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August 2021
Dear Volunteers,
We have a lot of news for you this month! Please read through to learn about several important updates at the Garden, including Covid-19 guidelines, diversity initiatives, and a note about my upcoming maternity leave and plans for this fall.
Our major volunteer needs in September will be for Flower Piano, so we've included detail about the roles and opportunities to participate. Sign up on your own or with a friend and come enjoy this spectacular event!
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New Covid-19 Requirements
San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (SFBGS) will now be requiring all employees to be immunized against COVID-19. All volunteers who are active in an indoor location, including but not limited to the Library, Bookstore, and Plant Arbor, are also now required to be vaccinated. Masks are also required indoors for everyone, and are recommended in outdoor group settings.
Please update your vaccination status by logging into your personal site and editing your contact information (the grey sidebar). You can also email vaccination status to volunteer@sfbg.org.
This requirement is based on our desire to reduce the risk of infection for as many community members as possible and to help reach a point of herd immunity that will enable a return to high levels of in-person engagement and experiences. Please note that we will allow limited medical and religious exemptions in keeping with applicable law and standard practices.
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Diversity Initiatives
The Garden is working at many levels to support creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all volunteers, visitors, and staff. Specifically for volunteers, I'm pleased to offer the following:
- Diversity Resources on Volunteer Central: a new webpage with resources to explore and deepen our understanding about different communities which engage with the Garden
- Name badge with preferred pronouns. Send your name, pronouns, and volunteer position to volunteer@sfbg.org. Why are prounouns important?
- Diversity & Inclusion Feedback form: a private place to share concerns, experiences, questions, and suggestions for how we can better support a diverse volunteer community
- Implicit Bias Training for Volunteers: There will be two opportunities to attend this training in October, either in person or virtually. Stay tuned for dates!
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Flower Piano
September 17-21, 2021
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Flower Piano is back! This highly anticipated event has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that we need filled to make this magical event come to life once more.
Consider being a Greeter with the Welcome Table and welcoming guests to the Garden from one of our tables at the entry gates. Answer questions, give directions, and be one of the first smiling faces for this musical event.
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Our Piano Monitors will be stationed at prime piano locations to assist guests at that site. Key locations include the Zellerbach Garden, the Redwood Grove, the California Native Garden, and more!
Although we do not offer tours during this event, Docents are invited to be Rovers during Flower Piano, moving throughout the Garden to provide support to visitors.
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Flower Piano could not happen without the financial support of sponsors, donors, and the community! One of the most criticial volunteer roles for this event is supporting Garden Membership tables, inviting guests to make a donation, and assisting at a special brunch for major supporters of Flower Piano.
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Last but not least, our Check-In volunteers will help welcome other volunteers and performers, maintain refreshments, hand out t-shirts, and help keep the flow of things running smoothly.
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We have lots of opportunities for you to join us. We hope to see you there!
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Current volunteer programs will continue to run this fall, although some, including Green Team, will be on pause the week of Flower Piano. Please sign up directly on Volunteer Central.
Take a trek up to the Children's Garden to support our Bean Sprouts program! Greet families and hand out tools for digging and playing while teaching youth all about our most explorable garden. Background check and some training required. Shift & Sign-up information here
Sign up for the Green Team and work with the Garden's horticulture team to help tend the Garden. Be prepared to help weed, mulch, prune, plant, move soil, and assist with other essential Garden maintenance. Shift & Sign-up information here
- Bookstore and Plant Arbor
Seeking friendly, out-going volunteers to support these important locations. Some plant propagation or gardening experience recommended for Plant Arbor volunteers.
The indoor space of the Helen Crocker Russell Library is now open on Fridays & Saturdays, from 10am-4pm. As a library volunteer, you’ll welcome visitors from around the world to our horticultural library. Please contact volunteer@sfbg.org if you would like to join the library team.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1:30pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 10:30am
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- The third summer of Garden Camp has officially ended after 9 fun-filled weeks, with 216 individual registrations spending their days outdoors exploring our big, beautiful Garden, whether looking for salamanders or running through sprinklers.
- Big thanks to volunteers who helped with the Summer Together Camps program in July! The Garden welcomed an incredible 500+ students from recreation centers across the city. The participants will be welcomed back to the Garden, with their families, through the end of the year via a special Golden Gate Park pass.
- Never heard of Flower Piano? Check out one of many videos online that capture the magic of this event, such as this one.
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Chloe's News
I'm pleased to share some personal news, which is that my partner and I are expecting a baby in late September. I will be on maternity leave starting Thursday, August 26, into early 2022.
While I am away, volunteer programs will be managed and supported by Jenn Tapler (jtapler@sfbg.org). This includes public and private docent-led tours, Green Team, Flower Piano, and general volunteer administration. Jenn knows the Garden well through her role as Garden Camp Director for the past three years, and she provided excellent support to Garden volunteers during a previous leave of absence. I know she'll do a great job keeping things running smoothly this fall.
Note that Jenn will also be managing the Garden After School Program, so her primary availability for volunteer management will be weekday mornings. If anything comes up for which you need support and Jenn is not available, you may also contact Jessa Barzelay (jbarzelay@sfbg.org).
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Thank you for all that you do and have done for the Garden!
All the best,
Chloe
Chloe Wieland | Director of Volunteer Engagement
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San Francisco Botanical Garden
P (415) 661-1316 Ext. 400
C (415) 629-2010
9am-5pm, M-F
cwieland@sfbg.org
P.S. Did you miss an update? Catch up by viewing past newsletters on Volunteer Central.
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