Volunteer - Museum Of American Speed

Looking to join our team? Here's what we're looking for!

Do you have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for racing and automotive history? Does the thought of working around important vehicles/artifacts from history excite you? Look no further. We are seeking energetic volunteers to enhance our visitor's experience when they come view the collection at the #1 attraction for car lovers in the United States, The Museum of American Speed!

We believe strongly in our company values and live them out each day! We work together as One Team across all departments, Choose Positivity in everything we do, put People First, encourage speaking up because You Have a Voice, and above all else we are Driven to Succeed. If you can embrace these values and they align with who you are, then we'd love to chat with you!

Here are the specifics:

If this sounds like a fit for you, apply today!

• Assists in the restoration of projects, planning, preparation, design, installation, and de-installation of artifacts for museum displays, exhibition and storage in keeping with museum industry standards

• Leads guided tours to tell the story of automotive history as it is laid out in the Museum

• Interacts with guests during Ambassador shifts and answers questions about the collection

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Maintain regular and reliable attendance when scheduled

We'll take care of you - here's how!

• Comprehensive training with continuing education
• Monthly meetings to update volunteer staff on new items at the Museum as well as training on existing areas of the Museum
• Opportunities to participate in volunteer events such as nights at the movies, appreciation dinners, etc.
• Volunteer shirts, discounts on Museum apparel, guest admission
• A wide variety of voluntary opportunities that fit each volunteer's strengths and interests

Volunteering Environment

In an effort to keep our Speedway Family safe we have implemented safety measures including PPE, temp checks and rigorous cleaning schedules for those that are working on campus.

• Occasionally lift and carry
• Frequent walking and standing and occasional sitting
• Occasional bending/reaching, twisting, kneeling, squatting and work above shoulder level
• Must be able to constantly pinch, grasp, fine manipulation with fingers to utilize computer and assist in relocation of displays/artifacts
• Environmentally controlled work area but may include working outdoors and occasionally work with chemicals, moving mechanical parts, dust and/or grease

What you'll need to succeed in this position:

• Working knowledge of hand and power tools
• Must be able to communicate effectively and professionally both verbally and written with all levels of the organization, vendors, and museum guests
• Has a genuine passion and enthusiasm for racing and automotive history
• Customer Service oriented skills to give guests a great experience
• Willingness to help with various events, tasks, jobs that peak interests

Volunteer opportunities available:

Tour Guide

This job is all about interacting with Museum guests and providing a great experience while giving tours! Our guided tours include talking about the history and stories of the collections from races the cars have won, to who owns the car, and much more. If you're great at storytelling and thrive in this type of environment, then this is the job for you!

• Guided tours can last up to 3.5 hours depending on the tour guide style and the group of guests asking questions.
• Must be knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible to adapt to the needs of the tour group.
• Must be comfortable talking in front of groups of approximately 20 people.
• Must be able to engage with Museum guests for 2-4 hours at a time.
• Help guide visitors to safety in inclement weather.
• Will receive training on what to do in medical emergencies.
• Will be given the tools necessary to effectively give a guided tour and answer questions for guests about the items in the collection.

Ambassador

This role is all about being the go-to for guests that have questions or need additional information while in the Museum. Museum Ambassadors casually mingle with guests while offering information and answering questions about items in the Museum's collections. Ambassador's also, direct guests to various displays they wish to find, restrooms, elevators, exits, and answer any other questions that may arise.

• Must be able to engage with Museum guests for 2 - 4 hours at a time.
• Help guide visitors to safety in inclement weather.
• Will receive training on what to do in medical emergencies.
• Will be given the tools necessary to effectively answer questions for guests about the items in the collection.

Events

The Museum hosts all types of events in every shape and size! It takes a team to have a successful event, which is where the Event Assistant role comes into play. If you enjoy being on your feet and always ready to jump in and help where needed, then this is for you! This job includes all duties of an Ambassador as well as:

• Assisting event staff to ensure guests keep food and drink in the proper areas.
• Ensuring everything is cleaned up at the end of the event.
• Occasionally staffing the front entry to ensure only guests of the event are entering outside of normal hours of operation.
• Light lifting, up to 25 lbs. at a time and some twisting and bending.

Library

If you enjoy archiving, research, and organizing photos and news articles, you will love the Library assistance role! A majority of your time will be spent:

• Sorting through incoming donations.
• Checking books out and returning them to their proper place.
• Researching certain books to help determine if they are needed in the collection.
• Scanning photos or newspaper/magazine articles for the digital archives.
• Light lifting up to 25 lbs. at a time and some twisting and bending.

Restoration

Do you love engines and figuring out how to make them work again? As a Restoration Assistant you will be doing plenty of hands-on work that involves getting your hands dirty! You will also put your engine and mechanical knowledge to use while prepping engines to be display ready. This role includes:

• Cleaning up engines by removing dirt, debris, or polishing/painting to ready them for display.
• Helping manufacture/source parts that might be missing from items that come in.
• Assisting in moving vehicles and displays.
• Must be able to demonstrate appropriate levels of care with handling/moving items/vehicles
• Must have a working knowledge of internal combustion engines, mechanical skills, and light carpentry skills.
• Occasionally lift and carry .

Accessioning

Are you detail oriented and a pro at organization? Do you have all the patience in the world and have an eye for cool new things that should be in the Museum? If yes, the Accessioning assistant is just for you. You will do things like:

• Photographing items that are donated/purchased/loaned to the museum.
• Entering items into our computer system.
• Sorting through new collections and organizing the contents.
• Taking inventory on items in the collection.
• Researching potential donations/purchases/loans to help determine if they would be of interest.
• Must be patient, cautious and delicate with items at all times.
• Light lifting up to 25 lbs. at a time and some twisting and bending.

Dusting and Detailing

We promise it's more fun than it sounds! If cleaning is your jam and you have patience while doing so, our Dusting and Detailing role is calling your name! Making our displays shine takes special hands as it requires careful handling of items, and you also get to see all the neat items in the Museum up close while making them look shiny and new. Here's some things you should know about this role:

• Must be cautious and delicate.
• Gloves must be worn when dusting and use only approved cleaning products and rags.
• Items being dusted include vehicles, glass cabinets, smaller items in the collection, pedestals, etc.
• Includes some squatting, bending, reaching, kneeling, and twisting.

Displays

Our entire Museum is made up of displays, so keeping up on them while planning and designing new ones are very important to us. If you are creative and have some experience in carpentry, you'd love this role at the Museum. There's always something new coming in and it's ever changing. You'd be:

• Planning, design, construction, and upkeep of displays.
• This can vary from basic carpentry skills to heavy lifting, pushing cars, sign hanging, painting, staining, polishing, etc.
• Occasionally lift and carry .

Research

Are you a book worm? Does research and learning history fill your bucket? If so, you'll want to sign up for this one! A Research Assistance will:

• Search online or in books/catalogs/magazines for information on items that come into the collection.
• Create a full and detailed history to keep in our archives and share with guests in the form of signage, information on our website, or other means.

Volunteer Training

If you're a leader, like to take charge, and able to effectively share your knowledge to those around you, the Volunteer Training position is just for you! This role requires organization and a strong suit in communication/talking in front of people. The majority of your time will be spent:

• Scheduling, creating, and maintaining training materials for all volunteers.
• Trainers are subject matter experts on various items in the museum and conduct training sessions to share their knowledge with the rest of the volunteer staff in a way that is relatable and digestible.
• Training sessions are scheduled with the help of Museum staff members.
• Must be comfortable talking in front of groups of up to 80 people.

Outreach

The Museum thrives on community engagement and reaching as many people as possible! If you're a people person, like to win others over and are passionate about the local community, you'd love this role. You must have a keen on bringing people together and identifying new opportunities for the Museum. A few things you'll be doing include:

• Creating programs that increase the public's engagement with the Museum.
• Actively searching out opportunities to bring more guests into the museum for daily admission, event rentals, offsite events, shows the Museum could be involved in, educational programs in the community, and more!
• Must be able to conduct themselves professionally while representing the Museum.

Travel

This position is for the one who enjoys being "on the go" while representing the Museum! Travels include picking up new collections and vehicles for the Museum and attending all types of shows on behalf of the Museum. You'll showcase cars at shows and share what the Museum is all about.

Volunteers may have the opportunity to travel with members of the Museum staff to:

• Pick up vehicles/collections.
• Attend car shows to represent the Museum.
• Occasionally lift and carry .
• Includes some squatting, bending, reaching, kneeling and twisting.

If any of this sounds like you, we would love you to join our Speedway Family!