Volunteer Museum Docent

Job Title: Fire Department Museum Docent

Location: Windsor-Severance Fire Museum, 121 N 6th St, Windsor, CO

Position Type: Volunteer

Schedule: A minimum of one Saturday per month from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and additional availability for fire museum events

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Join us as a Volunteer Museum Docent and help us inspire future generations while honoring the legacy of firefighters in the towns of Windsor and Severance. The Volunteer Fire Museum Docent position offers a rewarding opportunity to engage with the rich heritage of Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue (WSFR) dating back to 1902. As a volunteer docent, you will play a vital role in preserving and sharing the history of fire departments and fire safety with the community.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

Established in 2010, the Windsor Severance Fire Museum celebrates the heritage of Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue (WSFR) dating back to 1902. Located at 121 N 6th Street in Windsor, CO, it's open every Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m.

The museum showcases three original antique fire trucks used by the Windsor Fire Department, offering visitors a glimpse into firefighting history and the evolution of technology. With artifacts, photographs, and equipment on display, the museum honors the dedication and innovation of the firefighting profession and pays tribute to its courageous service to the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Guided Tours: Conduct guided tours of the fire museum for community members, school field trips, and various community groups interested in learning about fire department history and fire safety.
• Event Participation: Provide information, interact with attendees, and represent the museum at community events, including the Harvest Festival Parade, the parade during Severance Days, WSFR Annual Open House, library events, and other town and local events.
• Customer Service: Interact with visitors of all ages, providing exceptional customer service and answering questions about the exhibits and artifacts.
• Cleaning and Maintenance: Maintain the cleanliness of the museum by dusting, sweeping, cleaning glass surfaces, and general tidying to ensure a welcoming environment for visitors.
• Sales: Sell museum merchandise, including t-shirts and other items. Experience with cash handling is a plus.
• Educational Outreach: Utilize teaching skills to deliver educational programs and presentations on fire safety and the history of fire departments.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to treat coworkers and community members with dignity and respect regardless of their race, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc.
• Ability to make ethical decisions, display ethical conduct and be a representative of the district to the community.
• Ability to teach different age groups one-on-one and in groups.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Attention to detail and willingness to perform cleaning and maintenance tasks.
• Passion for preserving and sharing the history of fire departments and fire safety.
• Ability to read, write, and speak in the English language.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 18 years old
• Possess a Valid Colorado Driver’s license
• Ability to pass WSFR background check
• Ability to work in the US

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Customer service, teaching, or public speaking experience
• Cash handling experience
• Experience driving a straight-drive manual engine with a double clutch. We need volunteers who can learn how to safely drive our three antique fire engines to community events and parades. We also offer fire engine rides during museum hours.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Possess and maintain an American Heart Association BLS CPR Provider certification (WSFR will provide)
• Attend WSFR annual diversity and harassment training.
• Attend WSFR annual bloodborne pathogen training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a volunteer to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the volunteer is frequently required to:

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas using the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: The ability to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound.

Type of work:

• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently. Ability to stand and walk on concrete during the majority of the volunteer shift.

Visual acuity:

• The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned
• The worker may be required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles or heavy equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The worker occasionally works in outside weather conditions, including temperature extremes.
• The worker occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, moving vehicles, and vibration.

BENEFITS:

• Opportunity to contribute to the preservation of local history and community education.
• Gain experience in customer service, teaching, and public speaking.
• Build connections within the community and with fellow volunteers.
• Satisfaction with making a meaningful impact by educating others about fire safety.
• This is an unpaid volunteer role.