Volunteers Do Make a Difference 



by Ellen Zebrun 

 Volunteer Coordinator 



T 



JL Hi: 



HE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM at Field Museum has some- 

 thing to offer everyone because of the wide range of opportu- 

 nities to serve. The most visible volunteers are those in the 

 Education Department, who help visitors gain greater knowl- 

 edge and enjoyment from their Museum visits. The Education 

 volunteers share information with school groups as well as the 

 general public through activities such as guided tours, films, 

 puppet shows, and by staffing the Pawnee Earth Lodge and the 

 Place for Wonder. 



There are diverse opportunities for volunteers interested 

 in working "behind the scenes." In the scientific areas, some 

 are involved in researching or cataloging collection acquisi- 

 tions, while others work in the preparation labs or in collec- 

 tion maintenance. The administrative departments also have 

 many volunteers who perform a variety of tasks, including 

 clerical support, editing, research, and even plant care. 



Because of the program's scope, the Museum attracts 

 volunteers with a wide range of skills, experience, and educa- 

 tion. Some are now or have been college professors or corpora- 

 tion executives; for others this is a first work experience. Some 

 have doctorates, others never finished high school. Some 

 contribute their expertise in highly specialized areas, while 

 others have no such refined skills or have come to learn some- 

 thing different from their previous training. We have young 

 volunteers hoping to add to their resumes as well as those who 

 have retired and are looking to explore outside interests now 

 that they have the time. Most come from Chicago and its 

 suburbs, but some travel from downstate Illinois, from Indi- 

 ana, and even as far away as southern Wisconsin. 



On February 13, Field Museum honored its 1985 volun- 

 teers with a special reception in Stanley Field Hall. Willard L. 

 Boyd, president, spoke of the importance of the volunteers to 

 the ongoing success of the Museum and how much their ser- 

 vices in the preceding year were appreciated. Irene Spensley 

 and China Oughton were the special honorees that night, 

 each having given 15 years of continuous service. 



Mrs. Spensley, an Education volunteer, has given school 

 group tours, developed teaching aids, and has also been 

 actively involved with the Science in Action program and the 

 Summer/Winter Fun Workshops. Mrs. Oughton has been a 

 volunteer in Geology, first working under the late Eugene S. 

 Richardson, curator of fossil invertebrates, and in the past 

 three years with both William D. Turnbull, curator of fossil 

 mammals, and Dorothy L. Eatough, technical assistant in 

 mineralogy/petrology. She has helped with cataloging Mazon 

 Creek fossils, organizing files and the reprint library, and was 

 also involved in many aspects of the recent renovation of the 

 Gem Hall. Dr. Boyd presented these two exceptional volun- 

 teers with an honorary award, and also recognized the five 

 volunteers who had given 500 hours or more in 1985. 



In 1985, Field Museum volunteers contributed a total of 

 36,454 hours of service. This is the equivalent of 20.8 full- 

 time paid staff members. Impressive though this figure is, more 

 telling about the program is the length of time the volunteers 

 stay with us. Over 76 percent of the current volunteers have 

 been with Field Museum for more than one year, 54 percent 

 have been here more than three years, and 38 percent have 

 volunteered 5 or more years. Those who have been here for 10 

 years or more comprise 14 percent of the volunteer force. 



Volunteers Who Served 500 Hours or More 



Sophie Ann Brunner, Reptiles: prepared skeletons for study and 

 research projects and to extend the division's skeletal collections. 



Margaret Martling, Botany: worked with reprint collections and 

 helped process plant collections from Latin America. 



David Matusik, Insects: identification and preparation of butterflies 

 and moths for study. 



William Roder, Tours: helped with mailings and updating computer 

 listings; has also been Santa Claus at the Women's Board tea the 

 past three years. 



Llois Stein, Anthropology: recataloged the 1893 Sudanese Game- 

 Ian Orchestra from the World's Columbian Exposition; researched 

 and cataloged collections from Malaysia, Indonesia, Polynesia, 

 Micronesia, Melanesia, and Africa. 



400 Hours or More 



Ingrid Fauci, Reptiles: translated French to English for staff; assisted 

 in collection maintenance and the Reptile Library. 



Lillian Kreitman, Membership: Membership representative; dis- 

 tributed guides to and answered questions from visitors. 



Carolyn Moore, Anthropology: researched in Asian collections. 



Forman Onderdonk, Education: conducted tours in the animal and 

 Indian halls, Pawnee Earth Lodge and Place for Wonder; assisted 

 with special events; organized files on Matitime Peoples exhibit 

 renovation. 



300 Hours or More 



Jackie Arnold, Education: weekend clerical assistance; helped staff 

 Place fot Wonder; assisted with special events, children's workshops 

 and shadow puppets. 



Larry Berman, Fishes: gathered data regarding genetic vs. evolu- 

 tionary effects on fish characteristics. 



Sol Century, Anthropology: cataloging and accessioning artifacts; 

 general projects in Asian Division. 



Jeannette DeLaney, Anthropology: Peruvian textile conservation; 

 preparation, analysis and condition reports. 



Petet Gayford, Anthropology: cataloged and researched Chinese 

 rubbings from various collections. 



