Norma Mitchell didn't want to win the Volunteer of the Year award from the Seneca Falls Historical Society.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Norma Mitchell, the Seneca Falls Historical Society's Volunteer of the Year, talks about her love of Seneca Falls and her relationship with the community at the gift shop on Fall Street.
Norma Mitchell, the Seneca Falls Historical Society's Volunteer of the Year, talks about her love of Seneca Falls and her relationship with the community at the gift shop on Fall Street.
“Volunteering is nothing unusual for me; it's like my job,” Mitchell said. “I love doing it.”
But the honor - unlike Mitchell's service -wasn't voluntary. Her achievement will be celebrated at a dinner in late February hosted by the United Way.
Mitchell began volunteering at the society's gift shop more than 10 years ago after many years of service as a Girl Scout leader. She has since spent most of her Mondays and Saturdays working in the Fall Street store. For the majority of that time, she worked with Roberta Halden, the shop's former manager.
“She was my most valuable volunteer,” Halden said. “She loves being around people and she can sell anything.”
At the shop, Mitchell has helped scores of tourists drawn to Seneca Falls for its rich history in the women's rights movement. She is particularly grateful to have met Miriam Grace Monfredo, author of the “Seneca Falls Mystery” series, who often signs books at the gift shop.
Mitchell was also given a key to the shop, which enables her to open its doors to visitors at her discretion.
“She's really the heart and soul of our gift shop,” Barbieri said. “Any time we need someone to open up the shop or be there, she's always willing.”
Mitchell rarely goes a weekend without receiving a call from someone wishing to visit the store.
“They can't get the museum on the weekends, but they can get old Norma,” she said.
Mitchell also assists the society with her acting talents by depicting Mrs. Becker, the late lady of the mansion housing the society. Becker lived in the building in 1890 - the time period in which Mitchell portrays her - and the Becker family owned it through 1960.
“It was very difficult,” Mitchell said. “You have to learn so much.”
As Becker, Mitchell visits classes of fourth grade students for the “Taking Tea” program, complete with old-fashioned calling card invitations. The students begin the trip by preparing bread on an open hearth at the Rose Hill Mansion in Geneva. There, the children were assisted by Mitchell's future daughter-in-law, Jennifer Haskell, who would later meet Norma's son, Steven, through their work together.
Mitchell also volunteered to fill the role of Elizabeth Cady Stanton for a program at Geneva Public School. She explained to her young audience the past tradition of hanging a colored flag outside a home to signal whether a newborn baby was a boy or a girl. Then one student caught Mitchell off guard with a question.
“He asked me what I did when a child dies,” Mitchell said. “I told him, 'No child of mine would ever die,' because that's the kind of philosophy Stanton had.”
Mitchell has contributed her singing talents to the Senior Follies, a talent show for seniors hosted by the society every September, where she once sang “The Best of Times” from “La Cage Aux Folles.”
Mitchell dedicates her Volunteer of the Year award to the memories of Ray and Loraine Bullis, whom Mitchell says she followed to the gift shop to start her lengthy volunteership.
“They were always there too,” Mitchell said. “And I will accept this award in honor of them.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
But the honor - unlike Mitchell's service -wasn't voluntary. Her achievement will be celebrated at a dinner in late February hosted by the United Way.
Mitchell began volunteering at the society's gift shop more than 10 years ago after many years of service as a Girl Scout leader. She has since spent most of her Mondays and Saturdays working in the Fall Street store. For the majority of that time, she worked with Roberta Halden, the shop's former manager.
“She was my most valuable volunteer,” Halden said. “She loves being around people and she can sell anything.”
At the shop, Mitchell has helped scores of tourists drawn to Seneca Falls for its rich history in the women's rights movement. She is particularly grateful to have met Miriam Grace Monfredo, author of the “Seneca Falls Mystery” series, who often signs books at the gift shop.
Mitchell was also given a key to the shop, which enables her to open its doors to visitors at her discretion.
“She's really the heart and soul of our gift shop,” Barbieri said. “Any time we need someone to open up the shop or be there, she's always willing.”
Mitchell rarely goes a weekend without receiving a call from someone wishing to visit the store.
“They can't get the museum on the weekends, but they can get old Norma,” she said.
Mitchell also assists the society with her acting talents by depicting Mrs. Becker, the late lady of the mansion housing the society. Becker lived in the building in 1890 - the time period in which Mitchell portrays her - and the Becker family owned it through 1960.
“It was very difficult,” Mitchell said. “You have to learn so much.”
As Becker, Mitchell visits classes of fourth grade students for the “Taking Tea” program, complete with old-fashioned calling card invitations. The students begin the trip by preparing bread on an open hearth at the Rose Hill Mansion in Geneva. There, the children were assisted by Mitchell's future daughter-in-law, Jennifer Haskell, who would later meet Norma's son, Steven, through their work together.
Mitchell also volunteered to fill the role of Elizabeth Cady Stanton for a program at Geneva Public School. She explained to her young audience the past tradition of hanging a colored flag outside a home to signal whether a newborn baby was a boy or a girl. Then one student caught Mitchell off guard with a question.
“He asked me what I did when a child dies,” Mitchell said. “I told him, 'No child of mine would ever die,' because that's the kind of philosophy Stanton had.”
Mitchell has contributed her singing talents to the Senior Follies, a talent show for seniors hosted by the society every September, where she once sang “The Best of Times” from “La Cage Aux Folles.”
Mitchell dedicates her Volunteer of the Year award to the memories of Ray and Loraine Bullis, whom Mitchell says she followed to the gift shop to start her lengthy volunteership.
“They were always there too,” Mitchell said. “And I will accept this award in honor of them.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
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