Volunteering at DCVB

Erma Bombeck said it well with this: "Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another."

In Durham, a place that highly values such attributes, that quote is especially resonant.

The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official marketing agency of Durham, North Carolina.  Its funding comes from a portion of the occupancy tax paid by those who stay in one of Durham's nearly 10,000 hotel rooms, as well as support from stakeholders who endorse the bureau's publications.  It uses those funds exclusively to forward the objective of promoting visitation to Durham - a job made easier by volunteers.  To DCVB, marketing the community is a labor of real affection, and having community members on hand to help those visiting the place is especially important.

"We have amassed thousands of hours with volunteers in our 22 years of work in Durham, and we're truly thankful for every one of them," said Shelly Green, DCVB's President and CEO. "Every time I get a chance to meet and talk with our volunteers, I am struck by their passion for this place...and it makes my job that much more enjoyable.  Our volunteers really make this place so special."

Currently, DCVB has openings for five volunteers to work in its Visitor Information Center at 101 E. Morgan Street on the Downtown Loop.  The opportunity is ideal for people in retirement and stay-at-home parents with children who are in organized care.  Not only is volunteering an opportunity to stay active and interact with people, but it's also a chance to be easily within walking distance of Downtown's shops, restaurants and bakeries, as well as the free-to-ride Bull City Connector.  

Those interested in volunteering at DCVB should contact Carolyn Carney, the organization's Director of Visitor Services.