What Makes a Great Voyager Volunteer
Our Space Center is built on the foundation of great staff and outstanding volunteers. I was recently asked by a Voyager Volunteer what he could do to be better. To answer that question, I want to talk about the characteristics of a great Voyager Volunteer.
- A Great Volunteer arrives on time. Contact the Center with a Discord message, email, or phone call to the Space Center's main phone number if you're going to be late.
- A Great Volunteer dresses appropriately. Voyagers should wear the required black or navy blue pants. If you are in doubt about what pants to wear, always go with black / navy blue dress pants. Athletic pants are OK as well as long as the colored strip which usually runs along the leg isn't pronounced. There is something very impressive about a volunteer walking into the Space Center wearing a Space Center T-shirt and black pants. It makes you look like you're ready to go to work.
- A great volunteer comes clean. Not showering and shampooing the day of your volunteer shift is not acceptable. Remember, in today's society you should always be clean.
- A great volunteer comes to work willing to take any assignment. Some volunteers say they will only do one thing (BOO). We appreciate volunteers who ask for their preferred position, but add that they are willing to do anything (YEAH). That `can do' attitude makes a great volunteer.
- A great volunteer enjoys the customers and is willing to work with them. We admire volunteers who enjoy training crew members and answering their questions.
- Great volunteers do their best to learn and expand their talents at the Space Center. What are you good at? Let's see if we can use your talents to improve our programs. Contact me if you have an idea for a class, workshop, club, or activity. Much of what we do at the Space Center came from volunteers and staff over the years.
- Great volunteers follow directions from their Flight Directors and Supervisors and get their tasks done. Some say "Yes" to an assignment and then walk away never completing it. Volunteers, be a Flight Director and Supervisor's favorite by being someone who follow directions and completes tasks without requiring require constant supervision.
- Great Volunteers understand the atmosphere we try to maintain at the Space Center. Our family friendly atmosphere is central to our role as a educational entertainment site. Our great volunteers watch their language. They are careful not to discuss things that would be inappropriate around other staff and children. They know not to talk about customers, staff, or other volunteers in a negative way openly where they may be overheard. They understand that if they hear other volunteers or staff involved in inappropriate talk, they walk away and confidentially let myself, Mr. Porter, or Mr. Parker know.
- A great Voyager Volunteer praises the work of others and offers to help other Voyagers learn and grow. Be a good friend to all.
- A great volunteer understands that the Space Center is a social organization. In any social organization, there are reasons some people rise to the top. Voyagers, advancement in any organization requires a few things.
- Hard Work with a willing attitude.
- A willingness to take the tough assignments. This includes the worst positions in the ships and even the worst cleaning jobs.
- Understanding when to talk and when to be quiet and listen. Learn from what you hear.
- Smile and be positive. Positive and cheerful people rise faster in any organization.
- Look around and see something that really needs to be done and do it without being told. That is very impressive.
- Look for ways to advance. Look at what others are doing. Jump in and make it known what you want and that you are willing to work hard to get it. The world is full of those that sit on the fence watching others work hard and move ahead. They cry and cry saying they were never given a chance to succeed. This behavior makes you look like a child. Get off the fence and get your hands dirty. Work and advance. It is really that simple.
- Let the paid staff know who you are. Always come in and report to your Flight Directors and Supervisors when you arrive. Keep doing this until they know your name. Also, it is good to wear your lanyard and Rank/ID card so people can see your name. I'd like to see more of you wear your lanyards between missions in the halls and foyer. Your lanyard identifies you as a valued member of our organization.
- At the end of every mission, ask the Flight Director or supervisor to comment on your work. Tell them you can take praise and criticism. Then be ready to hear the truth. Sometimes it hurts and that's why most people don't ask that question. Be brave and ASK. Voyagers who advance want to be noticed. Get noticed by risking a bit of self esteem and pride to find out what you really need to do to be better.
Mr. Williamson
Deck the Dome Christmas Laser Show at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.
Starting December 15, the Christa McAuliffe Space Center opens the Deck the Dome Laser Show. You can't beat the price of $7.00 per ticket - the absolute best priced Christmas show in the valley. You'd better hurry and get your tickets, many of the shows are already sold out. Make this a family tradition.
Space EdVenturers in the News: InfiniD
Skyler Carr from InfiniD cannot help but leave a trail of new best friends everywhere he goes. Check out this interview with him, about online and alternative learning concepts at the GESS Conference in Dubai.
Space EdVenturers in the News: Telos Discovery Space Center
Nathan King is at Telos Discovery Space Center. Nathan started as a young Space Center volunteer and Flight Director years ago. He went on to work for the Discovery Space Center at Stonegate and then transferred to Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs to become the director of the Lion's Gate Space Center. Today, Nathan is a flight director at the Telos Discovery Space Center (And soon to become the director. Look for an upcoming post with that news).
Nathan has been busy at Telos implementing a couple new and exciting changes to the Hyperion simulator.
1. A New Set of Starship Controls
2. An Idea Never Tried Before; Offering Single Tickets to Group Missions for Adults. What a Great Way for Adults to Meet New People with Similar Interests
Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School. New Modifications to the Galileo II Starship Simulator
Our friends at American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center are busy getting the Galileo II back to working condition. Their Voyager Club works on projects every Wednesday afternoon in the school's shops. One of their projects is a new ceiling light for the Galileo II. Alex Debirk says that he is excited to get to work on another project for their Galileo. Here are the designs.
Imaginarium Theater
The Week's Best Videos From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
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