Volunteers Needed At New Bedford Whaling Museum

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is looking for new volunteers who are willing to donate their time, interest, and energy to help the museum in any way possible and to advance the understanding of the whaling industry and the unique history of New Bedford.

According to New Bedford Whaling Museum's volunteer page, training sessions for the new volunteer's will begin on July 11, 2016. For information, please contact Robert Rocha at (508) 717-6849 or rrocha@whalingmuseum.org.

Ten-week training session dates are scheduled for July 11, 18, and 26. August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, and September 12 and 19. The training sessions will run from 9:30am to 12pm on Mondays, except for Tuesday, July 26

Volunteer opportunities include being a group tour leader and gallery interpreter, working in the research library (cataloguing, transcribing, indexing, and researching our vast collection of whaling logbooks, charts, journals, letters, and photographs), being a Green Team member by caring for our live plants, or being an Apprentice Mentor by providing guidance for our apprentices as they navigate high school and continue their journey to college.

As a volunteer, the New Bedford Whaling Museum asks you to:

Participate in a prescribed training program.
Establish a regular schedule for participating as a docent, or in the museum’s library, archives, or by helping in other ways.
Become a member of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
Serve as a “goodwill ambassador” for the museum.
Enjoy yourself!

The Museum will also provide:

An opportunity for public service.
A professional orientation and training program.
An opportunity to meet new and interesting people.
A chance to promote the history of New Bedford.

Basic Requirements Include:

Volunteers are required to undergo a background check, including a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) request.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of three years of service, working one shift of three to four hours per week.
Volunteers are required to become NBWM members. This is important because members receive regular program information that is necessary to volunteers.
Volunteers are responsible for attending the orientation and training sessions related to their volunteer committee or department as well as a brief orientation with Human Resources.
Most volunteer positions require you to be available during regular museum hours, however some positions may require weekend hours and evening hours for special events.
A warm, professional demeanor and knowledge of museum programs are important particularly in positions where interaction with the museum guest will likely occur.

For those who are interested in volunteering their time at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, you can complete the application form in this link.

With additional reporting by Sal Lopez