Docent Volunteers
Volunteer Docents guide visitors through the Mansion, pointing out furnishings and items of interest while talking about the history of the Mansion and the McHenry family that built it. New volunteers receive 10 hours of training as well as a binder of useful information to use while giving tours. There is a small charge for program materials.
New volunteers are asked to join the McHenry Mansion Foundation and volunteer at least 49 hours during the year. In addition to tours, Docents can accumulate hours by giving group school tours, working on various committees, and serving at special events. Volunteers belong to the Docent Council, the organizing body for Docents, and meet on the last Tuesday of each month to conduct the business of the Council and enjoy an entertainment hour that focuses on subjects relating to the history of the Victorian era and the McHenry Mansion.
If you would like to become a Docent, drop by the Visitor Center and pick up an application.
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Merry Maids & Groomsmen Program
The McHenry Mansion Merry Maids and Groomsmen program is a group of dedicated individuals who represent the mansion by giving classroom presentations at schools in our community and the surrounding areas. They also encourage students to visit the mansion on their own with their families after their school tours.
Dressed in period clothing, a team of two docents gives a brief history of the family and the house. They display photographs and historical artifacts that were typical of the era. The presentations last approximately an hour and give future visitors a fun, informational experience. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and look for specific items in the house when they make their visits.
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During the 2022/23 school year, 24 presentations were given to 11 different schools, and about 850 students participated in the program. Schools mention their interest in the Merry Maids and Groomsmen Program to the city representative when scheduling Mansion and Museum visits and the program coordinator arranges the school presentations. The Merry Maids and Groomsmen may also be available for similar programs to service groups and other interested organizations in the area upon request. There is no fee charged for the presentations.
Tender Loving Care Committee
Volunteer docents and Foundation members keep the McHenry Mansion looking its very best. This group handles specialty cleaning such as polishing silver, dusting the artifacts, polishing the furniture, and washing the prisms on the chandeliers. The Committee regularly meets every month as needed.
The Guild
The Guild sponsors fund-raising events throughout the year. Foundation members organize and work on dinners, teas, holiday events and other projects to help raise money to support the Foundation and the Mansion.
The Special Events Committee
Foundation members on the Special Events Committee handle the 4th of July activities, the McHenry Mansion Foundation Annual Meeting and the McHenry Mansion Foundation Christmas Party.
