Financial History Issue 112 (Winter 2015) | Page 8

THE TICKER  MUSEUM NEWS Volunteer Spotlight: Carolyn Krouse It is the mission of Museum volunteer Carolyn Krouse to let people know that New York doesn’t have to be an unfriendly city. And based on feedback from guests and other members of the visitor services team, it is clear she is succeeding. A high school English teacher-turnedauthor, Carolyn spent four years in Japan due to her husband’s corporate relocation, so she is familiar with the challenges of being in a foreign land. The author of several non-fiction books, Carolyn’s most successful publication is A Guide to Food Buying in Japan, which helps Englishspeaking residents of Japan purchase groceries in Japanese markets. This is a key reference for the target demographic, as the prices are considerably less expensive in the Japanese markets than in the country’s western markets. Still in print, the book has sold more than 15,000 copies since its original publication in 1986. Upon moving from Japan to Mahwah, New Jersey, in 1986, Carolyn began working with a local reference librarian, a position that she greatly enjoyed and hoped to continue when she moved to New York City in 2010. Unable to find a suitable volunteer position at a library in the city, she expanded her search to include museums. However, many of the larger institutions were less flexible in their scheduling than she had hoped and did not seem to be a good fit because of her love of travel. While taking a course at New York University, she was introduced to the Museum of American Finance on a class field trip. Struck by the beautiful building and having enjoyed the tour, she inquired about volunteer opportunities. In 2011, she began volunteering at the Museum’s front desk on Tuesdays. Carolyn said her favorite aspect of her volunteer work is that she gets to meet a variety of interesting people who come through the door, while working with an inclusive, friendly and accommodating visitor services staff. “During the normal course of a week, I don’t meet a lot of new people; but one day a week, I say hello to the world,” she said. When Japanese and French tourists visit the Museum, they are often pleasantly surprised to find an American at the front desk who speaks their language. And whenever she has the opportunity to talk to visitors, she asks where they are from. Because she is an avid traveler, she can often tell them she has visited their country and can share a story or two. Carolyn and her husband take about three long trips of at least four weeks per year. Among her favorite travel destinations are Australia (where she recently spent a month) and Prague (where she travels every two years to see the Czech opera). She also enjoys opera in New York City, and she visits as many museums as she can, both in the United States and abroad.  MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE BENEFACTORS (2013–2014) The Museum is most grateful for the financial support of these major donors to help advance our commitment to preserving, exhibiting and teaching the power and value of American finance. Platinum • New York Stock Exchange • John Herzog • Royce & Associates • Shenkman Capital FEB 8 1977 Gold • Bank of America Merrill Lynch • Andrea de Cholnoky • Sidney Mobell • Richard Sylla • TCW Group, Inc. • Tishman Speyer • Steve Wozniak Silver • The Adirondack Trust Company • American Express The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies eliminates all sales charges, becoming a no-load fund family. 6    FINANCIAL HISTORY  |  Winter 2015  | www.MoAF.org • Capco • Consolidated Edison • Crystal & Company • Dalio Foundation • Houlihan Lokey • ING • Kopp Family Charitable Fund • Lipper Advisory Services • Moody’s • Niederauer Family Fund • Perella Weinberg Partners • Philidor RX Services, LLC FEB 20 1795 • Protiviti • R.W. Presspich • Sullivan & Cromwell • U.S. Bancorp • Wells Fargo • Voya Financial   For information about the Museum’s benefactor program, please contact Mindy S. Ross at 646-833-2755 or mross@moaf.org. Robert Morris creates the North American Land Company. Its prospectus guarantees it will pay dividends of at least 6% a year, but the stock crashes and lands Morris in debtors’ prison.