Volunteering at the Hubbard Museum

 

 Contact Curator of Education, Jeannine Isom for more information: 575-378-4142 Ext. 235

Volunteers help the staff of The Hubbard Museum of the American West to accomplish their mission each and every day. Volunteers play an integral part of the museum operations by increasing service to our guests. Volunteer involvement at the museum increases our ability to reach more students, visitors and potential donors.

Our volunteers are a critical part of the overall museum operations. We depend upon their varied talents and willingness to share those talents in many ways at the museum. A variety of these roles are detailed in the Volunteer Opportunities section of this page.

We live in a different world today and that world offers so many choices as to how to use one’s leisure time that we cannot underestimate the value of the public service provided by our volunteers.  Going to a museum is a choice – and when people make that choice it is vitally important that we not only meet their expectations, but that we exceed them.

How do we do exceed visitor expectations and provide excellent service?

• We greet visitors with a smile and provide answers to their immediate questions.
• We provide a clean, welcoming environment from the moment they pull into the parking lot to the moment they leave the parking lot.
• We provide a safe place to visit.
• We provide excellent exhibits that entertain as well educate the visitor.
• We provide creative and interactive programming, tours, and other hands-on activities that help our patrons enjoy their visit.
• We provide materials that inspire patrons to become members.
• We provide our staff and docents with information they need to answer visitor questions – or at least direct them to places to find answers.

There are many, many other ways to provide excellent service, but they all pale in comparison to the value of good “word of mouth” advertising that we get from our own patrons.  When people have a “good” experience at a Museum they talk about it with their friends, family and neighbors.  The trouble is, when people have a “bad” experience at a Museum they are even more likely to talk about it and negative comments are often more influential than positive ones.  Though it is unlikely that we will ever exceed 100% of our visitor’s expectations, our goal should be to provide the best experience possible for each visitor that walks in the door.

Without hesitation, we say again, the purpose of the volunteer program is to help the museum staff improve the visitor services offered at the Museum.

Benefits of Volunteering

The rewards received from volunteering personal time are endless. And, most of all, volunteer work provides the volunteer with endless skills, leadership opportunities, and fellowship with a group of like-minded individuals.

Aside from personal satisfaction, as a Museum volunteer you will receive:

• Free admission to the museum and events.
• A free membership after 50 hours of service.
• Opportunities to learn from professionals and experienced staff and volunteers.
• On-the-job and formal training if applicable.
• New skills and valuable experiences.
• Opportunities to help carry out the Museum’s mission to educate visitors about local and regional history.
• Opportunities to interact with a community of individuals sharing similar interests.
• Written references for continuing education or employment, upon request.

Sound Interesting? Here’s what you do to become a Hubbard Museum Volunteer:

1. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 575-378-4142 x 235 or use the Volunteer Form online!
2. Meet the Volunteer Coordinator and fill out a Volunteer Form.
3. Review the job descriptions of available volunteer positions.
4. Attend interview with Volunteer Coordinator and staff supervisor.
5. Complete the initial Volunteer Orientation and review volunteer handbook.
6. Set volunteer schedule and set goals with staff supervisor.
7. Start your volunteer experience!