Friday, December 14, 2012

Like any devastating event, today's horrific incident in Connecticut brings to light the value and delicacy of life. The faces of the children whom I have worked with in my time in SVS keep flashing through my head. Hold close the joy and happiness you share with those people you serve. 

-SVS President, Angelina Zulas



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Campus Crest Communities and SVS make a great pair!

Last week, Campus Crest Communities came into the SVS office (SC 136) to present to us an incredible donation.



 According to National Real Estate Investor,  the BSU community can expect a new living complex with a mission to better the lives of their residents, BSU students. The project completion can be expected for the 2013/2014 academic year.
"The Grove at Muncie, Inc. will include 216 units and 584 beds and be situated approximately 0.1 miles from the Ball State University campus. The project will be the first student housing option in the market that provides lifestyle-focused management and resort-style amenities."
Grove/Campus Crest Communities emphasize the importance of community service and civic engagement. We are excited to welcome them to our community. Thanks again, CCC!

"Make Memories -- Not Excuses."

Monday, December 10, 2012

PC's Holiday Ice Cream Social and Secret Santa gift exchange

What a great way to end the semester! You guys have done a terrific job and next semester is going to be double the excellence. YOU GUYS ROCK!


Click the pic for a better view!

Monday, November 26, 2012

MEDIA TITATNS: DAVE+OPRAH

 

More than 3,000 students and members of the Ball State community had the opportunity to see Oprah and BSU alumn David Letterman tonight, in person. A select handful of the SVS Program Coordinators were given special tickets to get prime, front row seating.

Here are some PC reactions:

"It was amazing. I had no idea how much Oprah had been through as a person. None. It really reminded me we are all human, we all come from different backgrounds and that those backgrounds don't have define us or give us limits. She talked about her 'little voice' she has, I have one too. I was like how weird is that!? It really showed how important being humble is, because she is truly humble. Very grounded. I love how she talked about being centered, spiritually. I needed to hear that. The experience was truly incredible, and a once in a lifetime thing. I'm very grateful I was given the opportunity to attend the way I did."
-Amanda Schmeltz
"It was great! She is inspirational and I feel honored to have seen her. It was totally a once in a lifetime opportunity!"
-Meghan Delaney




Check out the following links for more on the special event:
http://bsudaily.com/Content/Default/HomepageRotator/Article/OPRAHLETTERMANVISIT/
http://cms.bsu.edu/Web/Letterman/UpcomingSpeakers/OprahWinfrey.aspx
http://bsudaily.com/Content/News/News/PhotoGallery/DaveOpraharrive/1/15/21
http://bsudaily.com/Content/Default/HomepageRotator/Article/UPDATEDAVEANDOPRAH
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/oprah-david-letterman_n_2197689.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2012/11/27/david-letterman-oprah-winfrey/1728993/
http://chrisbergin.blogspot.com/2012/12/dave-oprah.html

 

Monday, November 12, 2012

21st Annual Angel Tree 2012

Angel Tree is an event that SVS hosts every year, which aims to spread Christmas joy and the season of giving around the Muncie area. You can stop by the Office of Student Life (SC Rm 133) TODAY to choose an angel and make his or her holiday wish come true! Check out some of the work our volunteers and PCs have accomplished to set up for the event.



Volunteers decorated snowmen ornaments last week. Names and profiles of local children have been added to them so that Angel Tree participants can come choose a child.




 


Graduate Assistant, Kari, counting and sorting the snowmen ornaments:

 

Walking in a winter wonderland....

 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Sunday, November 4, 2012

21st Annual Fall Leaf Raking

Wow! Ball State students did an extraordinary job yesterday serving the Muncie community. Check back later for more on the event.



Check out some awesome reflections from some fantastic students!
Hello, my name is Nolan Cockrell and I am a Program Coordinator for SVS. As one of the committee members for the 21st Annual Fall Leaf Raking, I was able to see all of the hard work that went into this event. We contacted homeowners who needed their yards to be raked and found local sponsors to support our cause. Each of us played a crucial role in organizing the leaf raking outreach. We were very prepared for the event and managed to outdo our records from the year before. I served on both the morning and afternoon shifts to drive volunteers and help rake leaves this year. The groups I worked alongside did a fantastic job and persevered through the weather that day. I remember two homeowners who personally thanked us for showing up to help. Most of the people we served had difficulty getting around the house but were extremely grateful to have us. We could not have accomplished all this without the generosity of these volunteers who gave up their time to serve.

Hello, I'm Esther Hamilton, and a sophomore at BSU. The Fall Leaf Raking project through SVS was a wonderful, first-time opportunity for me. At first, I was a bit leery of raking for four straight hours beginning at 8am, but it flew by and I loved every minute of it. I even had the opportunity to jump in a leaf pile that was higher than my hips and wider than my outstretched body. The homeowners and their families were very happy to see their clean yards and thankful for our hard work. The friendships that I made and strengthened while raking with SVS were unforgettable! Although the work was physically strenuous, I proudly plan to do it again next year and maybe complete four yards instead of three. 

Hello there! I am Meghan Delaney and I am a Program Coordinator for Student Voluntary Services. This past weekend I participated in my second Fall Leaf Raking experience! I was not coordinating this event, I was just another volunteer getting to rake some leaves! SVS offers so many one-time events, and this is by far, my absolute favorite. I have been looking forward to it since the leaves started to change. The people who we rake for are always so appreciative, and all of the volunteers seem to have a great time (aside from it being a little cold). What I love most about SVS and volunteering at events like this, is that a group of total strangers can spend a few hours together doing some public service, and come out of it as great friends. You learn about each other and get to share your own story and get to hear the stories of the people living in the Muncie community. I think it is so stellar that organizations like SVS and events like Fall Leaf Raking show Muncie that we are more than just college students who live here a few months out of the year, and then leave. We care, and we want to make an impact while we are students here at Ball State. I am so thankful for SVS, and for the people I have met, and the activities that I get to participate in. At the end of the day, I might just be raking a few leaves, but I know it made life a little easier for someone else. That is why I am a volunteer. 


For tons more photos, check out our facebook album!

The BSU Daily News covered the day, as well!
You can read that article here:

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

PC Reflections on Make A Difference Day (11/27/12)

To start off, my name is Diamond Mills and I am a Program Coordinator for SVS. I am a sophomore and this is my first year ever being a PC! I was one of the committee members who contributed to Make A Difference Day. When my group first started having meetings, I did not expect it to be such a big deal. I did not think I would have to actually be one of the people in charge of the event. Once I found out that I would be leading about 30 students to the site I was so nervous and ready to back out. After multiple pep talks from a lot of my peers, I knew that i had a duty to fulfill. Unfortunately, I was not able to experience the feeling of me leading such a big group to the site because I was a little late, but the best part about that day was me showing up anyway to help my peers make a difference!! The experience was not as scary as I thought. I wish i could have been there a little longer, but I feel every little bit counts! All the volunteers were friendly and did an excellent job painting scraping and priming the fence at St. Mary's church and school. I really hope we did make a difference because this experience made a difference for me!
This PC did a great job engaging others around her and is beginning to get a feel for what it means to be a student leader with SVS. 

My name is Jilly and I am a PC for Great Achievers where I normally work with children. This Saturday I had a whole new experience for Make A Difference Day, a national day of service. My committee planned three sites to send out volunteers, two nursing homes (to celebrate Fall) and a church (for fence scraping and painting). I decided to go to a nursing home to experience spending time with and brightening the day of the older generations. When we arrived, my volunteers and I felt a little lost and out of place, but soon we were in the groove of things. We painted pumpkins, made sparkly name signs for the residents doors, and even played cards. The residents had us laughing with all the stories they told us and the side comments they made. My volunteers did a wonderful job engaging the residents. But then the action died down and we still had an hour left. I did not know how we were going to continue to stay busy. A staff member directed us to do one-on-one visits with some of the residents that don't get many visitors. This kept us busy for another hour, and it really helped the volunteers see just how much of a difference they could make by just spending time and caring about another person. I know we all made a difference that day. 
 This PC used her problem solving skills to ensure a fulfilling day with the seniors. 

Student Voluntary Services had a successful Make A Difference Day and want to extend our gratitude to the amazing volunteers who made it all possible. The sites were incredibly pleased with our hard work and dedication. 
Stay tuned to the SVS database for the follow up day at St. Mary's on 11/10/12. 

 
 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

BSU HOMECOMING 2012: Play Your Cards Right!

 
Last Monday (10/1/12), our Homecoming Royalty candidates Vic Scotland and Angelina Zulas hit the Pruis stage for the Fashion Show dressed as 
Interracial Malibu Barbie and Ken. Stylin'!
SVS Program Coordinators have been hard at work, preparing for the 
Homecoming Week! 
 
Here are some beautiful ladies making decorations for the Homecoming Parade.
Our Homecoming Banner is set up in the Alumni Center. Here's how it turned out:
 
A team has also come together to work on an AirJam routine for this year's competition. 
They have been hard at work, bustin' out the moves. 

More pictures to come!
- - - EDIT! - - -
Last night (10/11/12), the AirJam team put on an outstanding performance and had so much fun doing it, too!
 You can check out the video on our FACEBOOK PAGE.
Here are just a few shots from the evening:
 



Tuesday, September 18, 2012

If you're interested in searching through our database, here are some simple instructions:

1. Visit www.bsu.edu/svs
2. Refer to the right side toolbar. Click 'SVS Database.'
3. Click 'register here' and sign in with your BSU login.
4. If you have never volunteered with SVS, complete the questionnaire. Once completed, you will find yourself at your personalized main menu. Here you can search for volunteer opportunities, view/edit your personal information, and check your logged hours.

5. SEARCHING FOR A VOLUNTEER POSITION: At your main menu, click 'Search for an Opportunity.'
6. When you're searching on our database, you have to be mostly NONSPECIFIC. The more specific you are, the less likely you'll get results (even if your search preferences directly match a program). My best suggestion is that you choose one of the 3 program types in the drop down menu and hit 'Search.'

7. PROGRAM TYPES: We have coordinated, independent, and one time programs. The coordinated programs are lead by the student leaders of the organization. These students will be the liaison between you and the organization, take you to the service site, and log your hours. Independent programs go according to your schedule and transportation and SVS will log your hours. The one time events are events that the Program Coordinators help plan throughout the year, a chance to make a commitment without dedicating your entire busy schedule/semester to it.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Check out our facebook, twitter, and database for updates and exciting news about serving the Muncie community. Volunteering with SVS is a great way to give back to the community, make new friends and connections, establish a leadership position, and create long lasting memories from your college career!

Welcome to Fall 2012!

This semester has kicked off strong for BSU's Student Voluntary Services!

At the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, 32 agencies came to the Student Center and set up booths to get a chance to interact with the student body while fellow Program Coordinators monitored the computers where students were encouraged to sign up. Currently, our numbers are up! We have 831 volunteers signed up this semester.

This past weekend we celebrated a Second Saturday one time event dedicated to the September 11th Day of Service. 26 volunteers went out to 3 different agencies in the area: Muncie Children's Museum, Harvest Soup Kitchen, and Camp Adventure totaling 65 hours of labor. The volunteers at MCM painted the old, scary haunted house set in an effort to turn it into a storybook winter wonderland. At Harvest Soup, volunteers worked wholeheartedly, cleaning and sterilizing the facility. Camp Adventure was a great time as volunteers spent time outside on a gorgeous Saturday morning, also cleaning facilities. Here are a few pictures from the day at the camp.




This week (9/10/12-9/14/12) is the first week of volunteering for all coordinated programs and students are stoked to get out into Muncie and commence their service learning for Fall 2012. Thanks to all who are participating this year and the best of luck! We are moving Muncie forward, towards a better tomorrow.

Friday, April 27, 2012

A Volunteer Reflection

"Though volunteering was a requirement for me, I am thankful for being introduced to this part of Ball State because the volunteering has helped me not only explore more of Muncie and what the city has to offer, but I have already met many organizations and plan on volunteering next semester on my free time. From my personal experience, all of the people I have worked with have been extremely friendly and accommodating and it has helped me as I adjust as a new college student. I’m glad that I became associated with SVS early on in my college career because that means that I have more time to devote to participating in my community."
- Talor Poore

Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Fling 2012 - Liberty Village

"It was a gray and raining morning on April 21, but Liberty Village Nursing Home was still colorful and bright for Student Voluntary Services’ Spring Fling event! Several of the residents came to this event to have snacks, play bingo, make flower pens, plant small potted flowers, get their photos taken and make picture frames. Bingo was the hit of the event, but the residents also enjoyed the other activities as well. Many of them especially loved planting the small flowers for their rooms. It was a really fun event, and it was so rewarding to see how much they enjoyed us being there and spending time with them. I really liked how they would talk to us as we sat down and did the activities with them. It was fun to get to know some of the residents a little bit. It was definitely a good choice for my final one-time-event with SVS!"
-Brandi Terry