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The ArtsSome of the organizations listed in The Arts chapter also appreciate volunteers. Cameron Art Museum This extraordinarily fine museum of visual arts needs
volunteers to work in many capacities. Things are always happening at
this lively center, and volunteers are needed to serve as docents, work
the information desk, handle publicity and run the gift shop. The museum
constantly has new projects underway, such as exhibitions, educational
and children's outreach programs and special events. If you love the
visual arts, this is a wonderful place to offer your volunteer services. Brunswick County Arts Council Established in 1981, this nonprofit volunteer
organization is Brunswick County's primary arts information and funding
source. Nonprofit arts funding is channeled to this group from the North
Carolina Arts Council. With money received each year, the Brunswick Arts
Council provides financial assistance to approximately 18 local nonprofit
arts groups through Grassroots Arts Program grants; sponsors community
events such as Concert by the Sea; and publishes a directory of Brunswick
County artists and art groups as well as sponsoring the Brunswick County
Arts Council Art Show. The council also raises funds privately through its
annual Miniature Masterpiece Gala. This funding provides assistance to
individual artists and arts related groups. Recently, the council
partnered with the Brunswick County Board of Education to help introduce
arts-integrated programs to all county schools. This valuable resource for
local arts information is available through the organization, the
Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, (910) 457-6964, and the
Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, (800) 426-6644. Membership in the council
is open to all interested citizens. The Brunswick Arts Council offers a
range of programs, including cultural symposiums, programs for the
classroom, bus trips to regional art venues, and more. Brunswick Arts
Council's president, Gary Halberstadt, has established four distinct
operating divisions as a means to broaden its footprint throughout
Brunswick County: Student Art Education/Appreciation, Performing Arts,
Literary Arts, and Visual Arts. Halberstadt invites anyone interested in
participating in an operating division to contact him in writing or to
attend a council meeting which is held on the second Monday of every month
at 5:30 PM at the Administration Building of Brunswick Community College.
Public attendance is invited as well. Historic Preservation and Community DevelopmentBrunswick County Habitat for Humanity As of November 2007, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity
was in the process of completing its 20th house for a deserving family in
need of housing. The homes are built by volunteers, and no interest loans
are extended to partner families who meet minimum income requirements.
Qualified homeowners provide their own sweat equity in the form of helping
to build their own home or volunteering in other ways to serve the
community. Committees needing volunteer participation include family
selection, volunteer coordination, church relations, family support,
construction, site selection, fund-raising and working in the resale store. Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Founded in 1987, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity serves
New Hanover County, northeastern Brunswick County and Pender County by
creating affordable homes for qualified families to purchase. To date,
nearly 80 homes have been built, making home ownership a reality for
many families who might not have been able to own their home otherwise.
Volunteers are part of the essence of this group and aid the overall
organization by creating fund-raising events, working in the HomeStore
or with the Family Selection Committee or simply by providing on site
labor. If you’re older than 16 and want to help improve your community,
Habitat is a great place to begin. Friends of the Oak Island
Lighthouse Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse was formed to
preserve the lighthouse, which, along with five acres of beachfront
property, was gifted to the Town of Caswell Beach by the federal
government. Volunteers with expertise in education, fund-raising,
retailing, special events and more are needed to assist with the
preservation, promotion and maintenance of these properties. Lighthouse
tours are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM during
the summer season and upon request year round. Volunteers are needed to
conduct these tours as well. All inquiries should be made through the
website, www.oakislandlighthouse.org. Historic Wilmington Foundation Volunteers interested in preserving the architectural
heritage of the region are invited to work in these areas: public
relations, membership, office work, events, photography, education,
preservation action and urban properties. There is a yearly gala, the
primary fund raiser, that relies on lots of volunteers for logistics,
publicity, entertainment, food and everything else required to throw a
major party and auction. The organization sponsors a home tour during
Azalea Festival in April, a Repair Affair in spring and a 5K run in
September. Lower Cape Fear Historical Society Volunteers are needed for publicity, fund raising,
membership drives and planning at this venerable organization, which
seeks to accurately preserve the history of the area. Volunteers also
work as docents and archivists in the society's home, the Latimer House.
The society sponsors the annual Olde Wilmington by Candlelight Tour of
Homes and the Secret Garden Tour. North Carolina Maritime Museum at
Southport The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport displays
fascinating artifacts related to the maritime history of the Cape Fear
Area (see our
Attractions chapter). Volunteers are needed for building exhibits
and conducting tours, summer programs and monthly adult programs. Smith Island Museum of History Run by the Old Baldy Foundation, the Smith Island Museum
is a replica of the historic light-keepers cottage. The $3 fee for
touring the lighthouse is collected here, and the building houses
artifacts and small items for sale. Volunteers are needed to staff the
museum, to help with fund-raising and to give lectures and educational
programs. Southport Visitors Center The Southport Visitors Center is a great place to stop
and rest in the rockers on the porch. Inside is a fascinating wall display
of the history of the area and included in the decor are historical
artifacts. There are also films shown here. The center has ongoing
recruitment for volunteers to work seasonal hours. These volunteers answer
questions, provide visitors with brochures and maps of the self-guided
walking tour, and sometimes sit in the rockers and shoot the breeze with
folks eager to hear the old stories about the town of Southport. Wilmington Downtown,
Inc. Providing guidance and fostering smart development in
historic downtown Wilmington, this nonprofit organization grew out of
the effort years ago to revitalize the formerly flagging section of
town. Now that downtown is booming, the group advocates planned economic
growth and development in downtown. They also allow community members to
get involved in keeping this historic portion of our community from the
many pitfalls that come with a population explosion. From the Cape Fear
Riverwalk to the burgeoning NOFO neighborhood, this group has their
sights set on helping the Port City grow at a reasonable and prudent
pace. Each year they host a Black and White Ball, for which volunteers
are always welcome. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort
Fisher The aquarium utilizes volunteers in numerous ways, from giving guided
tours to helping with on-site tasks. Volunteers can give talks by the touch
tank for kids who want to get their hands on some smaller aquatic life. They
can also assist in diving tasks, provided they're certified and in good
health. Other volunteer opportunities include cleaning tanks, diet
preparation and animal feeding, among other things. The major requirement
for these positions is a positive attitude and a love of marine life. Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation
Center (910) 328-3377 www.seaturtlehospital.org This sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center does a tremendous job
caring for sick and injured sea turtles. The center has cared for and
released dozens of sea turtles back into the sea. The all-volunteer staff is
responsible for the feeding and daily care of the resident patients.
Volunteers also monitor the Topsail Island beaches every day during the
summer nesting season. Operation Topcat Operation Topcat provides free spaying and neutering for Topsail Island
stray and feral cats. Since 1995, their bi-weekly clinic has treated more
than a thousand cats and has placed hundreds of cats into loving homes. For
volunteer information email Operation Topcat at
otopcatnc@aol.com. Topsail Humane Society Eastern Pender County’s no-kill shelter has placed hundreds of pets in
loving adoptive homes. Volunteers are always needed to walk, feed and play
with the animals. The shelter is open seven days a week from 9 AM to noon
and 4 to 5:30 PM.
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