You know those folks at the White River Valley Museum who open and close the facility, who greet you in the lobby, help you in sundry ways?

Well, at the moment, the museum is short a handful or so of that vital contingent and could use a few new faces, museum director Patricia Cosgrove said last week.

“We’re down maybe three or four,” Cosgrove said. “We usually have between 30 and 40 volunteers who are trained to do different tasks here, and we need to recruit a few docents. … You don’t have to be very athletic, you don’t have to walk on uneven ground. It’s not challenging physically, and it gives you a chance to learn more about local history.”

Volunteer coordinator Janet Wells leads quarterly training classes called Docent-U.

Cosgrove said the museum asks that docents work at least two three-hour afternoon shifts a month. They can serve roles as meet-and-greeter, field trip tour guide or special event host.

Why the shortage? Well, said Cosgrove, people retire, move away, get ill.

“Our beloved Ruth Leslie is in her mid-to-late 90s at this point. She just retired and is still doing well. Being in her late 90s, I think retirement is an OK move to take,” Cosgrove said.

Interested? Then call Janet Wells at 253-804-5010, or email her at jwells@auburnwa.gov, and let her know you’d like to learn more.