For Immediate Release: November 19, 2004
Contact: Marissa Karchut (970) 882-5621
 

Recognition Dinner Held for Anasazi Heritage Center Volunteers

This year, the Koko’s conference center hosted the Anasazi Heritage Center’s annual volunteer recognition event. On Friday October 15th, 68 volunteers, staff, friends and family came to recognize volunteers who had donated their time over the last year. Each volunteer received an official certificate from the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management recognizing the number of hours they contributed. Those with 150 hours or more received an Anasazi Heritage Center custom embroidered denim shirt.

From October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004, 85 volunteers donated a total of 9,795.5 hours working in various areas of the museum. This year, 32 new volunteers joined the volunteer program. This is the highest number of volunteers ever to work for the Center and the largest number to join in one year. Anasazi Heritage Center volunteers enjoy being part of a team of made up of other people from the area. Benefits include attending annual field trips to visitor destinations in the area, meeting new people, attending lectures by guest speakers on topics of natural and cultural history, and skills building workshops for those interested in giving tours.

The Center is always looking for new volunteers to provide visitor information, work with school groups, develop and present public programs, assist in the museum bookstore, catalogue artifacts into the museum’s database, and help with various tasks associated with maintaining the facility and grounds.

The Anasazi Heritage Center is located 3 miles west of Dolores. The Center is a museum for interpreting the history and culture of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Trail of the Ancients, and the Four Corners region. The Center’s films, exhibits, and educational programs explore archaeology, local history, and Native American lifeways. The museum currently houses over three million artifacts and includes a hands-on Discovery Area, permanent exhibits, and numerous changing special exhibits. The museum averages about 25,000 visitors each year. In 2000, the Center added to its responsibilities by becoming the headquarters for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Thanks to our new and continuing volunteers for their service and time spent supporting the Center! If you are interested in volunteering at the Anasazi Heritage Center please contact Marissa Karchut at 882-5621.

- BLM -