Thank You - Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

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Volunteers of the Year
In 2011, the museum named two volunteers, Ellen Bates and
Jo-Ann Brotherton — both of whom exemplify professionalism
and personalization of service — as its 2010 Volunteers of
the Year. While these attributes are valued in all volunteers,
they are especially important in the Visitor Services area as
this includes the admissions desk, where visitors are checked
in and incoming calls are answered, and the Museum Store,
where excellent customer service is a must.
Executive Director Laura
Brinkman (right) presents a
2010 Volunteer of the Year
award and plaque to Ellen
Bates for her exemplary
service at the museum’s
2011 Annual Meeting.
More than 23 years ago, Mearl Bisel
convinced Ellen Bates and her late
husband, Howard, that they had to join
others who were trying to put a museum
together; soon they became charter
members. Howard used to work at the
Auburn Automobile Company, and he
became one of the most popular museum
docents because of his personal knowledge
of the building and the people he worked
with. Ellen was very proud of Howard, and
they were a real team, doing everything
together.
Now we are privileged to have Ellen—whose
smile always brightens a room—at the
museum two days a week. She has worked in many areas of
the museum including the galleries, admissions and several
special events such as bridal shows and wine tastings. She is
a real trooper during the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival
weekend, working many shifts, and she fills in for other
volunteers as needed.
Jo-Ann Brotherton began her tenure at the
museum in May of 2006. She came with her
husband, Bob, to a volunteer recruitment
fair. He was ready to jump in and get started,
but Jo-Ann wasn’t too sure. She wanted to
start out with something small and behind
the scenes so she began by doing bulk
mailings. After some encouragement, she
substituted for volunteers who answered
Jo-Ann Brotherton, volun- the phones. When someone was needed
teer extraordinaire, is one
to fill-in at the admissions desk, she tried
of two 2010 Volunteers of
the Year named and cel-
that. Jo-Ann preformed all these duties with
ebrated at the museum’s exceptional customer service and attention
2011 Annual Meeting. to detail. She also coined one of the best
lines for greeting visitors, one that helps set
the tone for an exciting museum tour: “Welcome to the World
Headquarters of the Auburn Automobile Company!”
Jo-Ann loves to work at special events, especially the museum’s
Bridal Show. Because of the knowledge, professionalism and
the personal attention she gives everyone who walks in the
door, she is the trainer for many new Visitor Services volunteers.
She also volunteers each day of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg
Festival weekend. We are glad this volunteer took a chance
on something small when she started because she is now one
of the museum’s biggest assets.
Roger Ellert volunteered nearly 600 hours
of time in 2011 keeping the museum’s
automobile collection looking beautiful.
Automotive volunteers (from left to right)
Robert Probst, Ralph DePalo and Chuck
Schmidt take pride and joy in keeping the
museum’s collection in tip-top shape.
“Although one of 2010’s
Volunteers of Year has been with
the museum for many years and
the other a much shorter time,
they both exhibit volunteerism
at its best: they wholeheartely
support our organization, our
mission, and especially their
fellow volunteers.”
–-Sharon Fouke,
Museum Registrar/
Volunteer Manager