This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

}
Volunteer Carol Thornton shows visitors the portrait gallery in The Collection’s Counting House.
By sharing their enthusiasm for THNOC with the community, they are among The Collection’s greatest assets.
When prospective volunteers arrive, they are given an application to complete and information about duties and responsibilities. I then walk them through the current Williams Gallery exhibition and give a brief tour of the history galleries and the Williams Residence and its three courtyards, providing background information about the history of the complex. During this time I like to find out what their interests are and place them accordingly. We have volunteers with degrees in history, some of whom have taught Louisiana history in the schools. One of our volunteers taught French and is a pleasure for our visitors from Francophone countries. Others have a background in decorative arts and enjoy giving tours of the Williams Residence. Most are available for half-day shifts. After I’ve assigned them to an area of the museum they are given a name tag. The volunteer trainer, a docent on staff, takes over from there, giving the new volunteer reading material and training on Louisiana history, the Williamses, and The Collection and its properties.
THNOC volunteers are young and not so young, working and retired, students
and teachers, businessmen and women, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, housewives, and part-time residents who work with us half the year. They come from neighborhoods all over the city and across Lake Pontchartrain, as well as from out of state. They are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun to be with, and they represent the best of who we can be as an institution. I am privileged to know them. —MOLLY ST. PAUL
STAFF NEWS New Staff
Emily Hindin, scanning technician. Rachel Cockrill, Jean Cranmer, Karin Curley, Melissa Daigle, Jeff Diez, Wayne Gordon, and Linda Potter, volunteers.
Changes
Chris Cook has been promoted to docent trainer. Docent Sarah Shackelford has left to take a position at Oak Alley Plantation. Docent Ri Crye has left to take a position with Chase Designs.
Honors
Library Cataloger Anita Kazmierczak-Hoffman was recently accepted into the National Language Service Corps (NLSC), a reserve corps that provides short-term language skills to US government bodies as needed. Kazmierczak-Hoffman specializes in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Volunteer Linda Friedman gives guests a tour of the Williams Residence.
Spring 2015	15