Volunteers needed in Southern ME to help Endangered Species!

Hello USM Students,

We need your help!  Maine Audubon is seeking volunteers to survey roads in southern Maine for signs of several endangered species.  It's a fun, free, and healthy activity that individuals and groups can do together in the spring and summer months.  Volunteers monitor a 1 mile stretch of road this spring and summer while recording sightings of dead or alive endangered species and other wildlife.  Volunteers then enter their sightings in the interactive website "Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch."

 

Roads can have a big impact on endangered species by impeding movement and separating populations, as well as killing individuals from collisions.  Biologists with Maine Audubon and the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife will use the information gathered by volunteers to work with town planners and Maine Department of Transportation to reduce road risks to rare wildlife and improve conditions for drivers. Maine Audubon officials say that Blanding's turtles and spotted turtles are expected to become extinct in Maine due to road mortality unless changes are made. Other endangered species of interest in the study include the black racer snake and the New England cottontail.

 

If you are interested in participating in this program, we have 2 upcoming trainings sessions:

1) Saturday, April 7^th,10:30 am to 2 pm, at the Goodall Memorial Library, 952 Main Street in Sanford

2) Saturday, April 14^th, 10:30 am to 2 pm, at the York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road in York. 

Lunch will be provided and families are encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in volunteering but cannot attend either workshop, please contact Barbara Charry (bcharry@maineaudubon.org)

 

Feel free to pass along information about this project to any other students that may be interested in volunteering to help endangered species in southern Maine.  I look forward to hearing from you!  
Sincerely,

Amanda Moeser

Maine Audubon

amoeser@maineaudubon.org

(207) 781-6180 x207

Relay For Life - 30 days away!

Hello all,

I hope this message finds you well on this very chilly Spring break. I'm emailing again about the Relay For Life because our deadline to get a t-shirt is right around the corner (April 1st).

As a reminder, it's never too late to register for the event and to participate in the largest all-nighter for a cause at USM! Just hop over to http://relayforlife.org/usmme and sign up. Right now, we have 187 participants registered on 28 teams. I challenge each and everyone of you to get more involved with your campus and community!

If you have any questions, please let me know.

TJ Williams


--

Thomas J. Williams
President

Board of Student Organizations
Maine Notary Public

Message, not massage!

Although I have had one or two urgent massages in my life (and wished for many more!), the urgent item I forwarded earlier today was a MESSAGE from American Red Cross Blood Services, not a MASSAGE.  I regret the error.  -ATM

 

 

 

Andrea Thompson McCall

 Director of Community Service Learning

 University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

 

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Urgent message from American Red Cross Blood Services

We have received this urgent massage from American Red Cross Blood Services:

 

·         Due to patients extraordinary need for Type B negative blood, the inventory for both B negative and O negative blood is now critically low!

• Life is hectic and often people don't think about blood donation until they, or someone they know, needs blood.  But each day, more than 38,000 blood donations are needed in the U.S.  The American Red Cross Blood Services is encouraging donors to come in to donate blood as soon as possible to help stabilize the blood supply.

·         We ask you to increase your outreach to all donors of all blood types, and especially for O negative and B negative to help boost the local blood supply and ensure that blood is available for patients in need.

·         We need donations now and ask individuals to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible.

 Although we have a blood drive on campus scheduled for April 12th, some may wish to respond more quickly.  The American Red Cross Blood Services Donor Center is just blocks from the Portland campus, on Ashmont Street, just off Forest Avenue (behind the Great Lost Bear).  Hours of operation are:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
First and Third Saturday of the month 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Whole blood donation appointments may be made online at www.givelife.org.

More information is at http://www.newenglandblood.org/maine/.

 

 

Andrea Thompson McCall

 Director of Community Service Learning

 University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

 

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Community Builders Needed for USM Day of Service

We are looking for a few students to be Student Facilitators during USM Day of Service on April 20th, 2012 from 9:30am-4:00pm. A facilitator is a student who is responsible for creating community among volunteers at a specific service site. Facilitators are responsible for running ice-breakers with their group, facilitating conversation during travel time, maintaining contact with USM staff during the service project, making sure all volunteers using USM transportation arrive at the service site (i.e. making sure everyone gets on the bus), facilitating reflection at the end of service, and making sure everyone gets back on the bus at the end of the service project. If you are interested, please let me know!

Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Student Facilitators Needed for Day of Service!

We are looking for a few students to be Student Facilitators during USM Day of Service on April 20th, 2012 from 9:30am-4:00pm. A facilitator is a student who is responsible for creating community among volunteers at a specific service site. Facilitators are responsible for running ice-breakers with their group, facilitating conversation during travel time, maintaining contact with USM staff during the service project, making sure all volunteers using USM transportation arrive at the service site (i.e. making sure everyone gets on the bus), facilitating reflection at the end of service, and making sure everyone gets back on the bus at the end of the service project. If you are interested, please let me know!

Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Sign Up for USM Day of Service!

It's springtime again, and that means the 3rd Annual USM Day of Service is right around the corner! USM Day of Service engages over 100 USM students in community service projects all over the Greater Portland area. This year, on April 20th, 2012 we will be participating in the following service projects:

• Rippling Waters Organic Farm(Standish): Good Weather = covering outdoor gardens with soil, leaves & hay & making raised beds; poor weather = planting in greenhouse & hoop houses
• Partners for World Health(Scarborough): Sorting medical supplies to be sent to developing nations
• Portland Trails(Portland): resurfacing and cleaning up their Valley St trail.
• Gorham Campus Clean-Up(Gorham Campus): TBD, most likely flower planting, trash pick-up, weeding, ect.

We provide transportation to all off-campus service sites, free breakfast and lunch, and a free t shirt! Registration for individual projects will be done on the morning of the event from 9:30-10:00am on a first come first serve basis. Students interested in serving at Rippling Waters or on the Gorham Campus Clean Up project should sign up to register at the Gorham Campus, while those who wish to serve at Partners for World Health or Portland Trails should sign up to register on the Portland campus. For more information or to sign up, follow this link: http://www.usm.maine.edu/community/campus-wide-day-service. If you have any questions, please let me know!

We look forward to serving with you!

Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Community Service Opportunities

As is often the case, we have received a number of requests for volunteers, and I'm digesting them here, as well as on the list of community volunteering opportunities that is maintained on our web site:    http://www.usm.maine.edu/community/community-volunteering

You are receiving this e-mail because you are subscribed to the listserv of the Office of Community Service Learning, indicating that you have interest in community service opportunities.  This communication is provided as a service to the community and in support of our students' (and others') desire to learn of service opportunities in our community.  Please contact the sponsoring organizations directly  (unless otherwise indicated) if you wish to pursue any of these opportunities.

 

Spring Yard Clean-Up

An elderly Gorham resident who is able to remain in her own home but unable to do yard work has depended on volunteers from USM for several years for seasonal yard clean-up.  If you or a group you're part of would be willing to rake a yard in Gorham, please contact our office.

 

Fund Raising Walk for Haiti

Konbit Sante, a Portland-based organization in partnership with a hospital in Cap Haitian, Haiti, plans their 10th annual fund raising Maine Walk for Haiti on May 12, starting at 10 am, in Portland's Payson Park (Back Cove). Volunteers are needed to solicit sponsors and walk, but also to support the event.  Contact Diane Devlin / ddevlin@maine.rr.com .

 

Oxfam's 2012 CHANGE Initiative  

CHANGE is Oxfam's national student leadership program for rising sophomores and juniors. It provides leadership and advocacy training and prepares students to promote social change locally and globally. CHANGE Leaders are exposed to the international development issues that inform Oxfam's work, and apply their skills and creativity to run Oxfam campaigns on campus.  CHANGE Leaders have access to high quality training and experience in leadership and skills for social change and professional networking.  Applications are due April 2, 2012. Selected students participate in a week-long training in Boston, July 21-27, 2012, which is organized and paid for by Oxfam.  Students must agree to work with a student club and implement an Oxfam campaign on campus during the 2012-13 academic year, as well as communicate regularly with Oxfam staff about their work. Each year 50 students are selected from US-based colleges and universities across the U.S. To learn more about the CHANGE Initiative, visit www.oxfamamerica.org/change.

 

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad

Come Join the Crew on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad We are a volunteer organization with a mission to collect, preserve,  display, interpret and operate historic railroad equipment from Maine's two-foot gauge railways. Our volunteers drive the trains, fix the trains, do track work, restore historic equipment, archive records, design and build exhibits all for the education and enjoyment of the public. Come experience the excitement of running a real train. No experience necessary!  We will train you to become a brakeman, conductor or even an engineer.  Have woodworking or carpentry skills? Join our restoration team and keep our beautiful historic railroad cars in repair.  Or help organize our archives.  Whether you have an interest in history, experience with repairing engines, or just a love of trains, the museum has many volunteer opportunities available.   Volunteer hours and days of the week are flexible.  To volunteer contact Jennifer Halm-Perazone, our Volunteer Coordinator at 207-828-0814 or e-mail at volunteers@mainenarrowgauge.org

 

Portland Lion's Club

Te Portland chapter of Lion's Club International, whose mission is "to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding," wants to forge a relationship with students at USM, and give them the ability to not only be a member of the Portland LIONS Club, but to take on a leadership role within the club. Our vision is to allow the students to partner with the current leaders and actually run the club with the current officer's guidance.  Many leadership roles and project opportunities exist.  For more Information: Please contact

Bruce Roullard – President – bruce.roullard@bankofamerica.com

Nathan Cadorette – nathan.cadorette@maine.edu

 

 

 

 

Andrea Thompson McCall

 Director of Community Service Learning

 University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

 

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Serve During Spring Break!

Are you looking for something to do over spring break? Alternative Spring Break, a student organization that participates on chem- free service trips during school vacations, has opened up their local service projects to all USM students! They will be participating in multiple projects in the Greater Portland area next week.

Monday 1-4pm Helping sort donations and run the thrift shop owned by Catholic Charities

Tuesday 9am-3pm Helping with outdoor work at Rippling Waters Organic Farm in Standish

Wednesday 3-6pm Hosting and running Olympic Games at Riverton School through the Boys and Girls Club

Thursday 9am-1pm Helping sort medical supplies with Partners in World Health to send overseas

Friday 9am-3pm Helping to finish up a Habitat build in Freeport

If you are interested, contact Ali Godbout for more information at alison.godbout@maine.edu. You can serve on as many or as few projects as you want!

Serve with the National MS Society

Join the Movement: Phone volunteers needed to make a difference!

Join the Movement as we take the first steps to raise over $3 million to help fund the mission to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis!

One of the first important steps in this mission is to make phone calls and register walkers for their local Walk MS event. Volunteers will NOT solicit donations, but will make courtesy calls to walkers who have participated in past Walk MS events and provide information about the upcoming walks in their area. Join us in our Falmouth office to reach out to past years' walkers. We'll have the list of names for you to call and a script for you to follow - it's that easy!

Interested volunteers may contact Ashley Kuntz at ashley.kuntz@nmss.org or 781-7960

Location: National MS Society – Greater New England Chapter: 74 Gray Road, Falmouth ME 04105

Time Commitment: 3/19-3/28, time TBD. 2-3 hours, weekday afternoon or evening, possible Saturday morning. Contact Ashley to find a mutually convenient time and date!

Thanks for your support!

Thank you to those of you who supported our Alternative Student Break (ASB) group by participating in their online auction. Through your bidding, we were able to raise $575 to mitigate transportation and other costs that go with taking service trips around and out of state. I know their group is very excited to serve during March break! We could not fund these trips without the support of the USM community. Thank you again!

Summer Internship in Service in Washington, DC

**EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE**

Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service

June 10 – August 4

Georgetown University, Washington, DC

www.DCinternships.org/ipvs

 

How will you choose to spend your summer?

 

Join the millions of volunteers, public servants and nonprofit professionals who heard the call to serve in the nation's capital.

 

The Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service offers you a chance to put your talents towards affecting change. Spend your summer in service while getting a hands-on learning experience in Washington, DC.

 

This summer's IPVS application deadline has been extended to March 23, 2012 with scholarship funding available.

 

You still have the opportunity to be placed in an internship that puts you on the front-lines of our nation's recovery and renewal.  Spend your summer taking action and making an impact in the community. With IPVS you can: 

 

·     Provide families with educational programs that combat childhood obesity.

·     Help to advance public health by conducting intake interviews.

·     Facilitate enrichment opportunities for at-risk youth that encourage future successes.

·     Translate legal service documents and consultations for low-income immigrants.

·     Raise money and awareness for diseases that affect millions.

·     Provide direct emergency services to clients at a homeless shelter.

·     Research nonprofit policy and report on agency benefits.

·     Engage the local community in a park clean-up that revitalizes urban green spaces.

 

Application Instructions

To take advantage of the extended application and scholarship deadline, please contact Kristen Wright, Program Manager for the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service at kwright@tfas.org or 202.986.0384. We will work with you to help you complete your application and ensure that it qualifies for the extended deadline.

 

For more information or to start an application, please visit our website at www.DCinternships.org/IPVS.

 

About the Program

Sponsored by The Fund for American Studies and held at Georgetown University, IPVS is an eight-week academic internship program held in Washington, D.C. for undergraduate students interested in volunteerism and careers in the nonprofit sector. The Institute combines substantive professional experience for 30 hours a week with a challenging academic experience worth 6 credit hours from Georgetown University.  All students are housed on campus in apartment-style dorms.

 

Choose to spend your summer in service with IPVS!

 

Andrea Thompson McCall

 Director of Community Service Learning

 University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

 

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Place a bid on a 1 hour photo shoot or other items!

Did you recently get engaged? Need new family photos? Support our Alternative Spring Break group by bidding on a 1 hour photo session. Right now the price is at $40, what a bargain! Other items include gift cards, camp getaways and passes to local venues!Go to http://usmasbauction.webs.com/ to place your bid today! All proceeds go towards supporting ASB's chem free service trips!

Volunteer for the Into the Mud Challenge

The Into The Mud Challenge is put on by students in the Sport Management Program at USM. This year it will be on May 5th. They are looking for people to help them set up the course. Volunteers will be doing various "yard work" jobs to help set up for the race. Some of the jobs will include clearing trails of all obstructions, using shovels to dig holes for obstacles in race, and cutting down small trees. For more information contact Kyle Beaudoin at kyle.beaudoin@maine.edu.

Have you made your bid yet?

Have you made your bid on the ASB online auction yet? Support Alternative Spring Break's effort to make TWO service trips this semester by bidding on items from local businesses. Does a $15 Wild Burritos gift card for $6 sound good, or maybe some handmade jewelry for that special someone? We have something for everyone! To bid, follow this link and check out the list of items! http://usmasbauction.webs.com/itemlist.htm

Parkside Neighborhood Center Giveaway Day!

Parkside Neighborhood Center is looking for help for their Giveaway Day! It will be held at Sacred Heart/St. Dominic's Parish on Saturday, May 5th from 10 am -1 pm. They will accept, as always, baby clothing, books, toys, and baby and household items. Cleaned and washed and bedbug-free please! Drop-offs at Sacred Heart on Friday, May 4th from 9-11 am and 4-6 pm. We're also looking for volunteers during both days. Please contact Rachel Horton White at rachel.white@opportunityalliance.org or 553-5940 if interested you are in volunteering.

ASB Online Auction! Bidding starts at 10am!

Every year, our Alternative Spring Break group puts on an online auction to fund their chem free, community service trips. This year, auction items include 2 passes to the SPACE Gallery, 2 passes to the Portland Museum of Art, a camp getaway and more! Check out the online auction at http://usmasbauction.webs.com. Bidding starts at 10am today and continues until 10pm Sunday the 18th! Questions can be directed to their student leader, Alison Godbout, at alison.godbout@maine.edu.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine