Docent Coordinator (Project Specific)
April 2012 - December 2012
Supervised 28 volunteer docents (interpretive guides) and managed gallery space for a historical exhibit in a national park that hosted over 8,500 visitors. Established all administrative protocols for the new docent program. Designed and executed a new recruitment and training process. Acted as the primary liaison between the public, docents, and staff. Managed the daily needs and presentation of the gallery space.
Docent Recruitment & Training
Problem
The Presidio Trust needed to define its new docent program, develop supporting materials, and recruit volunteers in less then 3 weeks.
While the organization had used docents before, this exhibit and the creation of my position represented a new focus on establishing a larger program.
When I joined the team we had 3 weeks to opening the exhibit, no docents, and an unclear idea of what the docent program would look like.
Approach
I looked at how previous Presidio exhibits had used docents, researched volunteer management systems, and asked colleagues about how they manage docent volunteers.
I spoke with the staff of previous docent programs and my own contacts for some guidance.
Additionally, my coursework in museum management, a year in AmeriCorps, and my own experience as a docent gave me some good ideas.
Solution
I developed a completely new docent program (recruitment, training, to managment) to match the new exhibit and its needs. We successfully recruited 22 docents.
I proposed a new shift length (3 hours each), advocated that two docents be scheduled for each shift (instead of one, for a social component), and dropped the minimum age to 18 (to include university students.) This meant we needed at least 20 docents.
I also re-wrote the webpage used for docent recruitment for clarify. I interviewed candidates.
Within three weeks, we recruited 22 docents.
I designed and wrote the Presidio Trust's first docent training and resource manual.
Docent & Gallery Management
Problem
With a new location, visitors asked for all sorts of information we did not readily have.
We also needed to set-up the docent office.
We found that visitors asked for directions, maps of the park, as well as information about different tours. Essentially, we were the new visitor's center, something completely unanticipated in the planning.
We realized that we needed an office near the exhibit space, but only found a medium-sized closet.
Approach
We needed to better know what information visitors were requesting.
We looked at what was available in the gallery, and made it work.
I asked the docent to note what visitors would ask them. I also checked what information the official visitor's center stocked.
I assessed what the docent program would in an office. We decided to use the closet. I found used furniture for the office from our warehouse.
Solution
By working with various department, I provided the information visitors needed and edited docent training materials to include it, too.
I set-up our docent office and developed a new administrative system to manage all the logistics.
I collaborated with different departments and organizations to regularly stock information available for guests, almost like a second visitor's center.
I designed the docent office to operate in three parts: my own workspace, the schedule and announcements, and a docent resources area. I also created a new administrative system for the docent program.
These systems are still used today to manage the docent program at the Presidio Trust.
Young Audience Engagement
Problem
Children would become bored when walking through the exhibit, causing their group to finish and leave quickly.
Approach
I thought of different ideas to engage younger visitors, and proposed several to the team.
Solution
I designed and drew a scavenger hunt for children to follow in the exhibit.
Working with Katherine at the Before the Bridge exhibit was a rewarding experience because she brought a great deal of vitality and organization to the exhibit. She acted as a reliable and constant resource for the docents, supplying information and crucial support both during and after our shifts. She proved very capable of organizing such a large group of volunteers in an efficient way, interacting on a daily basis with the docents while maintaining an authoritative position. Her reliability, energy and professionalism are just a few of her best qualities as a leader.
- Meghan, Volunteer Docent and University Student
I have worked for the Presidio Trust over 6 years now. My position is Event Specialist for the Special Events department at the Trust. I met Katherine Nammacher about a year ago when she started her internship with the Presidio Trust. She immediately showed her professionalism when asked to take over a few events that required tedious attention and organization. Her skills in organizing and assigning other interns and volunteers made one of the Trust’s busiest events run smoother than ever. Katherine has strong skills in leadership, organization, and punctuality. She never once showed up late or had excuse to leave work early. From what I remember, she was the first and the last to leave for the events that she worked with me. I strongly recommend Ms. Nammacher as part of your team due to her strong ethical ways at work and her professionalism when dealing with the public. I would make her part of my team in a heartbeat.- Guillermo, Events Specialist with Special Events at the Presidio Trust
Katherine is a very personable young woman who did an excellent job coordinating over twenty volunteers, most of whom were older than her parents. She has the ability to facilitate individuals bringing a variety of personalities and interests to a project, and allowed us not to get lost or smothered in what can be a very bureaucratic institutional structure. Katherine was a great listener; she paid attention to the various skills that people brought to the task as well as the reasons we were involved in the project. She was honest in her affirmations and encouraging as the project was winding down.
- Michael, Volunteer Docent and High School Teacher
As the docent coordinator for a major historical exhibit at the Presidio, Katherine was consistently enthusiastic, thoughtful, and well-organized. She was also particularly effective in communicating with the docents as well as in engaging with the public. Her success in managing the volunteer docents, responding to their needs, and making them feel appreciated was demonstrated by the high number who stayed through the length of the exhibit and by the feedback they gave after the exhibit closed. Since this position was a new one in a new space, she also took the opportunity to demonstrate her initiative numerous times in organizing and developing the program, including the collecting and analysis of public feedback and the creation of educational materials. She was always curious, demonstrated a strong willingness to learn, and was a pleasure to work with.- John, Volunteer Docent and Heritage Center Content Researcher (Presidio Trust)