Ronald Reagan Library Sacks Docents
The Ronald Reagan Library has an active docent program. Each docent, normally a senior citizen, volunteers his or her time to make the library an enjoyable experience for the library’s multitudes of visitors. The docents are always well groomed and polite to a fault. They are giving back to their community and doing something very important for their own health and welfare. Their volunteer job provides them with an important avenue to stay connected and active. These people, often well advanced in years, are not whiling away their years in non-productivity. The docent program is, therefore, a symbiotic relationship wherein both the library and the docent are benefited.
Now comes the question; what is the library to do when a docent is no longer cutting the mustard? The Library’s solution is a retirement with an “emeritus” status.
Twenty-seven docents at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum received letters, dated July 19, saying they've reached docent emeritus status, which, aside from exempting them from annual membership dues, also releases them from the most coveted work for a docent: conducting tours. These 27 docents will not lead tours of the new Air Force One Pavilion, scheduled to open this fall.
Some of the pink-slipped docents are angry and feel that they have been discriminated against on the basis of age. A library spokesperson responds:
"It has absolutely nothing to do with age," said Kirby Hanson, director of business development, who was the creator of the new emeritus program. "It's our responsibility to improve the volunteer program. The eyes of the world are on the Reagan Library.
"We could have dismissed them, but we didn't want to dismiss them," Hanson said. Each of the docents had served at least five years, she said. Most of them were in their 70s, but one was the youngest docent, Hanson said.
Hanson said evaluations have been conducted throughout the year, but six docents contacted by The Star said none of them was given an in-person evaluation.
All of this controversy has apparently resulted in some docents meeting and discussing things. A letter to all docents reveals that Duke Blackwood, executive director of the library, has opted to use a nuclear option:
The letter was written in response, as he said, to some "rumormongering," accusations and secret meetings among some of the volunteers, and aimed to stop any negative behavior.
"Because of the actions of the select few, I have been forced to take a swift and decisive action. PLEASE NOTE: If I learn of detrimental behavior, I will personally confront the individual(s). If I deem them a negative influence on the volunteer organization of the Library I will exercise my authority to remove those individuals immediately. This behavior will not be tolerated."
That’s pretty tough talk. I would say the docents have been fairly warned. Free speech is suspended upon admission to the docent program.
posted by Paul Coambs @ 10:32 AM
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