— by Cara Russell —
The Orcas Island Historical Museum not only houses historical Island artifacts, but it is in itself a valuable artifact to the community. Built out of six donated Orcas homestead cabins from the late 1800s, the Historical Museum exists because of donators and volunteers—a volunteer base that has been dwindling, and in need of some fresh volunteers. Natalie Baloy has been working hard to step up the community awareness as well as the volunteer base.
As of January 2014, Baloy has been hired as the museums ‘Volunteer Coordinator and Community Outreach Liaison.’ Baloy has lived on Orcas for the last two years, and is a Graduate student from Vancouver BC. She began volunteering at the museum last summer, at first by filling in in the administrative office. “One day, I talked with the board members about the need for further support for volunteers,” said Baloy. “Someone needs to solely work to help bring the Museum into the community, and thus bring in more volunteers.” So the volunteer coordinator position was created with Baloy heading it.
Her job is to reach out to the community, work to recruit more interest, and to grow on their current volunteer base. “We would love to find new volunteers as our numbers are getting lower, and although we have a strong long-term volunteer base of about 10 individuals, we want to have more dedicated energy for volunteer efforts. And our volunteers that we currently have are already pretty busy,” said Baloy.
Baloy commented that they are very grateful for their current volunteers who often just show up and start helping. They were grateful for the support from the community on Martin Luther King Day of Service, as some folks came out and helped out with gardening.
But she is seeking a more diverse group. “This is a vibrant young community and we want to see more young people getting involved, and reclaim the history as a part of their own,” said Baloy. One of the ways she intends to raise awareness with the younger community is to have more school groups go to the school house museum to hold lessons there.
Baloy will also be talking with the Orcas High School seniors about internships, where students can build their skill-based knowledge by working in the archives, and with materials and exhibits. “We can offer experience for those…young rural professionals out there,” Baloy said with a grin.
Baloy also wants to reach out to the 21+ community, and so far she plans to gather historical facts for a fun list of factoids that can be used on their Facebook page, in newsletters, as well as having a history category on Trivia nights at businesses like the Lower Tavern, and Island Hoppin’ Brewery. They will also be offering more walking architectural tours around Eastsound.
The primary tasks the Museum needs are greeters and docent hosts. When the museum moves into their spring and summer hours, the docents are the ones at the front desk greeting people, encouraging people to come in, handling the gift shop, acting as ambassadors who tell the history or the island, and of course will also act as tour guides for the many tourists who wander into the museum with a map in hand and a confused expression on their face.
The Museum also needs help with side and office projects—such as newsletters, and big mailings, landscaping, and events like the annual historical event and the pie booth, both taking place in early July. “We need a lot of pie bakers for that,” said Baloy.
Baloy needs volunteers to help her with all of these new ideas, and to help make the museum optimally relevant to the community. “We are open to suggestions,” said Baloy. “We value the community input to the Museum and welcome it.”
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, or have an idea that you think would help bring the museum and the community together, Baloy would like to hear from you. You can contact Natalie Baloy at 376-4849, or EMAIL HER at , or go to the Museum’s web or Facebook page.
