Williamson County Historical Museum
Volunteer Spotlight

Name:  Cindy Theodore

How Long have you been volunteering with the WCHM?:

I think I started in February 2006 or 2005.  Chris spoke to the Sertoma club, I volunteered at the museum after that.

What are your primary duties:
I volunteer on Wednesdays 12:00-2:30 pm greeting visitors, running errands, dusting,  and giving tours.  I have also given trunk shows to elementary students at the school and at the museum.  I have helped at the Pioneer Days at Old Settler’s Park, Archeology day, cattle drive with bandana printing, summer program last year, cake cutting at the courthouse rededication, and am now helping to catalogue collections. 

How many hours per week do you usually volunteer:
2 ½ or 4-5 hours when I help with the collections.  Extra projects or events add 2 hours/week.

What type of training did you receive:
Lisa taught the collections methods with Celina’s help.  The museum handbook helped with the museum tours, and Chris trained some volunteers with the exhibits.  Marietta Mugford recommended that I watch the “Red River” movie which helped with the cattle drive exhibit.  I enjoyed the “Lonesome Dove” movie, and am reading Log of a Cowboy from the museum which is very interesting.  The more I read, the more I find out how much there is to learn.  I also saw the play, “You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody”, and bought the book to learn more about that event.  I also was able to go to the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City which was very informative.

How do you feel your work helps others:
I’m hoping that my work gives Jeanne and the museum staff more time to devote to building better exhibits and programs for the public.  Our history should be preserved and presented in an accessible and interesting manner for all to enjoy. 

What you enjoy most about WCHM:
I like learning about the history of the county; it makes me feel more connected to my community.  I also enjoy hearing stories from visitors and helping them to learn something new and interesting.  The collections cataloguing is also intriguing.

What’s unique about WCHM:
It is small, but thorough in its representation of the county.  It is friendly, and professional in presenting history to the public.  The staff covers many facets with limited resources (manpower and money).  They care about their mission and work with purpose.

Personal information about yourself:
Married 32 years to John Theodore, 2 children, Beverly 23, dance performance major at OCU, Kimberly 26, music teacher in Austin.

 B.S. Medical Technology from California Lutheran University and M.S. in Elementary Education from University of Wisconsin at River Falls.

 Worked at 3M as a Pharmacy Technician, student teaching in Minnesota, substitute teaching and pre-school teaching in Texas.  Currently working at Stein Mart in Round Rock as a boutique lady on Thursdays.

 Born in Wichita Falls, Texas. Lived in Hawaii, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California. Like to quilt and am a member of the Round Rock Sertoma (Service to Mankind) club so I have been helping to sell Christmas trees recently for our fund-raising.