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Volunteer Opportunities

Art/Design

Committee Activity/Attire Requirements Prerequisites Commitment
Art Plan, promote and present art exhibitions and classes in the Visitors' Center, House and Gardens.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes		 Standing, hanging art objects. None 30 hours per year on an as–needed basis
Floral Design Support the Floral Design Classes, assist with decorating Filoli for various events and assist other Filoli volunteer groups with their floral design needs. Activities are indoors and outdoors.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes		 Standing, walking, sitting. Graduate of Filoli’s Home Floral Design Program (beginning, intermediate, advanced), plus completion of all required enrichment courses. 40 hours per year minimum which can include assistance in Anne Patrick ’s classes and other floral design classes that are offered periodically.
Flower Arrangers Create floral arrangements for the House, Visitor and Education Center Lobby and Garden on a weekly basis. Flower Arrangers also create arrangements for teas, lectures, special events and the holiday festival. Activities are indoors and outdoors and vary depending on the day of the week.
Attire: casual and comfortable shoes		 Picking flowers in the garden requires pulling wagons with buckets of water and flowers. Arrangers sometimes climb ladders. Must be in good physical condition. Taken courses in floral design or have experience as floral designers. 2 shifts of two hours per month.
Silk Flower Arrangers Create silk floral arrangements, wreaths and gift items for sale in the Gift Shop and at Holiday Traditions.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes 		Standing, sitting. Floral design experience or high craft background. 4–5 hour shift per week.

Gardening/Garden Shop/Café/Hospitality

Committee Activity/Attire Requirements Prerequisites Commitment
Gardening Assist the gardening staff by working in the gardens and orchard. Activities include weeding and raking the beds, removing debris, weeding the walkways, trimming seasonal plants and light pruning. Attire: Long pants or denim blue jeans, sturdy shoes, gardening gloves, a hat and sunscreen. Rain gear and boots may be needed for winter work. No shorts or sandals. Walking, bending, lifting and working outdoors. Also, volunteers may be asked to pull weeds (some people sit to pull weeds), push a half-full wheelbarrow and empty it, pull display beds, and dump display pots of soil with bulbs. Volunteers must be able to lift flats of plants weighing about 5 lbs. None, other than the ability to perform the various activities previously given. A minimum of at least 2 days a month are required (either a Monday or Thursday morning, from 9:00 to 11:30 am, January through December), and volunteer at one special event per year.
Garden Shop Staff the Garden Shop, operate the cash register, wrap purchases, assist guests and sometimes restock the shelves. Activities are indoors and, occasionally, outdoors.
Attire: dressy casual and comfortable shoes.		 Engaging guests in a friendly, smiling manner, standing, operating a cash register and wrapping purchases. None. On-the-job training provided. 2 or 3 three–hour shifts per month, choice of Tuesday through Sunday.
Café Serve Filoli guests indoors and outdoors along with set–up and clean–up of the Café. Tasks include: making coffee and ice tea; stocking condiments, plastic ware, and snack items; setting up food baskets and food cases; wrapping bars and cookies; wiping tables; operating a cash register; clearing food items at end of day; putting all refrigerated food in proper containers and preparing the Café for the next day in compliance with Health Department standards.
Attire: dressy casual, comfortable shoes.		 Standing, bending, light lifting, and walking. None. On-the-job training provided. 1 four–hour shift on the first, third and fifth or second and fourth weeks of the month plus two Sundays per year. Weekday and Saturday hours are 9–1 and 12–4. Sundays are 10:30–2:30 and 12–4.
Hospitality Assist with the food service at Filoli events by distributing box lunches and beverages, assisting in setting up tables and cleaning up after events. Committee members also serve at Governing Board lunches and special events, such as the Spring and Fall Festivals and Holiday Traditions. Members may also assist with ticket taking, sign–ins at events, etc. Volunteers are asked to help in the Café on an as–needed basis.
Attire: dressy casual, comfortable shoes. 		Standing for 3 hours. None. On-the-job training provided. Shifts are on an as–needed basis and normally last about 3 hours. All Volunteers must meet the 18 hour shift commitment for all Filoli volunteers and are encouraged to serve on other committees in addition to Hospitality.

Guides and Greeters

Committee Activity/Attire Requirements Prerequisites Commitment
Ambassador Be a friendly presence in the House and Garden and assist in the security for the property and safety of our guests.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes. 		Standing, walking, sitting; interacting with guests. Being acquainted with the material in the self-guided brochure made available to guests; optional one-day training classes when offered. There is not a specific number of hours required yearly. Ambassadors can develop their own flexible schedule; the program is a good entry into becoming better acquainted with Filoli and its other volunteer committees, and welcomes all members of other volunteer committees as well.
House and Garden Self–Guided Docent Welcome guests to Filoli. Educate visitors about the families who lived at Filoli and about the House and the Gardens. The docents also monitor the House and Gardens for the security and safety for our guests. Activities are indoors and outdoors.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes. 		Standing, walking, interacting with guests. Attend three morning training classes and two practice shifts. Attend annual update sessions. 20 shifts per year, which includes at least 1 Saturday and 1 Sunday shift per year. The shifts are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30–12:30 and 12:30–3:30 and Sunday, 11–2 and 12:30–3:30.
House and Garden Guided Docent Lead walking tours of the House and Gardens. Tours usually consist of eight to twelve people and last for 2 to 2–1/2 hours The tours educate visitors about the families who lived at Filoli and about the house and the gardens.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes. 		Lead a walking tour for 2 to 2–1/2 hours. Successfully complete the eight–week docent training course (meets Saturdays from February through early April). Attend annual update sessions. Lead 20 tours per tour season: 18 guided tours and 2 Sunday mini–tours. Shifts are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00–1:00 or 12:30–3:00 and Sunday from 11:00–2:00 or 12:30–3:30.
4th Grade Guided Docent Lead walking tours of the House and Gardens. Tours usually consist of 6 to 8 people (students plus adult chaperones) and last for 1–1/2 hours. The tours educate students about the families who lived at Filoli and familiarize them with life during the early part of the 20th century using a variety of activities.
Attire: sporty casual and comfortable shoes. 		Lead tours and interact with students. Same as for House and Garden Docent. One tour or more per month, on an as-needed basis. Fourth grade tours are usually given February through June.
Nature Education Docent Lead weekday hikes of the Filoli nature preserve for school children and on Saturday for adults and children. Tours usually last 2 hours and consist of up to 8 children from the 1st through 6th grades. The hikes educate visitors on the flora, fauna, and Ohlone Indian life in the area. Activity is outdoors.
Attire: comfortable hiking attire and sturdy hiking shoes.
Nature Education Docent Promo Video. 		Lead a walking tour for 2 to 2–1/2 hours. Attire: comfortable hiking attire and sturdy hiking shoes. Successfully complete the 15–week training program given on Fridays (9am–3pm) covering natural history, geology, Ohlone life, and the history of Filoli. Lead 12 hikes per year during hiking season; mostly with children.

Administration

Committee Activity/Attire Requirements Prerequisites Commitment
Visitor Services Greet guests, process admissions and memberships, answer phones, check event/class ticket availability, book tours and school programs. Activities are indoors.
Attire: sporty casual. 		Knowledge of Filoli history and operations. Basic computer skills are helpful. Standing at the counter or sitting at a desk. Warm friendly smile and positive attitude. Training for the position will occur in February and on-the-job. 2 three–hour shifts per month with a suggested 2 Sundays per year. Shifts are from 9–12 and 12–3 Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 11–3:00.
Library/Collections Assist in staffing Friends Library and Sterling Library, re–shelving books and videos in the circulating library, and helping members find materials through the library cataloging system. Help with other projects as necessary.
Attire: sporty casual. 		Interacting with visitors; sitting and standing. Enjoy libraries and interacting with people. Previous library experience is helpful. 2 to 4 three–hour shifts per month on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Membership/Events Ticket Sales Process memberships and tickets for all special events, classes, lectures and workshops and answer a variety of general questions about Filoli. Activities are indoors.
Attire: sporty casual. 		High level of comfort in taking phone calls and inquiries. Commitment to outstanding customer service. Enjoy office work, which includes a variety of phone inquiries. The work is detailed and involves the need for diplomacy, positive attitude, accuracy and an interest in problem-solving. Shifts are typically 3.5 hours but can be 1-6 hours. Office hours are 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.