Monday, June 18, 2012

MSU-Billings Relays to "Give Cancer the Boot"


Every year in February when the air is frigid and the sidewalks are icy the OCI starts gearing up for another year of excellent fundraising for the Yellowstone County Relay for Life!  For five thrilling months, weekly fundraisers are held to help us reach our goal of $10,000. The fundraising dollars help to fund research in the fight against cancer and assists local cancer patients currently battling who are in need of wigs, rides to appointments and lodging during treatment.



Anywhere between 80 and 100 MSUB faculty, staff, students and family members join the Relay team every year. For 2012, the MSU-B theme is Toy Story and we are having fun as we work to “send cancer to infinity and beyond” and “give cancer the boot”.  A week in the life of Relay at MSUB can be wild, exciting, hopeful, fun, busy and detailed. Our standard fundraisers that continue to bring in thousands of dollars and raise the bar of Relay excellence at MSUB include: Blue Jean Wednesdays, weekly Relay Lunches sponsored by different departments on campus, popcorn Wednesdays, multiple dessert auctions, a raffle basket drawing every Friday and of course the continuous sale of luminaries, which are purchased to honor a loved one who has battled cancer and placed around the track at the Relay event.

MSU-B Relay for Life committee members work tirelessly every year to ensure that fundraisers and activities run smoothly. There are so many people to thank, celebrate and remember as we inch closer to the event on July 13th and 14th

Post submitted by Hazel Todd, Campus Corps Leader at MSU-Billings

Friday, June 15, 2012

An important component of the Campus Corps program is to make our programs sustainable: to work with local communities from the get-go to develop programs that the community is invested in and takes ownership of. Developing a program by means of this community-driven method ensures that the services that the Campus Corps has made possible will continue far into the future regardless of our involvement. With Campus Corps leaders transitioning out of their positions in just a few short months, this task of transitioning   has become a central focus for many of them.

Our trio of leaders serving in the Havre community and surrounding areas of the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy Reservations have collaboratively come up with a plan to encourage local community leaders to take on more ownership of the programs initiated by the Campus Corps program. The three of them joined forces in their sustainability efforts to create a plan of action that will support all three of their campus communities in sustaining volunteer programming. Grace Milanowski of MSU-Norther, Micheael Yegerlehner of Stone Child College, and Ali Graham of Aaniiih Nakoda College have each identified members of their respective communities that are especially dedicated to service and/or have leadership positions with organizations that support such work. They have recruited this targeted group of people to be a part of a community council that will provide a venue for members to network with each other, to form partnerships, to create collaborative projects, and to raise community awareness of each of their individual initiatives. While local AmeriCorps members are playing a key role in organizing this initiative, they are doing so in a way that ensures that the council will sustain well beyond their individual terms of service. Their role is limited to making initial connections, gaining community investment in the initiative, and helping to identify the key players that will take on leadership roles within the council.So far, the council's first few meetings have been successful, and our leaders have been very pleased with the enthusiasm that community members have shown in response to the idea. At their next meeting, they hope to decide on a name for the council and anticipate that things will quickly move forward from there!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Campus Corps Leader Lends a Hand with Tribal Workforce Development Program

Michael Yegerlehner, Campus Corps leader at Stone Child College, has had the opportunity to be involved in an exciting program taking place on the Rocky Boy Reservation this summer: the Tribal Summer Workforce Development Program. The job preparation program, which was offered to any interested parties living on the Reservation, gives each of its members a job assignment whom they report to for work 4 days a week. On Fridays they attend instructional classes aimed to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to make them successful employees upon transitioning out of the program and into the workforce come fall. The classes cover a variety of topics including resume building, interviewing techniques, professionalism, etc.
   
In his role as Campus Corps leader, Michael was offered the opportunity to instruct a few of these courses and agreed to take on this challenge. So far he has presented on "positivity in the workplace" and shared that his experience was a good one. He was pleased to report that his class was full of "people who were very engaged and active" during his presentation of the material.  Upcoming topics that he has been asked to share his expertise on include sustainable agriculture and a seminar on civic engagement. 

Rocky Boy's Summer Tribal Workforce Development program has been a success from the get-go, with numbers for enrollment far exceeding what they had anticipated (over 375 participants!) This initiative certainly illustrates the positive momentum of progress currently present on the reservation and serves as a sign of hope that their struggle with high unemployment rates will soon be a thing of the past. Michael shares that it is something that he is "very happy to be a part of".

Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Service Projects

Yes, it's true, school is out until fall but that doesn't mean Montana college students have to also take a break from community service  during the summer months. Even if you don't have time to enroll as a summer Campus Corps member, there are a number of one time service projects to participate in that will give you the opportunity to spend some time helping out your community over the next few months. Campus Corps leaders have sought out a number of exciting service project opportunities open to anyone interested in participating. There are many projects that are still in the works (further details to come on those), but below is a  current list of upcoming events in need of volunteers:

Aaniiih Nakoda College (Harlem, MT/ Fort Belknap Reservation)
Event: Diabetes Prevention Project: Pending funding, Ali will be organizing a multi-project initiative with the Diabetes Prevention Program in Chinook. This will include a presentation and info session with a nutritionist and a Fun Run/Walk to raise money for the cause. 
When:TBD
Where: Fort Belknap Reservation
Contact: Alison Graham (agraham@mail.fbcc.edu/ 406-353-2607)



Event: Taking Back the Night: We are having a night/evening event for the community to teach them how to deal with depression, bullying, and death.  This event will be in the first week of July. Activities so far will include a “letting go” of issues by tying them to balloons and letting them float off.  We are going to have the counselor come in and talk about signs of depression and how to deal with death.  We will also be making t-shirts with the kids. 
When:TBD: first week of July
Where: Aaniiih Nakoda College campus
Contact: Alison Graham (agraham@mail.fbcc.edu/ 406-353-2607)



Event: Cancer Awareness Walk: Come walk for someone you know that has cancer or has passed away from cancer. 
When:June 13th, (11:00AM-1:00PM)
Where: Aaniiih Nakoda College campus
Contact: Alison Graham (agraham@mail.fbcc.edu/ 406-353-2607)


Fort Peck Community College (Poplar, MT/ Fort Peck Reservation)
Event: Fort Peck Warrior's Center Welcoming Ceremony: The program will be hosting an informational lunch introducing themselves, their program and its benefits to the Ft. Peck community.   
When:  June TBD
Where: Ft. Peck Warrior's Center: 305 C Street East & 307 D Street East, Poplar, MT
Contact: Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)

Event: Children's Reading Program: Fort Peck Tribal Library would like to invite your children, grandchildren or any other child you know to attend Dream Big READ Summer Reading program starting Monday morning at 9:30 in LC 2.  Each child should register at the Library to participate.  
When: Monday - Friday (9:30AM-11:30AM) Program will run through July 13th with a final party on July 16th.
Where: Fort Peck Public Library
Contact: Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)


Event: Poplar Wild West Days: The town of Poplar will be hosting Wild West days, a large community wide event celebrating the town and its history. There will be presentations and tables by local community organizations, many tournaments, booths and sales, comedy shows, stunt shows and more. Many volunteers are needed to make this a success.
When: June 15th - June 17th, 2012
Where: various locations, Poplar, MT
Contact: Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)


Event: Community Connections Luncheon: The lunch is meant to break down the silos in the Ft. Peck area. All nonprofits and community agencies  in the region are invited provided they RSVP by July 18th. It will be a time to connect and plan larger, integrated projects that serve the Ft. Peck community.
When: July 20th
Where: Greet the Dawn Auditorium, FPCC Campus
Contact:  Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)/ RSVP by July 18th\


MSU-Bozeman (Bozeman, MT)
Event: Community Cafe : Campus Corps volunteers are lending a hand at the local Community Cafe, a branch of the Gallatin Valley Food Bank that offers free hot meals to those in need on a daily basis.
When: ongoing, Wednesday evenings (5:00PM-7:00PM)
Where: 302 N. Seventh Ave.
Contact: Alex Black (teamleader@montana.edu/ 406-994-7571)


MSU-Billings (Billings, MT)

Event: Heart & Sole Run MSU-Billings summer service team members will lend a hand at the Heart & Sole Run which was coordinated by the MSU-B member serving with the Big Sky State Games.
Where:  1106 North 30th, Billings, MT 59101 (5K starts at 8:30am 10K and 2 mile start at 8:45am) 
Contact: Hazel Todd (hazel.todd@msubillings.edu/ 406-896-5817)


Event: Relay for Life: MSU-Billings has organized a team for this year's 12 hour relay event around the track at Billings West high School. This flagship event of the American Cancer Society raises both money and awareness for ACS's efforts to prevent, cure, and support those diagnosed with all forms of cancer. If you cannot make it to the event itself, there are many other ways that participate. Visit http://www.msubillings.edu/relay/ to learn more.
When: July 13th - 14th (6pm - 6am)
Where:  Billings West High School/ 2201 St. Johns Ave, Billings MT 59102
Contact: Hazel Todd (hazel.todd@msubillings.edu/ 406-896-5817)


MSU-Great Falls (Great Falls, MT)
Event: Laying Sod with NeighborWorks:  Volunteers will participate in an informational tutorial   to provide them with basic information about sod and the sod-laying process. They will then lay sod for the backyards in 2 newly built Neighborworks homes covering a total square footage of 2,700 square feet.
When: June 2nd, 2012
Where: 
Contact: T.C. Knutson (campuscorps@msugf.edu/ 406-771-4324)


Event: Red Cross Blood Drive: The MSU-GF Campus Corps program is organizing a campus blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross of Montana.
When: June 13th
Where: MSU-GF campus
Contact: T.C. Knutson (campuscorps@msugf.edu/ 406-771-4324)


MSU -Northern (Havre, MT)
Event: Gear Up/Super Camp: . Academic and life skills camp for about 80 middle school students. Volunteers will help with logistics at check-in and at various fun activities throughout the week.
When: June 10th-13th, 2012
Where: MSU-N's campus
Contact: Grace Milanowski (campuscorps@msun.edu/ 406-265-3577)

Event: American Red Cross Community Blood Drive: Volunteers will help with registration, handing out refreshments, or as donors.
When: July 9th (11:00AM-5:00PM)
Where: St. Jude's Parish in Havre
Contact: Grace Milanowski (campuscorps@msun.edu/ 406-265-3577)


Event: Runway to Recycle: Energy interns and Campus Corps members are organizing a fashion showof items made only of recycled materials to raise awareness about the  importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
When: TBD (late August)
Where: TBD
Contact: Grace Milanowski (campuscorps@msun.edu/ 406-265-3577)

Montana Tech of the UM (Butte, MT)
Event: Hoop House construction with NCAT: M-Tech volunteers will lend a hand to the National Center on Appropriate Technology (NCAT)'s efforts to construct hoop-houses and to transport greens from the Green houses to the fields.
When: June 18th, 2012 (6:00PM-9:00PM)
Where: TBD

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)



Event:Science Mine Clean UpThe Campus Corps team will be at the Science Mine Tuesday night cleaning up the Science Mine and moving exhibits in preparation for school visits that weekend. We will also be involved in building and preparing new exhibits.
When: June 19th, 2012 (6:00PM-9:00PM)
Where: Basement of 32 East Granite St.

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)



Event:Ice Cream Social at Marquis Vintage SuitesOur team and members of the Upward Bound Summer Academy will be visiting the residents of Marquis Vintage Suites Assisted Living home on Wednesday Night. We will be constructing a 70-foot long banana split and visiting with the residents.
When: June 20th, 2012 (6:00PM-9:00PM)
Where: 30 Mount Highland Dr.

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)



Event:Sunshine Camp Clean Up: Our students will be involved in extensive clean-up around the Sunshine Camp before the campers arrive in July. We will be involved in general maintenance work around the housing buildings, as well as building and repairing facilities around the camp.
When: June 25th-June 27th (6:00PM-9:00PM)
Where: Sunshine Campgrounds

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)



Rocky Mountain College (Billings, MT)
Event: Freshman Orientation Service ProjectsIncoming freshman will be required as part of their orientation be participating in a two hour service project in Billings. There will be a reflection activity, bbq and gathering back at the college after the event. There will be 7 service sites and we hope to have 30-40 students at each site.
When: August 25th, 2012 (10:00AM-12:00PM)
Where: various locations throughout Billings
Contact: Jill Washburn (campuscorps@rocky.edu/ 406-238-7394)

Stone Child College (Box Elder, MT/Rocky Boy Reservation)
Event: Trash Pick up and 50/50 Raffle for the Havre Food Bank: Volunteers will spend an afternoon doing some much needed cleaning at the Food Bank in Havre, MT. They will also be organizing a 50/50 raffle to raise money for the organization. 

When: June 15th, 2012 (raffle tickets will be for sale until June 15th)
Where:  Havre Food Bank, 253 5th St. North

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)


Event: Walmart Recycling Drive: Members will lend a hand at the recycling drive at the Walmart in Havre. They will be collecting recyclable plastics. 
When: June 16th, 2012
Where:  Walmart in Havre

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)


Event: Weekly Trash Pick-ups: All are welcome to help efforts to clean up trash on the Rocky Boy Reservation. The group will be targeting a different area of the reservation each week and they will be prioritizing collecting aluminum and metals that can be recycled. 
When: Ongoing every Saturday
Where: location varies by week, contact Michael (below) to learn where they will be meeting each week

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)

Event: Cooking with Commodities: SCC's Campus Corps team will volunteer at the 4-day workshop geared to guide families that rely on commodities as a food source in preparing healthier meals. The local Wellness center is hosting the event, which is free and open to adults and children living in the Rocky Boy Reservation. 
When: TBD (late July)
Where:  TBD

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)


Event: Rummage Sale to Benefit the food bank: Donate items to be sold in a community wide rummage sale. All proceeds from the sale will go to the local food bank.
When: TBD 
Where:  TBD

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)

Event: Grow Your Own Garden Box Program: Program will allow community members the opportunity to plant their own individual garden boxes to be taken home. Their will also be an educational component to this event.
When: TBD 
Where:  TBD

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)

University of Montana (Missoula, MT)
Event: National Trails Day at Milltown St. Park: We will be planting over 300 native species such as snow berry, service berry, woods rose, ponderosa pine, larch and aspen along the newly constructed interpretive trail that leads to the Milltown Bluff Overlook.  This project will be the first volunteer project ever at the new state park and is being organized by the State Parks AmeriCorps member serving at this site. 
When: June 2nd (10:00am - 2:00pm)
Where: Meet at the Milltown Bluff Parking Area located at 1353 Deer Creek Rd
Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)


Event: Student Services Fair: The Office of Community Engagement will be tabling to recruit new UM students to participate in their programs and events and to learn more about the OCE and its mission.  
When: June18th & June 28th (8:30PM-10:30PM)
Where: University Center at UM
Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)


Event: Service Friday for Gifted High School Students: High school students will spend the afternoon volunteering at a variety of local service sites: PEAS Farm, the Joseph's Residence, and at Free Cycles
When: June22nd (1:30PM-4:30PM)
Where: Various locations
Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)



Event: 100th Birthday Celebration of the Girls Scouts of Montana & Wyoming: We are anticipating that there will be over 300 girls from MOntana and Wyoming attending this historic celebration that will take place in Missoula. Participants will explore areas of physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, architecture, and the world of sound, and have the opportunity to explore Historic Fort Missoula, all while camping Girl-Scout style! Volunteers will be needed to hlep out with parking, event registration, campsite volunteers, and at first aid stations. 
When: July 13th & July 14th
Where: Fort Missoula
Contact: Stephanie Lefevre (stephaniel@gsmw.org) 


UM - Western (Dillon, MT)
EventHospital Grand OpeningVolunteers will be helping with the open house of Barrett's Hospital and Healthcare's new hospital and emergency services facility. Duties will include helping direct traffic and providing directional guidance to view the different wings of the facility. Volunteers will also be helping to escort disabled individuals around the tours. 
When: June 9, 2012 (9:00am-4:00pm)
Where: Barrett Hospital & Healthcare
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

Event: Dinner in the Park Series: Volunteers will be helping Southwest Montana Arts Council with their summer series of Dinner in the Park. The organization will need help setting up tents and vendor booths for the events. During the event they will be helping at the children's art table. Then they will help after the event is over with clean-up and breaking down of tents and booths. 
When: July 2nd, 12th,19th, & 26th (4:00PM-8:00PM)
Where: Jaycee Park in Dillon, MT
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)


Event: "Bannack Days" at Bannack State Park: Volunteers will be joining AmeriCorps State Park members in servicing Bannack State Parks living history days "Bannack Days." This year is the 150th anniversary and they are expecting 5000-10000 visitors. Parking, general direction and guidance, information about the park and surrounding areas, trash control and preventing vandalism are just a few of the duties the volunteers will be helping out with.
When: July 20th (4:00PM-8:00PM)/ July 21st & 22nd (rotating 4 hour shifts)
Where: Bannack State Park
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)


Event: Fly Fishing Fundraiser: Volunteers will be helping one of our community partners the Women's/Community Resource Center with their annual Fly Fishing Fundraiser. They will be providing assistance with set-up directional signs for the event. Sign-up participants and briefing on rules of fishing competition. Helping set-up silent auction items, and the events afternoon gathering for other fundraising activities along with the awards ceremony. 
When: July 28th (all day beginning with set-up at 7:30 AM)
Where: Women's/Community Resource Center
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)