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Volunteer Program
Volunteers help 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 through more programming of varied offerings with more
effective results. Volunteer involvement at the museum increases our ability
to reach more students, visitors and potential donators.
Our volunteers are a
critical part of the overall museum operations. We depend upon their varied
talents and willingness to share those talents in a multitude of ways at the
museum. A variety of these roles are detailed in the
Volunteer Opportunities section of this page.
Public Service
Too often in the world of
museums, the execution of a program does not always jibe with its origins or its initial
impetus. We want to be clear about the purpose of the volunteer program at the Hubbard
Museum of the American West: The Volunteer Program exists to help the staff improve the
public service offered at the Museum. No more, no less. It is not about seeking “free
labor” or “doing the things the staff doesn’t want to do” or even “to replace staff to
save on payroll”. Simply put, 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 good public service. Going to a museum is a choice – and when people make that
choice it is vitally important that we not only meet their expectations, we exceed them.
How do we do exceed visitor expectations?
There are numerous ways to provide excellent public
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 clean restrooms
*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
public service, and part of the reason we do so is that we know that we could spend a
$100,000 dollars in advertising each year, but that type of investment pales 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
friend, 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 public services offered at the
Museum.
Intrinsic &
Extrinsic Rewards
There is no pay
involved with volunteer work, but just think of the vast amount it really
gives to those who are willing to volunteer. The rewards received from
volunteering personal time are endless. And, most of all, volunteer work may
not give a dollar amount, but it provides the volunteer with endless skills,
leadership opportunities, and a true value for the almighty dollar.
So, volunteers really do get a
lot more than it seems. Sometimes, we may just need to read between the lines to really
understand the true greatness in volunteering to make our world a better place.
Aside from the personal
satisfaction one receives from volunteering, the museum also provides perks to our most
dedicated. As a Museum volunteer you will receive:
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Free admission to the museum.
•
Free admission to events worked
by the volunteer
•
Opportunities to learn from
professionals and experienced staff and volunteers.
•
On-the-job and formal training if
applicable.
•
Recognition in the museum
newsletter.
• 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.
After 50 hours of service and training our volunteers will receive a free $50 Membership
and after 60 months of service each will receive Bonus Bucks Certificates, which is $1
per hour worked up to $250 per year to be redeemed in the Museum Gift Shop.
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!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Poster and/or
Publications Distribution Volunteer
Poster/Sign and Mailing
Volunteer
Data Entry Volunteer
Collection
Inventory Volunteer
Mount
Maker Volunteer
Docent / Tour Guide
Gift Shop
Special Events
Landscaping Assistant
Research Assistant
Special Projects Assistant
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