Volunteer
 Portland's
History Docent Program (PHD) participates as a
collaborative effort on the part of prominent local historical
organizations.
The Maine Historical Society, Tate House Museum, Portland Harbor Museum,
and Victoria Mansion join each winter with Greater Portland Landmarks to
provide a ten-week training program for new volunteer guides at the
respective sites.
The program takes place between mid-February and mid-April, on Thursday
mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Each three-hour class provides the
participants with informative and entertaining guest lectures;
presentations include the History of Portland, Architectural Overview of
Portland, Public Speaking, Good Tour/Bad Tour, Reading Your Audience, and
Guiding for People with Disabilities. Training also includes site visits
and practice tours.
The sponsoring organizations benefit from gaining trained volunteers, and
the students benefit from the information and instruction they receive
free of charge, with the added bonus of meeting and socializing with an
interesting group of individuals with similar interests.
PHD graduates are asked to commit to a year of volunteering for one of the
historical sites, and in return they get knowledge, experience, and
friendships that will last a lifetime!
We need volunteers who:
- Enjoy working with people
- Want to contribute time and talent to a worthy community cause
- Are interested in learning more about history and architecture
- Look forward to sharing their knowledge with others
Here's what you get:
- Ten weeks of training, Thursday mornings, 9:00 am to noon, mid-February
through mid-April
- Free lectures on local history and related topics as well as
comprehensive guide training
- Tours and detailed understanding of all six sites
- Knowledge and instruction about local history and related topics
- A forum to talk about subjects that interest you
- Graduation celebration on Peaks Island
Here's what you give:
- Attendance at all training sessions
- A one-year commitment to volunteer at one of the sites
--
usually about 8-12 hours each month. Choose to volunteer at the Longfellow House, Victoria Mansion, Tate House Museum, Portland Harbor Museum, the Portland Observatory Museum or with Greater Portland Landmark's architectural walking tour program.
- Support to the organization for which you are volunteering by becoming
a member.
For more information, contact Bill Hall, the PHD program manager at
Greater Portland Landmarks, by phone, (207) 774-5561 ext. 120, or by e-mail at wpeaks@earthlink.net.
Download the application. 
See the 2008 Training Schedule. |
| Greater
Portland Landmarks is committed to the idea that buildings can teach! Not only can we
learn about style, design, materials, and aesthetics, but we can learn about the values
and experiences of the people who built and used these structures, about ourselves and
what our habitat reveals about our society, and about the legacy we leave behind for
future generations. Walking tours of Portland, using the city as an outdoor classroom,
form the foundation of our educational programs.
Greater Portland Landmarks trains
volunteers to provide selected walking tours of Portland. Our largest audience, by far,
are local schoolchildren on education field trips to learn more about Portland history
and/or architecture. We also provide regular daily public tours during the summer months,
and tours-by-request for various groups and organizations.
We incorporate our yearly tour guide training into Portland's History Docent
Training Program. For more
information call, GPL's Education Department
at (207) 774-5561 or
contact us by e-mail at info@portlandlandmarks.org. |
Docent Daphne Meyer giving a tour of Eastern Cemetery (1668), the oldest burial ground on the peninsula.
photo courtesy of Finer Photography |
Greater Portland Landmarks holds several special events throughout the year. Volunteers
are often needed, and sometimes in large numbers, to successfully organize and present
these events. For more information about this year's offerings, or to volunteer, please call (207) 774-5561 or
e-mail us at info@portlandlandmarks.org.
Here is a sample list of events for which we often need volunteers:
Old House Trade Show
NOTE: The Old House Trade Show will not be held in 2008 due to renovations at our regular venue. Instead, we will publish the 2008 Northern New England Restoration Directory. Learn more >>
The Old House Trade Show, held each March, is
southern Maine’s premiere event showcasing over 40 expert craftspeople and
businesses that provide quality products and services to owners of
historic properties. A crucial component of Landmarks’ outreach to the
community, the Old House Trade Show draws over 2000 homeowners from
throughout Southern Maine.
Volunteers are needed to help with:
- Organization and Planning
- Poster and newsletter distribution
- Admission ticket sales
- Raffle ticket sales
- Selling merchandise at Landmarks’ booth
House and Garden Tour
The House and Garden Tour held on a Saturday in May or
June, features historic homes from a neighborhood in the Portland Area.
Owners graciously open their homes and gardens for the public to view. The
House Tour offers a sample of how 21st century life can fit into an
historic home.
Volunteers are needed to help with:
- Organization and planning
- Poster and newsletter distribution
- Staffing throughout the house
- Selling tickets and memberships
In 2008, we will not be hosting a House Tour. Instead, we will host the Historic House Spring Gala at a wonderful John Calvin Stevens house in the West End. Learn more >>
Summer Tours
Every summer, landmarks offers a series of one-time only special tours. Many of these tours have limited attendance, and fill-up in advance. See our 2008 summer and fall calendar.
Volunteers are needed to help with:
- Mailings
- Representing Landmarks during the tour (check-in, etc.)
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