provided to Santiva Chronicle
The Sanibel Historical Village is now open, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New volunteers are always needed at the village. Training begins November 4 and 11. Interested people are encouraged to call Executive Director Emilie Alfino at (239) 472-4648 or email info@sanibelmuseum.org. There are many different things for volunteers to do, so anyone can find something they like and are comfortable with, doing what they enjoy.
“We are always excited to welcome new docents,” said Board Member Gayle Pence. “Training is fun, and we provide a detailed notebook with all the information you need to fulfill any position at the village. Our volunteers are never without the support and encouragement they need.”
Board Member Sherry Halleran added, “There are a lot of different things for volunteers to do. For example, we have a gala fundraiser and need help with planning, invitations, sponsorships, and mailings. We can never have enough volunteers; it is the volunteers keep things running at the village.”
To benefit our volunteers, Volunteer Updates are held monthly for volunteers to hear speakers on a variety of island topics. These are casual, relaxed talks held for the benefit of our volunteers. Last season, for instance, the group heard Ralph Woodring tell stories as only he can and later Mariel Goss described the early days of the bike path. These talks are the first Mondays of December through March at the village at noon.
The village has three events each year to thank and celebrate its volunteers.
Other highlights this season are three Twilight Talks and the village’s annual gala fundraiser, which will be held on February 18 at The Community House.
“We are again offering a reciprocal museum membership,” Alfino explained. “We have joined the North American Reciprocal Museum family, and a membership at the $150 level or above offers members free admission to more than 1,000 participating arts, cultural, and historical institutions along with botanical gardens, children’s museums, science and technology centers, and more. Many institutions include a discount at their gift shops.” Visit http://narmassociation.org for a complete list.
In addition, for the first time, members at the $150 level and above are invited to attend the museum’s Volunteer Updates described above. “Previously open only to our volunteers, members at certain levels now are welcome to attend these talks and learn even more about the history of our island,” Alfino said.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is a nonprofit organization formed with the mission to preserve, share, and celebrate Sanibel’s history. The museum is open during the BIG ARTS construction project. The project will possibly continue through January, but parking and access for village guests and volunteers will be available throughout that time.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Full guided tours take place at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at no additional charge, depending on docent availability. The Sanibel Historical Village is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS) and there is handicap access. Admission is $10 for adults over 18. Members and children are free. For more information, call (239) 472-4648 during museum hours or visit http://www.sanibelmuseum.org.
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