Volunteer Shortage Is the Reason

With all the lighthouses opening up around now in the northern hemisphere, it was a shock to read that one won’t be providing visitors with the chance to climb to the top. Cape Ray Lighthouse, in Newfoundland, is suffering from a lack of volunteers to man the lighthouse and museum, and is being forced to close. Dennis and Bernice Tavener managed to run the museum gift shop and lighthouse tours all by themselves last year, but can’t see themselves doing it all alone again this year, according to an article in the St. John’s Telegram. The two retirees say they can’t dedicate another summer to running things without any help.

The story goes on to say that the local committee to run the lighthouse was formed about 11 years ago, with 10 members. Six students were also hired each year to help with the workload, through the help of the former South West Coast Development Association, who did the applications and helped manage the students. When the Development Association closed its doors a few years ago, the volunteers also dwindled. The students, funded positions which are hard to get, was down to only 3 last year.

Giving of Time and Money

The Taveners, besides singlehandedly working six and sometimes seven days in July and August, would also regularly drive into nearby Port Aux Basques to purchase candy for the gift shop when supplies ran low. “We spent all of our time out there,” said Bernice. “You get burned out.”

Besides doing all that, Bernice was the treasurer for the committee, and Dennis would decorate the lighthouse and gift shop with lights and wreaths at Christmas. He said in the story that if only a few people had stepped up to help manage the students, and put in a few hours at the lighthouse, they’d still be able to open. “But nobody stepped forward to fill the gap.”

Museum Showcases History of Area

From the website of the Museum Association of Newfoundland, the museum at Cape Ray highlights the area’s history and prehistory. Among the exhibits is the one showcasing the Paleo-Eskimo First Nation Group who once made their home at the Cape between 1900 and 1200 years ago. Artifacts from this period include endblades, knives, scrapers, side scrapers, and microblades, all of which were excavated at the site. The center also highlights the communications history of the area, as Cape Ray was the site of an underwater telegraph cable which connected Nova Scotia to Newfoundland in 1856.

Lack of Volunteers a Major Problem Everywhere

It’s not only Cape Ray that has the problem of a dwindling force of volunteers, although there’s is an extreme case. It’s every lighthouse group that has to come up with creative ways to find and keep volunteers. The traditional volunteer, a mother with time on her hands after the kids go to school has long disappeared off the landscape. The retirees, who are still active, have carried the burden for too long. And their numbers are shrinking. Lighthouse groups need to do more to recruit and retain volunteers, and should have a committee, or at least one existing volunteer, dedicated to that task.

Groups also need to think outside the box at times, and realize that not every person is suited for a docent role. Also, that an effort needs to be made to recruit the younger generations, rather than strictly accepting retirees. We need a multitude of different talents to keep out beloved beacons preserved and teaching us our history well into the future.

Something To Ponder

Let me quote something that Bob Trapani, Jr., CEO of the American Lighthouse Foundation, recently wrote:

In the world of lighthouses, there are few joys that surpass the opportunity to climb the stairs of a light tower, up to the lantern in the sky, where at once the enchanting realm of the sea and coastline takes hold of our thoughts and stirs our innermost emotions in a profound manner.

It is extremely sad that visitors to Cape Ray will not have this opportunity to experience a memorable moment such as Trapani describes.

Photo credit: Cape Ray Lighthouse by hanahk1 on Webshots.

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