|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
- By Janet Pates, Tuakau & District Museum
Like all voluntary organisations, Tuakau & District Museum’s long-term existence is
dependent upon it, continually refreshing its volunteer base before old age and burnout take their toll.
dependent upon it, continually refreshing its volunteer base before old age and burnout take their toll.
Several museum members, therefore, along with representatives from other Tuakau voluntary organisations, were pleased to attend a recent Succession Planning and Volunteer Management workshop facilitated by the Waikato District Council.
Many useful ideas were put forward, including flyer drops as a good recruitment tool.
Volunteering is a two-way street, and promoting the benefits of volunteering for your
organisation is key. The workshop also recommended using free advertising methods like
social media, a website, or word of mouth.
Developing a welcoming and inclusive culture, creating a volunteer-friendly environment,
providing clear communication and support, mentorship, and showing appreciation are also
good ways to keep volunteers on board.
Further support is available through the organisation, Volunteering Waikato. To learn more, visit the website www.volunteeringwaikato.org.nz.
Tuakau Museum offers many openings for new volunteers; the Sunday afternoon roster,
housekeeping, working on displays, record keeping, historical research and administration, all bring opportunities to use and expand skills while enjoying the fellowship of like-minded and supportive people.
Meanwhile, progress continues on the museum’s Feather Cottage restoration project.
Noticeboards mounted on the fence are gaining a lot of attention from passersby. The
building has been lowered to its permanent position, and the Thursday morning volunteers
have wasted no time in getting to work.
Thanks to Expol, who donated their product, graphite-infused underfloor insulation panels
have been installed.
Gib board has been removed from the internal walls so that the required insulation can be
installed. Stuck to the sarking boards beneath were remnants of several different wallpapers which seem to indicate that the Feather family had a particular liking for the colour green!
These, along with a section of a 1942 newspaper which was also stuck to the boards, have
been carefully preserved.
With much to be done, both internally and externally, it’s obvious there will be work for
volunteers for a considerable time to come.
volunteers for a considerable time to come.
Please get in touch if you are interested in supporting the museum.
