I guess I should have been more clear. Our docents are all unpaid
volunteers. We're a medium-size regional history and art museum with 10 paid
staff, no volunteer coordinator and no HR dept., so we couldn't stay open
without our dedicated group of docent volunteers.

That said, thanks to Terry for her quick reply!

Kathy Henri
Collections Manager
Ventura County Museum of History & Art
100 E. Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 653-0323 x. 20
[log in to unmask]
www.vcmha.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Terry Peeler
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 8:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Docent and Volunteer Programs


Kathy,
    Employees are generally not hired under a contract unless they are
management. Usually, a person is hired as an "at-will" employee meaning
essentially, that they can be released at any time for any reason and quit
at any time for any reason; of course this is subject to anything to the
contrary written in employee handbooks, etc.   When I was a docent, or what
they termed guide,  at Winterthur Museum, there were two categories: general
guides or docents and senior guides.  The regular guides had to go through
training and serve in a wing of the museum for a year before they were
evaluated for promotion to senior guide.  The senior guides were required to
go through additional coursework and evaluation.  Both groups were paid a
salary based on part-time work.  This was years ago so I can not speak on
what the process is today.  I would image that your human resources or
management department could come up with requirements regarding service
hours and locations for volunteers.  I hope this helps.
Best,
---
Terry Peeler

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