Nominations will be open for new committee members at the next MCG AGM. To help you understand the rewards of being an MCG committee member, as well as the amount of work it requires, some of our current committee members have shared their experiences.

Rhiannon:

‘I’m very lucky at Museum of London to have a very supportive manager who actively supports my involvement in the MCG because he knows that I get a lot out of it. I mostly manage, therefore, to get a lot of the necessary work done in work time. I try and be flexible, however, and don’t claim time for travelling to meetings etc, and don’t claim any MCG expenses from my organisation. I think it’s worth the Museum’s while me being on the committee because I get a lot out of it, but also because I get to attend really great events for free which benefit my work. I’ve made some great contacts as a result of it as well. It is sometimes difficult to fit the work in, but my works in the Comms group tends to come and go. At times like this, around conference time, we have a lot to do, but it does get balanced out by quieter times.’

Gemma:

Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about your time as a committee member?
A: I think the biggest benefit to me is having contact with a wider network of colleagues in the sector. And the thing I find most rewarding is working on events which so many people find useful and enjoy.

Q: How much time does volunteering take?
A: Realistically I think 15 hrs a yr

Mia:

Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about your time as a committee member?
A: I can remember being nervous about putting my hand up for nomination back in 2008, but I’m very glad I braved it as it’s a rewarding and interesting role – not only do I work with great people on the committee, I’ve also had a chance to meet many MCG members online and at various events. That’s given me a lot of insight into how other museums operate, and the challenges and opportunities we all deal with every day. Volunteering as a committee members also fits with something that’s close to a personal motto – Mahatma Gandhi (apparently) said: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Q: How much time does volunteering take?
A: It depends on what else is going on – when there’s an event to organise, or a new communications drive, I might spend an hour or three a week on various updates. At other times it’s much less work – mostly the occasional conference call and following up any actions from meetings.

John:

Working on the MCG committee offers a lot of rewards. I’ve made many friends and learnt a lot about other organisations and different ways of working that have helped me considerably but most importantly it has to be the feeling of belonging to a group that wants change for the better. It has offered me the opportunity to work with a group of highly motivated, innovative and dedicated people from across the sector to create a unique forum for discussion, support and learning that is accessible and relevant. It provides a view of the heritage sector that is just not available anywhere else. It does take a lot of work, often many hours a week around the spring and autumn meetings, but I think it’s worth it.