 The Smithsonian Institution is

19 museums, thecomposed of ___National Zoo and 9 ResearchCenters.

 What is the approximate

total number of artifacts, artand specimens in theSmithsonian’s collection?
137 million

Regie Marie Plana-Alcuaz

 Introduction
 Volunteering in the US: definitions and value The Smithsonian Institution
 History of volunteering Volunteering Programs

 Museum Information Desk Program Description of training Attrition and retention

 Summary1)

description of the volunteer programs2) training for the museum information desk program3)

motivations for volunteering4) attrition
5) retention

 26.8 percent(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
 Reasons1) < stress2) > health3) + professional experience4) + personal growth andself-esteem5) + learning(University of California
San Diego, 2012)

= $173 billion U.S. dollars
 hourly wages for volunteers in$23.36
 26.3% volunteered their2010 =time and labor

8.1 billion
hours=(Corporation for National andCommunity Service, 2011)

1)

expertise and experience2) more time3)

resources4) public awareness5) program visibility

o How many percent of the1)time2) incompetence
3)competition4) lower standards5) increase insurance6) inability to negotiate(FEMA, 2006)

Smithsonian’s collections is on
display at any given time? 2%

James Smithson English chemist and mineralogist
 “an establishment for theincrease and diffusion ofknowledge among men”
 104,960 gold sovereigns
 8 shillings seven pence, = $508,318.46 in 1838.

 An Act of Congress signed by President James K. Polkon August 10, 1846 established the SmithsonianInstitution.
 A Board of Regents and a Secretary of the Smithsonian(or chief executive) administer this trust.

Federal funds

Public donations

 1849 – 150 volunteer weather observers
 Instructions
 Standardized forms and instruments Daily weather map -> newspaper weather reports -> National Weather Service 1971 – Smithsonian Associates’ Reception Center 1975 – Visitor Information and Associates’

Reception Center (VIARC)

 2012 – Office of Visitor Servicesmanages volunteers

1. Docent
2. Special support
3. Citizen science (respectivemuseums)

4. Seasonal
(Center for Folklife andCultural Heritage orSmithsonian Gardens)

5. Museum information desk
6. Telephone information
7. Behind the scenes (Office of VisitorServices) Name Research access Special interest

Attracts affiliated andtraditional type volunteers 2011 –28.6 million visitors

 3Washington, DC’s rank-

 6,500 -Behind the Scenes volunteers 527 -

active Museum Information DeskVolunteers Which Smithsonian Museum has

more than 126 million artifacts?
National Museum of NaturalHistory 2 classes annually
 4-5 days’ training

Intro to the Smithsonian,OVS, museums2) Computer training (1-2 days)
3) Visitor experience/customer
service, social media,accessibility4) Testing1)

 Shifts
 Pre-arranged tasks Transient DC
 Embassies/Foreign missions
 International Organizations
 Changes in government administration

Personal Military bases

 Employment
 Loss Transfer

 Further education
 Personal or family growth Illness or Death

Family growthJob

 Training program Fun/interesting Relevant Benefits
 Discounts
 Membership Stores Tickets (movies, rides) Parking Enrichment training
 Scheduling Flexibility Steepest rate of decline happens within two years
 People who’ve volunteered for more than 4 years aremore likely to stay
 Volunteers may leave but return later on Without volunteers, the Smithsonian museums may
have to charge entrance fees
 Bonus: What is the fullname of the Smithsonian’s
original benefactor?
James Smithson

Thanks forlistening!
Questions?
red@jhu.edu
Alcuaz@gmail.com

ENJOY
THE RESTOF YOUR
DAY!