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ROTARY JAIL MUSEUM  AND  TANNENBAUM CULTURAL CENTER

 

Position: Rotary Jail Museum Docent

 

Candidates should send a resume and letter of interest  by mail:

Gabriela Sincich, Montgomery County Cultural Foundation, P.O. Box 771, Crawfordsville, IN 47933,

or by e-mail to g.sincich@rotaryjailmuseum.org

 

 

Description

 

DOCENT RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Docents at the Rotary Jail Museum are expected to:

  • To conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, representing the Rotary Jail Museum positively at the Jail and in the Community.  “Professional manner” will be defined by the Board of Directors if ever a docent’s behavior comes into question.

  • Maintain open lines of communication with the Executive Director and to talk to him/her regarding any issues or concerns.

  • Conduct tours of the both the sheriff's residence and the rotary cellblock and to know the information about general operations and history contained in the guidebook which has been provided.  The docents should use their discretion to determine if they are physically able to turn the crank.

  • Work during normal hours of operation or during previously scheduled group tours during off hours.  These tours are arranged beforehand and docents are contacted regarding their availability prior to the tour.  If a docent cannot work during a scheduled time, he/she is required, at least 24 hours prior to the absence, to contact other docents to find a replacement.  If a replacement is not available, the docent should contact the administrative staff to make arrangements.

  • Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour or hours of operation.  During a split shift, docents should arrive at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time so that necessary information may be shared from one shift to another.

  • Open the museum. This includes disarming the alarm, turning on lights, unlocking the front door, displaying the flag, and placing the exterior signs, performing a brief visual inspection of the museum to ascertain if everything is in place.  Docents must also sign in at the register at the docents’ desk.

  • Close the museum. This includes recording the number of visitors at the museum each day in the visitor log, counting the admission receipts and placing the money in the envelope provided at the docents’ desk, bringing in exterior signs and flags, locking the front door, checking the museum for trash or items left by visitors,  perform a brief visual inspection to ascertain that all visitors have left the building and that nothing is out of place, turning off all lights, setting the alarm and assuring that the back door is locked.

  • Greet visitors in a friendly manner, respond to visitor questions during tours, and maintain positive attitudes regarding the jail, the other museums, and the community whether interacting with visitors or volunteers.  They are also expected to encourage visitors to go to other county museums.

  • Use the forms provided in the docents’ binder to record any incidents or accidents that occurred during the shift and inform the Executive Director immediately of any unusual occurrences.

  • Work in the museum shop when necessary.  There are occasions when the museum is very busy or is not fully staffed.  If possible, docents are asked to help out in the shop.  If it is not possible, the docents may close the shop during tours and open it at more convenient time.

  • Perform other tasks when asked.  Those tasks include but are not limited to aiding in museum mailings and light cleaning.

Docents at the Rotary Jail Museum are encouraged to:

  • Provide the administrative staff with information regarding visitors or stories that have a connection to the museum.

  • Make suggestions to the Executive Director and/or administrative staff and about the exhibits, tour management, volunteer program, and shop.  Docents have the most contact with both the visitors to the museum and to the volunteers and very often are the ones to whom suggestions are given.  These suggestions should be passed on to the Executive Director for evaluation and possible implementation.

  • Perform extra research and to provide any new information to the administrative staff.

Policy for poor performance

Employees of the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation whose job performance is deemed to be poor will receive one verbal warning.  If performance does not improve, the verbal warning will be followed by a maximum of two written warnings.  Further lack of improvement will result in termination of employment.

 

Duration of employment

Docents of the Rotary Jail Museum are employed on a seasonal basis.  Employment begins on March and ends on December 15 unless otherwise specified.

 

Employment at the Rotary Jail Museum is pending a complete background check.