Live the History!
What Does A Volunteer Do?
Our volunteers are a vital part of the many tasks performed at the museum. Many volunteers work during our regular hours, some during our tours, and others at their convenience. We have many areas to put your skills and interest to work for our community.
Volunteers do everything needed to maintain and preserve our Salem history.
Interested? First step is to stop is to call us, 330-337-8514, to make an appointment for us to show you what areas are needed and how best to use your available time and skills to help us where you can feel comfortable and needed.
Here are areas of need:
- Buildings & Grounds oversee the general maintenance of the museum. Skills required include carpentry, wiring, and general handyman.
- Gift Shop personnel are on duty during the shop's open hours.
- Membership works with chairman to keep records and promote membership for the Society.
- Publications help develop and publish museum materials.
- Public Relations promotes the Society's activities in the community and surrounding area.
- Fund Raising plans activities to raise money. This includes organizing periodic sales events for overstock and duplicate museum items.
- Displays arrange and maintain the many displays to keep them interesting and meaningful.
- Clothing sorts, repairs, and organizes the many articles of clothing in our archives.
- Docents conduct guided tours of the museum with the knowledge to explain and to answer questions.
- Education helps develop special activities for students and groups to gain knowledge and experience Salem history.
- Archiving sorts, organizes, and files archival material for research.
- Antique Car Care & Maintenance keeps our 1923 Model T Ford clean and in good running order to be used for parades and other events in Salem.
- Data-Computer Entry uses Microsoft Office and/or our museum software, Past Perfect, to develop and maintain electronic records. This includes recording all acquisitions.
- Genealogy researches and catalogues material on individuals and families of Salem and surrounding areas.
- Gardening maintains our beautiful landscaping.
- Housekeeping keeps our museum clean.
- Outside Sales manage online sales and shipping.
If you would like to volunteer, we would love to give you an opportunity to use your skills. Call us at 330-337-5814.
Volunteers hang art in Meeting Room
Why Be A Volunteer?
In Thanksgiving 2021, after Covid downtime, the volunteers were asked.
‘What, as a volunteer, are you most thankful for?” Their comments were heart-warming, reminding us again how fortunate we are to be involved in something bigger than any one of us would be alone. Here are the responses we received:
- The camaraderie we share among ourselves. We all have learned to love history and how best to preserve this history for future generations. Working on projects, even when we are discussing different points of view, we find we have bonded. “I came as a volunteer, I left as a friend!”
- Spending time doing what we like to do - whether it is gardening, cleaning, organizing, repairing broken items, doing data entry, or being a librarian, we all plug into what we enjoy doing.
- Learning a LOT of local history. It is amazing how much there is to know and Salem has some pretty awesome history!
- The generosity of so many people who contribute to our well-being. We are grateful to the people who provided buildings and structures where we can store and display the many items to preserve for future generations. We are grateful for the space.
Most of all we are grateful that you have chosen to visit our website to track our activities. We are grateful for your donations of historical significance, needed items for our daily work, money donations, memberships, and so much more.
You are invited to become a volunteer and share your time and talents with us!
Just a few of our volunteers during a visit with Salem Community Foundation staff.