Associates Advisory

Finding New Volunteers for the New Year

Editor's Note: If you have connections to your community library or other organizations which could host an information session about volunteering with Smithsonian Associates, please see Jenna. She'd be happy to come speak to such groups.

by Joann Stevens, Guest Blogger

The Smithsonian Associates Volunteers Office has a new friend, Robert Oliver, director of The Friends of the Lamond Riggs Library in upper Northeast Washington. On Dec. 10, Mr. Oliver hosted a special appearance at the library with our own Jenna Jones. About 10 Riggs Park residents and friends from as far away as Tenleytown came to learn about Smithsonian Associates and its volunteer opportunities. 

Jenna delighted the audience with personal Smithsonian stories and details about volunteering for a variety of Associate programs such as Studio Arts or culinary events, classical music and lecture programs, and even sleepovers in a museum or out-of town trips.

Engaged and excited for the opportunity to learn about up close and personal engagement with the Smithsonian, the group eagerly asked questions, collected information, and sought details about how to sign-up as volunteers.

Mr. Oliver went a step farther, asking Jenna if she would make another appearance in 2020 if he hosted a bigger volunteer recruitment event through the library.  She readily agreed.

The Friends of the Lamond Riggs Library has been a historic and proactive community advocate on behalf of residents in upper northeast.  In 2020 the library will undergo a $20 million renovation to make it an even more engaging community hub.

A bonus of the Smithsonian Associates event? Three of the attendees have already applied and scheduled interviews to become Associates volunteers in the new year ahead.

Meet Lauren Rosenberg, Program Coordinator

Lauren Rosenberg, at right, with Katie Couric and Smithsonian Associates Director, Fredie Adelman, November 12, 2019.

by Kiren Jahangeer, Guest Blogger

As a Program Coordinator since 2013, Lauren Rosenberg comes up with ideas for programs and sees them through from concept to reality. She does a bit of everything when it comes to the Associates programming, but her primary focus is on culinary and pop culture programs. She also oversees SMITHSONIAN at 8, an after hours series, based on a theme for the evening, designed young professionals. She spends a lot of time thinking about how to create programs that will attract new and diverse audiences. Lauren was kind enough to spare some time and answer a few questions about her role and what she values most about the Associates.

What brought you to DC?

I grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago. After attending college in St. Louis, I moved back to Chicago and lived in the Wicker Park neighborhood. My job at the Associates brought with it the move to DC. 

My background is in fine art; I studied painting in college, and I have a master’s degree in arts administration. Before coming to the Smithsonian, I worked for the Chicago Office of Tourism for almost eight years, organizing large-scale public events in Millennium Park and at the Chicago Cultural Center.

What is the best part of your job/what is the most rewarding?

I love the creativity that comes with my job. I try to imagine, “what would be the most exciting program I could attend?” And then I get to make it happen! People I admire, topics in the news, my favorite restaurants; everything is fair game. And because it’s the Smithsonian, I tend to get positive responses from people when I reach out to them out of the blue. It’s fun to start with a dream and make it a reality.

Who is the most famous or unusual person you have had a as guest presenter?

I’ve been lucky to meet many famous people at Smithsonian Associates programs: Alec Baldwin, Bill Nye, Connie Britton, Taraji P. Henson, Katie Couric, B.J. Novak, Jodi Picoult, Erik Larson, Shonda Rhimes and the cast of Scandal…

As for unusual, I’ll just say that one speaker sprayed the stage with rosewater before we opened the auditorium to guests. That was unexpected.

Do you have a favorite Smithsonian museum to visit?

My favorite thing about the Smithsonian is that because the museums are free and in such close proximity, you can stop in a museum to see one exhibit or one object and move on to the next. When I have guests in town, I like to take them on a “museum hop,” where we see a couple of things in a few different museums.

If I were to pick a favorite, however, I’d say the American History Museum. I love seeing Julia Child’s kitchen and watching the videos of her on repeat. I also love all the pop culture stuff: Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, Kermit the Frog, and the First Ladies dresses.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve had to do as part of your job at Smithsonian Associates?

A week does not go by at Smithsonian Associates where we don’t do things that fall into the category of “other duties as assigned.” A few highlights include running down the street to fetch Jacques Pepin a bottle of wine, just a few moments before he went on stage; rescuing the Foo Fighters’ tour manager, who was locked in the Hirshhorn’s loading dock (and spraining my ankle in the process); and standing with Bill Nye while he signed books for over 1,000 guests until 1:00 a.m.

In many cases, I’ve asked volunteers to help me do these crazy things, and I know they will always say “yes!” without hesitation. And if they’re not standing in the book line with me until 1 a.m., they’re keeping an eye on the door and saying goodbye to guests. It’s amazing to be able to depend on such a committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers to make all these unusual (and usual) programs happen!

A Twist on Clement Clarke Moore's Classic Holiday Poem

In appreciation for the cheerful and loyal service of our volunteers, we offer thanks and year-end reflections for your generosity with a special rendering of this beloved poem.  We wish you a safe and happy holiday season with friends, family and loved ones at the Smithsonian, across the nation, and around the world.  

By Joann Stephens, Guest Blogger

‘Twas the week before Christmas, of a very cold winter,
Many creatures were stirring in the Ripley Center;
Staffers hung stockings on the doors with care,
In hopes that more volunteers soon would be there;

Employees and helpers peered long at their screens,
at visions of programs and holiday dreams,
Curators with objects, and staffers with carts,
Settled down with discoveries and ideas they’d thought

We offer education, informative, entertaining
Through Smithsonian Associates, that wellspring of learning
Some 800 programs presented this year,
With help from hundreds of great volunteers.

Who came from all over the vast DMV,
Giving cheer and long hours to assist you and me.
Staff offered programs eclectic, insightful and true,
For thousands of people to learn something new

Then out on the Mall there arose such a clatter,
we sprang from our chairs to witness the matter.
Away to the entrance we flew like a flash,
Opened the glass doors, ran out in a dash

The lights on the Mall showed a new fallen snow,
As tourists and visitors sought which way to go;
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a tiny display, pulled by tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
We knew in a moment it was Museum St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:

“Now Science!  Now Nature!  Now Culture and Arts!
 On History! On Ideas!, and Design from all Parts;
 To the top of the Castle! To the end of the Mall!
 Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves before a wild hurricane fly,
They rose like an eagle up into the sky;
Over museums they soared, like an airplane they flew,
With objects of learning – some old and some new.

I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight
Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night.

_______________________

Harmonious Volunteers Help Host the Chamber Music Society Concerts

By Joann Stephens, Guest Blogger

Editor's Note: More volunteers are needed for these concerts in January, February and March. Email Jenna for details on dates and what composers will be featured at each one. These concerts are Saturday and/or Sunday nights, in the Music Hall at the American History Museum, and feature a pre-concert talk. 

Rosalyn M. King, Ed.D is an academician par excellence.  She is a professor of psychology and a Fulbright Visiting Scholar from the University of the Bahamas, as well as Editor-In-Chief of the ECCSSA Journal  (East Coast Colleges Social Science Association), to name a few of her accomplishments. 

But it is her passion for music that compels Rosalyn to devote personal time as a Smithsonian Associates Event Rep at concerts presented the Chamber Music Society, now in its 43^rd season.

Joining her in this pursuit is Marilyn Jacanin, a Smithsonian Associates Bus Rep who happily steps in for last minute requests to assist Chamber Music programs when other volunteers are unavailable or become ill.

Here Rosalyn and Marilyn share why being up close and personal with master musicians and performances on Stradivari.

Instruments from the Smithsonian’s music collections bring sweet music to their ears and souls.     

Rosalyn M. King

I have studied music most of my life and can play flute, piccolo, recorders, piano, and electronic keyboard. In my early life, played violin and guitar.  I play for fun and relaxation rather than serious musicianship. I have a love for classical music and all other genres of music as well.  I look forward to the Chamber Music concerts as it keeps me abreast, updated and active with my musical interests. I also enjoy (instead of “furthermore”) listening to the brilliance of Dr. Kenneth Slowik who gathers some of the most talented musicians and performers and create unique programs with composers who develop brilliant compositions. He always introduces new and innovative composers and compositions. What I like best is that most of the pieces performed are not the run of the mill compositions that bore lay people. They are interesting and exciting and make you listen and wonder what the composer was thinking when developing the composition.  He also oftentimes lectures on either the composer or composition prior to the concert.

It is wonderful to hear the quality of really good string instruments and the other instruments in the collection. I wish I could afford one. It is great to get introduced to some of the more novel instruments that are featured from time to time.

Marilyn Jacanin

I so enjoy classical music and took cello lessons and played in high school & college informally and loved it. 

Now imagine if a person could hear music the exact way people did in the 18th & 19th century? How exciting! Well, that's what happens when one goes to these wonderful Chamber Music Society Concerts to hear classical music played on the rare, Stradivarius cello and violin! What a thrill! 

The musicians are so talented, and hearing the music is calming, peaceful, transcending one into another level of well being and happiness. That's what happens to me when I hear that beautiful music. I come out of the concert so fulfilled. I get so much more from volunteering and am pleased that I can help out but feel I get the better part of the deal!