“We are so fortunate to have these volunteers, and we appreciate all they do for our museum and our tribe, said Barbara Girty Foster, Assistant Museum Director.
This month we feature the Keetoowah Museum Volunteer Program’s Keetoowah Culture Keepers (KCKs), who happen to all be elders. These elder volunteers have assisted the museum staff with assembling hundreds of cultural craft kits for schools and groups to purchase. All sales go directly back into the gift shop to support Keetoowah artists.
Volunteers help with specialized cleaning of the museum galleries, assist with special events, and even managed some lawn care last summer. They are each very dedicated to creating and maintaining a friendly and inviting experience at the museum. They help their fellow tribal members, serve their communities, and provide their expertise. No matter what kind of volunteer work they do, they contribute in invaluable ways.
The Independent Sector, with the Do-Good Institute at the University of Maryland, announced on April 23, 2024, that the estimated value of a volunteer hour is $33.49. They also stated that putting a dollar value on volunteer hours will never do justice to their true value, but it’s one way to demonstrate the contributions volunteers make in our communities. This estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. So far this year, our museum volunteers have provided over 1,000 hours of service, which equates to a $33,000 donation!
“We are so fortunate to have these volunteers, and we appreciate all they do for our museum and our tribe,” said Barbara Girty Foster, assistant museum director. The museum volunteer appreciation lunch was held in Pawhuska, Okla. Volunteers explored the Osage area, visited the oldest Native museum in the United States, the Osage Nation Museum, and stopped at the Pioneer Woman Lodge for lunch at Joe’s Place.
Volunteer recruitment for 2025 begins in January, with orientation scheduled for March 1, 2025. Contact Barbara Girty Foster at the museum if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. The number is (918) 871-2794.
-Photo cut line:Keetoowah Museum Staff and Volunteers visited the Osage Museum. (Front Row, L to R) Raelie Grayson, Sammy Still, Carolyn Swimmer, Dama Still.(Back Row, L to R) Kyndal Aimerson, Norma Jimerson, Herman Jimerson and Pete Kingfisher. Not pictured is Luanna Taylor.
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