Volunteer Needs!

Hello Social Work Faculty and Students!

As you know, SOWSA has "adopted" Family Promise as an agency that we will support throughout the 2010-2011 academic year through volunteer events, fundraising events, food and clothing drives and other organized activities.

Family Promise will commemorate its second anniversary with a “One Night Away” fundraiser at Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center on Thursday, November 4, 2010, from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, at  201 Plaza Real, Mizner Park,  Boca Raton, FL 33432 (former Cartoon Museum).  At this event, Family Promise will celebrate their achievements, recognize their sponsors and volunteers, and support their mission through fundraising and a silent auction.  

Family Promise needs many volunteers to support them through this event. SOWSA's November meeting, which is also scheduled for November 4th, will be devoted to supporting Family Promise through this volunteer opportunity. In place of our monthly meeting, SOWSA's officers. Committee chairs, and members will sign up for volunteer shifts based on the needs identified below. We would like to ask you to join us in support of these efforts. Family Promise needs volunteers on November 4th starting at Noon through 9PM.  

If you or any of your contacts can volunteer, please send an email to our Volunteers Committee Chairperson, Alexandra Jolly, at ajolly@fau.edu. Please indicate the shift that you would like to sign up for in your email request. For additional information, you may contact Alexandra or email SOWSA at SOWSA.FAU@comcast.net

The shifts and number of volunteers needed for each shift are indicated below: 

• From Noon to 3 - The noon people will  help roll in tables and set up chairs (5 people)
• From 3-5, we need people to set up the silent auction.  (3 people) 
• From 4-5:30 we need to set up the bars and front entrance.   (4 people)
• From 5:00 to 6:30, we need greeters to welcome guests and make sure people get on the elevators.  (4 people)
• From 6:00- 8:00, we need people to casually walk around and make sure tables are cleaned, pick up cups, etc - host (3 people)
• From 6:00-8:00, we need people to say good night to the guests and make sure they get on the elevators (4 people)
• After 7:30, we need people to move the tables out, help people with silent auction items, clean up. 

Please see our updated Volunteer page for some great opportunities to assist the Office Depot Foundation, as well.

Thank you for your consideration, on behalf of SOWSA and Family Promise!

Come Bowl with SOWSA!

DATE: Friday, October 29, 2010

TIME: 6p.m. to 8p.m.

PLACE: Strikes Bowling Alley in Boca

21046 Commercial Trail

(corner of Military Trail and Town Center Road)

Only $4 per hour of bowling, including shoes!

RSVP: To Jessica Ponn at jponn@fau.edu by Thursday, October 28, 2010

Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

The members of SOWSA invite you to join us for an informational presentation in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Jennifer Rey, Violence Prevention Educator, from Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) will be conducting a presentation on the FAU- Boca Campus.

AVDA is one of the leading domestic violence agencies in Palm Beach County and operates as a Certified Domestic Violence Center providing Palm Beach County with emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, support services for victims of domestic abuse, and prevention and education programs for the community

Please join us for this important and informational event! Jennifer Rey has been working for many years educating the public about this very serious issue and will provide us with an overview of domestic violence, available resources in Palm Beach County and ways YOU can help an individuals or families experiencing this very serious situation.

The event will take place on Wednesday, October 27 from 4:30 pm-5:30 pm in the Business School Room #112.

Students and faculty interested in attending, please RSVP to Tanisha at tjulias@fau.edu as space is limited to the first 15 individuals! Students that are meeting in the Generalist Practice II class in room 112 are already included and do not have to RSVP.

SOWSA Meeting Recap: October 5, 2010

On Tuesday, October 5, 2010, SOWSA welcomed Kokie Dinnan, Network Director of Family Promise of South Palm Beach County – our new Community Partner! Family Promise is an organization that assists homeless families. They work with local churches that provide facilities in which to feed and house the guests. Family Promise works daily with the families, the faith community network, and social service agencies to transition the families back into the community on a self sufficient basis. The supporting congregations also provide volunteer and fundraising support, as well.

Here’s are the meeting minutes:

SOWSA Meeting October 5^th , 2010 meeting called to order at 7:15 pm

• Guest Speaker Kokie Dinnan from Family Promise
• Care typically provided for 30-90 days, Working towards preventing homelessness, Provide mentoring and aftercare,
• 1^st skills training for mentors Oct 17t
• Interfaith partnership (23 hosting congregations: Providing 4-5 weeks of hosting a yea
• Needs Assessment – Kokie and member: 14% increase in shelter requests since last year alone, Homeless children in Palm Beach County exceed 1400
• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
• One Night Away (volunteers needed): Contact Gerry at 561-265-3370 ext 103, 11/4/10, 5:30-8:30pm, Silent Auction
• Guest Speakers (one Sunday per month)
• Take donations from individuals at day center 8-5pm
• Volunteers Needed (training required, online)
• Day Center Opportunities: Weekends (9:30-1, 1:00-5)
• Drivers Needed
• Host Guest Families
• Committee members needed

• Reviewed changes to Blog and Facebook page – 3 cheers for Ash (Great job!)

• Announcements:
• Habitat for Humanity Event: http://sowsafau.blogspot.com/2010/09/habitat-for-humanity-recap.html 
• Great Event
• Recipient was so grateful
• Learned new skills, did lots of finish work
• Livability Study - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
• Sat 10/10 8a-5p: Will receive a total of 9 field hours, Two sessions morning and afternoon, Must have training to participate(training at 8am), No jeans please (wear walking shoes, Contact Tanisha for tracking tjulias@fau.edu
• Office Depot Foundation –
• Partnership: Can come speak with us, Initiatives focus on child welfare
• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
• Golf In Event: Tues 11/9, NFL players and alum will be present, Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Could benefit FAU with scholarships towards future SOW students
• AVDA: 10/10/10: 5 K, $20 to attend, Contact tanisha at tjulias@fau.edu
• Committee Updates
• Membership (Jody):
• Membership tally: 52 Members
• Membership ID: Will be printed at one time for total membership to be included
• Try to mention SOWSA in classes and remind others of meeting times
• Service Committee – (Tanisha) – tjulias@fau.edu
• Domestic Violence Awareness month: Contacted Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (ABDA) who will do presentation for us. Tentatively Wed 10/20 or 10/27 at 4:30. More to come. RSVP to Tanisha – tjulias@fau.edu. Contact your professors to see if they can allow students to attend. Would your professors be willing to host?
• Family Promise: Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit to graduated families.
• Will approach Office Depot and Publix for turkeys and food donations.
• Food Drive among multiple campuses
• Public Announcement on Owl radio
• Social Events – (Jessica)
• Looking for more committee members, Contact Jessica at jponn@fau.edu
• Comedy Club in Boca: Possible Mixer/Fundraiser
• Fundraising (Lilly)
• Will work in conjunction with social events
• Will investigate with whole foods for donation opportunities
• Peer Support (Emily): No report
• Meeting adjourned at 9:07pm.

 

Next Meeting: Thursday, November 4^th , 2010 at 7:00 pm SO285

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Please check out our new Volunteer and Community Partnership pages (above)!