Club and ChapterLeadership Conference

Community Service Events

April 13, 2013

Agenda

• Why did Mario choose me to lead this discussion?• What is community service?• Why do community service?• Why do community service on behalf of the university?• What’s involved in setting up a community service event?• When should these events take place?• Questions?

• Participation in an EASY community service event

Why Did Mario Choose Me to Give This Presentation?

Goals from Presentation

1. Give club/chapter leaders better understanding of what community service events are

2. Explain why community service events benefit the clubs/chapters and the university

3. Developing a community service event program for your club/chapter that fits their “personality”

4. Provide resources for clubs/chapters to begin creating their own events

5. Get agreement that clubs/chapters should be incorporating in to their strategies

• Passion for community service, both individual and group projects• Board of College Park Food Bank• Volunteer with Food and Friends (on-

going weekly), Learn-Serve Intl, Martha’s Table and Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (as needed opps)

• 13+ years of corporate marketing and philanthropy experience at Target Corporation and lead the creation of multiple national, regional and local community service events• Meals for Minds with over 40 local food

banks• National Day of Giving with 1400+

stores • Veteran’s Day Cooperative in 16

markets with The Mission Continues • School Spree with The Salvation Army

and 1400+ stores• Emergency Relief with the American

Red Cross and affected stores• Hundreds of RAOK events per store

requests• 121 School Library Makeovers with

Heart of America

What is Community Service?

Possible Interpretations

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQM_BADh9Lc Service Learning

• http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=lm7s2dY7xRI Community Service (Volun-told)

What It’s Supposed to Be

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihnqaGE4nbU Community Service (Volunteer)

Why Do Community Service Events

• Karma (Personal)

• Perspective (Personal)

• Passion (Personal/possibly Prof)

• Contribution (Personal/Professional/Community)

• Networking (Personal/Professional/Community)

• New Skills (Personal/Professional/possibly Community)

• Legacy (Personal/Professional/Community)

Community Service on Behalf of the University of Maryland

• Builds relationships between club/chapter members as well as with community leaders

• Demonstrates Terp pride and a chance to be seen wearing Terp gear en masse!– PR 101 – 20th Century: (National → Regional → Local)– 21st Century: (Local → Regional → National/Viral)– “Feel goods” temper the tragedy/fear and are receiving more regional/national air time

• Provides alumni an opportunity to participate in club/chapter events in a different way

• Awareness of club/chapter in community• Branding of the university overall

– Importance of giving back to students and Young Alumni– Elevation of brand outside the Mid-Atlantic region (Big 10 markets have strong community giving

histories)– Giving to the university does not always equate to money

What’s Involved in Setting Up a Community Service Event

Easy• Call a local non-profit and ask if they

need a group to come volunteer– MLK Day of Service– Terp Service Month– Good Neighbor Day

• www.volunteermatch.org• Typically these require no financial

commitment (Orgs like H4H are exceptions)

• Communicate event to club/chapter members

More Involved• “Soup to Nuts” event – from planning to

execution• Usually a fundraiser (car wash, bake sale,

etc)• Requires promotion to networks to

garner attendance• More control of all aspects of event• Great project for some one who wants to

get more involved• http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/serviceideas.shtml

• REMEMBER: YOU GET OUT OF THE EVENT WHAT YOU PUT IN TO IT – THE MORE INVOLVED THE BETTER!

When Should These Events Take Place?

• Terp Service Month

• Quarterly – mix of EASY and INVOLVED

• Monthly – recurring event with local non-profit

• ***The holidays get a lot of activity but that is one month out of the year. There is still need and opportunities the other 11 months out of the year***– Food: March/Nutrition Month, Sept/Hunger Awareness– Disaster: March/Disaster Awareness, Summer/Relief Kits, Sept/Preparedness

Month– Education: Summer/Reading and Activities

Questions for You

1. What are some ways you can get started planning service events (after TSM, of course)2. What is the biggest hurdle for the clubs and chapters to participate in a community

service event?3. Would there be an interest in doing a national “Day of Service” event in partnership with

a national non-profit? As part of TSM or another time during the year?4. What would be your reaction if the Alumni Association were to require at least one

service event per year to qualify for funding?

Questions for Me???

Community Service Event – Writing Thank You Cards to Veterans

at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital

• Project Guidelines– Try to write 5-6 thank you notes over the next 20-30 minutes– Make it personal (I, My) vs Public (We, Our)

• Sign with first and last name only if you want• No addresses/emails or phone numbers

– Keep message positive and impartial• Avoid political or religious statements• Do not assume recipients gender

– Try to write or print neatly as these veterans will not be familiar with your handwriting

Writing Points …sometimes the hardest part of letter writing is the first sentence…

Thank you for your service. We appreciate the sacrifice you have made personally and for our country.

Thank you for your courage and bravery.

Thank you! I have great respect for the work that you do and appreciate my freedom because of it.

Your service to this country will never be forgotten. Thank you!

Thank you for everything you are doing to keep us, and the world, safe.

I admire your bravery and commitment to serving the people of the United States. Thank you!

Thank you for defending our country and the world.

I am proud of all the things you do to keep our country safe and secure.

Thank you is two little words that express the huge appreciation I have for your service to this country.

Every day I think about the work you do and smile with confidence and respect for it.

Or……..a simple THANK YOU! works well too!