Serve Immigrant Youth on May 5th!

The Office of Community Service Learning and Catholic Charities are still looking for volunteers to engage youth during New Mainer's Day. This event will bring over 40 newly arrived immigrant and refugee families to campus for a community building picnic. This results in about 40-60 children needing folks to play with them and engage them in fun activities while their parents. Volunteers can help out by playing soccer, running arts and crafts activities, face painting, and more! The event will be on May 5th on the Portland campus ( depending on the weather, it will either be outside or in the Sullivan Gym) from12-3pm. It's a great opportunity to take a break from studying and relieve some stress by having a lot of fun! If you are interested, please let me know by replying to this email.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine
207-780-4537

Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity this May!

May 5th, Habitat for Humanity will be hosting the 1st annual "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere 5k" to benefit our Women Build project in Freeport. It's an evening 5k with an after party at Gritty's (Freeport). There will be a band and bon fire at the after party and all volunteers are welcome to join them! They're looking for volunteers to help with everything from set up, to handing out water to directing & cheering on runners! They could also use some help with selling raffle tickets at the registration table that afternoon and at the after-party. They can be flexible with time commitment! Contact Kate Callahan at volunteer@habitatme.org for more information!

Last Chance to 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, from 10:00-4pm 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.

Registration ends at 5pm tomorrow! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

An invitation from NAACP, Portland Branch

Together with a coalition of religious and community organizations, our community partners at the NAACP, Portland Branch have asked me to share this invitation, and I commend it to you.  -ATM

 

=========================================================

 

 

MEMORIAL GATHERING IN HONOR OF TRAYVON MARTIN

and

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ON RACE AND JUSTICE

 

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

5:00 PM Memorial Gathering, Monument Square, Portland

6:00 PM Community Dialogue, Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library

 

All are welcome.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (207) 772-1051 or EMAIL NAACP.Maine@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

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

Spring Cleaning and Parkside Neighborhood Center

It's time for spring cleaning, and if your attic, closets, or cellar have good usable items you'd like to donate, consider our friends at the Parkside Neighborhood Center (who have a special historic relationship to USM, as well as being near neighbors).   Their semi-annual Give-Away Day is Saturday, May 5th, and donations of nearly anything in good condition -- clothing, bedding, toys, household goods --  can be made from 9-11 am and 4-6 pm Friday May 4th at Sacred Heart Church.  For more information:  Parkside Neighborhood Association<pna@parksideneighborhood.org>.

 

 

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

Mentors Wanted for the 2012-2013 School Year

Mentors wanted for the 2012-2013 School Year. Come join the USMentors Program and change someone's life. It only takes 1 hour per week for a year to make a difference. This volunteering experience will look great on your resume, and is a great way to help out the Portland community; by mentoring a student from King Middle School or Portland High School new friendships can be formed.

Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship with a student from King Middle School or Portland High School who is looking for a positive role model. Activities vary from doing homework, to playing sports and doing arts and crafts. A mentor is a positive role model who provides a young student with support, counsel, friendship, and positive reinforcement. You become a friend to this young student who needs someone to be there for them and listen to them.

For more information contact Belana Warmflash:
(207)780-4679
belana.warmflash@maine.edu
or stop by the Office of Community Service Learning

Volunteer During New Mainer's Day on May 5th!

On May 5th from 12-3pm, our office will be hosting our annual collaborative event with Catholic Charities, New Mainer's Day. This event brings newly arrived immigrant and refugee families to campus for a community building picnic. It is hosted on the campus green between Payson Smith and Luther Bonney or, if the weather is bad, in the Sullivan Gym.
We need a few volunteers to help with the following activities with kids: playing soccer, running arts & crafts activities, or playing games with a kiddie parachute. This is a great way to give yourself a break from studying, and also serve the community! If you are interested, or have questions, please let me know by replying to this email.

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

Sign Up for USM Day of Service!

Spring is here, 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, from 10:00-4pm 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, don't hesitate to ask!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember that tomorrow there will be a blood drive sponsored by The Free Press! It will be located in Wishcamper 102 from 11-4pm!

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

Mentors Wanted for the 2012-2013 School Year

Mentors wanted for the 2012-2013 School Year. Come join the USMentors Program and change someone's life. It only takes is 1 hour per week for a year to make a difference. This volunteering experience will look great on your resume, and is a great way to help out the Portland community; by mentoring a student from King Middle School or Portland High School new friendships can be formed.

Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship with a student from King Middle School or Portland High School who is looking for a positive role model. Actives vary from doing homework, to playing sports and doing arts and crafts. A mentor is a positive role model who provides a young student with support, counsel, friendship, and positive reinforcement. You become a friend to this young student who needs someone to be their for them and listen to them.

For more information contact Belana Warmflash:
(207)780-4679
belana.warmflash@maine.edu
or stop by the Office of Community Service Learning

Parkside Unity Festival April 28th!

Parkside Neighborhood Center would like to invite you to the Parkside Unity Festival! This is a gathering of friends and families of Parkside neighborhood to bring support, healing and enjoyment to our neighbors, sponsored by neighborhood groups, faith communities, and agencies working together to celebrate Parkside.

The festival will be held at Sacred Heart/St. Dominic's Parish on Saturday, April 28th, from 1-4 pm. There will be music, singing, dance, art, East African food, and more! Please join us!

They are also looking for volunteers to help out with the event (arriving at 11 am and leaving at 5:30 pm). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me at 553-5940 or at this email.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please remember that this Thursday, April 12th, The Free Press is sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross. The blood drive will be in Wishcamper 102 from 11am-4pm. Today, from 11-2, the Free Press has a table in the Woodbury Campus Center where you can sign up for appointments. Tomorrow, they will be in Luther Bonney from 10-2.

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

Blue Wrap Runway Project

Many at USM are familiar with Partners for World Health, and many USM students have served by helping at the warehouse.  Here's an opportunity to support this important project while enjoying the creativity of local designers and textile artists.  -ATM

=============================================================================================

 

 

 

 

ALL Invited!!!

BLUE WRAP PROJECT RUNWAY

APRIL 26TH

6P

USM Hannaford Hall

Portland, Maine

Join the fun and support a great cause!

Partners for World Health

hosts

Creative Fashion Show of exquisite wearable art made out of blue wrap the fabric used to sterilize all surgical supplies in all hospitals throughout the USA.

Reception with Live Music followed by the

Fashion Show

Great Fun and intriguing artistic garments!

Tickets available

$50 in advance $60 at the door

$25 for students with ID

Call 885 1011 to reserve a spot!

Please forward to your friends!!

www.PartnersforWorldHealth.org

 

 

 

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 by playing Soccer on May 5th!

Hello Everyone,

This year, our office will be hosting New Mainer's Day in collaboration with Catholic Charities. New Mainer's Day is an event that brings newly settled immigrant and refugee families to campus for a community-building picnic. We need a few volunteers to help out by kicking around a soccer ball with kids from 12-3pm on Saturday, May 5th. The event will be on the Portland campus, hopefully outside on the green. If it's raining, we will be in the Sullivan gym. If you are interested, please let me know by replying to this email! It's a great way to take a break from studying for a few hours while also doing some great community service!

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

Correction re: Another urgent call from American Red Cross Blood Services

I am so very sorry about the error in which I misstated the day/date of the upcoming blood drive on campus!  This is the correct day/date and time:

 

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, April 12th, 11 AM - 4 PM

102 Wishcamper, Portland

 

In addition to the option of making an appointment by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or on line at www.redcrossblood.org, the Free Press, campus sponsor of the drive, is scheduling appointments in person today, April 5th and  Monday, April 9th, 11 AM to 2 PM in the dining area in Woodbury Campus Center, and Tuesday April 10 in Luther Bonney Lobby from 10 AM to 2 PM.

 

 

 

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

Another urgent call from American Red Cross Blood Services

...with a reminder that we have a Blood Drive in the Wishcamper Center on the Portland campus on Friday, April 12th,11 Am - 4 PM.  To make an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or log on to www.redcrossblood.org.   -ATM

 

·         Allergies caused by the early blooming of plants and trees have many people feeling under the weather and the Red Cross is seeing fewer donors coming into donor centers and blood drives.  As a result, the blood supply has dropped to extremely low levels.  To prevent the supply from falling even further, please consider making an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and weeks.

·         Maintaining sufficient blood to meet patient needs is a delicate balance between supply and demand.  When anything unexpected disrupts that balance, the Red Cross puts out a call to potential blood donors across the country to respond by making an appointment to give blood as soon as possible. 

·         Did you know that only 3 out of 100 people in America donate blood in a given year?

·         Blood is used for the treatment of cancer patients, people with blood disorders, premature babies, transplant recipients, trauma victims and so much more.

·         Each day, more than 44,000 blood donations are needed in the U.S.  The American Red Cross Blood Services is encouraging donors to make an appointment as soon as possible to help stabilize the blood supply.  

·         The need for blood is constant. Approximately every two seconds a patient in the United States needs a blood transfusion.

 o   If O negative donor:   O negative blood can be used for any patient when there is not time to determine the patient's blood type, so it's crucial that there is a sufficient supply. 

o   If B negative, A negative, and O positive donors:  Your help is needed now!

·         Schedule your appointment to give blood through the American Red Cross today and help save lives.  Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org

·         If you already have an appointment to donate blood, it is crucial that you keep your commitment to give.  If you become ill or unavailable, please ask a friend to donate blood in your place.

 

Jennifer Goldman

Account Executive

American Red Cross

524 Forest Avenue

Portland, ME  04101

(207)775-2367 (t)

(207)699-6028 (c)

Goldmanjr@usa.redcross.org

 

 

 

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

Blood Drive Next Week!

Hello Everyone,

The Free Press will be hosting a blood drive on April 12th! It will be in 102 Wishcamper, from 11am-4pm. For more information or to sign up, contact Paul Koenig at paul@usmfreepress.org.

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

Early application/scholarship opportunity: TEDxDirigo Engage! conference

Because of your commitment to civic engagement through involvement with our programs, I am pleased to share with you advance information about an exciting opportunity coming to USM in May - the TEDxDirigo Engage! conference!  We are very grateful to these community partners for their offer of a limited number of scholarships to USM students to reduce the cost of admission from $100 to $50 or $25.  Please waste no time, as the application process and scholarships will be announced generally in just a few days.  Direct applications and any questions directly to the Institute for Civic Leadership's Jan Kearce at the e-mail address below.  Yours, for engagement, ATM

 

================================================================================

 

ENGAGE 2012
SATURDAY, MAY 19
ABROMSON CENTER, USM PORTLAND CAMPUS
10 AM – 6 PM  (Light fare 9 am; reception 5 pm)

Celebrate the power of how people transform concepts into actions that make a real difference! Come and hear inspirational stories from Maine's brightest innovators and change makers who are engaging in our community – moving from idea to impact and beyond. Catch the energizing spirit of Engage and be part of the dialogue between speaker sessions in this outstanding event!

Cost: $100 for full day program, food and reception. USM students may qualify for limited scholarships when applying to attend.

Apply to Attend: Please complete short online application to ensure your dynamic role in our vibrant and diverse audience.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Need to know more? Check out: tedxdirigo.com  email jkearce@civicleadership.org.

TEDxDirigo, along with visionary partners Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) and Maine Magazine, brings this exceptional event to Maine. TEDxDirigo is a world-class platform that celebrates innovation, inspiring hundreds of live audience members and tens of thousands online globally.The Institute for Civic Leadership builds capacity of leaders across our state. We share the stories of people making a difference, lead conversations that matter, and work with stakeholders to move Maine forward.

 

 

 

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

Help the Environment During 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, from 10:00-4pm 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.

For those of you looking for a leadership opportunity, consider being a Student Facilitator. Facilitators are responsible for helping staff run ice-breakers, reflections, and building community among volunteers by just talking to people! If you are interested, please let me know!

We look forward to serving with you!