Clark County Historical Museum and Washington Museum Association
Howdy Howdy everyone! My name is Bear Martin, I use They/Them pronouns and I volunteer at the Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver, Washington, alongside volunteering for the Washington Museum Association. I am majoring in Art History with specifics in Ancient Greek, Rome, and Egypt art and architecture; As well as getting a minor in Indigenous Nations Studies. I'm also an artist who enjoys explaining and showing off my skills in ways that others could benefit from. My experience with being discriminated for my hearing disability as well as witnessing the Deaf community be ignored for so long, fueled my passion to make spaces more inclusive and more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Some may ask "Why volunteer here?"
I chose to work at CCHM because my career goal is to become a museum director myself and create a space that everyone could enjoy and learn history through art. When I applied to be a volunteer here, I felt a lack of experience in my career field for there are not many opportunities for Art History students to get out into the community and be of service. CCHM gave me that opportunity and more through the new skill sets I have been learning.
Some may ask "Why volunteer here?"
I chose to work at CCHM because my career goal is to become a museum director myself and create a space that everyone could enjoy and learn history through art. When I applied to be a volunteer here, I felt a lack of experience in my career field for there are not many opportunities for Art History students to get out into the community and be of service. CCHM gave me that opportunity and more through the new skill sets I have been learning.
History of Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM)
In 1964, the old Library that was originally the first public library in Vancouver, WA built in 1909, became a museum that holds and preserves the history and love of the community of Clark County. The museum has been actively demonstrating through their multiple exhibits that have gone through in the past 60 years now, how local history shapes our community and strengthens our perception of home. The museum believes that history happens every day, and through their collections of local historical artifacts and partnering alongside other local organizations, CCHM demonstrates to current and new generations of future historians just how important their lives are to Clark County’s history.
History of Washington Museum Association (WaMA)
WaMA was established to represent and serve museums of all types and sizes throughout Washington State. They are operated through an all- volunteer Board of museum professionals and supporters across Washington.
Accessibility
The museum provides accessibility for those who are mobility disabled with an ADA access in the back of the building that leads to an elevator that takes you to the reception and the basement that holds the research library. CCHM is currently working on having days dedicated to other needs like those on the autism spectrum, where they remove any sensory items that could cause any over stimulation. They also have a committee that works together to create more ways to make the museum accessible for everyone. They are also currently working on addressing systemic issues with organizations providing accessibility and helping build sustainable practices that will provide the necessary logistics for an inclusive museum and conference.
A Day as an Administrative Volunteer
CCHM: Run the Front Desk
- Taking Calls
-Greeting people when coming in
- Taking Calls
-Greeting people when coming in
- Open and Close museum
- Providing help in other departments
- Be apart of community meetings, and providing accommodation requests and advice
- Team Lead of Administration Team (Memberships)
-Handle both incoming and recurring Memberships
-Mailed in and Online Memberships - Be a voice
- Email local organizations for support to hire interpreters as well as give advice
- Coordinate accommodations with the WaMA president
- Create and present a progress report for every meeting
Goals
CCHM and I are working together to create ways we can support the community by listening to suggestions that have already been brought up by our own members and their stories, as well as creating an accessibility team that will coordinate and provide the accommodations that are needed, we are hoping that by next year we can provide a spacer and events that anyone with disabilities can go to, whether visual or invisible
"Where you off to now?"
On an adventure.
My experience of working with CCHM since August of 2023 has been an extremely impactful on my skills to becoming a museum director but impactful on my mental health as well, being able to surround myself with a caring community has made it easier for me to be involved and to experience what a future I chose will look like.
The impact I have made on the museum is the same as all my other wonderful volunteers I work with and my team. We all come together to create a space full of love and care of history, allowing stories to be naturally told.
For the deaf community, I hope I am creating a space they can also tell their stories like the ones they told me growing up and continue to tell me now.
My experience of working with CCHM since August of 2023 has been an extremely impactful on my skills to becoming a museum director but impactful on my mental health as well, being able to surround myself with a caring community has made it easier for me to be involved and to experience what a future I chose will look like.
The impact I have made on the museum is the same as all my other wonderful volunteers I work with and my team. We all come together to create a space full of love and care of history, allowing stories to be naturally told.
For the deaf community, I hope I am creating a space they can also tell their stories like the ones they told me growing up and continue to tell me now.