Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and personal tidbits. As it is the first month of the year, we decided to shine the light on our museum... as a TEAM. This month, we talk to Alyson Fried--the manager of The Walt Disney Family Museum's first ever softball team: The Blue Sox!
What is your title and what do YOU do here at The Walt Disney Family Museum?
Besides my normal desk job at the museum, I also work as the Manager for the Museum’s first softball team, The Blue Sox. In my role as the Blue Sox Manager, I found 15 other great staffers to wear our team jersey and commit to playing games every Sunday night. For the 2011 season, I made sure everyone knew when the games were and what positions they were playing. On a few occasions, I even made sure there were snacks to enjoy during innings. (Side note from the team: THANKS, ALY!)
What is your fondest Disney memory OR what is your favorite gallery at The Walt Disney Family Museum and why?
I think my favorite Disney-related memories are just laughing—and still trying to chug along—after seeing all the bruises, scrapes and bumps we’ve gotten out in the field. Kind of like what Walt says about it being “important to have good hard failure”…and we definitely know those!
How does your job communicate and interpret the legacy of Walt Disney?
In large type across the back wall in Gallery 9, there's a quote from Walt that reads "You can design, create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." Creating a softball team helped our staff bond and strengthen their skills in working as a team. At the end of the day, it is the staff that helps communicate and interpret the legacy of Walt—being a part of the Blue Sox just helped us do this better as a whole.
Describe your workspace OR your favorite item on your desk.
As the manager of the Blux Sox, my "workspace" is technically a green clipboard on the softball fields in the Presidio, The Fort Scott Fields. The best part about this “workspace” is the amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge while you are in the outfield!
Tell us a little known fact about you.
The last time that I played softball, before the Blue Sox, was in my 7th grade P.E. class for two weeks.
Images: 1) Some of the players on the Blue Sox--taken after our very first game! 2) Alyson--the Blue Sox's manager--is up to bat!