A new opportunity to share...

Visitors come from all over the world to Will Rogers Memorial Museum. They come by the big yellow bus loaded with school kids, tour bus, car, motorcycle and sometimes by foot, to learn about Will Rogers.

Spend a few hours a month with an opportunity to meet these visitors and at the same time share the life, wisdom and humor of Will Rogers.

A new class of Ropers (docent volunteers) will begin training Thursday, Sept. 6. Classes will meet each Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 6 except for Will Rogers Days (Nov. 1-4) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 22) when sessions will be on Tuesday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Facilitating the classes will be Elmer Symsack, Sherry Whisler and Karen Tripp. Symsack and Whisler were in the first class of volunteers in 2008.

Ropers welcome visitors, introduce them to the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, answer questions about exhibits and Will Rogers — and point out other places of interest for touring and experiencing museums.

The training sessions provide volunteers with information and resources to be an informed Roper. Continued training and updates allow Ropers to remain current on new exhibits and events at the Museums.

There are opportunities to serve as a guide, greeter and interpreter and/or work in areas of collections, horticulture and special events.

Since the Roper program started, almost 12,000 hours have been donated, more than 4,000 in 2011.

Ropers come from all walks of life — truck driver, doctor, dentist, lawyer, judge, pilot, businessmen and women, homemakers, teachers, writers, all share a love of Will Rogers lore. While most are retired, some still work and schedule volunteer days with their employers or take weekend duty.

Many live in Claremore, but others come from Pryor, Tulsa, Sperry, Owasso, Oologah, Inola, Collinsville, Adair, Foyil, Haskell and Chelsea.

Ropers have had an increasingly important role with the increase in attendance and special activities at both muesums and budget restrictions, said Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Memorial Museums executive director.

Ropers are required to join Friends of Will Rogers support group at least at the minimum level, volunteer at least two five-hour shifts per month, read and research the life and legacy of Will Rogers and the museums’ collections and undergo a background check.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Memorial Museum or Birthplace Ranch, an application is available on the Museum website. Applications are also available in the office and at the admissions desk or by calling the office, 918-341-0719.

Volunteer hours pass 11,000 mark

Will Rogers Memorial Museum volunteers were honored during National Volunteer Week for the countless hours donated to the Museum during 2012. Volunteers honored and the number hours included (front from left on bench, Claremore residents unless otherwise listed) Hoytanna Benigar, 135; Carlene Webber, 147; Martha Swartz, Owasso, 261; and Kay Miller, 95; and (back from left) Connie Jesina, 61; Eileen Husting, 84; Sherry Whisler, 108; Bob Seay, Owasso, 82; Tom Lingenfelter, Owasso, 119; Intern Lycrecia Atkins, 196; Linda Bradshaw, Tulsa, 148; Dean Braddy, Chelsea, 98; Martin Howard, 181; Joyce Prebble, 160; Charles Schwabe, Haskell, 86 (his wife, Renee’, worked with him); Ken McSlarrow, Collinsville, 113; Cathy Porterfield, 80; Andrea Volturo, 33; Robert Ragland; and Mary Lee Spinks, 100. (Will Rogers Memorial Museums Photo) Will Rogers Memorial Museum volunteers were honored during National Volunteer Week for the countless hours donated to the Museum during 2012. Volunteers honored and the number hours included (front from left on bench, Claremore residents unless otherwise listed) Hoytanna Benigar, 135; Carlene Webber, 147; Martha Swartz, Owasso, 261; and Kay Miller, 95; and (back from left) Connie Jesina, 61; Eileen Husting, 84; Sherry Whisler, 108; Bob Seay, Owasso, 82; Tom Lingenfelter, Owasso, 119; Intern Lycrecia Atkins, 196; Linda Bradshaw, Tulsa, 148; Dean Braddy, Chelsea, 98; Martin Howard, 181; Joyce Prebble, 160; Charles Schwabe, Haskell, 86 (his wife, Renee’, worked with him); Ken McSlarrow, Collinsville, 113; Cathy Porterfield, 80; Andrea Volturo, 33; Robert Ragland; and Mary Lee Spinks, 100. (Will Rogers Memorial Museums Photo)

Since 2008 when 20 Will Rogers Memorial Museum Ropers volunteered 1,196 hours, the number of  volunteers has grown to 50 and the number of hours reached 4,148 for the year ending December 2011.
It has been four years since the late Susan Rollins trained that original group of Ropers. In that time, 11,712 volunteer hours have been logged. “Each one donates precious volunteer hours to create memorable, rewarding experiences for our visitors,” said Steve Gragert, Museum executive director, in honoring them during National Volunteer Week.
Volunteer hours were spent in training , greeting and guiding visitors, assisting in collections, researching grant opportunities and helping with special events.
Two Ropers earned “World Class Roper” recognition for 2011 (Claremore residents unless otherwise listed); Elmer Symsack with 357 hours and Martha Swartz, Owasso, with 261 hours. Symsack and Sherry Whisler, assisted by Jan Wilson and Karen Tripp, instructed the 2011 class of volunteer trainees.
Superior Ropers (100-199 hours) for 2011 are L.D. Allison, 132; Hoytanna Benigar, 135; Linda Bradshaw, Tulsa, 148; Martin Howard, 181;Tom Lingenfelter, Owasso, 119; Jean McCreery, 193; Ken McSlarrow, Collinsville, 113; Jan Wilson, 129; Joyce Prebble, 160; Joyce Rutter, Afton, 106; Bob Sperry, Foyil, 110; Mary Lee Spinks, 100; Karen Tripp, 144; Carlene Webber, 147; and Sherry Whisler, 108.
Super Ropers with 60-99 hours for the year are Joe Bacon, Pryor, 61; Dean Braddy, Chelsea, 98; Beverly and Bill Dieker, Pryor, 69 and 60 respectively; Judy Eagleton, 74; Anne Gentner, 66; Eileen Husting, 84; Connie Jesina, 61; Gene Lloyd, Oologah, 71; Dalton Lancaster, 89; Kay Miller, 95; Cathie Porterfield, 80; Charles and Renee Schwabe, Haskell, 86; Bob Seay, Owasso, 82; Sherri Stephens, Inola, 86; Neil Thielen, 64; Cynda Thomas, 60; and Karen Zink, Owasso, 60.