When I was employed, in the 1980s and early 1990s, at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center), they had started a very active volunteer program in 1983. By the mid-1980s, we had about 100-or-so volunteers, including some from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Volunteers could bring guests in, from time-to-time; it was preferred that they use a Buhl pass (available from a Visitor Services and Volunteers Department staff member) for these guest admissions, so that we could keep track of all free admissions.

Volunteers, and their families, were invited to staff outings, such as river rafting on the Youghiogheny River, about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. As a more educational outing, I once invited staff, volunteers, and families to attend a scheduled tour of the historic Allegheny Observatory, operated by the University of Pittsburgh. I was very pleasantly surprised by the interest in this outing; hence, I actually had to schedule two tours!

Of course, during National Volunteer Week we would have a special reception for volunteers in the Planetarium. During the program, we would provide special recognition for volunteers who went above and beyond the call of duty.

2014: 75th Year of Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,

Friends of the Zeiss < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/ >
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
SpaceWatchtower Blog: < http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/ >

On Thursday, June 12, 2014 2:55 PM, "Aderman, Ella" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dina,

We have 50+ volunteers, and we are a free site, so we hope they do bring friends/guests, but anyone can. What we do for our volunteers is:

1. give them a 10% discount in our Museum Shop

2. when we would like them to attend a regional training, we split the cost with them

3. we provide food for them at our 6 hour events

4. a free t-shirt for the one event that we want them to wear to identify them as being associated with the site

5. a small gift at Christmas which is often handmade, low cost and/or related to the site

We also try to take a field trip with them each year (whoever can go, 2 different dates) to a regional historic site that has some thematic tie to our time period or relevant topic. We have held special lectures, and picnics, but not on a regular basis. We list the total yearly number of hours for each volunteer in our newsletter, which goes to 800 people, not just volunteers, giving them public recognition.

Hope that helps.

Ella Aderman

Historic Site Supervisor

Division of Parks, Trails & Historic Sites

Pennypacker Mills

5 Haldeman Road

Schwenksville, PA 19473

610-287-9349

http://www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dina Friedman
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2014 12:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Volunteer Benefits/Perks

Greetings Colleagues,

I am curious to find out what types of perks you offer your volunteers. I am particularly interested in hearing from institutions with 100 plus volunteers. For example at what point in their volunteer tenure do you offer them the ability to bring in guests? Do you limit the number that they can bring? Are service pins for hours volunteered appreciated or are they a waste of money? Do you host special lectures for them? Outings? Parties? Do you differentiate between volunteers who work with the public vs. volunteers who help behind the scenes. All information would be valuable; thanks in advance

Dina

Dina Rose Friedman • Interpretive Programs Manager

NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM

200 Liberty Street, 16^th Floor • New York, NY 10281

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