Volunteer Manual

being a volunteer | volunteer manual | volunteer application form | contact volunteer coordinator

Thank you for making the decision to contribute your time and talent to this organization. Volunteers add significantly to our ability to meet deadlines, initiate projects and displays, and perform the mission of our museum.

Once you have chosen to work with us on the important projects carried out by the museum, we will share our goals with you. We also want to familiarize you with the Volunteer Program’s vision and guiding principles. This manual is part of that orientation process.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with you in the Volunteer Program.

Volunteer Manual

Our Volunteer manual includes necessary background information on the services provided, as well as contact information. We respect the time commitment that our volunteers make to the museum, and as such include in the manual Volunteer benefits, rights & responsibilities. Below is some of the material covered in our manual. The entire manual is downloadable in Adobe .pdf format by clicking on this link.

• Welcome
• History, Goals and Vision
• Various Services
• Museum Programs for Children and Youth
• Staff Positions
• Staff Contact Information
• Volunteer Vision & Guiding Principles
• What Volunteers Do Here
• Benefits of Volunteering
• Volunteer Rights
• Volunteer Responsibilities
• Volunteer/Staff Agreement

Volunteer Rights

What you can expect from the museum

You have the right to:

• orientation sessions and training
• know what your job is and be given a detailed work description;
• know what is expected of you;
• be introduced to the relevant staff;
• receive guidance;
• receive recognition for work well done;
• be informed of any changes in conditions surrounding your job;
• be given the chance to take on more responsibility as you obtain more experience/expertise (circumstances permitting);
• be treated with dignity and respect;
• be provided with feedback on your job performance.

Volunteer Responsibilities

What the museum can expect from you.

You have the responsibility to:

• be reliable and punctual;
• show interest in the job;
• show interest in the organization;
• treat others with respect;
• provide the organization with adequate notice if you intend to leave your position or cannot complete the job assigned;
• respect the formal channels of communication/leadership in the organization;
• carry out to the best of your ability what is expected of you;
• be honest;
• request help when you need it.

Volunteer/Staff Agreement 

• Volunteers are required to serve three months’ provisional status;
• Volunteers are entitled to receive adequate training in their duties and responsibilities, (as staff time and budget permits);
• Volunteers must work a minimum of four (4) hours per month. Volunteer days for general duties have been designated as Tuesday and Thursday of every week. Volunteers who cannot report to work on the designated days because of other commitments will be accommodated wherever possible. However, the Base Museologist and her staff reserve the right to schedule volunteers on designated days in order that they may effectively supervise volunteer activities and provide appropriate training, orientation and administrative support;
• Volunteers are expected to maintain an accurate record of their hours;
• Volunteers are requested to notify museum staff of absences (when these are foreseeable), and to phone and inform staff if they are ill and cannot attend for their scheduled hours/duties;
• Volunteers should familiarize themselves with security, emergency and safety procedures, with the help of the Unit Security and Safety Officers;
• Volunteers must inform the Base Museologist in writing, at least three weeks in advance, of resignation or leave of absence;
• Volunteers should be aware that irregular attendance, poor performance or failure to cooperate with CFB Petawawa Military Museums policies may be interpreted as a volunteer’s desire to resign;
• Volunteers agree to be evaluated by museum staff on a regular basis. Volunteers in turn are asked to assist the museum staff by providing them with constructive feedback, criticism and ideas in order that the museum as an institution can function effectively;
• Volunteers are asked to value and respect the expertise of staff members and recognize the other demands of their jobs;
• Grounds for volunteer dismissal include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • rude or discourteous behavior towards the public, fellow volunteers or staff;
  • theft or mistreatment of artifacts, materials, cash or other items entrusted to the volunteer’s care.
• Volunteers who are no longer able to be active in the program due to health or other issues are requested to inform the Base Museologist in writing of their intentions.