OCTOBER 2016 Follow the North Star: History in Action
Follow the North Star (FNS) has been posted
in Volgistics and people are already signing
up. For some of you, it will be your first
experience with this intense living drama.
Follow the North Star debuted at Conner
Prairie in 1998 and is offered in November
and April. More than 30,000 guests, including
more than 17,000 students ages 12 and older,
have participated in the last five years.
The program has earned national awards from
the American Association of Museums and
the American Association for State and Local
History. But still, FNS is not for everyone –
guest or volunteer. Participants take on the
role of an escaped slave and depending on the
volunteer position you choose, you could be a
witness to all they experience.
Follow the North Star demonstrates the
wide-ranging social attitudes toward
African-Americans in pre-Civil War Indiana.
Participants travel back to the year 1836 and
assume the role of fugitive slaves seeking
freedom on the Underground Railroad through
the state. Traveling as a group, they encounter
a variety of characters, ranging from
sympathetic allies to racist antagonists. It is a
powerful experience that generates empathy,
provokes discussion, and immerses visitors in
this important part of our nation’s history.
None of the horrors or atrocities of slavery
are depicted, and no vulgar language is
used. But, participants are forced out of
their comfort zones for a realistic
historical re-creation.
The program ends as guests encounter a
visionary who shares their character’s
eventual fate – some are tortured, others
captured, some die and a few find
freedom. A debriefing session after the
program allows participants to share their
feelings, ask questions and learn more
about Indiana’s role in the Underground
Railroad. Facilitators draw correlations
between 1836 slavery and today’s human
trafficking, bullying and equal rights
struggles.
Follow the North Star offers a powerful
diversity training tool and effective
educational experience for groups (civic,
church or corporate), individuals, and
schools. Our daytime program is just for
school groups and presents ageappropriate programming. All FNS
scheduled volunteers are offered free
admission to the program in order to get
the full experience. Open volunteer shifts
are posted in Volgistics.
Volunteer Services JODY THOMAS Volunteer & Intern Manager Phone: 317.776.6000 ext. 264 or Direct: 317.214.4704 [email protected] PAM WESTERMANN Volunteer & Intern Administrator Phone: 317.776.6000 ext. 258 Direct: 317.214.4471 [email protected] Fax: 317.214.4714 Orienta on for New Volunteers MONDAY, OCTOBER 10 The next new volunteer orienta on will be Monday, October 10 at 9:30 am in the Volunteer Lounge (second floor of the Welcome Center). Please RSVP to Pam if you plan to a end. WELCOME
to our newest volunteers: Abigail Rosenow IN THE NEWS Here He Comes Again
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
‐ OCTOBER ‐ It’s October, and that means the Headless
Horseman is here again, roaming the woods
of ConnerScairie. This year, he gets 12 nights
to search for his missing head. All of your
favorite characters from the past few years
are back, including Beautisha, the cosmetics
loving witch; Dr. Acula, a wanna-be stand-up
comedian; Ed, the mad scientist and his assistant Esmerelda; and Holly Ween, a childlike
monster. There will be crafts, fortune telling,
scary-o-ke, s’mores, apple treats from the
Apple Store, a puppet show, storytelling and
more! Headless Horseman is a beloved fall
tradition for guests, families, and for
volunteers, too.
Bill Haas (10/1) Jennifer Slaughter ( 10/1) Dan Baker (10/2) Joe Zielinski (10/2) Arlyne Springer (10/3) Cindy Smith (10/4) Andrea Clough (10/5) Diane Szyaminski (10/5) Debra Ball‐Mills (10/6) Ileen Maxwell (10/6) Carol Weisert (10/9) David Bedwell (10/11) We still have many volunteer opportunities.
Join your fellow volunteers who have already
enlisted for a night or more of hauntingly
good fun. Sign up for your
favorite position or try a new one. All open
shifts are posted in Volgistics.
Rebecca Church Bodell (10/12) NEW for 2016 – We will not be serving the
light meal to volunteers and staff as in past
years. Snacks and drinks will be available
starting at 5:00pm in Bayt Pavilion.
Orientation begins at 5:30 and the gates open
at 6:00. When volunteering, remember to
dress for the weather. All activities take place
outdoors and it gets cold on the prairie once
the sun goes down. Volunteers may wear
jeans for this event but wearing your red
volunteer shirt is not required. Do wear your
name badge. Layer your clothing and bring a
hat and gloves. You can always take a layer
off, but you can’t add one if you don’t have it
with you. Parking is in the Blacksmith Lot
and volunteer check-in is at the Apple Store
Gate. All hours for Headless Horseman must
be entered in Volgistics from home. If you
don’t have a computer or access to the
program, tell Jody or Pam and we will enter
hours for you. So heads up, necks out and
have fun!
STEVE RHONEMUS, JOHN WEIKEL & GENE CAREY (top) and CHRISTIAN WRIGHT & VICKI WOJTKIEWICZ (bo om)
volunteer during Headless Horseman. Interested in helping out with this program? Sign up in Volgis cs today! Gregory Vaughan (10/13) Connie Thomas (10/14) Gary Lewellen (10/16) Alys Parent (10/16) Kat Watson (10/16) Phyllis Price (10/17) George Vaughan (10/18) Bob Barge (10/19) Dixie Clark (10/19) Carl Waite (10/20) Sue BeMiller (10/21) Chuck Jones (10/22) Emily Nyman (10/22) Kim Amrhien (10/25) Bill Coughlin (10/25) George Ellio (10/25) Robby Smith (10/27) Save the Date
The grounds will be closing shortly and the major events
for the year will soon be over, so it’s time to sit back and
celebrate everything that you, our treasured volunteers,
have accomplished this year. Volunteer Recognition is
slated for Saturday, November 12 at 10:00am. Please
save the date and join fellow volunteers and staff as we
honor all the time and talents that you have contributed to
Conner Prairie during the year. Watch for your invitation
with all the details to arrive later this month.
Volgistics Year End
We hope that you’ve been entering your
hours in Volgistics faithfully. Conner Prairie
volunteers’ fiscal year ends on October 31.
After that, we will be calculating our total
volunteer hours for the year, as well as
everyone’s individual hours. It all counts.
Volunteer hours are needed for grant
applications and other funding.
? Ques ons? Contact Jody or Pam.
Volunteer JANET SMITH transports guests on the tram Volunteer JANET SMITH transports guests on the tram during Follow the North Star. Interested in helping out with this program? Sign up in Volgis cs today! cs today! If you have put in 100 or more hours since
November 1, 2015, you are eligible for a free
membership. October is your last chance to
get in any hours you’ve missed entering.
Volgistics won’t allow you to enter hours that
go back more than 30 days. Anything older
than that has to be sent to Jody or Pam.
Check your records and if something looks or
is wrong, let us know and we will be happy
to help fix it.
Special Events The following volunteer opportuni es will be posted in Volgis cs. Sign up for your favorite events and programs during the months listed below. You will receive email no fica on when each opportunity has been posted: SIGN UP IN OCTOBER: Headless Horseman October 13‐16, 20‐23 and 27‐30 Follow the North Star School Program November 1‐18 select dates Follow the North Star Public Program November 3‐19 Thursday‐Sunday SIGN UP IN NOVEMBER: Gingerbread Jamboree November 29‐December 15 select dates Conner Prairie by Candlelight December 2‐17 Friday and Saturday Dinner with Santa December 12‐17 Friday and Saturday Breakfast with Santa November 26‐December 18 Saturday and Sunday JOE ZIELINSKI JOE ZIELINSKI THANK YOU for dona ng your me and talents to Conner Prairie. Check back next month for more opportuni es to join the fun. OUT AND ABOUT