The OER Museum in Diever briefly threatened to become history itself, but was given a new lease of life in the nick of time. Thanks to the much-needed arrival of new volunteers, the historical museum is once again looking hopefully to the future.
The situation was precarious for a long time. The group of volunteers who keep the museum running is small and also elderly, which put pressure on continuity. Without new growth, closure seemed difficult to prevent in the long term.
Attracting new volunteers was initially difficult. Two organized information evenings yielded hardly any interested parties. “To be honest, that was quite disappointing,” says board member Bart Friso. “But what happened next was fantastic.”
The dire situation at the museum was reported by various media. “That started at RTV Drenthe and then it was picked up by the national press,” says Friso. It provided an unexpected breakthrough. “In the end, ten volunteers signed up. That is much more than we hoped for.”
The relief within the museum is great. While it was initially hoped for two or three new employees, the recruitment is now more than sufficient.
“Even if half remains, we will be very happy. There is no longer any question of extinction, we are actually rejuvenating,” Friso jokes. “The new volunteers also include people in their thirties and forties, which means the average age is dropping considerably.”
Until recently, the permanent core of the museum consisted of about ten volunteers, not everyone of whom is fully available. The new registrations create more space in the planning. In the future, two volunteers may even be present in the museum at the same time.
New volunteers are linked to an experienced person who shows them the ropes. According to Friso, extensive prior knowledge is not necessary.
“If you have read the panels and touchscreens, you already know more than many visitors. But the most important thing is that you are friendly. We are a small museum, a warm welcome and a smile make the difference,” he concludes.