A Simple Thank You Goes A Mighty Long Way…

When I began my journey at the Milwaukee Art Museum as Membership Marketing Coordinator, my main goal was to come up with ways to solicit new Members and to keep all of our Members happy. Everyday someone presents me with an issue, question or comment that I do my best to assist with. Sometimes the answers are easy, others take some digging and investigating but before the conversation is over, the two words I strive to hear are Thank You! That is the validation needed to let me know that I’m doing my job to the best of my ability.The week of Lakefront Festival of the Arts this summer, I was slightly nervous with the fear that something would go wrong. Luckily I had the wonderful Museum staff along with about 50 volunteers to help sell memberships in the scorching heat with massive crowds. That weekend the membership department along with the help of the Museum staff and our volunteers sold 485 memberships, a record-breaking LFOA total.

I was ecstatic by these numbers considering this was my first time working the festival and there was a lot of hard work put into it. That weekend I got minimal sleep, my feet were sore and the next week my desk was stacked with piles of work that needed to be processed. I grew slightly aggravated, but chose not to complain. And then I received an email from one of my volunteers that read:

Hi Ebony,
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all your efforts in organizing, training and promoting this event.   As you know, I was a bit nervous in light of the heat on Friday but volunteering on the bus was great fun.  Thanks a million for the water!  The people appreciated the information we provided about the festival and also enjoyed learning about museum memberships, our art collection and other activities carried on throughout the year.  Thank you for the handouts, they were concise and easy to use.
I did receive feedback from individuals returning to the parking area after visiting the festival; a group from California said it was the finest display of art they had ever seen at an art festival. Throughout the day many individuals commented on the caliber and variety of art…
Good job – bask in the success!
Signed,
LFOA Volunteer/Museum Member

This email reassured me that the hard work I put in (with the help of my department and the Museum staff) didn’t go unnoticed. It made me feel more accomplished than the 485 memberships sold.  After a long week of work the two words I strive to hear daily made it all worth it. The goal of the Museum is to provide visitors with a memorable experience and when someone says thank you it proves that they will remember both you and the experience.

“Every time we remember to say “thank you”, we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.”
– Sarah Ban Breathnach

Ebony Haynes is the Membership Marketing Coordinator. She solicits new members, and keeps all museum members happy and renewing throughout the year.