Featured Community Service Opportunities!

There are a number of area organizations currently in need of volunteer support! View featured opportunities below or view our website for the full-length list of community needs: http://www.usm.maine.edu/cbl/community-volunteering

Featured Opportunities:

SPIRAL Arts, a community arts program in Portland is conducting a major downsizing of its arts and crafts supplies. Between now and October 31, they are looking for groups to volunteer to help sort and carry materials. Bonus: they also have many supplies to give away: paper, fabric, yarn, found objects, and more. If you would like to help, please contact Priscilla Dreyman at 207-899-5689.

STRIVE serves youth with developmental disabilities; their multi-faceted programming includes Friday night dances, an evening education series and the opportunity to take college-level classes at USM. They work to provide the youth the skills they need to integrate into society. STRIVE is looking for volunteers to help support their Annual Auction on October 16th -- opportunities are available throughout the day. Please contact Jenny Castiglione at JCastiglione@pslservices.org or 774-6278.

LearningWorks is seeking individuals to serve as members of the LearningWorks-AmeriCorps AIMS HIGH program. AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in solving community problems. Members will complete 300 hours of service over the course of a year. Receive a $100 bonus, and after completing the 300 hours receive an education award of $1,175 to be put toward future school or qualified student loan debt. Members will be part of a very exciting school turnaround initiative in Maine; supporting student achievement at Riverton or East End Community School alongside 31 other members. Apply your energy, ideals, and skills toward helping others while meeting critical needs in your community. Please send a resume and references to the Assistant Director of the LearningWorks-AmeriCorps AIMS HIGH program, Lynne Davis ldavis@learningworks.me with the subject title "Minimum-Time Member Position."

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad is looking for volunteers to become Merry Elves for its Polar Express holiday event! As Elves, volunteers will deliver hot chocolate and cookies aboard this magical train and help Santa to give out the first gift of the season. This is a great way to give back to the community and have a fun volunteering experience. Come be a part of this enchanted journey! This family friendly 13-day event runs the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 through Dec. 23. The Train runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and Monday Dec 23. For more information and to volunteer contact Jennifer Halm-Perazone at polarexpress@mainenarrowgauge.org or 207-828-0814.

STRIVE's Annual Auction - October 16th

STRIVE is an organization which serves youth with with intellectual & emotional disabilities.; their multi-faceted programming includes Friday night dances, an evening education series, and the opportunity to take college-level classes at USM. They work to provide the youth the skills they need to integrate into society.

On Wednesday, October 16th, STRIVE will be hosting their Annual Auction.

When: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday, October 16th
Where: Ocean Gateway on Commercial Street in Portland
What: Volunteers are needed for the following:
- set up (6:00 AM TO 6:00 PM)
- silent auction (watch table, answer questions, guide guests at closing, collect bid sheets, prepare winners' bags) (5:15 PM TO 9:30 PM)
- clean up (9:30 PM to Close)

For more information and to sign up for this event, please contact Jenny Castiglione at jcastiglione@pslservices.org or 207.774.6278.

After volunteering at this event, please report your hours by copying and pasting this link:
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tHqGdV7L7ODxhc_ooFBma2XyQN9ck61mWUCxR_h233o/viewform>

Rake Leaves for Elderly

A local elderly woman is in need of able bodies to rake her lawn at the end of October or beginning of November.
We are looking for 3 individuals who are willing to sign up to help with this task.

Please contact us at the Office of Community-Based Learning, community@usm.maine.edu, if you would like to spend a couple of hours in the fresh air making someone very happy!

Alternative Spring Break 2014!

Have you thought about a spring break service trip? NOW is the time to investigate and sign up! Come to one of these ASB Informational Meetings to learn all about past service trips and plans for spring 2014!

Monday, 10/7 at 1 PM, Payson Smith 43, Portland

Wednesday 10/9 at 7 PM, Bailey 201, Gorham

--and/or e-mail your interest to Rebecca Tanous, ASB Student Leader, rebecca.tanous@maine.edu

Volunteer Elves needed for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad=?UTF-8?Q?=E2=80=99s_?=Polar Express!

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad is looking for volunteers to become Merry Elves for our Polar Express holiday event! We are looking for people who can help bring to life this timeless story by Chris Van Allsburg. As Elves, volunteers will deliver hot chocolate and cookies aboard this magical train and help Santa to give out the first gift of the season. This is a great way to give back to the community and have a fun volunteering experience. Come be a part of this enchanted journey!

This family friendly 13-day event runs the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 through Dec. 23. The Train runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and Monday Dec 23.

This is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad's biggest annual fundraiser – Thank you for your support!

For more information and to volunteer contact Jennifer Halm-Perazone, Volunteer Coordinator at;

207-828-0814, MNGRR 58 Fore St., #6, Portland ME 04101 or polarexpress@mainenarrowgauge.org

Jennifer Halm-Perazone
MNGRR Volunteer Coordinator
volunteers@mainenarrowgauge.org
polarexpress@mainenarrowgauge.org
207-828-0814

From Incivility Fatigue to Energizing Civic Conversation September 26th 2013 4:00 - 6:00pm

Hello to all!

Below is a great opportunity for you to increase your understanding of civility and role in our community:


The Portland Public Library, in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council and Institute for Civic Leadership, is pleased to share news about our "Choose Civility" initiative. Through this initiative, we offer public programs that help us examine our collective understanding of civility and the relationship between our individual and institutional behavior and civic participation. Over the next year, we will be offering a series of public conversations about contemporary challenges in program settings that model and maintain civil discourse.

Our web site offers more details about the Choose Civility Initiative and additional programs.

I am writing to share information about our first public program, occurring on September 26th from 4pm - 6pm in Rines Auditorium and to ask you to consider saving December 4th, from 4pm-6pm for our second program, which will be on "Welcoming as a Civic Value." We would be very grateful if you would consider joining / inviting others via our Facebook Event page.

Honor First Responders by Giving Blood at USM on 9/11

Good Morning,

Next Wednesday, September 11th, the Red Cross will be on the Portland Campus (Wishcamper Center) hosting a blood drive, sponsored by the Sociology Club, from 11am to 4pm. This particular blood drive has special significance, as USM is joining other campuses across the U.S. also hosting blood drives on 9/11 in honor of first responders.

Please join the USM community in honoring first responders by giving blood next Wednesday.
Those who make appointments will be the first served; walk-ins are also accepted and welcomed.

To make an appointment, visit the table at Husky Fest labeled Blood Drive, which will be staffed by a member of the Sociology Club OR call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Best,

Craig