Opportunities!

In yet another blog post that is a list, there are a lot of

Opportunities At The BCSL:

1. BCSL student staff opportunities that are Federal Work-Study positions (listed below).  If interested, contact Vicki at vyacoboz @ oberlin.edu 

• Student Assistant for Vicki, the BCSL Administrative Assistant
• Archives Student Assistant to document the history of the BCSL

2.  The Fifth and Sixth Grade Mentoring Program (FAST) is looking for 2nd and 3rd year male students.  If interested, contact Andy.Frantz @ oberlin.edu

3.  I'm looking for students interested in pioneering a private reading involving the Benefit Bank second module!  If interested, email okeith @ oberlin.edu

4.  Winter Term Workshops

Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7:30pm: Science Center Room A154
One of the most valuable tools in college career development is the experiences you have in your field of interest. In this workshop, learn what resources are available to you in finding a winter term internship, what you need to prepare, and how to use networking techniques to find your ideal experience. Co-hosted by the Bonner Center for Service & Learning and the office of Career Services.

 

Other Things Happening:

 

1.  Happy Birthday, Donna!  (Incidentally, the BCSL now has lots of cake so stop by and eat some so I don't eat it all.)

2. The campus-wide picture is taking place this Friday, in Wilder Bowl at 4:45 p.m.

Happy New Year

I tend to mark my life by big events, not the numerical year they happened on. This means I have to stop and think when people ask me for a date or how long I've been doing something. The start of school in August/September is one of the big markers; it's almost bigger than January 1st. So! A new year, full of possibilities as the leaves turn crunchy and change color, the air gets crisp, hot soup becomes appealing, and I dig out my big down comforter for the winter.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING:

• Day of Service! I'm tallying the numbers with Christina, but we had an awesome turnout and a beautiful day! (it only rained for a bit during registration). Ma'ayan has an awesome blog post about Day of Service 2010 here: http://blogs.oberlin.edu/community/community_service/serve_it_up_obi.shtml
• The BCSL had it's first Open House in Daub House, and it was a huge success! Over 115 people showed up for tasty lasagna and pizza from Lorenzo's. Make sure and drop by to find a service site for the year; Andy's conducting a bunch of America Reads tutor interviews and Donna is meeting with all the Bonners.
• Classes started! All of a sudden the sidewalks are crawling with students. Best of luck, getting your schedule set.
• I went to the big Ohio Benefit Bank Conference in Columbus on Sept. 1 and 2. So many people doing so many good things to lift people out of poverty! Very thought provoking, emotional, and educational. The most interesting tidbit my brain latched onto was this paraphrased quote from a lady whose name I can't remember: "Sometimes people ask me 'What's new in hunger?' And I say NOTHING. Nothing is new in hunger. People are hungry and they need food, and that's all there is to it." And I thought yep, that's all there is to it.

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Upcoming BCSL events direct from the email of the wonderful Sarah Ho:

Community Connections Fair
Thursday, September 16, 2010
4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wilder Bowl (Rain site: Science Center Atrium)
Student Organizations, religious communities, and non-profit agencies will gather to distribute information about their programs and answer any questions you might have! Stop by and find your perfect service site!

Winter Term Workshops
Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 4:30pm: Science Center Room A154
Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7:30pm: Science Center Room A154
One of the most valuable tools in college career development is the experiences you have in your field of interest. In this workshop, learn what resources are available to you in finding a winter term internship, what you need to prepare, and how to use networking techniques to find your ideal experience. Co-hosted by the Bonner Center for Service & Learning and the office of Career Services.

Gearing Up

Incoming Freshman: It's not too late to sign up for the 14th annual Day of Service! (you may also fill out page 57 of the Big Book of Forms).
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Things are starting to get crazy at the BCSL. As school approaches, the majority of the staff is hurrying to get things done, be it recruitment or reports or public relations or last minute details. We also welcomed Avi (Policy Options Intern) and Sarah Ho (Civic Engagement Intern) back to after their summer travels. Yay! Tuesday's staff meeting had a full table and a high laugh volume.

As a student, I am used to the craziness starting on the first day of school, so it is interesting to see the craziness from the flip-side. First year students don't arrive for two weeks, but Avi thought he spotted one out the window yesterday. Here's what the pre-student organized chaos looks like:

Day of Service: Christina, DOS Coordinator, is reporting 370 freshmen are signed up, which breaks last years records! (And you can still sign up!) She has the site leader t-shirts coming and is getting ready for a last wave of recruitment.

LEADS: Brenda, LEADS and CSWSP Coordinator, is working out the last minute details on the LEADS schedule, looking for paint, and trying to come up with menu items. The LEADS opening dinner is this Sunday!

Bonner Scholars: Donna, Director of the Bonners, is working on the fine details for the Baby Bonner orientation and looking for one last 2014 candidate.

BCSL, general: Beth, Director of the BCSL, is disappearing to undisclosed locations for stretches of time so she won't be bothered while putting the final touches on a major report that is due really soon.

Education Outreach: Andy Frantz, who directs programs related to education, is handing out schedules for Education Discussion Lunches and America reads tutoring orientations as well as organizing the launch of the Oberlin-wide book reading of Farenheight 451.

Events: Sarah Ho, Civic Engagement Intern, jumped right back into the thick of it by planning madly for the BCSL Open House during orientation and ordering tasty food for the Baby Bonners.

Food Policy: Avi (Policy Options Intern) is getting back into the swing of things and organizing lots of big meetings to talk about Policy Options to get the ball rolling.

Data/PR/Benefit Bank: My Benefit Bank training on Saturday was canceled, so maybe I'll have time to get some of this stuff done: I'm putting finishing touches on graphics for a BCSL Banner, the annual report, doing massive updates to the new BCSL website that will hopefully go live before students get back, aiming to have a Science Center Display done before classes start, gathering statistics for the poverty simulation, and trying to help the Benefit Bank clients trickling from OCS. And next week I'm hanging out at the Lorain County fair, promoting the Benefit Bank with Community Action. Phew.

Happy weekend!