ITM > SUPPORT ITM > VOLUNTEER

VOLUNTEER AT I T M

VOLUNTEER NEWS

ITM Office Hours
Weekdays 9am to 3pm
(317) 773 6000
info@itm.org

For volunteer information email volunteer@itm.org 

Volunteers at "work" 

Supervisor of on board services Aaron meets with conductor Lizzie.

Lavonne straightens merchandise in the train station gift shop.

Student conductor Charlie waits to assist passengers onto the train.

As impressive as our participation rate is (45% of members volunteer) we can always use more assistance.

Every volunteer position at I T M has components of education and customer service. That includes the volunteers working in track maintenance who might rarely see a Museum visitor and volunteers in the train station/gift shop who might see every Museum visitor. We are all here to educate and serve our visitors.

In 2010 our volunteers recorded their hours in 85 detailed categories but those 85 fall into these general areas:

• Equipment Maintenance
• Grounds maintenance
• Customer service on the ground
• Customer service on a train
• Outreach
• Railroad operations
• Track maintenance

To become a volunteer at I T M visit our volunteer information center and complete the online registration form. When the form is submitted it will go to a member of our Volunteer Services Group who will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your interests and our needs. The password that you create on the online registration form will then give you full access to the volunteer information center and you will be scheduled for orientation and training as soon as possible. If you would like to see what openings we have that match your interests please email volunteer@itm.org. 

ONGOING NEEDS:

• DOCENTS - Many schools visited I T M in the spring and summer of 2011 and more are sure to visit this fall. Visiting students are placed into groups of about 15 for their tours of locations where we give detailed explanations of what they are seeing and how it was used. Each group of students needs a docent. We need people who are available Tuesdays through Fridays, normally mid-morning. Docents will normally be asked to help once a week but the frequency of service depends on the season (higher in May, lower in July) and is entirely at the volunteer's discretion. We provide basic information about the exhibits and the docent adds more from his knowledge of railroad history.
• INTERPRETERS - For many years our open-air Museum has offered only self-guided tours of the exteriors of many pieces of equipment and the interior of a few cars. In the future no one will be allowed inside any equipment unless an interpreter is on hand to explain the exhibit and put it into a historical context. As many as 8 interpreters will be needed during the hours that the Museum is open - 9:30AM to 5PM on Saturdays and 10:30AM to 4PM on Sundays from May 7, 2011 to October 29, 2011. Again, the frequency of any one volunteer's service will be at that volunteer's discretion. We will provide the necessary, basic information which can be augmented by the interpreter's own knowledge of railroading.
• TRAIN STATION/GIFT SHOP WORKERS - These volunteers are normally the first that any visitor encounters so a cheerful and helpful manner is required. A general knowledge of railroading is helpful as many visitors like to discuss historic rail operations. We provide these volunteers with knowledge of I T M and instruct them on our cash register and procedures for providing train tickets. Help is needed during the same hours that are listed in the interpreters section although the number of people needed varies from 1 to 3 depending on the trains running on a given day.
• Many other positions are available and our member services people will be happy to discuss opportunities when you offer to volunteer at I T M. Some positions require membership while many others do not.

Volunteer openings are available for groups as well as individuals. If you belong to an organization that seeks a service project we probably have something you will enjoy. Please email volunteer@itm.org or call us at (317) 773 6000 and we will connect you to a volunteer services specialist.

The positions listed above are those that we consider most critical during our operating season. They are a mere fraction of the volunteer jobs available at I T M. We are unlikely to deny anyone who wants to help. The following is a longer, yet still not all-inclusive list of openings that volunteers can fill. If you have a skill or interest that is not listed then please contact us. The fastest response to your questions should arrive if you send an email to volunteer@itm.org. You may also call our office between 9am and 3pm on weekdays at 
(317) 773 6000. The office will pass your information to our volunteer services committee.

If you enjoy: 

Working with Your Hands:

• Mechanical workers engage in machining, welding, assembling and disassembling parts, painting, etc.

• Electrical workers engage in wiring and repairing, servicing heating and air conditioning systems.

• Outdoor workers assist in track repair and general cleanup of the rail line.

Researching and Writing:

• Researchers seek key information that will assist the Museum's historic preservation and restoration.

• Writers create explanatory articles and scripts about specific railroad lines, engines, cars, etc.

• Grant researchers identify grant awarding organizations whose mission is similar to that of the Indiana Transportation Museum and write grant proposals based on the target organization's mission and requirements.

Working with People:

• Customer service persons sell tickets and assist customers in the gift shop and at the on-board concession stand.

• Coach attendants greet excursion customers, assist them with boarding and detraining, answer questions, explain railroad history.

• Special event workers help set up activities and assist guests at Museum activities.

• Office workers answer the Museum telephone, take messages, sell train reservations, assist with mailing campaigns and other general office activities.

Making Presentations:

• Docents give tours, explain exhibits, tell the story of how the railroad helped the nation develop and answer questions.

• Fundraisers call on foundations, endowments and other grant awarding organizations to develop financial support for the Museum.

• The Speaker's Bureau extends the reach of the Museum by visiting civic organizations, schools and clubs to present our message.

Helping with General Chores:

• Workers participate in gardening and tidying Museum grounds.

• Workers clean and care for the historic train coaches.

Organizing People and Events:

• Volunteer coordinator schedules volunteers for all of the above activities.

• Special Event committee chairs and co-chairs create and manage activities designed for specific audiences, such as VIPs, donors, Museum visitors, etc.

If one or more of these opportunities interest you, please call the Museum at 317-773-6000 or email volunteer@itm.org. 

Please Note: Schedules are adhered to as closely as possible, but the railroad reserves the right to alter schedules, substitute coaches and/or motive power as operating conditions demand.  No refund or exchanges on reserved tickets unless ticketed train does not operate.
ITM Office - Hours: Weekdays 9am to 3pm, (317) 773 6000, info@itm.org
Indiana Transportation Museum  Box 83  Noblesville, IN 46061-0083  317.773.6000
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page updated August 31, 2011