posted August 27, 2008
Patrice Hobbs Glass, who formerly was Hamilton County historian, has joined the Chickamauga Park staff as its first-ever volunteer coordinator.
Mrs. Glass’ hiring represents a major step toward the goal of establishing a proactive and sustainable volunteer program for the 9,100-acre park, officials said.
Her initial salary is being funded by a partnership of three private donors coordinated by the Friends, a not-for-profit group of volunteers dedicated to promoting and enhancing Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
Mrs. Glass is a native of Lafayette, Ga. She graduated from Girls Preparatory School and earned an undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College and a graduate degree in history from Middle Tennessee State University.
She began her professional career as a National Park employee, serving as a seasonal educator at three parks, including Chickamauga and Chattanooga, where she worked with summer volunteers assigned to various park projects.
Later, as chief curator of the Chattanooga History Center, she managed volunteers working in collections management, tours and off-site school programs. She served as director of advancement research at GPS leading up to and during its 2006 centennial celebration, coordinating events and authoring a history of the school.
Before accepting the job at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, she worked at Birmingham-Southern as director of prospect management and research.
She said, "I am convinced that growing up in LaFayette and being at Chickamauga Battlefield on a regular basis helped spark my love of history.
“How exciting it is for me to be in a position where I can promote the significance of the park and engage our surrounding communities in supporting it! I visualize volunteers helping to maintain the park’s historic and cultural resources as well as sharing with visitors the amazing stories associated with its history.”
She said that a strong volunteer program will not only advance the park’s mission of caring for its resources to benefit the public, but that it will also build a stronger bond between the park and its neighbors. “Nothing will create that bond more effectively than hands-on involvement.”
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