Subject: Re: Doing research on Curators/Guides From: Vern Magee <vmagee@wi.rr.com> Message-ID: <14a328a5-ec8f-92b8-acd8-70a0f2b43862@wi.rr.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:50:16 -0500
The Geneva Lake Museum is open 7 days a week from 10 to 4 from Memorial
Day to Labor Day. In the fall and spring we are open 5 days a week from
11 to 3 and in the winter we are open 4 days a week from 11 to 3.
Because we are such a tourist town, this works for us.
We have 2 employees that work the front desk to greet visitors, take the
admissions, and handle the small gift shop. One works from 10 until 1
and the other from 1 until 4. We have a third person who is trained to
help out when one of the regular employees is unavailable. We also have
a paid Director of Administration and a Director of Operations and
Exhibits. They work part time flexible hours. We have quite a few
volunteers that do a variety of things such as docents, people who work
on the computer for membership, exhibits, etc.
Staff at the front desk are paid hourly and the Directors salaried. I
am not sure of the amount they are paid. For 5 years we had a volunteer
that served as our Director and created exhibit ideas with a 'team' of
volunteers to help her carry out her ideas. She is responsible for
putting us on the map so to speak. Recently she retired and we are
trying to use some of the ideas she taught us to continue the high
quality of exhibits that we have had. It was her idea to have temporary
exhibits which open in the spring and run until the following January.
We then take down that exhibit and work on the next one, opening again
in the spring. Three years ago we had an exhibit on underwear, which
was well researched and very educational. It was called 'Undressed'.
The second year we did Chairs, which was fun, and you can't imagine how
many chairs we collected to display for 9 months! Last April, Shoes
opened and will be here until January 6, 2018. We have a wonderful
collection of shoes and button hooks to see. There are infant shoes,
doll shoes, historic men's and women's shoes, work shoes, a time line of
shoes, etc. There are several videos that run continually that
entertain our guests. If you live somewhat close to Lake Geneva, I
invite you to come and see it. It is fabulous!
This volunteer also started a program that has been outstanding for us,
called Tuesday @ 2. Every Tuesday, we have someone speak on a different
subject from 2 until 3. We tie these speakers into history in some way;
we have done this for the past about 4 years. We never pay the person
speaking; it is free to our members and $5 for non members. However, we
have gotten so many members because we charge $15 a year for a senior
membership and explain to them they might as well pay $15 and then they
can come anytime they want for the next year. We now have over 600
members, of course most of them are paying the senior rate. There are
other categories for membership and also a Life Membership which is $500
per person. Children under 18 are always free. We serve coffee and
cookies at these workshops which is always well received. We put a
donation jar out and it helps pay for the coffee and cookies.
Please contact me for any additional information. I have been a
volunteer for 14 years and have served as an officer or board member
most of those years.
Vern Magee
vmagee@wi.rr.com
On 7/13/2017 11:46 AM, Cathi Malke wrote:
>
> Doing a survey to see what other Museums are doing that have
> Curators/Guides. Looking for answers to the following questions.
>
> What hours are your Museums open?
>
> Do the same people work all day, or do you have split shifts?
>
> How often does 1 person work in a week (days in a week)?
>
> Are you paid or is it a volunteer position?
>
> If you are paid, what type of compensation do you receive?
>
> Any other information you might have that would be helpful would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Cathi Malke
>
> President, Peshtigo Historical Society
>