Newsletter - July 2016

JULY 2016 Symphony on the Prairie, Round 2
Volunteer Services JODY THOMAS Volunteer & Intern Manager Phone: 317.776.6000 ext. 264 or For the very first time this year, we tried
scheduling Symphony on the Prairie in two
segments. Round one included all the
concerts in June and July. In terms of staffing
it was an obvious success because shifts for
most positions were filled in less than twelve
hours. Round two, with the remaining shifts
for August and September will be posted in
Volgistics this month. For those of you
watching your computers, we promise it
won’t go up before you get this newsletter.
Everyone will receive an email once all the
positions are posted and it is ok for you to
schedule your shifts. Just like the last time,
there are some rules for a fair and civilized
signup procedure. They are similar, but not
exactly the same so read them carefully.
There are twelve concerts left in the season to
sign up for; eight in August and four in
September.
Direct: 317.214.4704 [email protected] PAM WESTERMANN Volunteer & Intern Administrator Phone: 317.776.6000 ext. 258 Direct: 317.214.4471 [email protected] Fax: 317.214.4714 
Golf Cart Driver – anyone signing up to
drive a golf cart must have attended
training. If you were not at the training in
June but want to drive, go ahead and
schedule yourself. Contact us and we will
try to set up training for those who need it
in July.

Membership Table – you must have
attended the membership sales training to
You may initially sign up for three
sign up for this position.
concerts in August and one in September.
If there are still openings after a few days,  Tickets – if you need to get tickets before
we will let you know it is ok to sign up for
one or more of your scheduled shifts, you
more. Do not add extra shifts until you
must make arrangements to pick them up.
receive notification from us.
We will not be leaving them with Ben or
at ISO will call. We will leave them for
 Golf Cart Line Helper – the description
you at the Great Hall concierge desk or
for this position was probably worded
you can come up to the volunteer office to
badly for round one. This was meant to be
get them (call first).
an add-on position for volunteers
scheduled in another post, on the same
 Be sure to record all your hours. Everyone
night (i.e. tractor driver, marketing or
signs in at the Apple Store but hours must
membership table) that ends early.
be recorded from your home computer,
Please do not sign up to be a GC line
tablet or smart phone.
helper as your only task for any night.
Finally, please be kind to your fellow
We will cancel those shifts.
volunteers. Some were completely shutout the
 Prairie Grill – this position requires
first time around in the mad dash to get those
stamina. Volunteers will be on their feet
popular SOP shifts. Once this is all done and
and moving the entire shift. This is a post you’ve followed all the rules, most
for those who want to be kept busy. If you importantly…HAVE FUN!
sign up for the grill, you MUST wear
closed toe shoes and a hat (unless you
want to wear a hairnet).
? Ques ons? Contact Jody or Pam.

Orienta on for New Volunteers MONDAY, JULY 11 The next new volunteer orienta on will be Monday, July 11 at 11:00 am in the Volunteer Lounge (second floor of the Welcome Center). Please RSVP to Pam if you plan to a end. WELCOME
to our newest volunteers: Sara Buckaloo Pam Buss Janet McDivi Carol Robinson Lynne Snowden Carol Ann Worlfel Lynn Wrablik‐Reilly (returning) IN THE NEWS Volunteering 101
Summer is heating up along with volunteer
activities. This is the time of year when we
like to remind you of established policies
everyone needs to follow, as well as anything
new. We call it, volunteering 101.
Our “uniforms”, or what we ask you to wear
is important. They help identify you as a volunteer to visitors as well as staff who may not
know you. Unless told otherwise, always
wear your red volunteer shirt, khaki bottoms
(pants, Bermuda length shorts, skirt, capris)
and volunteer badge when volunteering for a
position that has you interacting with visitors.
There are exceptions to this rule for specific
events and programs. When this occurs it will
appear in the position description or you will
be notified. You don’t need to wear the red
shirt/khaki bottoms if you are volunteering
for an inside, office task. Hats must not have
any kind of emblem or logo other than
Conner Prairie’s. We have (optional)
volunteer baseball caps and outback hats that
can be purchased. In the next month or so we
will put together an order for all volunteer
clothing that is available to purchase for
anyone who wants a hat, jacket, or shirt other
than the polo. Watch for an email about
volunteer clothing.
The second floor reception/security desk no
longer exists. It has been replaced by the new
information desk in the Great Hall of the
Welcome Center.
Pat Wehlage is the guest services concierge
Tuesday through Saturday. Volunteers do not
need to sign in or get a guest sticker from Pat
when here for purposes other than
volunteering. If you need to pick something
up, we can leave it with Pat or you are
welcome to come upstairs to the volunteer
offices. Please always wear your badge so
that Pat can identify you as a volunteer and
so that staff in Create.Connect doesn’t stop
you on your way through.
The new information desk has caused some
confusion about parking and where to enter
the building. With a few exceptions, most
volunteers should continue to park in the
employee lot and enter through the
employee/volunteer entrance next to the
loading dock. Dial 0 on the vestibule phone,
tell Pat your name and that you are here to
volunteer and she will buzz you in. Entering
this way sends you right past the volunteer
sign-in station if you plan to check in and
record your hours there. Exceptions include
parking in a handicapped space, volunteering
in the store or in the woodshop or textiles
studio.
Last but not least, ALWAYS record your
hours. Whether you do it on the touchscreen
here or from home doesn’t matter as long as
you do it. Don’t hesitate to ask if you
have questions about any of these or other
policies.
Artist’s Work at Treetop
When visitors enter the new Treetop
Outpost, they’ll notice several willow
structures created by Hoosier Greg Adams, to
serve as interactive projects in the art activity
area of the experience. Greg’s artwork has
always included natural elements that blend
whimsical with functional. In 1983, his work
began with grapevine wreaths and willow
baskets. For his projects, he collects materials
himself and constructs items by hand.
“I determined I would pursue the idea of
bringing the outdoors inside and that idea
drives me to this day,” he said. For Treetop
Outpost, he constructed several spires and a
shelter, all woven with black willow native to
Indiana. Greg said he likes to think of these
structures as similar to cairns, which are
memorials or landmarks built by people.
“(A cairn) was made with great effort and
thought and (see Artist’s Work on page 2)
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
‐ JULY ‐ Stuart Rhonemus (7/2) Deanne Birchall (7/3) Karen Smith (7/6) Bernie Thomasson (7/7) Nina Kennedy (7/8) Bob Loser (7/8) Frank Tardy (7/10) Maria Ataide (7/11) Neal Wixson (7/13) Anne Craig (7/14) Myra Buschmeier (7/16) Jim Chrena (7/16) Rita Wood (7/16) Gary Spannuth (7/18) Gene Carey (7/20) Ruth Ann Dorn (7/20) Anna Logan (7/20) Tobey Orr (7/21) Kathy Laugheed (7/23) Jon Meeks (7/23) Abby Publow (7/24) Cindy Busick (7/25) Tom Hervey (7/26) Gloria Miller (7/26) Kay Ziegler (7/26) Be y Kobilic (7/27) Lisa Vaughan (7/28) Judy Allen (7/29) Ar st’s Work (from page 1) Special Events We can only speculate what it may
memorialize, mark or mean. “I hope people
will approach (the willow artwork) as
something a little more mystical and
mysterious,” he added. Visitors are invited to
interact with the structures and leave
something behind. They’ll be able to weave
ribbon through the willow or find natural
items in the woods to tuck into the structures
for other visitors to find. “I would like for
people to think about (the structures) later
and try to reflect upon their impressions,
The following volunteer opportuni es will be posted in Volgis cs. Sign up for your favorite events and programs during the months listed below. You will receive email no fica on when each opportunity has been posted: perhaps to be jarred out of complacency
to really consider what prehistoric travelers
might have made of this structure,” Greg
said.
SIGN UP IN JULY: Symphony on the Prairie August 5 ‐ September 4 select dates Volunteer Opportunities
Clowes/Grounds Greeter Subs Every day the historic grounds are open, a
volunteer greeter is posted at the information
desk located in front of the balloon in Clowes
Commons. Individual volunteers are
scheduled for the entire year, each day of the
week. There are times during the year though,
when someone can’t be here. Substitute
volunteers who are willing to step in on an
as-needed basis are needed. Once trained for
this position, you will be placed on a list.
When one of the regularly scheduled
volunteers can’t be here for their shift, we will
call or email people on the substitute list to
find a fill-in.
SIGN UP IN AUGUST: Fes val of Machines September 17 & 18 Headless Horseman Prop Making This position requires outgoing volunteers
with great customer service skills who love
talking to people and are passionate about
Conner Prairie. Your job will be to welcome
our visitors and give them information and
directions to get them started on their visits.
What you don’t already know about Conner
Prairie, you will learn through training and
experience. For more information or to
volunteer, contact:
Plans are already in the works for another
exciting Headless Horseman at Conner
Prairie. The events department needs
“crafty” volunteers to help design and build
Halloween-inspired props for the Scarecrow
Trail. This position will require standing,
kneeling, lifting 15lbs and working outside.
Designing and building will start in July
with dates and times to be determined by
staff and volunteer’s schedules. For more
information or to volunteer, contact:
Jody Thomas
214-4704
[email protected]
Kelly Backus
776-6000 ext. 376
[email protected]
SIGN UP IN SEPTEMBER: Headless Horseman October 13 ‐ 16, 20 ‐ 23 and 27 ‐ 30 Follow the North Star School Program November 1 ‐18 select dates THANK YOU for dona ng your me and talents to Conner Prairie. Check back next month for more opportuni es to join the fun. OUT AND ABOUT Pssst...
Treetop Outpost is NOW OPEN! THANK YOU TO OUR CURIOSITY FAIR VOLUNTEERS!