Join our team of volunteers today for a fun, interesting and rewarding experience. Make a difference in our community by becoming a volunteer at the Museum on Main today!

Following are six categories of volunteer positions:

Docent/Greeter: The Museum needs volunteer docents and greeters on weekdays and weekends. Many people begin as volunteer greeters and learn about our local history while on the job. Volunteers will meet and greet visitors to the Museum. Expect to meet new people from all over the world and don't be surprised to see old friends coming back for a visit! All new volunteers will meet with office staff first and will begin to work alongside current volunteers at the Museum. Over time they will learn the local history of Pleasanton and the general operations of the Museum. Depending on shift, they will either open up the Museum or shut down the Museum daily. Volunteer greeter and docent shifts are from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Office Volunteer: Office volunteers are needed during the weekdays on Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Office volunteers can also serve as greeters while answering the phones, helping out with various tasks carried out on the computer and helping with mailings and other projects.

Archives & Collections: Are you interested in collecting data, historical research, old photographs and old collectibles? Then perhaps you would like to volunteer to help in our archive and collection department. Volunteers are able to help with specific projects. Often volunteers will enter data on special collections. Archival docents are needed to assist patrons wishing to do historical research. Volunteers will learn the PastPerfect software system which allows visitors a quick way to locate historical photographs for various research projects. We also have a library of local history books, videos and DVDs. Patrons often need help with these items. Photographs, documents, books and other media are not allowed to be removed from the Museum. Therefore, volunteers are needed to aid researchers on a daily basis.

Special Projects & Special Events: Special projects at the Museum On Main can cover a wide variety of areas. Sometimes a special project can be tied to our archive or collection departments. At other times, they can be linked to our special events. We often need help with various fundraisers such as tour guides & speakers for our Ghost Walks, volunteer help for our Heritage Days, help with membership drives, new exhibits, teas and fashion shows, antique fairs, preview parties and other activities. If you are unable to volunteer on a regular monthly basis, perhaps, helping with a special event is more for you. Special events occur during specific times of the year and often occur over a few days. Committee meetings might be held a few months prior to the events. If this sounds interesting to you, please contact our staff for further information (see contact information below).

Educational Volunteers and Tour Guide: If you enjoy history and teaching students, then perhaps you will enjoy being a Museum On Main Street tour guide. Learn our local history and then give tours to local students, Scout troups, senior groups and any other group asking for a Museum tour. Volunteers are also needed to lead historic downtown walking tours. Begin by working with and assisting the current educational director and other volunteers until you feel ready to branch out on your own!

Performer: Do you love local history? Would you like to dress in your own costume of the early 1900s and take on the persona of someone living at that time? The Museum on Main is looking for people who will attend the Museum's events, walk around in costume and talk to visitors. To assist volunteers, the Museum will provide training about the events and people of days gone by. Anyone who is interested can call Rebecca Bruner at 925.577.8802.

Click here for a form that you can fill out to apply for one of our volunteer positions. (This is a PDF which requires Acrobat Reader. You can download Acrobat Reader for free here.)

Send the completed form to:
Museum on Main Street
603 Main Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566

Or you can e-mail us at valleymuseum@sbcglobal.net. Please include your name and address, telephone number and e-mail address.

You can also call us at 925.462.2766.

Museum on Main in Pleasanton is Drop-off Point for Operation: S.A.M. Donations

The Museum on Main is an ongoing drop-off place for donations for Operation: S.A.M., a non-profit volunteer organization that sends packages to American troops to show support to those deployed all over the world, especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Needed are white cotton tube/crew socks, wash cloths, bug repellant, Tylenol, Baggies (quart & gallon zip lock), sun block, Visine, Tums, small envelopes, AA batteries, CD's, DVD's, hand-held computer games, foot powder, anti-fungal medicated cream, Chapstick, travel-size toothpaste and mouthwash, travel-size games, small word puzzle books, Crystal Light/water flavorings, T-shirts (green, tan sizes M-XL) and letters (please do not seal). Snack foods most requested are protein bars, trail mix, nuts/seeds, jerky and Slim Jims. All items should be small or travel size. A letter of encouragement accompanies all packages sent to the troops.

Operation: S.A.M. currently has a large supply of shampoo, conditioner, paperback books and magazines. Hotel travel-size soap does not travel well, but small containers of liquid body wash and hand sanitizer are good replacements.

Military Chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan assist in the distribution of the "Comfort Packages" to our troops that receive little or no mail from home.

Cash Donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for postage. Personal checks for postage can be made payable to: Operation: S.A.M., P.O. Box 2992, Livermore, CA 94551.

For more information contact the Museum 925-462-2766 or send an e-mail to Operationsam@comcast.net. You can also visit the website at www.operationsam.org.