Dmac844 Wrote:
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> Lots of interesting comments here but I think Erik
> H. hit a lot of good points. I have been a
> volunteer at a museum and been a member of one of
> the large groups that ran mainline excursions.
> When I relocated several hundred miles 14 years
> ago because of a new job I tried to find a place
> to volunteer and experienced some of the things
> concerning 'closed shops' that have been
> discussed.
>
> I really believe that the successful museums of
> the future will use the model from many of the
> aviation museums, such as the Museum of Flight in
> Seattle, of welcoming all the members that they
> can and having a clear and easy path to start
> becoming an active volunteer if desired.
>
> One more thing that I have noticed over the years
> of volunteer work. I really believe that the
> leaders of most organizations really want to do
> the right thing, but often don't lay the
> groundwork with the members of the organization.
> By this I mean that most volunteers are more than
> willing to work for a goal, they would just like
> to feel like they can bring out their concerns at
> the beginning and have that concern at least
> heard. The worse thing that a volunteer leaders
> can do is treat the volunteers like employees that
> should just shut up and do what they are told.
> When everyone is there because of a love of
> railroading you must treat them differently than
> you do employees, I just think a lot of folks
> don't understand that.
>

I just got back from a memorial service in San Jose for my 98 year old aunt who introduced me to being a volunteer in the community when I was 21, newly married and pregnant. She sponsored me to be a member of the San Jose Junior Woman's Club of which she was moderator as member of the "senior" woman's club. That started me on a lifetime of volunteering which ultimately led to me being San Jose's Young Woman of the Year in 1969 and the UC Berkeley Rosalie Stern award wimmer for volunteer service in 1970. I say that not to brag but to emphasize that volunteers are special people and grow in leadership capabilities if properly "nurtured" as was I. There is a simple motto in dealing with volunteers" Use 'em or lose 'em. And the comments here show how many have offered their time and talents to groups and been rebuffed, ignored, or "not used". I left my community volunteer socialite life behind when I had to go to work and ultimately ended up being assistant administrator at a large medical center-----I used the principles of management that I learned as a volunteer in dealing with my people---use and respect their brains and talents or lose their loyalty,respect and interest---let them grow and do what they can do best and let them and everyone else know how well they are doing---and of course, the better your people do, the better you look, right!! ??
C.----still volunteering even in retirement------2300+ hours as guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, last time I looked--------------

Very interesting thread, I've really enjoyed the
> various points of view.