“Summer is when laziness finds respectability” *
-Sam Keen (American author and philosopher)
*Please note that Mr. Keen’s quote is currently irrelevant to our CAF staff colleagues who are feverishly preparing the transition plans, exhibit content, and training curriculum for the new CAC.
But if you’re a VEV, the months of June and July are the calm before the storm prior to training and orientations beginning in earnest for the anticipated late summer opening of our new home away from home.
So hit the golf course. Take a nap on the beach. Tend to your garden. To borrow a phrase from 1968, we should all be “tanned, rested and ready” for exciting new volunteering experiences come this August.
Having said that, there are a few immediate, easy things all VEVs can do to set up ourselves, our CAF staff friends, and our future CAC guests for success….
1-Sign up for your future VEV role
If you haven’t replied to Caroline’s email inquiry regarding your interest in being a Guest Services and/or Exhibit Host volunteer in the new center, please CLICK HERE.
If you’ve been focused on being an Education Guide, Guest Services, or Design Studio volunteer in the past, I encourage you to also sign up to be an Exhibit Host. The quality and quantity of opportunities for Exhibit Hosts in the CAC promise to be a huge step up from what was available to VEVs in the Railway Exchange lobby.
2-Sign up for CAC training
Keep checking your email for the announcement of the volunteer orientation, coaching, and training sessions to be scheduled in the coming months. These sessions will be offered to both current and new VEVs (with Docents possibly included, as well). As an added inducement for your participation, we hope to include a camaraderie-building “graduation” social event following the final session.
3-Recruit your friends
Given that the number of available VEV shifts in the CAC will likely double or triple versus the Railway Exchange schedule, the CAF is actively seeking new members for our VEV team. While we already have a sizeable pool of candidates in the queue for interviews, there’s plenty more room at the inn, so please forward contact info for folks that you believe would enjoy joining our team to Caroline.
4-Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame on June 23
Following up on another email from last week, the CAF is seeking volunteers to perform as models/extras for a video and still photo shoot promoting our bus tours. The resulting content will be featured on the CAF Website and in social media. The shoot is scheduled for 7:45-10:15 AM on Saturday, June 23. In addition to being able unleash your inner thespian while enjoying a bus ride in the sun (Tom Skilling has guaranteed a lovely forecast), each participant will be thanked with a gift certificate for a free walking tour. For details and to sign up, please contact Anna at am***********@ar**********.org.
Happy summer to everyone and Go Cubs! Bob