Introduction for Hosts and Docents House of Israel Balboa Park October 2, 2014.
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Transcript of Introduction for Hosts and Docents House of Israel Balboa Park October 2, 2014.
Introduction for Hosts and Docents
House of IsraelBalboa Park
October 2, 2014
Thank you for volunteering for the House of Israel (HOI) in Balboa Park
We would like to Inform you of some guidelines Suggest some ways of fulfilling our mission in a
manner that is enjoyable to you! Give you some information about Israel
Why do I need This?
The HOI is based on volunteers like you Our mission is to present Israel to visitors of
the HOI, its past and its present in a way that will promote understanding and cooperation
We are proud of Israel, her history and what she has become in these short years since 1948. We believe that most people are not aware of it. Let’s spread the word.
Our Mission
We do not engage in political discussions or lobbying of any kind including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Iran’s political situation
This is important, as it is against our bylaws, HPR’s bylaws, and federal regulations for a non-profit organization
If you find yourself in such a discussion, politely excuse yourself (you can mention that the HOI is non-political)
What we don’t do
If it is your first time, there will be someone more experienced with you to help
Feel free to contact any of our officers for support
The following pages will give you further information
Volunteering
Our main activity is to welcome guests into the HOI on Sundays (12 – 4 PM)
We serve food (typically Bourekas) and accept donations
We answer visitors’ questions Our exhibits are used to show visitors
different aspects of Israel, and to guide conversations with them
We write names in Hebrew
What we do
It is important to create a good impression with our visitors. Some commons sense things are:
Dress appropriately Be polite and welcoming Smiling is a good idea Wear a badge
Remember, you are representing Israel in the eyes of the visitors
General Instructions
Hosting consists of serving food to visitors Please wear disposable gloves if handling
food Do not serve minors without their parents’
consent, for legal reasons Donation is optional
Some people will not donate, it is okay. We are still doing our job by creating good will
Hosting
Docents are there to engage in conversation with visitors about Israel Use exhibits to guide conversation Answer questions
Be polite and warm. Most visitors are happy, curious, and open to input
It is a good idea to actively engage in conversations, see what the other person is interested in, connect this interest to Israel
Guiding/Docents
Most visitors are there for only a few minutes. Pay attention to their level of interest. Be sensitive if they seem ready to end the conversation
It is not a good idea to “lecture”. Let them share their thoughts and observations
If you don’t know an answer to a question, say so. There are some books in the HOI, and the Internet, to use as reference
Guiding/Docents
Please look at our presentation: “A Taste of Israel”, which includes useful information about Israel and our exhibits
Please familiarize yourself with our exhibits. Ask experienced volunteers for information if you need it
Each Docent has his/her own style. Be yourself and remember, it is good to smile!
Guiding/Docents
A panic button under the serving counter will alert alarm company, and they will dispatch police
In the event of a threatening presence, leave the House and call 911
There is a fire extinguisher in the HOI, make sure you know where it is and how to operate it
There are park rangers and HPR officials to support you in case of other issues
For any issue, you can call the president or another member of the board of the HOI
In case of emergency
We appreciate your volunteering We know that together we can show people
what Israel is really about: A country with over 3000 years of history A modern vibrant democratic state A melting pot of diverse population Excels in science, technology and arts A good citizen of the world
We appreciate any feedback!
Thank You