“The VIS?” you say, and start racking your brains. VIS???

It’s true, almost none of us know it by name. But we know it by sight.

 

Oh, that!

We practically all use it every shift — some of us just to clock our hours, and some to enter other categories of information as well.

But … why? What does it achieve?

In broad terms: recognition, communication, and planning.

“When you log in and out,” says Deborah O’Leary (Director, Staff & Volunteer Resources), “you ensure that we have current, accurate information about volunteer placements, and the hours of time that you are contributing in those placements.”

She continues, “This gives us the big picture — it shows how volunteers are integral to the AGO. We no longer just say volunteers are a vital component of this organization, we have the numbers to demonstrate it.”

VIS is a tool for recognition and communication at every level, Deborah adds. “It’s our filing system. It allows us to communicate with the entire volunteer community, or individuals within it. It also allows us to recognize and honour the contribution made by individual volunteers — their years of service, and their placements and achievements over the years.”

Some volunteer groups now do more than log in and out. Gallery Guides, for example, enter data about “visitor interactions” — the number of people they engage with during a tour, a Dot talk, or while floating (being accessible, throughout the building).

“They’re doing a terrific job of providing this information, and it is extremely useful,” says Melissa Smith, the GG Staff Coordinator. “It has taught us that the Dots have very high visitor engagement.”

Result? More physical, red, small-d dot mats are on order, and more big-D Dot talks will in time be scheduled.

“Now that we’re able to track visitor engagement,” adds Melissa, “we can respond to what we learn, and grow our program in appropriate ways. That means more visitor satisfaction, and that creates more volunteer satisfaction.”

Speaking of satisfaction …

“I like logging visitor interactions,” says Gallery Guide Anne Fleming. “I see how many people I met and talked with, and I think, ‘Wow, I really accomplished something today!’”