Open Forum

Dear Colleagues,

I am interested in finding co-presenters for AAM 2017 to discuss training/recruitment approaches. At Vizcaya Museum and Gardens our Volunteer Guides mentor program has evolved into a model where mentors play a key role in the recruitment and training of new guides. I am interested in presenting the evolution of our model and discussing the current structure of the program along with other unique approaches in the field.

If you are interested in crafting a proposal in the area please contact me.

Mark

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Mark Osterman, Ed.D.
Guiding Programs Manager
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami, FL 33141
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Hi Mark,

I saw your message today, and I thought it sparked my interest. I just kicked off a mentor program at Crystal Bridges with our Gallery Guide Program to enhance ongoing training and be a major part of candidate training starting next February. 

I can't commit to presenting at this point (travel budget is still in process), but I am intrigued and wanted to know more about the direction you are planning to take with your proposal.

Thanks so much!

Alyssa

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Alyssa Wilson
Guide Program Manager
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Bentonville AR

Hi Mark, 

I'd love to talk with you about submitting a proposal for AAM in St. Louis. We have used mentor docents in our four most recent candidate training years and it has proved very successful! I'd be happy to talk about the evolution of our mentor-candidate relationship, commitment, and guidelines (I have documents for all and feedback/evaluations from candidates and mentors).

I can also talk about a recruiting strategy I've just completed. We offered a two week free class called "A Taste of Docent Training" to let curious people know about the program, but it also doubled as an active, dialogical program for adults. I was SO VERY happy with the level of participation and the participants indicated they were thrilled with the opportunity. One said, "I didn't know I could do that in the museum!" and I've been looking forward to this all week (after the first class). We limited the registration to 16 people and 12 showed up; of the 12, eight people opted-in to be added to the docent recruitment list. (smile!) 

Fondly, 

Jill Featherstone

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Jill Featherstone
Director of Education
Des Moines Art Center - Edmundson Art Foundation
Des Moines IA

You might want to get in touch with Niki Cuccinotto (niki.cuccinotto@mim.org) at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, who is running a very similar program with the volunteer guides there called the MG Mentors program.

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Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ

You might want to get in touch with Kathleen Holko she leads a strong docent program at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich CT.  

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Corinne Flax
Manager of School and Community Partnerships
Bruce Museum
Greenwich CT

Original Message:
Sent: 08-14-2016 11:33 PM
From: Janice Klein
Subject: Looking for Co-presenters for AAM 2017 - Volunteer Guides/Docent training/recruitment approaches

You might want to get in touch with Niki Cuccinotto (niki.cuccinotto@mim.org) at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, who is running a very similar program with the volunteer guides there called the MG Mentors program.

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Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ

We don't have volunteers or docents at my museum but I would be interested in speaking on the training process our Visitor Services Associates (VSAs) who staff the galleries go through. We run a hybrid model with no security guards within the galleries. VSAs have the dual responsibility of keeping the artwork safe and meaningfully engaging visitors. 

We have an online training program and also partner new VSAs with experienced VSAs. The Broad is a new museum open just a year next month.

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Stacey Swanby
Visitor Services Supervisor
The Broad
Los Angeles CA

Mark,

Are you only looking for volunteer docent partners or are you interested in adding voices to your panels from other types of programs at museums that don't use docents?  

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Tamra Birchfield
Manager, Volunteer and Internship Program
Carnegie Science Center
Pittsburgh PA