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  • 1.  Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-14-2018 06:50 PM

    Hey folks,

     

    I'm investigating implementing a check-in/evaluation with our Volunteer Docents. My purpose is to build relationships with the individual Docents, ensure they're getting what they want out of the program, ensure we (the staff) are meeting their standards and they (the volunteer) are staying effective in their position and representing our Museum well to the public.

     

    I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous because I sense the Docents may think of this as a way for us to 'meddle' when it really isn't. I've done information chats with our volunteers every month for a few years now, and this is a step beyond that.

     

    Do any of your volunteer programs have a formal check-in/evaluation that you conduct with volunteers? If you used to have a program and discontinued it, why did you stop? If you started a program, how did you roll it out? If you have a program now, what are your goals for your meetings with the volunteers?

     

    Thanks,

     

    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



  • 2.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-15-2018 09:32 AM

    Good morning!
    Per a recent LinkedIn posting, the contact information for the new CultureNut Xchange is:

    Introducing Culture Nut's 1st Ambassador

    CultureNut Xchange

    Elizabeth (Lisa) Schmidt | Ambassador

    214 East Fourth Street No. 170

    Saint Paul, Minnesota | USA 55101

    hello@culturenut.com

    "Culture Nut is a cultural agora, a global market place for institutions to monetize their idle inventory and recycle usable assets."

     

     


    Monica Humphrey
    Exhibits Manager

    The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
    P. O. Box 3000 | Indianapolis, IN 46206-3000
    Office: 317-334-3110
    MonicaH@childrensmuseum.org
    www.childrensmuseum.org

    Ten Coolest Museums in the World, New York Times
    Best Museum for Families, USAToday/10 Best



    ------Original Message------

    Hey folks,

     

    I'm investigating implementing a check-in/evaluation with our Volunteer Docents. My purpose is to build relationships with the individual Docents, ensure they're getting what they want out of the program, ensure we (the staff) are meeting their standards and they (the volunteer) are staying effective in their position and representing our Museum well to the public.

     

    I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous because I sense the Docents may think of this as a way for us to 'meddle' when it really isn't. I've done information chats with our volunteers every month for a few years now, and this is a step beyond that.

     

    Do any of your volunteer programs have a formal check-in/evaluation that you conduct with volunteers? If you used to have a program and discontinued it, why did you stop? If you started a program, how did you roll it out? If you have a program now, what are your goals for your meetings with the volunteers?

     

    Thanks,

     

    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



  • 3.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-17-2018 06:10 PM
    Though this is not specifically what you asked for, thought to send you this helpful link.
    https://aamv.wildapricot.org/Standards-and-Best-Practices

    ------------------------------
    Darlene Mason-Taylor
    Education Coordinator
    Atchison County Historical Society
    Atchison KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-17-2018 06:17 PM
    Also, you might consider phrasing your particular situation as a sort of "re-orientation" to get everyone up to speed with need to know information, current and future exhibits, plans, etc., as well as a way to document their particular skills, talents, experience, education...so that a beneficial relationship developed more fully.

    ------------------------------
    Darlene Mason-Taylor
    Education Coordinator
    Atchison County Historical Society
    Atchison KS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-15-2018 11:18 AM
    As always, the American Association for Museum Volunteers can provide great information on this and many other issues relating to volunteer management.   Their website is www.aamv.org.

    ------------------------------
    Janice Klein
    Executive Director
    Museum Association of Arizona
    Tempe AZ
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-15-2018 11:59 AM
    Dear Sean,

    I do an annual survey to our volunteer docent corps.  It is as anonymous as I can make it through Qualtrics.  I ask basic questions related to their happiness and comfort participating in the program as well as input and feedback for every docent education program we offer over the course of the year.  We also have a docent run Steering Committee where if they do not wish to bring concerns to museum staff, they can bring them to the SC who will introduce to the committee (which includes myself and our Dir of Education as staff support of the program). 

    I understand your concern for your docents not losing their sense of independence and/or self government with museum oversight and I also keep this in mind when communicating with our group.  I want each one of them to keep their independent nature (they are volunteers after all and their time is so greatly appreciated) but to know that I need to have survey information in order to support them from an organizational level. I think I am "preaching to the choir"! I would be interested to know how your information is received and what feedback you get.  I have been concerned lately with our turn over and would rather act in a proactive way also to be sure the group feels supported as you do.

    Best of luck,
    Sherri Jones

    ------------------------------
    Sherri Jones
    Museum Education Program Coordinator
    Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art - University of Oregon
    Eugene OR
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Volunteer Check-Ins/Evaluation

    Posted 11-15-2018 12:35 PM

    Hi Sean,

    We've instituted a robust observation and feedback system at Mia for our 300 volunteer guides and docents.

    With my experience here and at previous museums, my best advice is to roll this out carefully and thoughtfully. I would divide the activities that you describe in your post into two discrete projects: 1) Giving Feedback to Docents on Tours 2) Getting Feedback from Docents on the Program.

    Avoid using the term "evaluation" since it can scare some volunteers like you wouldn't believe. We use "feedback" and reiterate the message that we are all lifelong learners and that we all can adjust and adapt our tours to best meet visitor needs. We also found it useful to have the docents reflect on their tours before the observation...i.e. think about what they do well, and one thing they'd like to work on...this way they are directing on aspect of the feedback you give. We also focused overall on being welcoming as the main thing we were looking for when observing a tour. When we debrief with docents we certainly address other topics like tour structure, content, etc., but our focus is "What did you do today to help visitors feel like they belong at Mia?"

    The fact that you described a worry that some docents may see this as "meddling" makes me think that there might be some power dynamics at work here (there always are). Perhaps the program was entirely volunteer-run for a while and now staff are starting to or have taken over?

    As far as getting feedback from them on the program, I suggest an anonymous on-line survey AND in person conversations. If you can carve out the time to do one-on-one convos it's incredibly impactful.

    Let me know if you'd like to discuss this further: jchevalier@artsmia.org



    ------------------------------
    Juline Chevalier
    Head of Interpretation
    Minneapolis Institute of Art
    Minneapolis MN
    ------------------------------



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