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. 

 

 

Upcoming Annual One Time Events

6th Annual Fall Festival - Friday, October 26th, 2012 @ 3:15pm

2nd Annual Make A Difference Day - Saturday, October 27th, 2012 @ 9:30am

21st Annual Fall Leaf Raking - Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 @ 7:45am and/or 12:45pm

Check out the SVS Database for more information!


Search for an Opportunity
Program Type: One Time/Short Term -> Search
Pick your volunteer opportunity!

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:

 

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.

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.

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