Guild Committees & Volunteer Roles
Guild Board of Directors and Officers
The President presides at all meetings of the Guild, its Board of Directors, and its Executive Committee. The President represents the Guild at Museum Board of Trustees meetings and is an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
The Vice President assists the President and presides in the absence of the President.
The Secretary prepares minutes of all meetings and is responsible for the permanent records and official correspondence of the Guild.
The Treasurer receives funds for the Guild and deposits them in a bank or banks designated by the Museum Chief Financial Officer, makes disbursements approved by the responsible Guild member, keeps the accounting records, and creates the financial reports.
The Parliamentarian is appointed by the President and serves on the Board in an advisory, non-voting capacity and is an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. The Parliamentarian advises the President, Board of Directors, and the Guild on points of parliamentary procedure according to Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
The Nominating Committee Chair presents to the membership a single slate of candidates for the offices of President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Nominating Committee Chair.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Guild Hospitality committees support and organize several Guild and Museum events throughout the year. Volunteers are often needed to help make coffee, arrange decorations, and provide food or snacks. In addition to the monthly Guild meetings, we host a Staff Appreciation lunch, the Holiday Brunch, and the spring lunch. We also provide refreshments to the artists at the Katsina Market. The Heard Guild is known for its hospitality and the committees are a wonderful way to meet other volunteers and interact with artists.
Where do I start?
Guild Members, contact the Hospitality Chair at hospitality@heardguild.org for complete information.
There are more than 30 Guild standing committees that work on various aspects of the Indian Fair & Market, plus ad hoc ones that are added as needed to produce the Fair. Some of the activities offer direct contact with the artists while others deal with behind-the-scenes operation. See section below “More Volunteer Opportunities: A Look at Guild Committees” to view the complete list of standing committees along with a brief description of each.
There are positions to fit everyone’s schedule from working nearly full-time to working a shift on Fair weekend. Unless a person is out of town or physically unable to help, everyone in the Guild gets involved in the Fair. It’s fun! This is the Guild’s biggest event and raises the most money for the Museum.
All sorts of skills are needed including marketing, project management, organization, negotiation, design, computer, selling, teaching, clerical, photography, etc. With over 700 time-slots available during the Fair weekend and numerous positions available before the Fair, we will have no trouble matching your skills and available time with meaningful tasks.
We are also always looking for people to step up and take leadership roles. If you think you would like to lead one of the Committees, sign up to work on that Committee to learn about it. You’re sure to find something that you will enjoy.
Where do I start?
Helping out is as easy as signing up at a Guild meeting, talking to a Chairperson, making a phone call, or writing an e-mail.
Guild members, contact fairchair@heardguild.org to find out more about the Indian Fair & Market opportunities. Come and join the fun!
The Information Desk is the first stop for most visitors who enter the Heard Museum. The people who man the desk are the public’s first contact with the Museum, and most of those people are Guild volunteers. They answer questions, orient visitors to the exhibits, and suggest they take the formal guided tours of the various galleries that are available. These volunteers set the tone for the guest’s entire experience in the Museum. If you enjoy meeting people from all over the world and talking about Native art and cultures, you will want to work at the Information Desk.
Where do I start?
Guild Members, contact the Information Desk Chair at infodeskchair@heardguild.org for complete information.
The Heard Museum’s Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives is a comprehensive research facility that includes information about indigenous art and cultures from around the world and an unparalleled resource file containing information about more than 25,000 American Indian artists. The Library also has an extensive Digital Library where you can view images of photographs, posters, and even artwork. Visit the Library’s website here.
Guild volunteers are involved in every aspect of making the Library run: logging in newly acquired books, magazines, and newspapers; clipping news articles; or updating records. You can set your own schedule and work as many hours or days as you like, although the librarians would like a commitment of 4 hours per week. Come join us–working in the Library is a friendly, fascinating, and rewarding experience.
Where do I start?
Guild Members, contact Mario Klimiades, Library & Archives Director at mario@heard.org.
If you enjoy greeting and assisting shoppers from all over the world, including some famous people, and meeting American Indian artists, the Heard Museum Shop is where you want to volunteer. When visitors walk into the shop, which is often their first exposure to American Indian culture, Guild volunteers are there to answer questions.
The shop is an interesting, exciting, and educational place to volunteer. Volunteers work alongside experienced and knowledgeable Museum staff, who share their expertise with both volunteers and customers.
The Heard Museum Shop features the finest, authentic, American Indian handmade jewelry, beadwork, textiles, pottery, katsinas, paintings, sculpture, and baskets. There are artists in every field who exemplify the best of the best and who have proven seminal in influencing future generations of artists and art styles.
Volunteer Training
Museum Shop volunteers are needed every day of the week. Morning, afternoon, and swing shifts allow volunteers to choose their own hours. A training program prepares workers for their duties. Throughout the year, workshops are held to keep volunteers up to date on merchandise and policies.
Where do I start?
Guild Members, contact the Museum Shop Chair at shop@heardguild.org for complete information.
The Guild Technology Committee is basically the IT department for the Heard Museum Guild.
The Committee manages the Guild’s software applications, computer resources, and a variety of activities to support Guild operations.
Most of our work can be done at home and only takes a couple of hours a week. All you need is an Internet connection, a computer, and willingness to help. We’ll provide all the training you’ll need.
Where do I start?
You can start by contacting the Technology Chair at techchair@heardguild.org for more information.
Youth Art programs include:
- The annual Youth Art Show & Sale for American Indian students in grades 7 through 12.
- Note Card sales, which fund student internships and grants to art teachers in schools where classroom populations include American Indian students.
Youth Art programs are successful because of the many volunteers who give tirelessly of their time. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the talent of emerging artists, support their dedicated teachers, and enjoy the camaraderie of the Heard Museum Guild community.
Have questions? Contact the Youth Art Coordinator at youthart@heardguild.org.
Guild Committees
The Guild Communication Chair is appointed by the Guild President to serve as the primary liaison between the Guild Board, event Chairs, and the Heard Museum staff responsible for membership and marketing. This role ensures effective communication and coordination of Guild activities, promoting engagement among members and the public.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee all Guild print and e-mail communications.
- Maintain content for the bi-weekly newsletter, Happening Now.
- Manage general Guild publicity and coordinate social media content.
- Ensure proper submission processes for events and publications.
For detailed guidelines on responsibilities, submission requirements, and communication protocols, please refer to the PDF document.
Education Programs Coordinator
The Education Programs Coordinator is chosen by the Guild President and plays a vital role in connecting the Heard Museum (HM) Guild Board of Directors with various Education Programs committee chairs. This person also works closely with the Heard Museum’s Education Department to support and enhance educational offerings for all.
Guild Education Coordinator
- Heard Guild Monthly Meetings Speaker Chair: Helps bring exciting, engaging speaker events to Guild members, promoting learning and fostering a sense of community.
- Heard Guild Presents: Marquee Artists Series Chair: Organizes special presentations by talented Native American artists, open to Heard Museum and Guild members, as well as the public.
- Heard Guild Travel Chair: Plans fun and informative trips to fascinating destinations, primarily in the Southwest. These trips often include overnight stays and are a great way for Guild members to explore new places (with priority access!).
- Heard Guild Explores Chair: Organizes interesting and educational day trips for Guild members and their guests, giving everyone a chance to enjoy local adventures.
- Heard Guild Short Courses Chair: Selects captivating speakers for the Guild’s educational Short Courses, focusing on Indigenous groups of the Southwest, along with other relevant and timely topics related to the Heard Museum.
- Heard Guild Special Training Classes Chair: Helps organize important training sessions for Guild volunteers, ensuring everyone is well-prepared and informed about the Museum’s needs and programs.
The Indian Fair & Market Chair (Fair Chair) oversees all aspects of the annual Indian Fair & Market. Supported by a Steering Committee, the Fair Chair appoints various Fair Committee Chairs and forms additional ad hoc committees when needed.
To volunteer for any of the committees, please contact the Fair Volunteer Placement Chair.
Artist Committees
- Artist Exhibitors Committee: Focuses on artist exhibitor arrangements.
- Demonstrators and Non-Profits Committee: Coordinates demonstrators and non-profits.
- Artists Hospitality Committee: Provides a welcoming experience for participating artists.
- Monitors: Ensures smooth event operations.
- Booth Relief: Supports artists by providing booth relief.
Cultural Performances Committee
- Organizes performances that enrich the Fair’s cultural experience.
Best of Show Committees
- Juried Competition: Manages artist competition and awards.
- Juried Competition Award Sponsors
- Best of Show Dinner/Reception Committee: Plans the celebratory dinner and reception.
- Best of Show Security Committee: Ensures security at the Best of Show event.
Fundraising Committees
- Admissions: Oversees Fair entry and ticketing.
- Fair Drawings: Organizes prize drawings to raise funds for the event.
Logistical Operations Committees
Food & Beverage Committee
- Ensures a variety of food and beverage options are available during the Fair.
Support Committees
- “Ask Me” Stations: Provides helpful information to Fair attendees.
- Volunteer Placement: Helps volunteers find the right role.
The Las Guias Education Coordinator is appointed by the Heard Guild President and is charged with planning and implementing the educational requirements of the Heard Guild.
Tasks:
Oversee the following Las Guias Education responsibilities, each chaired by a Las Guias member who has been appointed by the Las Guias Education Coordinator and approved by the Heard Guild President:
- Appoint and supervise the Las Guias Class Facilitator who recruits Las Guias students and facilitates the logistics for the six-month student classroom experience. The facilitator attends classes and communicates regularly with the students and mentors on topics related to the class.
- Appoint and supervise the Las Guias New Exhibit Trainer(s) who is/are responsible for training all Las Guias docents on new exhibits at the Museum.
- Appoint and supervise the Las Guias Scheduler who prepares, updates as needed, and maintains an overall schedule for Las Guias docents in their public, private and school tours conducted in the Museum.
- Plan and coordinate an annual Las Guias Tune Up training program.
- Appoint a Las Guias Performance Observation Committee Chair who prepares and executes a Las Guias docent peer review performance process.
- Appoint a Las Guias Docent Exchange Committee Chair who represents the Guild docents at the annual Phoenix area inter-museum docent annual meeting.
The Guild Membership Services Coordinator is appointed by the Guild President and serves on the Guild Board. With the help of at least one volunteer, the Coordinator ensures all aspects of Guild membership run smoothly.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing creative ways to grow Guild membership.
- Sending membership packets to new members after a welcoming letter is sent by the Technology Committee.
- Ordering name badges for members.
- Organizing new member orientation meetings at least twice a year, which include introductions to committee heads and a tour of the Heard Museum.
- Keeping the Guild Room stocked and organized, including water supplies and updated files.
For a detailed list of responsibilities, check out the Guild Membership Services Coordinator job description linked above.
Interested in learning more or lending a hand on the committee? Reach out to the Membership Chair at membership@heardguild.org.
The Museum Services Coordinator is appointed by the Guild President and serves on the Guild Board. This role involves overseeing a range of key activities:
- Museum Shop Board Chair: Leads a team that recruits, trains, and schedules volunteers to collaborate with the paid staff in the Museum Shop and Bookstore.
- Library & Archives Liaison: Works under the guidance of the Heard Museum’s Library & Archives Director to support the vital functions of a research library.
- Information Desk Chair: Recruits, trains, and schedules volunteers who provide a warm welcome and assistance to visitors at the Information Desk.
Interested in learning more about the role of Museum Services Coordinator or how you can contribute? Please contact the Coordinator at museumservices@heardguild.org.
The Guild Strategic Planning Committee, led by the Strategic Planning Chair, is responsible for creating action plans to support the Guild’s strategic initiatives.
The Strategic Planning Chair:
- Collaborates with the Guild Board and President to align assignments with strategic plan initiatives and action plans.
- May lead specific initiatives as assigned by the Guild Board or President.
- Works with Museum staff and Guild members to track progress, address issues, and ensure the success of the strategic plan.
- Oversees the Guild’s strategic planning committee.
- Provides monthly updates on the status of the strategic plan.
- May also help coordinate Guild projects that fall outside of the Heard Museum’s strategic plan.
If you’re interested in joining the Guild Strategic Planning Committee, please reach out to the Strategic Planning Chair at strategicplanning@heardguild.org.
The Guild Technology Committee is like the IT department for the Heard Museum Guild! Led by the Technology Chair, this team manages the Guild’s software, computer resources, and helps keep everything running smoothly. Here’s a glimpse of what we do:
- Create and maintain a 5-year plan for Guild information technology needs.
- Set and oversee IT standards for the Guild.
- Manage the Guild’s digital tools and software.
- Plan and budget for tech needs each year.
- Provide tech support for Membership, Las Guias, Information Desk, and the Museum Shop.
- Maintain our MS Access databases for Artists and Youth Art.
- Support the Guild’s website and social media.
- Coordinate with Heard Museum staff on IT plans and solutions.
- Recruit and guide members of the Technology Team on different projects.
The best part? Most of the work can be done from home and only takes a couple of hours a week! All you need is a computer, an Internet connection, and a willingness to learn. We’ll provide all the training you need to be up and running in no time!
Ready to join us? Reach out to the Technology Management Chair at techchair@heardguild.org for more info.
The Youth Art Coordinator is appointed by the President to serve as a liaison between the Board of Directors and the following committees that manage Youth Art and the annual Youth Art Show & Sale (formerly Student Art and the Student Art Show & Sale).
- The Youth Art Show & Sale Committee is responsible for implementation and execution of the Heard Museum Guild American Indian Youth Art Show & Sale (YASS).
- The Youth Art Note Card Committee is responsible for the selection, design, printing, packaging, marketing, selling, and order fulfillment of Youth Art Note Cards. This committee keeps its members busy throughout the year, selling cards, filling orders, and drumming up business. We can use salespeople, volunteers with marketing and advertising expertise, in addition to anyone who wants to have a good time and work on a worthwhile project.
- The Youth Grants Committee reviews grant applications from teachers whose students are participating in the Youth Art Show & Sale. These grants support art programs in junior and senior high schools by providing funds for the purchase of art supplies and materials.
If you are interested ted in learning more about chairing or serving on one of these committees, contact the Youth Art Coordinator at youthart@heardguild.org.
Become a Heard Museum Tour Guide
The Las Guias class year begins in November and ends in March.
Las Guias are dedicated members of the Guild who serve as trained Museum guides. All Guild members are welcome to apply for the Las Guias program. Please note that participation as a Las Guias guide requires active membership with the Heard Museum.
Classes are taught by a member of the Heard Museum curatorial staff and facilitated by a member of the Heard Museum Guild. Students wishing to enroll in the class must meet with the class facilitator and complete all expected enrollment procedures. The class is a hybrid model where students can attend online or in person, or a combination of both. Students are assigned a Las Guias mentor who works with the student from the beginning of class to the final graduation tour. Regardless of the model chosen, students must do practice tours in the museum under the guidance of their mentor.
Students learn the content of the Heard’s signature exhibition, HOME: Native Peoples in the Southwest, as well as the content of all other current museum exhibitions.
Las Guias must conduct 30 regularly scheduled public tours from October 1 to May 31.
In order to meet the 30-tour requirement, Las Guias are expected to sign up for two half days per month, to guide scheduled public tours from October 1 to May 31.
Public tours are offered in the mornings and afternoons; the required shifts are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The required public tours conducted by Las Guias are as follows:
• HOME tours
• Highlight tours
• Gallery talks
• Roving
Roving requires Las Guias to move about the Museum when not conducting tours, making themselves available to answer questions and assist guests.
Additional tours available for Las Guias to conduct are School tours and Private group tours. Las Guias also guide in June, July, August and September. Guiding in the summer months is encouraged but not required. Las Guias are required to secure substitute guides if unable to tour on their scheduled shift.
Las Guias must attend mandatory training sessions including new exhibit training, touring skills training and other training content determined by the Museum staff. Every Las Guias member will undergo a performance review at least once every three years or after a leave of absence of one year. New Las Guias will be reviewed the second year following graduation.
Contact educationlasguias@heardguild.org for further information
History of the Heard Museum Guild
In 1956, 30 women formed an Auxiliary to the Heard Museum with the goals of supporting the mission of the Museum, providing financial assistance, and conducting guided tours of the Museum’s collection. Founding President Helen Shackelford said of the role of Heard Guild volunteers: “Much needed doing, and we did it.”
The Guild grew exponentially in its first years, adding many new members, projects, and responsibilities. Volunteers opened a Gift Shop in 1958 “pledging to sell only the good, the authentic.” Also in that year, the first Indian Fair was held, and in 1968 the Heard Guild Arts & Crafts Exhibit was created as a juried competition. These two events were the basis of the current Indian Fair & Market, the Guild’s main fund-raising event. Men, including Senator Barry Goldwater, joined the Guild in 1972. Over the years, programs including Speakers Bureau, Information Desk, Student Art Sale, Library Book Sale, Scholarships and Grants, Trips, Lecture Series, and more were conceived, planned, and implemented by the vast talents of Guild volunteers.
The Guild President, elected by the Guild membership, presides at Guild meetings, represents the Guild at Museum Board of Trustee meetings, and, as an ex officio member of all Guild committees, generally supervises all Guild activities.
2024-2025 Shelley Mowry
2022-2024 John Miller
2020-2022 Jane Przeslica
2018-2020 Sue Snyder
2016-2018 Mary Endorf
2014-2016 Susan Kolman
2012-2014 Rod Passmore
2011-2012 Lucille Shanahan
2009-2011 Edna Weinberg
2008-2009 Ann Gorton
2007-2008 Jerry Bryan
The Fair Chair is arguably one of the most challenging and time-consuming jobs that the Guild offers to its volunteers. Responsible for managing every aspect of the annual Indian Fair & Market, the Fair Chair coordinates all Fair activities and supervises dozens of committees and hundreds of volunteers. For a full description of all the Fair Chair’s responsibilities, click here.
2024 Jane Sanford, Frank Vickory
2023 Jane Sanford, Frank Vickory
2022 Mary Endorf, Jackie Stubbs
2021 Anna Flynn
2020 Anna Flynn
2019 Anna Flynn
2018 Shelley Mowry
2017 Shelley Mowry
2016 Pat Kilburn
2015 Pat Kilburn
2014 Pat Kilburn
2013 David Newark
2012 David Newark
2011 John Miller
2010 John Miller
2009 Barbara Johnson
2008 Barbara Johnson
2007 Valerie Lucas/David Rothberg
2006 Dave Dolge
2005 De Bachmann
2004 De Bachmann
2003 Phyllis Noone
2002 Phyllis Noone
2001 Jean Timme
