Introduction for Hosts and Docents

House of IsraelBalboa Park

October 2, 2014

Thank you for volunteering for the House of Israel (HOI) in Balboa Park

We would like to Inform you of some guidelines Suggest some ways of fulfilling our mission in a

manner that is enjoyable to you! Give you some information about Israel

Why do I need This?

The HOI is based on volunteers like you Our mission is to present Israel to visitors of

the HOI, its past and its present in a way that will promote understanding and cooperation

We are proud of Israel, her history and what she has become in these short years since 1948. We believe that most people are not aware of it. Let’s spread the word.

Our Mission

We do not engage in political discussions or lobbying of any kind including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Iran’s political situation

This is important, as it is against our bylaws, HPR’s bylaws, and federal regulations for a non-profit organization

If you find yourself in such a discussion, politely excuse yourself (you can mention that the HOI is non-political)

What we don’t do

If it is your first time, there will be someone more experienced with you to help

Feel free to contact any of our officers for support

The following pages will give you further information

Volunteering

Our main activity is to welcome guests into the HOI on Sundays (12 – 4 PM)

We serve food (typically Bourekas) and accept donations

We answer visitors’ questions Our exhibits are used to show visitors

different aspects of Israel, and to guide conversations with them

We write names in Hebrew

What we do

It is important to create a good impression with our visitors. Some commons sense things are:

Dress appropriately Be polite and welcoming Smiling is a good idea Wear a badge

Remember, you are representing Israel in the eyes of the visitors

General Instructions

Hosting consists of serving food to visitors Please wear disposable gloves if handling

food Do not serve minors without their parents’

consent, for legal reasons Donation is optional

Some people will not donate, it is okay. We are still doing our job by creating good will

Hosting

Docents are there to engage in conversation with visitors about Israel Use exhibits to guide conversation Answer questions

Be polite and warm. Most visitors are happy, curious, and open to input

It is a good idea to actively engage in conversations, see what the other person is interested in, connect this interest to Israel

Guiding/Docents

Most visitors are there for only a few minutes. Pay attention to their level of interest. Be sensitive if they seem ready to end the conversation

It is not a good idea to “lecture”. Let them share their thoughts and observations

If you don’t know an answer to a question, say so. There are some books in the HOI, and the Internet, to use as reference

Guiding/Docents

Please look at our presentation: “A Taste of Israel”, which includes useful information about Israel and our exhibits

Please familiarize yourself with our exhibits. Ask experienced volunteers for information if you need it

Each Docent has his/her own style. Be yourself and remember, it is good to smile!

Guiding/Docents

A panic button under the serving counter will alert alarm company, and they will dispatch police

In the event of a threatening presence, leave the House and call 911

There is a fire extinguisher in the HOI, make sure you know where it is and how to operate it

There are park rangers and HPR officials to support you in case of other issues

For any issue, you can call the president or another member of the board of the HOI

In case of emergency

We appreciate your volunteering We know that together we can show people

what Israel is really about: A country with over 3000 years of history A modern vibrant democratic state A melting pot of diverse population Excels in science, technology and arts A good citizen of the world

We appreciate any feedback!

Thank You