By Maureen Drucker

Before 2004 comes to is ends, the Docent Council was able to issue its firs biannual Docent Satisfaction Survey. The report was made available with the November “Bits of Frit” in the docent room. In terms or numbers, eighty-three surveys were mailed and thirty-three responses where returned.

Overall, while the numbers were not large, one could say that “we learned a little, we learned a lot,” about how docents view themselves at the Museum of Glass.

The most important lesson we may have learned from the survey is how to use the information we received to improve docent satisfaction and to benefit our visitor’s Museum experience.

In order to identify some of the recommendations and their implementation, the Docent Council established a Strategic Planning Committee to address these issues. Members of the Committee are Elizabeth Breen, Maureen Drucker, Dee Smethurst and Lorraine Brusseau.

Any docent, who would be interested in participating on the Strategic Planning Committee, in encouraged to call any Docent Council or Committee member or leave a note in their file. Docents are always welcome to attend the Docent Council meetings held at the Museum on the third Thursday of every month,.

One important aspect of the survey was that docents indicated a high level of personal satisfaction with being a docent, flexible scheduling and assignments, feelings of competence, being kept regularly informed by “Bits of Frit,” and their personal relationships with other docents. Interestingly enough, docents expressed the most dissatisfaction with the docent room and suggestion box.

We realize that being a dedicated and motivated docent volunteer requires a high degree of personal satisfaction. Each docent knows what they expand an enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm introducing our visitors to the Museum to ensure they have a wonderful time. Trying to increase docent satisfaction will benefit docents, visitors, and the Museum of Glass.