Got Some Spare Time?

By Autumn Acker

If you answered yes to the question above then you qualify to become a Whaley House volunteer! Congratulations! It should feel like you have won a prize - volunteering is a highly rewarding experience. Currently volunteer docents are needed in the Whaley House, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. If you have only a few hours once a week to spare that is fine! Help is always appreciated. Through volunteering for Save Our Heritage Organization at the Whaley House Museum, one will not only gain knowledge about the history of the Whaley family and their home, but will also learn more about San Diego history and the philosophies behind Historic Preservation.

Volunteers are an indispensable part of running the Whaley House Museum; they serve many functions. In an average day, volunteers help monitor activity throughout the Museum, inform visitors about the history of the home and the objects inside of it, and take tickets at the front entrance. These are but the basic positions; SOHO relies heavily on its dedicated volunteers to run the Museum.

Due to the unique history of the Whaley House, volunteers get to interact with a variety of visitors: San Diego residents, tourists from around the world, and ghost-hunters in search of spiritual evidence. Such a mix of different people always keeps things interesting in the Museum. So if you enjoy being around people, learning about history, and are willing to spread your knowledge to others, then becoming a volunteer may be just the thing for you!

As an added bonus, if you are a cat-lover, (like me), volunteering can be all the more rewarding. SOHO lovingly takes care of its three beautiful kitties: Grooby, Moochie, and Rosy.

So, congratulations on qualifying, now go out there and get your highly rewarding prize! Simply call the SOHO Museum Shop at the Whaley House at (619) 297-9327, or come by in person. The Shop is located next to the Whaley House Museum at 2476 San Diego Avenue. Once again, a few hours makes a huge difference. So if you are feeling indecisive, sign up for a couple of hours and decide from there if volunteering is for you. Remember, you have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.

Editors note: Autumn started with SOHO as a volunteer docent, she is now part of the staff working in the museum store as a sales associate and head docent in the Whaley House. She is a delight to be around and is pursuing a career in historic site interpretation. She is also a member of Preservation Action, where she plans on learning the ropes. She has most recently taken on the position of Volunteer Coordinator Assistant.

2001 - Volume 32, Issue 4

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