ÿþ<html> <head> <meta name="verify-v1" content="6PqV+GDbWfk5Lb/43jNTt95VMgkrxJcU9nCWguTDd2E=" > <title>Volunteer at the Banneker-Douglass Museum!</title> </head> <body bgcolor="ffffe8" topmargin=10 alink=2f2233 link=2f2233 vlink=828282> <center> <table border=2 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=7 width=80%> <tr> <td width=200 rowspan=2 valign=top bgcolor="2f2233"> <center> <A HREF=index.html><IMG SRC=images/bdmbanner.jpg border=0 width=200 alt="Banneker-Douglass Museum"></a><br><br><br> <A HREF=http://bannekerdouglassmuseum.blogspot.com><IMG SRC=images/blog.jpg border=0 width=200 alt="Banneker-Douglass Museum"></a><br><br><br> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?id=183768032483&amp;width=200&amp;connections=10&amp;stream=true&amp;header=true&amp;height=587" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:200px; height:587px;" ></iframe><br><br><br> </td> <td width=* valign=top bgcolor="2f2233"> <center> <A HREF=index.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>About BDM</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-exhibits.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>Exhibits</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-events.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>Calendar</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-education.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>Education</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-library.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>SGG Library</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-rental.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>BDM Rental</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=index.html><font size=3 color=ffffff><b>Volunteer</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=mcaahc.html><font color=f9d506><b>MCAAHC</b></font></a>&nbsp; <font size=4 color=ffffff><b>||</b></font>&nbsp; <A HREF=bdm-employment.html><font size=3 color=f9d506><b>Employment</b></font></a> </center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=* bgcolor=ffffff valign=top background=images/b-d-back.jpg> <!-- ---------------TEXT GOES HERE--------------- --> <font size=4><b><i>Banneker-Douglass Museum Volunteer Program</i></b></font><hr> <IMG SRC=images/Docent1.jpg align=right hspace=10 border=1 width=250 alt="BDM School Program"><br>The Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) is looking for volunteers for its new Volunteer Docent Program. Docents provide interactive education through tours and public programming. <br><br> We are looking for individuals, age 14 and older, who would like to get involved with community education. The BDM is in need of individuals to provide school tours, assist with special programming and events for schools and the general public, and to assist with our daily free tours. <br><br> The Banneker-Douglass Museum will provide training for all docent positions. There will be a four week training course about the museum facilities and exhibit materials including interactive training for tour guides. No experience is necessary. <br><br> Applications are currently being accepted.<br> <br><br> <font size=4><b><I>Volunteer Opportunities</I></b></font><hr> <br> To become a volunteer, or inquire about volunteer opportunities not listed below, please contact LeRonn Herbert at 410-216-6181 or <A HREF=mailto:BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us>BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us</a>.<br> <br> <b>Docent/Tour Guide</b><br> <b><i>Description of Duties:</i></b><br> Provide interactive tours to the general public and school groups. Provide interpretation of the museum s wealth of exhibits and information.<br> <b><i>Qualifications:</i></b><br> <li>Must be at least 14 years of age<br> <li>Good communication skills<br> <li>An interest in history<br> <b><i>Availability:</i></b><br> 6 hours per month minimum plus training sessions. <br> <br> <b>Program Assistant</b><br> <b><i>Description of Duties:</i></b><br>Assist with planning and providing public programs at the museum and locations throughout Maryland during the year.<br> <b><i>Qualifications:</i></b><br> <li>Must be at least 15 years of age<br> <li>Good communication skills<br> <li>An interest in history<br> <b><i>Availability:</i></b><br> 3 hours per month minimum. <br><br> <b>Benefits include:</b><br> <li>Hands-on training and experience working in a museum environment<br> <li>Developing communication skills<br> <li>Exposure to a wide variety of historical and cultural events and materials<br> <li>Networking opportunities with curators, educators, community members, historians, and artists<br> <br> <br> <font size=4><b><I>Training</I></b></font><hr> <br> The Banneker-Douglass Museum Volunteer Program provides an extensive training program to prepare docents and program assistants to work with the public. Our training sessions are held in the spring and fall over a series of four Saturdays for 2-3 hours each. Volunteers are expected to attend all training sessions. Additionally, volunteers will work one-on-one with education staff members to learn all museum tours and programs through mentoring and co-teaching.<br> <br> <b>Applications are being accepted now.</b><br> <br> </font><A HREF=Documents/VollApp.pdf target="_blank"><b>Click here to download a volunteer program application form.</b></a> <IMG SRC=images/pdf.gif hspace=2 alt="Adobe Acrobat document"><br><br> <br> <font size=4><b><I>How to Apply</I></b></font><hr> <br> To apply, print out an application form here or pick one up at the museum. Send the completed form to LeRonn Herbert, in one of three ways: <li><b>Email:</b> <A HREF=mailto:BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us>BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us</a><br> <li><b>Regular Mail:</b> 84 Franklin St., Annapolis, MD 21401<br> <li><b>Fax:</b> 410.974.2553<br><br> </font><A HREF=Documents/VollApp.pdf target="_blank"><b>Click here to download a volunteer program application form.</b></a> <IMG SRC=images/pdf.gif hspace=2 alt="Adobe Acrobat document"><br><br> <b><i>Please be aware that all volunteer applicants will be asked to go thorough a background check. Failure to submit to the background check will result in the disqualification of an application.</i></b><br><br> <br> <font size=4><b><I>Frequently Asked Questions</I></b></font><hr> <br> <b><i>What is a docent?</i></b><br> A docent is an educator, most often in the setting of a museum or institution. The term comes from the Latin  docere , which means to teach. Docents often volunteer their expertise and labor, and are an important part of outreach programs for the public designed to educate, intrigue, and assist.<br><br> Within the context of a museum, institution, or organization, a docent is an important part of the staff. Most frequently, a docent volunteers because he or she is interested in the collections of the museum or the cause of the organization. The docent is given extensive training about the collection, the types of questions people ask, and how to deal with a variety of social situations. Once the docent passes his or her training, the docent is given an official tag or uniform so that guests will be able to identify the docent.<br><br> <b><i>Are the volunteers paid?</i></b><br><br> No, the volunteers at the Banneker-Douglass Museum are not paid.<br><br> <b><i>Is there a uniform that I have to wear?</i></b><br><br> No, there is not a uniform for our volunteer docents. We expect our docents to wear business casual attire and come to work neat and orderly. Volunteers will also be required to wear a Banneker-Douglass Museum docent badge.<br><br> <b><i>Do I have to come to the museum every day?</i></b><br><br> No, you do not have to come in every day. We at the Banneker-Douglass Museum understand that volunteers have other obligations and may not be able to come in daily, but we ask that volunteers donate at least four hours a month of their time. We also ask our volunteers to commit to a schedule with the museum, so that we may monitor all volunteer hours and organize participation in tours and programming.<br><br> <b><i>Why is there a background check?</i></b><br><br> The Volunteer Docent Program has a responsibility to conduct a background check to ensure the safety of all involved. Because many of our volunteers will be working with children and around the Banneker-Douglass Museum artifacts background checks are conducted for insurance policy. The progress of the background check is monitored by museum staffand volunteers notified when they have passed.<br><br> <b><i>Who will see my personal information?</i></b><br><br> As a volunteer you can expect confidentiality about your personal information, the only people who will have access to your confidential files will be the Volunteer Maryland Coordinator; Genevieve Kaplan, Education and Public Programs Manager; and Dr. Joni Jones, Banneker-Douglass Museum Director.<br><br> As a volunteer, all transactions between yourself, patrons, staff members, interns and other volunteers are strictly confidential. This includes any information about the materials patrons or staff use and any conversations between staff members which you may or may not be a part of. <br><br> <b><i>Can I volunteer if I do not have experience working in a museum?</i></b><br><br> Yes. The Banneker-Douglass Museum encourages all who are interested in history, museums, or volunteering to participate in our Volunteer Docent Program. Because we know, that not everyone is educated in museum studies or history we provide a three day orientation and training course on our facilities and exhibits, we also provides hands on training for tour guides.<br><br> <b><i>Do I have to attend the training program?</i></b><br><br> Yes. We do require all volunteers to attend the three day training course and the in-training-volunteer probation period. The purpose of the orientation and training is to familiarize new comers to our facility, exhibits, and policy & procedures. If there is a reason why you would not be able to attend the training program you would need to contact the Volunteer Maryland Coordinator.<br><br> <b><i>Are there other areas of the Banneker-Douglass Museum where I can volunteer?</i></b><br><br> Yes. If you are not comfortable speaking in front of groups or you would like to work behind the scenes at the museum or in the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library we have the following volunteer positions available:<br><br> <li><i>Library Assistant:</i><br> Help keep our holdings organized and accessible with such projects as updating the catalog, maintaining the vertical file, or digitizing delicate materials.<br> <li><i>Archives Assistant:</i><br> Help to preserve and improve access to historical documents & photographs by creating descriptive inventories of selected collections.<br> <li><i>Library Publicity:</i><br> Help to promote our collection by assisting with the production of access/publicity tools, such as the library newsletter, book marks, and annotated bibliographies.<br> <li><i>Curatorial Assistant:</i><br> Assist with researching and cataloguing objects in the BDM museum collection, and potential donations to the collection. Work involves photographing objects and creating digitalized images for collection database.<br> <li><i>Office Work Assistant:</i><br> Provide clerical assistance within the BDM. Work involves organizing, filing, data entry, and mailing list database management.<br> <li><i>Volunteer from Home:</i><br> Send us newspaper & magazine clippings by & about Maryland's African American history and culture.<br><br> <br> To learn more about these positions, contact the LeRonn Herbertat 410.216.6180 or at <A HREF=mailto:BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us>BDMPrograms@goci.state.md.us</a> for more information. <br><br> <br> <br> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!-- function myOpen(url,name) { window.open(url,name,'width=625,height=400'); } //--></SCRIPT> <p align=right> <font face=arial color=828282 size=-1><b><i>Last updated: January 24, 2012</i></b></font> </p> <!-- ---------------END OF TEXT--------------- --> </td> </tr> </table> </center> <br><center><font color=c0c0c0 size=-1><b>Copyright © 1995-2011<br>Banneker-Douglass Museum</font></center><br> </body> </html>