This year for National Park Week, we highlight the career of Franceska Macsali-Urbin, Supervisory Park Ranger here at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Fran is one of our longest-tenured employees, and was part of the team that prepared Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) for public visitation. Below are some memories from her career with the National Park Service to kick off our blog series that will feature park employees: The Employee Experience.
Little did I know when I was attending college to get a history degree that I would end up with a career in the National Park Service. When I completed my studies at grad school, there were very few teaching positions available in the area of social studies or history. Attempting to make connections with people who might help me find a job that was history related, I made the decision to volunteer for an organization called Dutchess County Landmarks, whose mission was to support historic sites in the area. As it happened, the director of the organization, had a friend in the NPS who was hiring for seasonal park ranger positions at the Vanderbilt Mansion. She set up an interview and I was hired. I did not know much about the National Park Service, but once I began working at the park, I fell in love with the agency and wanted to make a career of it. For me it was the ultimate dream job – focusing on history and being able to share that interest with others – what could possibly be better than that? And it gave me the opportunity to give back, in a small way, to the country that welcomed my immigrant parents to its shores.
Initially I started working at the Vanderbilt Mansion. Later I was moved down to the FDR Home. Although I was hired as a seasonal park ranger to do tours, when asked to assist in another division because of staff shortage, I was happy to do it. I saw it as a great way to learn about other divisions in the agency. A receptionist was needed temporarily to answer the phones, do general office work and take bus reservations for the sites. It was a great experience.
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At one point in time, I was hired as a seasonal fee collector and later I worked as an admin tech. For three years, I was hired as a seasonal but there were no permanent positions available for a Park Ranger job and there were no possibilities for anything opening up. Reluctantly, I left the park for a full time position at the Department of Motor Vehicles. I needed a job with benefits. I lasted three months. I had been bitten by the park service bug and my heart drew me back. Another seasonal position which later became a permanent position was available for a clerk/typist at the new Eleanor Roosevelt site that had been added to Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. It was initially managed as a unit of Roosevelt-Vanderbilt with its own maintenance, interp staff and site manager. It was a GS-3 32 hour a week office job, but I saw it as a possible foot in the door to the job I really wanted – Park Ranger. And I was working for the agency I loved. All these different jobs were wonderful in their own way and presented interesting challenges and lots of opportunities to learn about park operations. I even served as the secretary to the Superintendent for a short time, which I felt was quite an honor.
Finally the job I wanted more than anything else in the world was advertised - a Park Ranger position AND at the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, no less. By some miracle, I got the job. To work in a brand new park on the ground floor before it was even open to the public was an incredible opportunity. Not too many people get that kind of experience. I worked on developing interpretive programs, curatorial work, assisting with furnishing Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, doing oral histories with people who knew Mrs. Roosevelt, and helping get ready for the official dedication and opening of the site. Going to work every day was always filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation. Eventually, I became the lead park ranger for the site.
Eventually after the site was incorporated under the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt umbrella, I became the site manager for the Home of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt sites which has truly been a privilege. During years that I have worked with the NPS, I have been fortunate enough to have some amazing experiences. One of them was to give President of the United States, Bill Clinton, a tour of the FDR Home. Another was to give First Lady Hillary Clinton a tour of Val-Kill. I have given tours to foreign dignitaries and people in the entertainment field and it has been very special. Most special of all, has been the interaction with average people who have come from all corners of the globe to learn about history and who sometimes share with you why a pilgrimage to this site is so meaningful to them.
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But the very best thing that happened here was meeting the man who would become my husband, park photographer and videographer, Bill Urbin. Working with him as a team, we were able to do many oral histories that captured the memories of people who knew the Roosevelts. Hopefully these will be useful for researchers in the future.
Today, after many years of working here, I still find it exciting and fun to come to work every day. It is definitely never boring. There are always new things to learn, new things to experience and new ways to be creative. As the park service continues to work in a century that tends to focus on virtual experiences, I still hope it will continue to make personal interaction with the public its priority. Though electronic /virtual stuff has its place in programming, especially for those who cannot come to the parks, there is nothing like the experience talking to visitors personally, showing them history, or nature through a program here on site or a tour through the historic structure. The NPS for generations was known for its personal touch with the public. We are the government agency that is loved by Americans and always seen in a positive light and I honestly think it is due to the special customer experience we have delivered personally to the public at our parks. I feel so incredibly lucky and proud to be a part of the NPS team.
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