“Who are those guys?”
-Butch Cassidy from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
As finishing touches continue to be added to the CAC (in case you haven’t been in the house lately, the walking tour map is on the floor, street names are on the model, and the very few typos in the exhibit labels have been corrected), I have been asked to explain the specific roles of the red-wardrobed Volunteers who are populating the galleries and hosting our guests in collaboration with our Docents.
Through the end of October, over 22,000 visitors enjoyed the CAC experience, and they’ve been hosted by three groups of Volunteers: Guest Services Volunteers, Exhibit Hosts, and Education Guides.
Based on tallying the entire roster in the Volunteer Matters Directory, 208 individuals are currently listed with 99 trained and certified for Guest Services, 166 as Exhibit Hosts, and 35 as Education Guides. As you can see from those numbers, many of our Volunteers have been cross-trained for, and are participating in, more than one role. And as many of you are aware, a significant number of Docents are multi-tasking as Exhibit Hosts and Education Guides.
Here is a brief explanation of each of the three Volunteer roles:
Guest Services Volunteers: The GSVs are stationed at the desk next to the walking tour map and provide a welcoming presence for CAC visitors. They ensure that tour guests are checked in promptly and courteously, pass out listening devices prior to tour departures, and collaborate with Docents in preparing guests for their tours.
GSVs also are well-versed in engaging in conversations with visitors, answering their questions about CAC tours and the organization along with providing advice on Chicago restaurants, transportation, and directions. The Guest Services Volunteers work three-hour shifts timed to coincide with tour departures and returns.
Exhibit Hosts: The official job description for a CAC Exhibit Host is to ensure that guests have a positive experience at our exhibits, looking and seeing them in new ways. The EHs act as “interpreters”, helping guests look closely at the galleries and to make connections to their own experiences and new ideas. Exhibit Hosts have been trained to provide visitors with an overview of the CAC experience as well as specific information about the exhibits.
Ideally, a minimum of three Exhibit Hosts are scheduled to cover each three-hour shift, with EHs stationed in the Chicago Gallery, Me to We Exhibit, and the Drake Skyscraper Gallery. During especially busy periods, additional “floater” Exhibit Hosts may be on the floor. The presence of the Volunteer EHs is supplemented by CAF Gallery Attendants who are paid staff (you will recognize them as the folks in the black shirts).
Education Guides: You will encounter this group of Volunteers both inside the CAC and on the sidewalks in the vicinity, leading 90-minute walking tours for student and youth groups. The EGs’ primary role is to facilitate the three field trips described in my posting last month…Chicago: City of Architecture, Building Blocks of Architecture, and Science of Architecture.
Education Guides also assist with Read and Build and other workshops in the Design Studio and with offsite family festivals and educational events. Starting this January, you will also be seeing more of the EGs in the galleries of the CAC as they begin leading 90-minute student field trips exploring the first and second floor exhibits.
Caroline and Erin have done a fantastic job in recruiting new Volunteers to fill the many shifts now available in the CAC, but we are still in need of reinforcements. If you are interested in expanding upon your current Volunteer and/or Docent role, please contact Caroline as she can provide details on planned 2019 training sessions for all three roles.
Cheers, Bob