Why be a Cape May MAC volunteer?
Volunteering at Cape May MAC allows you to meet new people and make a contribution in helping the Cape May region thrive. Cape May MAC is one of New Jersey’s leading cultural and heritage organizations.
Whether giving out information at our festivals, offering skills as a volunteer in our offices, or taking tickets at our Music Festival or other events, your time and talent have a huge impact in helping carry out our preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment missions!
Volunteer Opportunities
- Marketing and Communications Volunteer Positions
- Benefit House Tour Volunteer Positions
- Curatorial Volunteer Positions
- Grounds and Maintenance Volunteer Positions
- Special Events Volunteer Positions
- Museum Education Volunteer Positions
- Hospitality Volunteer Positions
Volunteer Benefits
- 10% Discount at Cape May MAC Museum Shops
- Significant discount on Cape May MAC membership dues
- Invitation to exhibit openings and lectures
- Volunteer Recognition Reception and Awards
Those who achieve Platinum (150 hours or more) Gold (100 to 149 hours) or Silver Awards (50 hours to 99 hours) receive free admission to a variety of tours, including Crafts & Collectibles Shows and the Cape May Music Festival Concerts.
Volunteer Engagement Manager
Maria Amin
Email: mamin@capemaymac.org
With a BS in Animal Science from Rutgers, Maria spent the first 13 years of her career within animal welfare, advocacy, and education, working with the Bronx Zoo, ASPCA and Newark Museum. She then started focusing primarily on volunteerism for the following 10 years, her most recent, previous role as the Manager of Volunteer Services at NYU Langone Health.
Though she is originally from Medford, NJ, Maria’s nuclear and extended family began moving down to Cape May County in 1996. She has spent as much free time as possible visiting the bay and falling in love with the area. As she was completing her MS in Business Leadership from the CUNY School of Professional Studies, she moved back down to South Jersey to be close to her family in North Cape May. She is now Volunteer Coordinator for Cape May MAC where she gets to work with one of the most amazing and dedicated volunteer team!
Volunteers of the Month
December 2024
John Sparks
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for December is John Sparks of West Chester, Pa. John is a tour guide for several Cape May MAC tours, including Cape May’s Maritime Trolley Tour and Cape May’s Maritime Combo Tour. Both tours highlight the remarkable maritime history of Cape May, which has long defined its story. The combo tour includes a walking tour of Cape May’s Fisherman’s Wharf. John volunteered for a series of videos that the non-profit Cape May MAC is producing that highlight our trolley tours. John wrote the short script and volunteered to present the narrative on video camera for this tour. “John is a talented, enthusiastic and dedicated tour guide and his offering to help with this project on his own time was a real boost to our promotion efforts,” said Cape May MAC Chief Outreach Officer Eliza Lotozo. “John did a wonderful job writing and then narrating his script on camera,” said Director of Media Relations Susan Krysiak. “We really appreciate his volunteering his time and energy for this project.”
November 2024
Karen McGuire
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for November is Karen VanVarick-McGuire of Cape May Court House. She was nominated by Volunteer Coordinator Maria Amin. “We would like to show appreciation to Karen for lending us her unique set of skills manning the First Aid Tent for the entirety of the Harvest Brew Fest Saturday, Sept. 14,” said Amin. The annual Harvest Brew Fest at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, attracts thousands of visitors each year with local breweries, food trucks, crafters, children’s entertainment and live music. “Not only was she managing the area by herself for over eight hours, but she coordinated the materials and needs of set-up prior to the event, as well. Karen has been a dedicated supporter of MAC for years. She is a wonderful asset to the organization.”
October 2024
Carole Ulmer
(Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for October is Carole Ulmer nominated by Volunteer Coordinator Maria Amin. Ulmer receives this honor for her steadfast work volunteering this summer and fall at the Cape May Lighthouse. She is shown here at the lighthouse volunteering during the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey this past weekend. “Carole has been a dedicated MAC volunteer for years, giving us a lot of her time during events and answering our pleas for help,” said Amin. “This past summer though, she really stood out as she extended her time with us on numerous occasions to help us cover additional outdoor shifts during some of the most difficult weather conditions. She has been an incredible asset during our Family Fun Days, and events and weekend shows this past season. We really appreciate how much we can rely on her, and what a pleasure she is, as well,” said Amin.
September 2024
Hope Gaines
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for September is Allison Parlin of Longport. Parlin was nominated for the honor by Chief Outreach Officer Eliza Lotozo and Volunteer Coordinator Maria Amin, for offering to take photos of the recent Cape May Book Brigade event, in which Cape May MAC volunteers participated. “Allison, though being relatively new to the organization, volunteered her skills as a photographer to take pictures of the volunteers involved in the book brigade, since our regular photographer was unavailable. Thanks to her we have great images to commemorate the event,” said Amin. “She has also stepped up when volunteers were needed for our guide trainings. We are so grateful to Allison for her assistance in this way.”
August 2024
Hope Gaines
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for August is Hope Gaines of Cape May. She was nominated by Chief Outreach Strategist Mary Stewart for her many years of dedicated service to the organization, which includes sponsoring and helping create the co-partnered Cape May MAC and Center for Community Arts (CCA) annual winter exhibits, working as an interpreter and tour guide, and most recently giving a talk on bees. “Hope used her vast knowledge of garden lore to create and present a fascinating program on bees, their habits and their habitats,” said Stewart. “ Hope has been a Cape May MAC interpreter for many years and, as a volunteer with CCA, has helped develop many of our co-sponsored winter exhibits. She is also active with the Cape May Garden Club and maintains her own extensive garden. In addition to an informative lecture, Hope did a taste test for our attendees, which allowed us to sample the difference between honeys from different regions, and those made from nectars from different species of flowers. We are so grateful to her for sharing her knowledge and energy with Cape May MAC. She has made a huge contribution to the organization over the years.”
July 2024
Rusty Cassway
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteer of the Month for July is Rusty Cassway of Cape May, who recently took time from a very busy schedule to present a lecture for Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn program about the Octavian Project. He was nominated by Chief Outreach Strategist Mary Stewart. Cassway is the captain of the RV Explorer, a dive vessel which explores shipwrecks. His lecture was about one particular vessel, a tramp freighter sunk by U-Boat 123 in 1942. With a significant investment in time and ingenuity, Rusty and his crew were able to identify the wreck as the D/S Octavian and provide closure to the descendants of the captain and crew. “Rusty attracted the largest audience we’ve had for our Lunch & Learns since COVID,” Stewart said. “This lecture was riveting and engaging, as he related his team’s personal experiences diving off the Mid-Atlantic coast. These are true adventure stories he shared. The audience was absolutely captivated. We so appreciate his giving his time to Cape May MAC in this way.”
June 2024
Matt Reeves & Dustin Piccolo-Kinsey
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces the Volunteers of the Month for June are Matt Reeves of West Cape May, top, and Dustin Piccolo-Kinsey of Cape May, bottom, two volunteers for Cape May MAC’s Carroll Gallery exhibit opening April 24 of “We All Scream for Ice Cream: The History of Summer’s Favorite Treat.” The exhibit is open through Nov. 3 at the Carriage House on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, N.J. They were nominated by Cape May MAC Outreach Officer Eliza Lotozo. Reeves, bar manager at the Cricket Club in Cape May, volunteered his time as bartender to serve champagne at the event. Piccolo-Kinsey, owner of Fine Fellows Creamery, donated the ice cream that was served at the opening, and volunteered his time scooping and serving ice cream to attendees. “Matt is a highly experienced bartender in Cape May,” said Lotozo. “We are so grateful to him for donating his time, energy and skill as a bartender, making people feel special at this opening. Dustin’s donation of Bassett’s ice cream for this event made the evening special and was very generous. We especially appreciate the enthusiasm of both in bringing this exhibit to life on its opening day. We are delighted to recognize Matt and Dustin, each for their individual contributions and commitment to Cape May MAC and its mission.”
May 2024
Stan Sperlak
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) volunteer Stan Sperlak, of Goshen, is the Cape May MAC Volunteer of the Month for May. He was nominated by Cape May MAC Chief Outreach Strategist Mary Stewart. Sperlak gave a talk for Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn program, sharing his philosophy on “Art in Nature, Nature in Art.” Stan is a nationally recognized painter whose works focus on the landscape and atmosphere of Southern New Jersey, and a landscape designer with four decades of experience. He’s realized those two passions in his 37-acre Nature Preserve and Sculpture Garden in Goshen. His talk focused on how he finds art in reclaimed, recycled and repurposed objects. “Stan is an extraordinarily generous teacher, willing to share his journey and inspiration,” said Stewart. “We are all so very grateful to him for inspiring and enlightening our
audience.”
April 2024
Harry Bellangy
Cape May MAC’s (Museums+Arts+Culture) Volunteer of the Month for April is Cape May Historical Society President and Historian Harry Bellangy, of Cape May, shown here at the society’s headquarters, the circa 1730 Colonial House Museum, 653 ½ Washington St. The society and museum are longtime partners to Cape May MAC. Bellangy, a lifelong Cape May resident, was nominated by Cape May MAC Chief Outreach Strategist Mary Stewart for volunteering his time to give a talk titled, “Magnesite: A World War II Necessity.” His talk was part of Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn educational series, a twice monthly program offered both live and online via Zoom, on enlightening and entertaining topics of history and culture. He included in his talk the history of Cape May’s magnesite plant that operated during World War II off Sunset Boulevard. The audience was captivated, he said. “They loved it. They had no idea in many cases what magnesite was and what it did or its importance during World War II. They had no idea magnesite could be extracted from sea water,” he said. Many in the audience were interested in the environmental impact from the plant, as well, he said, from dust which is alkaline that affected acid-loving plants nearby, such as pines. “Harry is an engaging presenter, and his knowledge of Cape May history is broad and deep,” said Stewart. “The Colonial House Museum is a Cape May gem and Harry is an invaluable asset to the Cape May community. We are so fortunate and grateful to him for sharing his expertise with us and with the public.”
March 2024
Ted Bryan
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) Educator Ted Bryan, of Cape May Court House, is the Cape May MAC Volunteer of the Month for March. He was nominated by Chief Outreach Strategist Mary Stewart for volunteering his time to give a talk on “Respectable Victorian Recreations.” His talk was part of Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn series, a monthly program offered both live and online via Zoom, on enlightening and entertaining topics of history and culture. Bryan is a retired high school social studies teacher with years of educational leadership experience. He has given lectures for more than five years for Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn program and for the organization’s Educational Outreach Program, on topics that include immigration, the Underground Railroad, and more. “Ted is a wonderful presenter, providing facts and information in an engaging way that our discerning audiences really appreciate and absorb,” said Stewart. “He has been a reliable educator for our outreach program as well, freely sharing his knowledge and expertise, helping us to serve underserved individuals in Cape May County with our educational programs. We are so fortunate to benefit from his expertise and generosity.”
February 2024
Ben Ridings
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) Curator Ben Ridings, of Burlington County, is the Cape May MAC Volunteer of the Month for February. He was nominated by Chief Outreach Officer Eliza Lotozo and Director of Operations and Special Projects and Membership Engagement Manager Sara Kornacki, for volunteering his time for the annual Cape May MAC Online Auction. Ridings portrays Cape May’s Victorian man about town, Dr. Emlen Physick, original owner of Cape May’s 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. He appears at Cape May MAC festivals and events and is a popular living history presenter. The winning bidder will enjoy an hour on the billiards table in the Physick House with Ben as Dr. Physick. The proceeds of this auction item go directly to Physick House Museum restorations. “We are so grateful to Ben for volunteering his time in this way,” said Kornacki. “So many people have stepped up and donated items to this year’s auction and we appreciate them all. Ben is being recognized as a staff person who is volunteering his time in a unique and special way.” “Ben has made this a tradition,” said Lotozo. “Last year he donated this same auction package. It’s a very special opportunity for someone who loves history, to play billiards with Dr. Physick in his 1879 Physick House mansion.”
January 2024
Mal & Dottie Knapp
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) volunteers Mal and Dottie Knapp, of Cape May, are the Cape May MAC Volunteers of the Month for January. They were nominated by Museum Education Coordinator Brenda Leonard for their enthusiasm and passion for presenting educational programs in Cape May MAC’s Lunch & Learn programs. Their most recent presentation focused on Gilbert & Sullivan, with videos and songs from several of their bewt known operettas, including “HMS Pinafore,” “The Pirates of Penzance” and “The Mikado.” Cape May MAC Lunch & Learn programs are offered each month on educational topics and available to the public for free, in person and online. “Mal and Dottie bring extraordinary enthusiasm to the Lunch & Learn,” Leonard said. “They encourage their friends to attend, expanding our audience. They arrive early and stay late, spending time chatting with the audience. Finally, their PowerPoint presentations reflect the effort and attention to detail that goes into their work: they are filled with maps, photos and videos that make their subject all the more interesting for their audience.”