We have a three step program for volunteers here at Filoli, where we have roughly 1150 total volunteers. All volunteers receive a certain base of benefits; on top of that Active and Sustaining volunteers are invited to our Volunteer Appreciation in the fall. Emeritus volunteers are invited to specific Emeritus events. This is a recent change in separating the events and offering even more to our volunteers than previous years.
We heavily utilize Volgistics to organize our volunteers. Our status for a regular volunteer is Active. An Active volunteer must fulfill the yearly requirements of each committee they join, but they are required to belong to only one committee. Our committees have various foci and a wide range of physical requirements, so it is usually possible to find an interesting position for each volunteer which also matches their capabilities and passions. To manage injuries and other difficulties which might prevent a volunteer from fulfilling their requirement, we have two forms, which must be signed by their Committee chair after a discussion. Short term exception forms are generally employed for a brief absence of time from their duties, such as a long holiday or a minor injury. Leave of Absence forms exempting a volunteer from their commitments for a period of up to one year.
At the point a volunteer has given 10 years of service to our organization, they have the choice to their status to Sustaining. As Sustaining volunteers they still give us the honor of their time and effort, but their commitment is pared down by half. For instance, a Guided Docent with a requirement of 20 shifts a year in the Active category can become a Sustaining Guided Docent and is therefore required to complete only 10 shifts a year. We have 126 current Sustaining volunteers, about 11% of our total volunteer group.
Volunteers with 10 or more years of service can also choose Emeritus status at any time. Most of our volunteers put this off as long as possible, and begrudging switch to Emeritus status when their health truly cannot sustain the passions they have pursued, such as gardening, special event hospitality, nature or house & garden tours, and floral design. We have 55 Emeritus volunteers, or nearly 5%.
We accept a small number of Auxiliary volunteers, who are each a friend of a current volunteer, interested in getting to know a bit more about our organization but unsure of making a full commitment. Auxiliary volunteers fill out specific forms to help with a single event, and shadow their active volunteer friend for the duration. Often they are family members, and sometimes go on in future to become active volunteers.
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Paula Allen
Volunteer Coordinator
Filoli Center
Woodside, CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2017 02:36 PM
From: Sean Mobley
Subject: Docent Emeritus
Hello all,
I am investigating what some sort of Docent/Tour Guide Emeritus program might look like to help some of the volunteers who are no longer able to meet the requirements of being a Docent still feel valued and part of the team. Do any museums out there have an Emeritus system for docents? What do they look like?
Thanks,
Sean
| 
| Sean Mobley | Docent Services Specialist
The Museum of Flight
9404 East Marginal Way S
Seattle, WA 98108
Work: +1 (206) 768-7151
www.museumofflight.org |