Mar
13

Thank you, volunteers

Dear volunteers,

I wanted to take a moment during this rapidly evolving and ever-changing time to reach out and thank each of you for your service to the Smithsonian and your dedication to our mission. You are our public face, and your efforts make every visitor’s experience educational and enjoyable.

I announced last night that all Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and New York City, including the National Zoo, will be temporarily closed to the public starting Saturday, March 14. Due to the nature of the situation, we are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis.

To that end, we have decided, effective immediately, to suspend all volunteer programs and gatherings SI-wide until further notice. This means volunteers should not report to their regular assignments starting March 14.

Smithsonian encourages you to put your health and safety first, and to follow CDC guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html), to determine if you are considered to be at risk for serious Illness from COVID-19.  We greatly appreciate our volunteers, and we know that you are essential to our operations.  We want to make sure everyone is taking the appropriate actions needed to protect their health.

The Office of Visitor Services will continue to forward all appropriate communication to all active volunteers. If you have questions, please first work with your supervisor. If you have additional questions about Smithsonian’s response to COVID-19, please email the SI COVID-19 response team at si-coronavirusinfo@si.edu.

Thank you again for the dedication you have shown to the Smithsonian and our visitors. We could not reach the audience we do without your help.

Lonnie Bunch
Secretary

 

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Posted: 13 March 2020
About the Author:

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and is the first historian to be Secretary of the Institution.