Here's the Scoop for April!

Welcome, New Bus Tour Representatives!

We have added 9 new Bus Tour Reps to our ranks, and we are excited to welcome them aboard! The process was a thorough one, which included an information session, interview, reference checks, 8 hours of training, a “shadow” trip with an experienced Bus Tour Rep, a written examination, and a background security check as part of obtaining an SI ID Badge.

Hearty congratulations to our Class of 2014 Bus Reps! We look forward to having you out on the road with our Study Leaders and participants!

Here are introductions to a few of the new Bus Reps, and in our next blog post we will introduce the others.

Sharon Boyle: “I’m honored to have been chosen to give back to one of the finest institutions in the world and make a positive impact on the educational programs that The Smithsonian Associates offer. On my first tour, I listened and learned from one of the premier Civil War experts, Ed Bearrs. Life is Good!”

Michele Farrell: If her name sounds familiar, it may be because she has been an Event Rep since 2001. She says,” I enjoy visiting local cultural sites and sharing that experience with people with the same interest. I hate to drive, so bus tours are a good way for me to explore cultural sites and leave the driving to someone else.”

Karen Irons: "I live in Columbia and have worked as an engineer for the State of Maryland for the last 30 years.  My shadow bus rep trip was to Presquile National Wildlife Refuge last October and my first solo trip will be the Philadelphia Mosaics tour in April.  I am looking forward to doing a variety of trips."

Marilyn Jacanin: “I did a wonderful Bus Rep Trip to the Met Museum in New York City in February.  Smithsonian Associates goes to awesome places and I'm looking forward to more Bus Rep adventures this year.”

Dale Theurer: “My experience as a participant in numerous Smithsonian events and tours led to my interest in becoming a Bus Rep volunteer after recently retiring. My first trip in October 2014, was the Civil War's Kilpatrick and Dahlgren Raid of Richmond.”

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Event Reps: Sign up for One of Our Spring Meetings

As announced in an email to Event Reps on March 23, the Volunteer Program will host two hour spring sessions for them on 9 dates, with varying times of day. Attendance is requested for just one of the 9 sessions. These are a small group format (15 attendees at maximum), unlike last year’s larger retreats.

Please plan to join us, as we evaluate how the program is working and what plans and goals to set for the next 12 months. This is a great opportunity to share your input and hear what your peers think and suggest as well. While attendance is not mandatory, all volunteers who do participate will receive 4 hours of volunteer time (instead of 2.) Help us reach our goal of an 80% participation rate!

Event Reps:  Please request just one in EVANS or click here to email Jenna the one date you will attend. Mark your calendars now!

A reminder email will be sent a few days in advance to reconfirm. All sessions will be in Room 3112 at the Ripley Center. Here are the dates and times:

1. Thurs. 4/23: 6 - 8 pm
2. Thurs. 4/30: 10 – 12 noon
3. Tues. 5/5: 6 – 8 pm
4. Wed. 5/6: 2 – 4 pm
5. Sat. 5/9: 10 – 12 noon
6. Wed. 5/13: 6 – 8 pm
7. Sun. 5/17: 2 – 4 pm
8. Mon. 5/18: 6 – 8 pm
9. Fri. 5/29: 10 – 12 noon

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2015 Sleepover Season Approaches
It takes 30 volunteers to host each of the 12 Sleepovers this summer! The American History Museum will be the venue of 6 of them, 4 will take place at the Natural History Museum, and there's a brand new one for slightly older youths, at the National Portrait Gallery for two dates.

*Word of mouth recruiting is very helpful in bringing in new Sleepover Volunteers, and we will be happy to assign you to a station with a friend you’ve helped to sign up. So think over who among your circle would love to do this with you and have him or her contact Jenna. Thank you!

This year we ask that Sleepover volunteers to select at least 3 of the 12 dates. This way, we will create a smaller corps that is more experienced as the summer goes on, and you will see more familiar faces when you come back. 12 sleepovers x 30 volunteers = 360 volunteer shifts in all. So, if you’d like to be a Saint “in that number” as the song goes, and have our true appreciation, please log onto EVANS and request 3 or more dates, OR click here to email Jenna to sign up for volunteering at 3 or more Sleepovers. You will get an email reminder the week of each Sleepover you plan to do with details you will want to know in advance of arriving.

Here are the dates to look for in EVANS. All volunteer shifts are from 6 pm to 11 pm:

Natural History Sleepovers
(for 8 - 12 year olds):

Fri. May 15
Sat. June 13
Fri. June 26
Fri. July 3

American History Sleepovers
(for 8 - 12 year olds):

Sat. May 30
Sat. July 18
Sat. Aug. 1
Fri. Aug. 7
Fri. Aug. 14
Fri. Aug. 28

The New National Portrait Gallery Sleepovers
(for 10 - 14 year olds):

Sat. July 25
Sat. Aug. 22
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Enjoy the Orchid Exhibition
Featured in our April Program and Tours

Submitted by Ambassador and Special Events Volunteer, Kiren Jahangeer

The 20th annual orchid exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History is on display until April 26^th, and you won’t want to miss it if you love this intriguing flower. Presented by Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden, “Orchids: Interlocking Science and Beauty” explores the past, present, and future of these horticultural gems. The largest and most diverse flowering plant families, orchids are found everywhere except Antarctica. Upon entering the gallery, visitors are introduced to orchids in the Victorian era and to Orchidelirium (the moniker given to the orchid craze during this time period). Thanks to Dr. Nathaniel B. Ward, an English physician who serendipitously developed ‘Wardian cases’ in 1829 (wrought and cast iron boxes with glass walls), orchids could be shipped in these terrariums across oceans. A consequence of orchid popularity during this time was the decimation of wild populations. The exhibit closes with a glimpse into the future, where new discoveries and innovations help scientists better understand how to protect, study, and enjoy these beautiful flowers; conservation efforts are ongoing in both nature reserves and labs.

The Smithsonian Associates has run several programs recently in conjunction with this yearly exhibition, and on March 29, orchid specialist Tom Mirenda from Smithsonian Gardens will give a lecture on these exotic flowers: Learn more about it here. “Most people don’t realize that the same technologies that gave us smart phones and social media have also revolutionized orchid science,” said Mirenda. Over 300 orchids are on display and will be rotated out constantly, so this is definitely an exhibition to visit more than once!