From Jenna's Desk:
Many thanks to all our stalwart Event Reps, Studio Arts Reps, and Office Volunteers who are fulfilling their assignments despite the wintry weather lately. Please remember, our Associates website is updated with cancellations and postponements immediately after decisions are made. I also email and/or call you promptly to make you aware of any changes if you were expected to volunteer that day or evening. If your class or program was cancelled due to the weather, you will have another opportunity to sign up for it when it is rescheduled.
BIG NEWS: If you need to have your badge renewed, you need to take a SI-4008 with you. My signature on it needs to be an original, so you have a choice of either coming by to pick it up, or having me snail mail it to you. Please take a minute to look at your badge and see how soon it needs to be renewed. If possible, please don't wait until after it expires to get the process started.
RELATED NOTE: Renewing your badge is a good opportunity for me to check in with you and see how volunteering is going, what you like about helping us out, and what you suggest could be done differently. This is an informal conversation, it doesn't need to be in person - a phone chat is fine. This is one of my 2015 goals as your Volunteer Coordinator - to have a designated time to individually discuss your volunteering, and the badge renewal process time seems like as good a time as any. If you don't have to get your badge renewed this year, then we can wait to have that conversation the year it is renewed. I do not seek to talk with all 150+ badged volunteers within one year. This is a longer term project.
Thanks, and here's to hoping Mr. Robin's arrival means the cherry blossoms are not far behind and we can say goodbye to winter!
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Welcome Ambassador Volunteers!
Last fall, in conjunction with Vesna Gjaja and her staff in the Development/Membership Department, 7 new "Ambassador" Volunteers were selected and trained to assist with donor relations. You will see them particularly at large scale, high-profile events when many of our donors come and receive priority seating, and perhaps go to receptions before or after the program. Our first program with an Ambassador, Kiren Jahangeer, was "All Aboard for Union Station." She assisted Staffers RuthAnn Clark and Jeanie Arnold along with our donor patrons in late January. Here's what Kiren had to say about the experience:
On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, I arrived in eager anticipation for the inaugural Ambassador event, All Aboard for Union Station. While I entered Union Station much earlier than I was needed, buoyantly making my way through the grand Beaux Arts style hallways, I was equally surprised and delighted to find that attendees shared in my enthusiasm and arrived early as well (in some cases an hour early!). This was most auspicious, as it allowed for more time to interact with the donors. It was a pleasure meeting so many Smithsonian supporters and welcoming them to the sold out program. Jeanie and RuthAnn were wonderful to work with, and I am looking forward to many more events!
Since then we've had the help of Ambassadors on three other big nights: On Thursday, February 12th volunteers Kiren Jahangeer, Simone Moore, Marguerite Nutter, and Mary Jo Rubino were on hand for "U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, In Conversation with Nina Totenberg."
At the "Mr. President": An Evening with Martin Sheen" Program on February 17th, Don and Sherry Vitz, (pictured at left,) helped our donors and staff. Then on February 26th, Simone, Mary Jo, and Joy Erdman worked the "giveaway" table at the "The Visual World of Game of Thrones" reception, visiting with members and encouraging attendees to become members. If you see these folks at future programs, please say hello and welcome them to our volunteer corps!
We anticipate growing this category of volunteers in the next year or so. If you are interested in receiving Ambassador training in the next recruitment cycle (date undetermined at this time), please let Jenna know.
