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Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon ~ April 2006

Back row (left to right): Bill Hallett, Frank Finkenberg, George Harding, Jessica Monteleone, Lois Sroka, John Magloire, Jay Marshall, Dave Danell, Beth Grindell.
Second row (left to right): Baudelina de Ramirez. Paddy Schwartz, Reta Neff, JoAnne Jenkins, Olga Neuts, Ana Landry, Lori Magloire, Roselyn Marshall, Rosemary DeCook.
Sitting (left to right): Pam Coates, Judy Corse, Susan Finkenberg, Cherie Freeman, Janice Danell, Josephina Lizaragga, Carryl Martin.

At the Seventh Annual Volunteer Luncheon on April 21, 2006 Arizona State Museum honored 30 of its active volunteers. A gaily decorated room, multicolored gift bags and a thankful staff greeted the volunteers who were treated to a delicious catered lunch.

Honorees received a warm welcome by Beth Grindell, Associate Director and Rosemary DeCook, Volunteer Program Manager. The museum's volunteers allow ASM to serve the community through a number of exciting programs and public events and also play an integral role in the everyday work at the museum by assisting staff with varied tasks.

Annual statistics for 2005-6 reveal that about 70 volunteers contributed about 6,300 hours of time in areas of visitorship, museum store, research, the library, collections, web site management, marketing, archaeology, public programs, conservation and photography. In addition about 500 volunteers contributed about 2,800 hours to support "special events." In total, volunteers contributed 9,100 hours of their time to support the mission of the museum in the past year.

The spotlight focused on volunteer honorees as staff supervisors shared their praise and special stories, anecdotes and thanks to each with a certificate of appreciation. Volunteers in turn expressed their appreciation for the unique opportunity to learn so much about the museum and cultures it represents.

“What little I contribute in no way makes up for what I get from the museum,” says Frank Finkenberg, who volunteers in the web site management office. Frank's wife, Susan, who volunteers in the museum store adds, “This is the ideal job. Here I get to learn everyday. I love meeting the people and telling them about the museum because this is a special place.”

Cheri Freeman, an eleven-year veteran in collections says, "I worked for years in a hospital which was so narrow but here I learn. You expand my world so much."

Photos by Jannelle Weakly unless otherwise indicated
Jannelle Weakly and Jackie Kinman: photo by Kylie Miller

ASM thanks the Arizona State Credit Union for their support of our Volunteer Program.

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