[Volunteers] OVP Volunteer Listserve 2/21/2006

Tue Feb 21 14:08:03 CST 2006

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
OFFICE OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS WEEKLY LISTSERVE
Brought to you by CUVolunteer.org, the most comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities in Champaign county.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. RSO Service and Leadership Workshop
2. OVP Paid Internship
3. Read Across America
4. Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
5. Crisis Line Training Opportunity
6. United Way Annual Report Assembly
7. Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Trips
8. March Madness Day Carnival
9. Spring Break at Allerton
10. Dominican Summer Public Service Project
11. Perfect Prom Project Donations

AD: Join the Office of Volunteer Programs group on facebook!

1.  RSO SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
RSO leaders!  OVP is putting together a one-day workshop THIS SATURDAY, February 25, from 1 PM to 3 PM in 209 Illini Union.  This workshop is a fantastic and FREE opportunity for you and your organization to learn how to organize service projects on campus and in the community.  RSVP at https://webtools.uiuc.edu/formBuilder/OrganizationSecure?id=3983705 by Thursday, February 23 at 5 PM.  Space is extremely limited. 

2.  OVP PAID INTERNSHIP
Are you interested in helping make a difference in the community?  The UIUC Office of Volunteer Programs is looking for an intern for the 2006-2007 school year. For more details and an application, check out on-line application at the address below.  Applications are due Friday, March 10 at noon via e-mail to ovp at uiuc.edu or printed out and turned in to the Office of Volunteer Programs, 277 Illini Union.  Questions?  Contact Amy Sponsler at sponsler at uiuc.edu.

Here's the address of the internship application:
http://www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp/2006intern.doc

3.  READ ACROSS AMERICA
This year's Read Across America Committee is asking for your help as volunteers at our annual celebration of reading that is being held at Lincoln Square in Urbana. Last year, almost 700 children participated in the event, so we expect to need a lot of volunteers again this year.

Volunteers are needed from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, March 4 to greet the children and help them with the activities.  We are thinking in terms of three shifts of two hours each--9 to 11, 11 to 1, and 1 to 3--but will be glad to adjust the schedule to accommodate your needs.  The early shift (9-11) will also help with some of the set up activities, and the late shift (1-3) with some of the cleanup.

Please consider sharing a couple hours of your time to celebrate and promote the importance of reading.  We hope you will join us and help share the message of the role of our entire community in motivating children to read.  If you are willing to help, please call Jean Breeze at 898-0978 no later that February 22. She will be able to tell you more about the volunteer activities and will be developing the schedule for volunteers.  If you would like to contact her via e-mail, the address is dalyba at champaignschools.org.  Be sure to use "Attn: Jean" as your subject.

4.  NON-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT CAREER FAIR
The Non-Profit and Government Career Fair offers a wonderful opportunity for all students, regardless of major or year in school, to meet with representatives from various non-profit and governmental agencies.  It is open to all graduate and undergraduate UIUC students seeking full time, part time, internship, summer, or volunteer positions.  Students are encouraged to come out to learn about the wide variety of degrees and experiences that these organizations are seeking.  This fair provides insight into the competitive salaries and the opportunities for professional growth and career advancement with non-profit and governmental agencies.  The fair will take place on Monday, March 13, from 11 AM to 3 PM in the Illini Union Rooms A, B, and C, and is presented by the Career Center, the Office of Volunteer Programs, and the Graduate College Career Services Office.

5.  CRISIS LINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
The Mental Health Center of Champaign County has an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in volunteering with their 24-hour Crisis Line.  Volunteers help callers with a variety of situations, including providing resources and information, social support for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, suicide prevention, etc.  Volunteers take Crisis Line calls from their home and must commit to 12 hours per month of volunteer service.  In order to participate in this training, volunteers must have the ability to take shifts during the summer months.

Crisis Line volunteers must complete an intensive training program consisting of a total of 20 hours.  The next volunteer training is scheduled for February 21, February 23, February 28, and March 2.  Sessions will be held at the Mental Health Center, and will run from 5:30 PM to 9 PM.  Potential volunteers must attend all four sessions, as well as two 3-hour on-the-job sessions. 

For further information, please contact Barb Bressner, Crisis Line Coordinator, at 373-2430 or by e-mail at bbressner at mhcenter.org. 

6.  UNITED WAY ANNUAL REPORT ASSEMBLY
United Way need your help assembling their annual report.  This can be done at anytime.  Contact Pia Byron at pia at uwayhelps.org or at 352-5151 if you are interested.

7.  HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SPRING BREAK TRIPS
There are a couple of spots still open for these trips, which will bring teams of 12 people to Cleveland, OH and Grand Rapids, MI from Sunday, March 19 to Saturday, March 25.  Registration requires a $75 deposit.  The total cost of the trip will not exceed $200.  Transportation, food, and lodging is provided.  If you have any questions or would like to register stop by the Habitat office in the RSO Complex or e-mail tgupta2 at uiuc.edu.

8.  MARCH MADNESS DAY CARNIVAL
The Champaign Early Childhood Center needs volunteers to help run the games and give prizes during the carnival!  One volunteer will be asked to "float" and take pictures.  The carnival is on Wednesday, March 8 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  30 volunteers are needed.  If you are interested, please call Maggie Rodriguez-Nieto at 351-3771.

9.  SPRING BREAK AT ALLERTON
Spend spring break at Allerton Park!  Students from all areas of study may apply to spend spring break at the historic Allerton mansion and earn service/volunteer hours working on restoration projects, gardening, and preparing the park for another season of activity.  Room and board will be provided for the week but space is limited.  For more information and for an application please visit the Allerton web site at http://www.allerton.uiuc.edu

10.  DOMINICAN SUMMER PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECT
It's impossible for most Americans not to take for granted simple amenities that help to keep us safe from illness.  But there are areas even as near as the Caribbean Islands, where a lack of basic sanitation and clean water are just as commonplace as their presence is here.  The result is frequent, preventable illness and malnutrition for hundreds of children. If even a modest system of sanitation could be implemented, the quality of life for entire neighborhoods of families could be significantly improved.

Project CURE is looking for highly motivated, open-minded and personable student volunteers to aid in the development and completion of a public service project in the area surrounding La Romana, Dominican Republic. The trip would take place in July and likely last between six to nine days (exact dates and duration are to be determined).  Volunteers would aid in fund-raising for and the construction of low-maintenance, sturdy latrines to help give families a lasting means of disease prevention.  In addition, Project CURE aims to teach interested families to produce, package and sell soap, so that they may provide themselves with a readily accessible means of maintaining adequate hygiene and a source of supplementary income.

If you've been looking for a way to make a lasting and profoundly positive contribution, this would be a very promising opportunity for you.  Join the movement and help these families to build a community they can be safe in, and be proud of.

Please contact David Klein at daklein at life.uiuc.edu for more information.

11.  PERFECT PROM PROJECT DONATIONS
The Perfect Prom Project is ready to accept your donations of formal dresses, shoes, purses, and accessories.  These donations will be provided for free to Champaign-Urbana high school girls who may not be able to otherwise afford them.  There is a donation box at the Office of Volunteer Programs.  Other drop-off locations will be added as the school year progresses.  Visit http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/prom/ or the Perfect Prom Project group on facebook for more information on how you can help with this cause.

Have a stress-free week!

Stu Schaff
Williams Intern

Office of Volunteer Programs
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
277 Illini Union (in the Student Organizations Complex)
Phone: 217-333-7424
E-mail: ovp at uiuc.edu
Web: http://www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp/