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Goals of the Volunteer Interim Committee in Re-envisioning a new Volunteer Advisory Board: 

Purpose:   Represent and address the needs and concerns of the volunteers to the Museum.  Promote communication channels that allow volunteers to be fully informed and engaged.  Create opportunities that bring about familiarity among all members of the Museum team.  Support and collaborate with Museum staff on volunteer recruitment and orientation, training and mentorship opportunities, continuing education and professional development, recognition, benefits, and social events.  

Goals:   

1. Provide representation for all volunteers, serving as a liaison between the volunteers and the Museum staff and administration. 

2. Provide individual and confidential pathways for assistance with conflict and grievances that are safe and transparent for all volunteers. 

3. Create connections enabling communication between volunteers and across the Museum community, working to ensure that they are open, transparent, effective, consistent, timely and inclusive. 

4. Assist staff in recruiting volunteers, promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. 

5. Assist staff in providing continuing education opportunities for all volunteers including lectures, presentations, tours, workshops and professional development. 

6. Assist in organizing peer-to-peer mentorship and advancement opportunities for volunteers. 

7. Assist staff in promoting volunteer retention through recognition events, social gatherings to promote esprit-de-corps and benefits evaluation. 

8. Ensure an ongoing history and archive of the Board and volunteer activities. 

9. Increase the visibility and relevance of the Board to the volunteers. 

• Volunteer Advisory Board (VAB) Structure Outline 

• Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) 

Volunteer Interim Committee meeting Notes and Minutes 

• March 15, 2023

• March 29, 2023

• June 7th, 2023

• June 21st, 2023

• July 5th, 2023 

• July 19th, 2023

• August 2nd, 2023

• September 6th, 2023

• September 20th, 2023

• October 4th, 2023

Executive Director Cryan’s vision for the Volunteer Program 

The central pillar of a successful Volunteer Program is the principle of mutual benefit: fundamentally, volunteer service must be of tangible benefit to NHMU in advancing our core functions (research, education, etc.) and at the same time be a rewarding experience for the volunteers. 

To achieve this goal, Director Cryan wants to see: 

1. Smooth, transparent and consistent two-way communication between Museum staff and volunteers, including a free flow of information, in order that volunteers can be fully engaged and informed of all that is going on at the Museum. 

2. A volunteer structure that brings about familiarity between volunteers and staff - we are two parts of the same Museum Team - as well as among volunteers across and within all Museum programs. 

3. A mechanism allowing volunteers to report issues and challenges in a safe and comfortable way. 

Schedule of Meetings

• Wednesday, March 15th, 5:30pm - Swaner Forum 

• Wednesday, March 29th, 5:30pm - Swaner Forum 

• Wednesday, April 19th, 5:30pm - Swaner Forum 

• Wednesday, May 3rd, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday May 17th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday, June 7th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday, June 21st, 5:30pm - Conference Room 1 

• Wednesday, July 5th, 5:30pm - Conference Room 1 

• Wednesday, July 19th, 5:30pm - Conference Room 1 (located back of house on the 5th Floor, Natalie will allow people in at the reception doors)  

• Wednesday, August 2nd, 5:30pm - Seminar Room (located back of house on the 3rd Floor, Natalie will allow people in at the doors by the elevator)  

• Wednesday, August 16th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room (located back of house on the 3rd Floor, Natalie will allow people in at the doors by the elevator)  

• Wednesday, September 6th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday, September 20th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday, October 4th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

• Wednesday, October 18th, 5:30pm - Seminar Room 

Historical Context

Here, you can peruse documents that were created and shared with the Volunteer Board in the last quarter of 2022 regarding the discussion to re-evaluate the ways in which we invite volunteers to engage with NHMU.

• Invitation to Join the Volunteer Interim Committee, shared February 1, 2023

• Prologue, shared ahead of the December 2022 Board Meeting

• Volunteer Board Bylaws, approved December 2021