by Joann Stevens, Guest Blogger
Mort Glassberg, a transplanted New Yorker with a professional background in engineering, turns his personal interests into service to others. His love of reading out loud inspired him to lend his mellow, broadcast quality voice to Learning Ally, a service that provides audio books to students who are blind and students with learning disabilities. He also volunteers for the Smithsonian’s Friends of the National Zoo, the Arlington County 55+ Travel Program, as well as the National Gallery of Art.
So, when two Smithsonian Associates volunteers he works with at the Arlington County 55+ Travel Program, June Gallagher and Annmarie Pittman, suggested that Mort volunteer for Smithsonian Associates, he signed up without hesitating. As a longtime Smithsonian Associates member, he was already acquainted with the programs. Now Mort helps bring SA education to others.
“What I really like about it is the camaraderie,” he said of Associates. “We’re all in it together and help each other out. The tech staff has been great. Volunteering has been a good way to get out of the house and be social. I highly recommend it.”
Mort went through SA volunteer training in Dec. 2018, and was soon assigned as an Event Rep and a Concession Cart volunteer. In 2019 he helped with a variety of lecture programs. Today he is a Remote Volunteer, posting links and announcements during the program, and curating questions for the program moderator.
Though he misses the in-person contact that encouraged him get out of the house, Mort remains enthusiastic about supporting SA. “As a Remote Volunteer you do get to listen to the whole program,” something he missed running concession carts and supporting events, “and be a larger part of the team. We’re involved in the tech rehearsal part and we begin our program shifts 45 minutes to an hour before it goes live.” He says working remotely has also helped him develop a more solid working relationship with the staff who plan and moderate the programs.
When asked what his favorite program was as a remote volunteer, he quickly answered, “The ‘Anthony Fauci & Alan Alda Talk Science’ Program.” When asked why, he said, “I curated the almost 300 questions that came in from our audience.” Talk about a challenging assignment! When he’s not volunteering, Mort attends many of SA’s art and architecture, culinary arts, and current events programs.
If you would like to join Mort and the nearly 80 other remote volunteers in supporting live streamed programs, please contact Jenna Jones, the SA Volunteer Coordinator at jonesjel@si.edu to learn more.
Comments