Melissa Petersen Makes History Fun (and puts the ‘do’ in Docent

MELISSA PETERSEN MAKES HISTORY FUN (AND PUTS THE ‘DO’ IN DOCENT)

By Katie Hatfield

The Junior League of Washington Petersen spent most of her formative years (JLW) focuses its financial and volin Clemson, SC. She attributes her love of unteer resources on literacy within history to a childhood surrounded by historic the Washington, DC, area; a subset homes in the south and to the year her family of this focus is cultural literacy. JLW spent in Regensburg, Germany, living in an members on the Historic Alexandria apartment building from the 1300s. As an Docents (HAD) Committee aim adult, however, Petersen’s day job did not to improve cultural literacy through a variety allow her to engage in any historical activities. of volunteer opportunities at five historic A tour of one HAD property, Carlyle properties in Alexandria, VA. Committee House, first piqued Petersen’s interest. members serve as tour guides and assist with “Since I live in Arlington, I was already special events at George Washington’s Mount interested in HAD as a committee but Vernon, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Staenjoyed seeing a museum/historic home I bler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Carlyle had not discovered while previously living House, and Lee-Fendall House Museum. in DC,” said Petersen.

In addition to an affinity for history, Commuting to Baltimore for work HAD requires members to serve for two years due to the extensive training program for its volunteers.

While this may seem daunting to some, throughout her new member year and into the fall of her first active year, Petersen found the flexibility she was looking for in her placement at Mount Vernon upon joining HAD. HAD committee members, Laura Lieberman, Jessica Avery, and Jackie Sandler, pose with a costumed Petersen at an event at JLW Headquarters. one member of JLW, Melissa Petersen, has served for nine years and provided service beyond expectations.

“Essentially, Melissa is HAD. She was an amazing committee chair, and even now that she’s doing her primary placement with other committees, she continues to be a great resource for everyone on the committee,” said Laura Lieberman, current HAD Chair. “She doesn’t like to draw attention to herself, but she ought to be acknowledged for all the work she’s done.”

Melissa Petersen joined the Junior League of Knoxville, TN, in the spring of 2009 while attending law school. She did so at the encouragement of her mother, who had been a member for a few years. Moving back to the Washington, DC, area after graduating, Petersen transferred her membership to complete her new member Volunteering for HAD has its perks. Here Petersen (Left) and fellow volunteers are pictured with, year as a member of JLW. local celebrity, General George Washington.

Petersen (Right) and fellow committee member, Pam Hughet, repping Mount Vernon at the Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Expo event. House Open Houses. I also enjoy attending special events like Old Town Candlelight— and end up trying to catch the committee members in pictures as they volunteer.”

In 2017, after providing five years of service to HAD, Petersen served as the Assistant Council Director (ACD) for JLW’s Cultural Community Placements Council. This Council oversees not just the HAD Committee, but also the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), Folger Shakespeare Library, Community Training, Petersen (Right) and HAD committee member, Melanie Shere are all smiles on site at Mount Vernon. and (at the time of her tenure) the DoneIn-A-Day Committees.

“It was nice to work with all the committees I had gotten to know from the council

A lot of Petersen’s work involves pettimeetings and look for ways to partner coats. “I spend a lot of my volunteer time across the Council, as well as with the other in colonial attire, supporting the special ACDs across all the councils,” said Petersen events like Colonial Fair, Fall Harvest, Old of her experience. Town Candlelight, Washington’s Birthday After serving as ACD, Petersen was then Weekend, etc,” Petersen explained. asked to serve as Recording Secretary the

After two years of volunteering for the following year, but found this role only committee, a leadership opportunity arose reinforced her interests in community for Petersen. As HAD went through a leadvolunteering and connecting with members ership change, she took a position as Vice across the League. Chair of the committee for two years, then Thus, last year, Petersen began a secondlater served as HAD Chair for three years. ary placement with HAD as a volunteer

In both of these positions, Petersen enand maintains the placement today, even joyed many HAD initiatives. She remarked, after accepting a new appointment on the “As Vice Chair and later Chair, I have volResearch & Evaluation Committee for the unteered at most of the other HAD prop2019–2020 JLW year. erties—giving tours one weekend at Carlyle But what is it about HAD keeping PeHouse, helping with special events like the tersen coming back year after year? Apothecary’s Mad Science, Lee-Fendall’s “I am probably biased, but I think the Easter Egg Hunts, and some of the Carlyle HAD Committee ladies are some of my

favorites in the JLW. I enjoy the socials and meetings with the group, and enjoy volunteering with them at the properties,” said Petersen.

During her years of leadership, one of the more impactful things Petersen accomplished was hosting events promoting cross-committee relationships.

“I tried to pair social opportunities with JLW events like meeting for coffee before Holiday Shops general shopping or Tossed & Found rummage drop off, as well as find fun events where committee members could attend together like gelato and the Old Town farmers’ market, or meeting before JLW Night at the Folger,” explained Petersen.

While she acknowledges each leader brings her own perspective to the committee, Petersen was excited to see new chairs continue to plan events that extend the reach of HAD beyond the historical properties at which committee members volunteer.

“I was also excited to see a partnership with one of the previous HAD chairs and Folger/NMWA for touring the National Gallery and going to brunch. Every year, it is fun to see the committee leadership and member suggestions for fun monthly (or more frequent) social options, since it is a way to get to know each other outside of the volunteer shifts and do some fun things in the area,” she added.

But, what does she envision for the committee’s future? Well, in Petersen’s eyes, the future of HAD is bright. But, ever so modestly, she leaves the path open to current and future chairs to chart HAD’s path.

“I don’t have a specific vision for the future of the committee and would want the current and future leaders to be able to make the adjustments and evolve the committee to meet the needs of the committee members and the HAD properties. I am happy to see the committee as a whole continues to support and make an impact with the 1,000+ hours a year in Alexandria. I hear so often from the staff at the smaller properties they could not hold the special programs and events without so many volunteer shifts filled by committee members and JLW volunteers.” •