Volunteering
All our members are important and play a part in supporting the Society; however those who have the time to be on hand to help with the day to day running of Society matters are the people who keep the wheels turning.
It is only with the help of these Member/Volunteers that we are able to open for business three and a half days a week. We appreciate whatever time they are able to give and try to fit them into whatever area of volunteering they are comfortable with. Some come for the whole day, 10.30am to 4pm and bring their lunch, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday or 12.30 to 4pm Sunday. Others come either morning or afternoon whichever suits them. Most of these Volunteers come on a regular weekly basis which makes for good continuity of work and projects and interaction with other Volunteers and the public. Tea, coffee and biscuits are complimentary.
Activities include front of house, welcoming visitors – guiding visitors around the Museum – research – filing – computer data entry – answering phone inquiries [usually left to the Captain of the Day] – Volunteers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Library and research files – as with all places there are housekeeping duties [flags and signs to be put up and taken down], kitchen to be kept in order [we ask everyone to clean up after themselves] The Council supply a cleaner for all general areas once a week and we are expected to keep the tops of desks and cupboards tidied and dusted. Council also maintain the garden and park surrounds. So there are a variety of areas for Volunteers to fill and they are all important to keep a trim ship.
A suggestion for a new Volunteer would be to help out on a Sunday afternoon roster – this is a good time for Volunteers to become familiar with the layout of the Museum, research and library, no pressure today to do behind the scenes work. Get to know other Volunteers and greet the public.
We do have group visits by other organizations and schools mainly during the week when special guides are organised to be on hand depending on the number of visitors expected and what they have come to see. Guiding can be a very satisfying experience if you are a people person.
Because we all have other lives and families to attend to our Volunteers only come on the days that suit them so don’t get to meet all the other Volunteers from the other days and because of that getting them together socially is a challenge. We don’t hold a December General Meeting that is our Christmas Lunch get together and we try to have one or two day trips away together each year. Then there are Volunteer events arranged by Council we can attend together.
If you are interested please pay us a visit and ask to speak to the Captain of the Day who will arrange a tour of the premises and answer your questions over a tea or coffee.