County Museum seeks volunteers

Most non-profit organizations could not exist without volunteers and the Wayne County Historical Society is honored to have a group of loyal volunteers who regularly work at the Old Jail Museum as tour guides, receptionists, office assistants, board and committee members, speakers, and grounds keepers. The time and expertise donated by volunteers provides valuable assistance that keeps the Museum operating.

By December 13, the day the Museum closes for holiday recess, the number of Old Jail Museum visitors for the year 2002 will have passed 7500. This total is 1500 more than visited the Museum in 2001, and is nearly 6000 more than visited in 1998.

The cause and effects of this skyrocketing attendance are cyclical. As Museum programming, activities, and tours expand to accommodate the rising demand, additional publicity is generated for the Museum.

With the increased publicity comes a gain in community awareness, a rise in tour and research requests, expanded programming and more Museum activity. The additional activity creates a further upswing in the Museum's visibility, and on it goes. Volunteers make this cycle work.

Volunteering is a win/win situation. The non-profit wins by getting a work force without paying an hourly rate. The volunteer wins by gaining satisfaction in helping a community resource for the greater good of all. An additional advantage is the social benefit of meeting and working with other generous and interesting people; and volunteering can often act as on-the-job training, which sometimes can lead to a new career in the non-profit field.

The Old Jail Museum volunteers will be thanked for their dedication and hard work in 2002 at a volunteer appreciation brunch that will be held December 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For a list of volunteer opportunities at the Old Jail Museum, call the Museum office, Tues.-Fri., 10-4.

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