to the feeling of
> connection and ownership which is an important factor in keeping volunteers.
> 
> I can see why you reacted the way you did though, because, indeed,
> volunteers should NOT have to pay to park while volunteering!!  (That would
> end up being a whole lot more expensive than a basic membership!)
> 
> Lucy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Glenn A. Walsh
> Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 12:46 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Non-member volunteers and newsletter
> 
> Well, "an institutional culture of expectation" may be
> nice, but I can tell you from years of experience with
> volunteers: if the volunteer *perceives* they are not
> being treated as they think they should be, you will
> lose that volunteer.
> 
> One example: I worked for Pittsburgh's Carnegie
> Science Center when they started public display of the
> World War II submarine, the U.S.S. Requin [in the Ohio
> River, next to the Science Center building]. The
> Science Center was very successful in obtaining
> volunteer assistance, from many members of the local
> chapter of the submarine veterans group, to provide
> tours of the submarine to the public [in fact, one of
> the volunteer tour guides had actually *served* on the
> U.S.S. Requin!].
> 
> Actually, the submarine tours began about a half-year
> before the new Carnegie Science Center building opened
> to the public--when the original Buhl Planetarium
> building was still a public museum, a mile away.
> 
> Prior to the public opening of The Carnegie Science
> Center, the submarine vet volunteers were able to park
> free in the lot next to the new building, still under
> construction. However, once The Carnegie Science
> Center opened to the public, the parking lot became a
> pay-lot, and everyone was expected to pay for
> parking--even volunteers.
> 
> Well, there was an angry reaction to this parking fee
> from nearly all volunteers. This angry reaction was
> acute with the submarine vets--they felt that they
> were giving their time for the submarine tours AND,
> they had fought during World War II or in Korea to
> keep America free--the least they should get is free
> parking!
> 
> Well, eventually, arrangements were made to provide
> free parking to volunteers at that time [today, ALL
> parking is free].
> 
> It is true: "beggars cannot be choosers." If you want
> volunteer help, you will have to make the
> accomodations that satisfy the volunteers--and, often,
> the volunteer decides what that accomodation should
> be, or they do not stay.
> 
> gaw
> 
>>>> Original Message:
> Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:50:27 -0800
> From: "Lucy Sperlin" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Non-member volunteers and
> newsletter 
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Well, after three agreements with this viewpoint, I
> really have to put
> in a
> somewhat different point of view.
> 
> Unless the volunteer is living on the edge
> financially, I believe it is
> good
> to have an institutional culture of expectation that
> they are members.
> A
> "Not required but everyone does" kind of thing. If
> they care enough to
> volunteer, they should care enough to support the
> institution. I'm a
> volunteer now (retired museum professional) so I've
> been on both sides.
> Yes,
> the institution could not do all it does without the
> volunteer, and the
> volunteer does make a huge contribution with the gift
> of their time, 
> but,
> let's face it, it's like a church, it needs financial
> support to exist
> (well, mine does anyway). I'm getting quite a bit of
> personal 
> satisfaction
> from my volunteer work, and I feel like it's the right
> thing to do to 
> give
> money.
> 
> I think that there is a definite psychology of
> 'ownership' that goes
> with a
> monetary contribution, even a small one, that is
> important to have in a
> volunteer for any number of reasons. I also know that
> there are a lot 
> of
> expenses that accrue to having volunteers, everything
> from insurance to
> thank you cards, not to mention staff time to
> supervise. 
> 
> All that aside, however, I'd just be kind of ashamed
> if I wasn't 
> helping the
> organization in every way I can.
> 
> That said, I now wonder if there is a generational
> difference to 
> attitudes
> in this question?  Is what we have been hearing the
> voice of the "Me
> Generation"?  Or am I just an old do-gooder?   OR is
> there a difference
> that
> comes with size of institution?  I expect volunteers
> in smaller museums
> know
> that lack of money makes it difficult for the museum
> to be as good as 
> it
> would wish.  Perhaps in very large museums the
> perception is different.
> 
> Lucy Sperlin
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf
> Of Glenn A. Walsh
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 4:02 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Non-member volunteers and newsletter
> 
> I also agree with Steve.
> 
> To most people, there is nothing more valuable than
> their time--particularly if they have limited
> financial means. And, if they have greater financial
> means, and they become loyal to your museum after some
> time as a volunteer, they may become a member
> anyway--they would be looking for every way, they can
> afford, to help you!
> 
> I coordinated many volunteers when working at
> Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute
> of Popular Science in the 1980s and early 1990s. One
> thing I learned about volunteers is that they know
> exactly what they are willing to do for an
> organization on a volunteer basis, and what they will
> not do. So, if you ask them to do too much, whether
> financially, or ask them to spend more time than they
> are willing, or ask them to do something they are not
> interested in doing, you could well lose that
> volunteer.
> 
> Once you produce a newsletter, it does not cost much
> to duplicate a few more copies for the volunteers.
> And, the volunteers will then feel more of a belonging
> to the institution--which is exactly what you want!
> 
> gaw
> 
> gaw
> 
> Glenn A. Walsh
> Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
> Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
> * Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
> < http://www.planetarium.cc >
> * Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
> < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
> * Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear:
> < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
> * Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
> < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
> * Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
> < http://www.incline.cc >
> 
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