downloaded - Filoli

To volunteer is to give freely of one’s time
and talent to benefit a group or cause
with no expectation of reward or payment.
Volunteers are an integral part of what makes Filoli special.
For thirty years, we have attracted people who want to
spend time here helping Filoli accomplish its mission.
Lurline Roth’s wish was that volunteers at Filoli would treat
the home and its guests as if it were their own, with warmth
and congeniality to all who visit the property. Today, the
Friends of Filoli participate in every area of the organization
– from the garden, to the house and libraries, the Garden
Shop, Café, to giving tours, arranging flowers, and chairing
events. Collectively, they have donated over 80,000 hours to
Filoli on an annual basis.
The Friends started out as a small, intimate group of less
than 20 in 1976 and have grown to a larger, more structured
organization of over 1,100 in 2006. A lot has changed over
the years, but the camaraderie among the volunteers as they
work together is a constant. Friends become friends through
shared activities and events. The early days saw events run
All Filoli Volunteers Are Invited
To the Volunteer Appreciation Party
Sunday, October 1, 2006
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Filoli Visitor & Education Center,
and House Courtyard
RSVP before September 21
by using the registration form on page 15
or by calling 650-364-8300 x508
Friends of Filoli
Volunteers
September and October 2006, Filoli Highlights
from volunteers’ homes and kitchens. Cookies were baked
and sandwiches were made to serve at events. Our first
Friends’ Appreciation Day had 14 guests; 7 of them brought
by Sally MacBride. Originally, guided tours were conducted
only in the garden; the house was not open and its rooms
were not furnished. The original Tour Office was located in
the Gentlemen’s Cloak Room and the Membership Office
was one small room in the servants’ wing. Today, we have
expanded operations and events to the point where we use
professional caterers and entertainers and rely upon fulltime
employees for administration and management.
The Volunteer Appreciation Party is an annual function
where the Filoli Center says, “Thank You!” to the volunteers
in a special way. This year the format will change a bit. On
Sunday, October 1, 2006, the Visitor and Education Center
will become the location for food stations and beverages as
we dedicate the Friends’ Garden in back of the Café to the
Friends of Filoli and its past Presidents. We encourage all
volunteers to join in the festivities of the day. Our volunteers
are special people, loyal to Filoli and its mission. Thanks to
each and every one of you.
Please join us for this casual dinner party as we dance
under the stars to the irresistible melodies of the
popular swing band, the Unicorns. This year’s theme,
“Pearls of the Orient,” celebrates the gemstone of our
30th Anniversary and the Orient, which reflect the close
ties the Matsons and the Roths had to the trade routes
and ports of call in the Pacific.
Tickets may be ordered by calling
650-364-8300, ext. 508, or online at
www.filoli.org.
Seating is limited.
Adults only, please.
Connie French,
Chairperson