Student Manual

YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

The Atlanta History Center Youth Ambassador campaign was launched in 2016 in an effort to promote young people getting involved with history and generating support for the Atlanta History Center (AHC). Through this program young adults are appointed as AHC Youth Ambassadors.

Youth Ambassadors (YAs) serve to build a bridge between the AHC and the surrounding community. While working is a valuable resource, Youth Ambassadors become knowledgeable about the inner workings of Atlanta History Center and gain entry level experience in a vast array of fields. AHC proudly boasts varied and historically diverse holdings and opportunities for YAs. These opportunities include, but are not limited to historic preservation and interpretation, public garden living collections, community outreach, special events, and more. Each of our departments is itself an invaluable resource that allows Youth Ambassadors to explore various avenues and discover their passions.

The Youth Ambassador Program is a youth-led movement for promoting the history and service to other young adults. Youth Ambassadors share their passion for history with the hope of inspiring others to learn about the history of Atlanta and the region.

What is the Youth Ambassador Program?

Becoming a Youth Ambassador• In order to be eligible to be a Youth

Ambassador you must be between the ages of 15 and 19.

• You must read and sign a Release, Waiver, Indemnification, and Assumption of Risk Agreement. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parents sign the release form as well.

• Identifiable clothing will be provided.

• Commit to ongoing training and continuing education.

• Adhere to the YA volunteer manual.

The Role of a Youth AmbassadorThe role of the Youth Ambassador is to raise awareness about the AHC and to support its mission. YAs will take an active part in various public programs, seasonal, and other special events and assist with AHC daily responsibilities or special projects. In order for them to effectively share about the AHC, Youth Ambassadors are encouraged to meet with the staff and collaborate on new ideas as well as serve as a friendly face during AHC programs.

Atlanta History Center is looking for the best and brightest history or service enthusiasts and advocates to share the mission of the AHC. Ambassadors will receive hands-on guidance from AHC staff as they find their path at the AHC.

Rights and Responsibilitiesof a Youth Ambassador

Youth Ambassador Rights• Each Ambassador has the right to

be respected.

• Comprehensive and effective training, orientation, and materials, so you can perform your role safely and successfully.

• Gain valuable knowledge about AHC, including information about mission, policies, procedures, staff, and programs.

• Sound guidance and direction from AHC staff who are experienced, well informed, patient, and thoughtful.

• Have a part in planning activities and feel free to make suggestions.

• Recognition and expressions of appreciation.

Youth Ambassador Responsibilities• For this position you must volunteer a minimum

of 1 school year with a commitment to perform minimum 50 volunteer hours and/or support 3 key programs and high volume times (weekends).

• Attend mandatory training and orientation sessions.

• Understand and support the purpose, structure, and policies of the Youth Ambassador Program and Atlanta History Center.

• Conduct himself or herself in accordance with the standards of conduct and ethics of the AHC.

• You must keep track of all of your volunteering hours as Youth Ambassadors and report those to the Volunteer Coordinator or the Youth Ambassador Program Coordinator.

• Maintain regular communication with the AHC Volunteer Coordinator.

• Ask questions, communicate ideas, and update the coordinator on project progress.

• Maintain regular communication with AHC staff to discuss ideas, learn about the History Center (via phone, e-mail, etc.), and be notified of upcoming events.

• Carry out duties promptly and reliably.

• Endeavor to be flexible in accepting assignments, perform assigned responsibilities willingly and courteously to the best of his or her ability, and accept the guidance of his or her supervisor. If you need help, ask AHC staff for information or ask your Volunteer Coordinator.

• Select assignments that you are physically capable of performing and let your AHC contact know if you feel uncomfortable with any job that you are asked to do.

• Be accountable on days that you have agreed to be somewhere and to stay as long as you have committed to stay as well as provide timely notification to his or her supervisor of absence or termination.

• Communicate any problems or suggestions with AHC staff.

• Meet and interface with your fellow Youth Ambassadors and other AHC volunteers.

• Abide by AHC rules, by-laws, and regulations.

• Commit to tobacco, alcohol, and drug free involvement.

• Ambassadors will wear AHC id badge and YA shirt at all times when working in a volunteer capacity on campus.

• Comply with time and dress requirements of the AHC.

• Obey all security and safety rules of the institution.

• Use reasonable judgment in making decisions when no policy is apparent and consult with your AHC contact if no policy is available.

Responsibilities of Your Volunteer Coordinator• Insure all necessary paperwork

is completed.

• Scheduling the Ambassadors activities and training.

• Provide you with Atlanta History Center related materials and equipment necessary to perform your duties.

• Supervision of the Ambassadors as required.

• Program orientation and safety training.

Volunteering does a lot more than just look good on a resume. Many young adults utilize opportunities, such as the Youth Ambassador Program, to get involved with their communities, develop communication and physical skills, and to network for future job opportunities.

The Youth Ambassador Program offers many personal and professional benefits to young adults. This program encourages young people to get involved with unfamiliar experiences. It provides a means to build new skills and confidence, overall encouraging personal growth.

The Youth Ambassador Program fosters growth using the philosophy of Esprit de Corps. Esprit de Corps literally means Group Spirit. It is a feeling that develops over time when people learn to work effectively as a team toward a common goal. Esprit de Corps is an integral part of the Atlanta History Center Ambassador experience and will foster team success.

The Youth Ambassador program is also about outreach and education. The Ambassadors learn how to reach and influence certain audiences. In any business the skill of being able to distinguish and target a certain group is essential. The contacts that are made through this position (both inside and outside AHC) will provide the Ambassador with excellent references and professional contacts.

How You Benefit From Being a Youth Ambassador

Benefits of Being an Atlanta History Center VolunteerVolunteering for Atlanta History Center’s Youth Ambassador Program offers many of its own incentives.

• To build your knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• To help make your community a better place to live.

• To build your resume and future career contacts.

• To have fun and make friends.

• To meet others with similar interests and build lasting relationships.

• Engage in new challenges and opportunities.

• To build self-esteem and confidence.

In addition to these incentives, to show that AHC values the time volunteers commit to working at Atlanta History Center, we have put together some fun perks for volunteers.

After volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours annually, each volunteer will receive:

• 20% off items in the AHC Museum Shops

• 20% off books at author events

• 10% off dining in the Souper Jenny

After volunteering for a minimum of 25 hours annually, each volunteer will receive the benefits listed above plus:

• Twelve (12) guest passes to visit Atlanta History Center.

– Passes cannot be used for any Special Event at a reduced price

ParkingAccess to the Atlanta History Center’s parking deck is free for all volunteers and guests. The deck is located near the West Paces Ferry Road and Andrews Drive entrances. Reserved handicapped parking spaces are located at the front entrance to the Atlanta History Center near the West Paces Ferry Road entrance.

If you are volunteering for an evening event, park in the lot designated for the building in which the event will take place. If special parking arrangements have been made for a particular event, you will be notified.

Sign In/OutAll volunteers must sign in and out at their designated location daily. The Volunteer Manager will let you know where the sign-in kiosks are located. This acts as a time record for the Volunteer Manager to document your hours and for safety.

Dress CodeSpecial Events (Non-Family Programs, Lectures, Tours, and Reading Room)

Attire should be business casual and includes: Neat pants, khakis, or slacks and skirts as well as short-sleeved polo shirts or long-sleeved shirts; however, excludes tennis shoes, tight or short skirts, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.

Family Programs (or Behind the Scenes Services)

Attire can either be business casual or casual attire and includes: Clean jeans, tennis shoes, Staff T-shirts, and sweatshirts.

The protective services department is responsible for the daily opening and closing of all buildings and gates. Special events, early openings, and late closings are coordinated with the manager of protective services. Guards are present at these events for your protection and convenience. The protective services department can be reached at 404.814.4171.

Security

Reasonable Accommodation and Accessibility for Recipients of ServicesAtlanta History Center is committed to the fair and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation is the key to this nondiscrimination policy. It is the policy of Atlanta History Center to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities when such accommodations are directly related to performing the essential functions of a position, competing for a position, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment. This policy applies to all applicants, employees, and employees seeking promotional opportunities.

Appropriate Safety Precautions for VolunteersAccident Reporting Ambassadors must immediately report all personal injuries, vehicle accidents, and incidents to the program’s coordinator.

First Aid Ambassadors should know the location of first aid kits. A prompt first aid response can keep most injuries and medical situations from growing worse. Every worksite should have an emergency medical plan.

Maintenance Safety in the workplace requires keeping the environment free of hazards that arise from lack of regular maintenance and servicing. Ambassadors should report any work conditions that are potential safety hazards.

Office Safety Office work is not necessarily hazardous, but accidents do happen! Most are preventable if common hazards are identified and preventive measures are taken. Site supervisors will go over common hazards and ways to avoid them.

Ambassadors should learn the numbers to call for fire or medical emergency. (A copy of important AHC contact numbers has been provided at the end of this manual)

Lifting Most back injuries result from improper lifting. Staff will provide information on how to lift properly to protect against back injury.

Personal SafetyYou can reduce your chances of being the victim of a serious crime by using a few simple procedures.

• Secure your valuables. Hold tightly any purse, shopping bag, briefcase, or camera. Avoid swinging it from a shoulder or arm. Place the bag or case over your shoulder, and then cover it with a jacket. If someone snatches your bag, purse, or case, do not fight or chase him.

• Remember vehicle safety. Keep the car doors locked even when you are inside the car. Always park in lighted areas. Never leave your keys in your car, even if you are within sight of it. Never leave children or pets in your car for any length of time.

• Don’t flash cash. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Don’t carry valuable jewelry or watches in shopping bags, purses, or briefcases.

• Know where you are going. BE ALERT! Walk with purpose and be familiar with the area.

• Remember safety in numbers. Travel in groups or with a friend or staff if possible.

• Travel along lighted or busy routes. Request a protective services officer to escort you to your destination anytime, day or night, if you feel uncomfortable. If you are being followed, you can change direction and walk toward where you know there are others. Never accept rides from strangers.

Emergency Protocols

AccidentsMost accidents can be prevented, and it is your responsibility to report any unsafe conditions that you may observe during your workday. If you happen upon the scene of an accident, you should:

• Remain calm.

• Do not move the injured person unless it is absolutely necessary to save the victim from danger.

• Keep the injured person lying down and as comfortable as possible.

• Notify your volunteer supervisor.

• Notify the protective services department immediately for assistance at 404.814.4171 or by portable radio if available.

• Do not call 911 before contacting your volunteer supervisor or protective services —even if the situation appears to be serious.

• Reassure the injured person, and try to remain calm. Calmness will convince the injured person that everything is under control.

FiresIf you observe any potential fire hazards, please notify the protective services department at 404.814.4171. Be familiar with the proper use of a fire extinguisher. If a fire breaks out:

• Notify your volunteer supervisor and the protective services department at 404.814.4171. They will assist you.

• Direct all persons out of the building and keep them out.

• Notify the fire department: Use the nearest fire pull or dial 911.

• Then, and only then, you may attempt to put the fire out. Use a fire extinguisher for small fires, such as those in waste cans. If the fire is uncontrollable, exit the building immediately.

First Aid Locations• Smith Farm House Interpreters Room

• Swan House Interpreters Room

• Gardens Building Kitchen

• McElreath Hall Kitchen

• Museum Grand Ballroom Kitchen

If you see suspicious activity, please contact protective services by informing the first staff person you see or go to the Guest Experience Desk.

Volunteer Liability InsuranceVolunteers at Atlanta History Center are covered by the Center’s general liability policy, which provides protection against lawsuits for bodily injury recompense to other persons by a volunteer acting in his or her capacity as a volunteer for the Center. Volunteers are also protected under a federal law, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. This act is designed to protect volunteers from lawsuits brought for certain acts or omissions by the volunteer. It provides partial immunity for ordinary negligence on the part of the volunteer, but has a number of exclusions—including exclusion for liability resulting from the operation of any vehicle requiring an operator’s license or insurance under state law. Workers’ Compensation applies only to compensated employees so does not extend to unpaid volunteers. The volunteer’s personal health insurance will be them only recourse if injured while volunteering at Atlanta History Center.

Compliance with Drug Free Work ActIt is the policy of Atlanta History Center to maintain a drug-free workplace. Alcohol/drug abuse in the workplace has many detrimental effects on any organization, its employees, and its volunteers. Alcohol/drug abuse impacts morale, lowers productivity, causes safety violations, and increases health care costs. AHC is committed to maintaining a work environment free from illegal drugs, alcohol, and other prohibited substances. The History Center has an obligation to its paid and unpaid staff members, and the public, to take reasonable and appropriate steps to prevent drug and alcohol abuse by all staff members in and affecting the workplace.

Policy:A. All Youth Ambassadors are expected to be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol while they are on duty.

B. Prohibited Practices—Consistent with the commitment stated above, it is the policy that all Ambassadors shall not:

1. Report to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

2. Possess or consume alcoholic beverages while on duty without authorization;

3. Possess or consume any illegal, non-prescription drugs while on duty;

4. Place, carry, or allow to be placed any unauthorized alcoholic beverages in any AHC vehicle or equipment; or

5. Sell or provide drugs or alcohol to any other employee or to any person while such employee is on duty

General Information

Admission/HoursThe all-inclusive general admission allows access to Atlanta History Center—including the Atlanta History Museum, the 1860s Smith Family Farm, the 1920s Swan House, and Goizueta Gardens. General admission is $21.50 for adults; $18 for students 13+ and seniors 65+; $9 for youth 4–12; and free for children 3 and under and Atlanta History Center members.

Atlanta History Center is open Monday–Saturday from 10am–5:30pm and Sunday from 12noon–5:30pm. (Ticket sales stop at 4:30pm daily.) Atlanta History Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. However, it is open on Martin Luther, Jr. King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

The Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center is open Wednesday–Saturday from 10am–5pm. The Research Center is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

The Margret Mitchell House (Midtown Campus) is open Monday–Saturday from 10am–5:30pm and Sunday from 12pm–5:30pm. Tours are typically offered every half hour with the last tour offered at 4:30pm daily. Margaret Mitchell House is closed December 24–26 as well as January 1. Margret Mitchell House is open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

MembershipMembers play a crucial role in supporting Atlanta’s history. Become a member and receive unlimited free admission, experience exclusive sneak previews, engage in the real stories of the South, and enjoy a host of additional privileges. Our memberships accommodate individuals, couples, and families.

Group ToursSpecialized guided tours and self-guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more adults or ten or more children.

Inclement Weather Policy/ProcedureWhen Atlanta History Center is closed due to inclement weather, the entire facility is closed to both the public and staff. Volunteers and staff are to use their best judgment in determining the potential hazard to their personal being of attempting to come to work during inclement weather. If the History Center remains open but a volunteer is unable to make it, the volunteer should call their supervisor and do not try to come in at the risk of your own safety.

In the event of inclement weather you can call the Employee Weather Hotline after 7am at 404.814.4026 for a general announcement on weather conditions and possible AHC closing or late opening. If the History Center phone system is down or if your phone does not work, please listen to the radio or watch the television if possible to find out about closure. History Center is usually closed when the Atlanta Public Schools are, but it’s not a guarantee.

Statement of AccessibilityIt is the policy of the Atlanta Historical Society, Inc., to audit its services, programs, and accommodations periodically and to implement reasonable modifications to assure accessibility to all people. The Atlanta History Museum and McElreath Hall are accessible to people with disabilities. The historic houses are not accessible. Paved and unpaved pathways through Atlanta History Center’s Gardens lead to Swan House and Smith Family Farm. Large-print reading materials are available for some exhibitions in the Atlanta History Museum. Video presentations at Atlanta History Center are subtitled in English. Visitor maps are available in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish and are located at the Guest Experience Desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes you will be asked questions that you cannot answer. The best thing to do is be honest about the fact that you do not know the answer. If you have partial knowledge or a hypothesis that may help to answer the question, you may suggest it, but you must be sure to tell the visitor that the answer you are giving is a guess or a hypothesis. The general rule is that no answer is better than an incorrect or misleading answer.

Was Gone With the Wind filmed at Swan House?Gone With the Wind was filmed entirely in Hollywood—most of it on a sound stage. The only outdoor footage was shot at Busch Gardens in Los Angeles, California. Author Margaret Mitchell envisioned Tara (Scarlett’s home) as a typical plantation house (like Smith Family Farm) and much smaller than the grand Hollywood-created mansion in the film. Swan House was built almost sixty years after the Civil War.

I have a _______ in my attic. Do you want it?The collections department may be interested in what you have. Let me take your name and phone number, and I will be happy to pass along your message to the appropriate curator.

Why can’t we touch anything?We hope the homes and objects you are enjoying will be here for your children and grandchildren in the future—in just as fine condition as they are today. Our collections are fragile and may be damaged forever by the gentlest touch. One touch may not seem like much, but a million visitor touches will destroy any object. Artifacts, painted surfaces, and the like are not as sturdy as they look. Tiny traces of moisture from your fingers can, in time, strip the rich surface from furniture and rust steel. Fingernails and rings will, in time, gouge deep furrows in stone or wood. Handled carelessly, glass will crack and plaster will break. Please help us preserve our collections.

What happens to the old exhibitions?Exhibitions change after a certain period of time. The objects used in exhibitions may go into storage but are likely to be used again in future exhibitions. Staff and visiting researchers continue to use the research and text, and some exhibitions are reconfigured and sent out as traveling exhibitions or installed at other institutions.

How long does it take to tour the museum?We recommend two hours (one hour for the houses).

How long does it take to tour the entire History Center?We recommend allowing about four hours.

When should I leave the museum to go to Swan House or Smith Family Farm?Allow yourself seven to ten minutes to walk to either house.

What’s the quickest way to I-75? I-85? I-285?The Guest Experience desk staff will give you directions and a map.

Is the Atlanta History Center part of the Governor’s Mansion?The Governor’s Mansion is not associated with Atlanta History Center and is located about half a mile away. The Guest Experience desk staff will be happy to give you information on how to get there.

Where can I hang my coat? Will it be safe? The Guest Experience desk staff can give you a key to a locker if you would like to secure your coat.

Do I need a ticket to go to the Museum Shop/Souper Jenny?No. There is no charge to enter the shop or Souper Jenny.

Where are the archives? Do I need a ticket to go there?The archives are known as the Kenan Research Center and is located on the ground floor of McElreath Hall. Admission is free, and it’s closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Is the Atlanta History Center handicapped-accessible?The Atlanta History Museum is accessible but not the A. Thornton Kennedy Theater. McElreath Hall is accessible. The historic houses are not accessible. Garden paths are unpaved. Check with the Guest Experience desk staff about accessibility to all History Center facilities.

About the Atlanta History Center

In 1926, fourteen civic-minded Atlantans chartered the Atlanta Historical Society to help preserve the city’s history. These founding members met at each other’s homes, collected early manuscripts and photographs, and published research bulletins—all “to arouse in the citizens and friends of Atlanta an interest in its history.”

Over the past 90+ years, the organization has grown substantially in both scope and size, and in 1990, the Atlanta Historical Society and all of its holdings officially became the Atlanta History Center. Now located on 33 acres in historic Buckhead, Atlanta History Center strives to connect people, history, and culture through one of the country’s premier History Centers.

Atlanta History Center is a unique campus that houses the Atlanta History Museum, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Swan House, Smith Family Farm, six historic gardens, and the Kenan Research Center. Atlanta History Center also includes the Margaret Mitchell House, located off-site at our Midtown campus.

Throughout the year, we bring history to life through living history programs, lectures with award-winning authors, toddler programs, homeschool days, school tours, summer camps, music series, annual festivals such as Sheep to Shawl, and much more.

The Atlanta History Museum at Atlanta History Center is one of the largest history museums in the nation, featuring award-winning signature exhibitions that tell the story of the region's people—from its earliest settlers to the international city of today.

Atlanta History Center’s property features six historic gardens representing Georgia’s distinctive flora, both native and introduced. Each garden tells the story of a particular group of people who interacted with this land and its plants in distinguishable ways.

Atlanta History Center also operates three historic houses, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Smith Family Farm (registered as the Tullie Smith Farm) and the Swan House, both located at our Buckhead campus, take visitors back in time to explore the lifestyles of Atlantans from the 1860s through the 1930s.

Our third historic property, the Margaret Mitchell House, is located on a two-acre site in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The Margaret Mitchell House is a designated city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a popular tourist destination, and home to a variety of author programs. The Margaret Mitchell House features guided tours of the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind, two exhibitions—The Making of a Film Legend: Gone With the Wind and Margaret Mitchell: A Passion for Character, and the Margaret Mitchell House gift shop. Designed to honor and preserve the legacy of Margaret Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell House hosts regular programs with award-winning authors, as well as annual creative writing classes for adults and youth, and community initiatives that engage younger generations in the process of writing, reading, and reciting literature, such as Poetry Out Loud.

For historians looking to do their own research, the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center is a free public research center offering a multitude of resources for the study of Atlanta and Southern regional history and culture, with dedicated collections on decorative arts, genealogy, military history, and Southern gardens. Copies of historic photographs, prints, maps, and other archival images can be purchased through the Kenan Research Center.

Atlanta Historical Society StructureGoverning AuthorityThe Atlanta Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation under the governance of a self-perpetuating board of trustees elected by the Society’s membership during an annual meeting. In the broadest terms, the function of the board of trustees is to establish and monitor organizational policy, ensuring that the Society fulfills its obligations as a public trust.

Management StructureAtlanta History Center is organized in a hierarchical manner within the framework of divisions, including administrative services; operations; development; public programs; exhibitions and collections; archives and research; capital projects; historic houses; gardens and grounds; volunteer services; special events; and communications. Division directors compose the senior staff and serve on the executive director’s executive council.

Margaret Mitchell House404.249.7015

AHC Museum Shop404.814.4075

Protective Services404.814.4171

Kenan Research Center404.814.4040

Swan Coach House404.261.0636

AHC Weather Line404.814.4026

Volunteer ServicesVolunteerservices@atlantahistorycenter.com404.814.4045

Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30305 404.814.4000

Monday–Friday 10am–5:00pm

atlantahistorycenter.com