VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

by Timothy Krumland, Volunteer Coordinator

The National Nordic Museum is privileged to rely on a wide range of volunteers for their support, time, and expertise. For this issue of Nordic Kultur, a few of our volunteers shared their thoughts and experiences on volunteering with us.

JACK HARMON-DAVIS , 17 years old, volunteer since mid-2018

What sparked your interest in volunteering with the National Nordic Museum?

My family had recently begun to talk more about our homeland (Finland and Sweden.) It made me naturally curious about my heritage, and it was the original inspiration to work for the Museum.

What is your favorite way to volunteer?

I work front desk normally, but to me my favorite work was done in the o ces. Upstairs I would handle mail and outgoing volunteer forms, ra e and auction papers, et cetera. Also, working with the volunteer database had me rapidly get used to technology I had very little previous experience with.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer?

Engage with staff, get to know everyone. Everybody at the Museum has something to offer to your work experience.

KIM RUSSELL, 35 years old, volunteer since mid-2018 (visitor since 2016)

What sparked your interest in volunteering with the National Nordic Museum?

After moving to Seattle from Los Angeles where I completed an MA in Scandinavian Studies, I knew I wanted to stay connected to Nordic culture in some way. I also wanted to make connections with people and find community. I had one small kid at the time and wasn’t quite ready to start looking for work so I decided to volunteer my time when I could. I had previously worked at the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia and knew how much fun a cultural museum can be.

What is your favorite way to volunteer?

I love to volunteer in the Museum Store. I get to talk with visitors from all over the world about great Nordic design and culture. I had a fantastic time volunteering at the flower crown table during Nordic Sól in 2019. Visitors were excited to try their hand at making a flower crown, a typical Swedish Midsummer experience. It was a great example of a Scandinavian custom that anyone can participate in, regardless of heritage. There is no one perfect way to make a flower crown!

What advice would you give to a new volunteer?

Have fun and dig in! Immerse yourself in the experience and make the museum your third place. It may be world class, but it is also a warm community! Volunteer during regular hours but also volunteer for events and lectures to see a different side of the Museum. Talk to visitors and tell them what you love about the Museum and about Seattle.

BRANDON BENSON , 62 years old, volunteer since about 2005 (Member since late 1990s)

What sparked your interest in volunteering with the National Nordic Museum?

I found the Museum had many events and activities, and volunteering was an opportunity to be more involved with the organization.

What is your favorite way to volunteer?

I have taken on a wide variety of volunteer roles at the museum, though I find volunteering with the Nordic American Voices project to be very interesting and rewarding. A memorable volunteer experience would be an interview that Gordon Strand and I conducted for the Nordic American Voices project. Gordon and I interviewed Dane Jensen and focused on Dane’s experience designing and creating Danish furniture. The interview took place at the former Museum location, and at the time of the interview, the Museum had an exhibit that featured Danish furniture. Because the interview took place on a Monday, when the Museum was closed, we held the interview in the exhibit.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer?

I suggest that volunteers try new volunteer opportunities. I do not knit, but I volunteer at the registration table for the Knitting Conference that is held every two years.

Thank you to Jack, Kim, and Brandon for sharing your volunteer memories with us, and thank you to the thousands of wonderful volunteers we have been fortunate to work with over the past 41 years. If you are interested in volunteering for the Museum, please contact Timothy Krumland at timothyk@nordicmuseum.org