Service Spotlight
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8
November, 2009
Plymouth State University Rotoract Club
By: Greggory Oberg
The Plymouth Rotaract Club is a emerging student organization dedicated to community service and networking. We hope to enrich the lives of students through various service projects, and to allow students to begin building professional networks with local business people, in order to increase their career potentials. With the help of the Plymouth Rotary and Rotary International, we hope to do some real good in the Plymouth community, and the lives of all involved, both directly and indirectly, with our organization.
So what is Rotaract?
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and a local Rotary club sponsors them. This makes them true “partners in service” and key members of the family of Rotary.
As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon.
All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.
How does Rotaract help the community?
The Plymouth Rotaract, as do all Rotary sponsored organizations, is required to do a minimum of three projects a year. These projects include one local, one national, and one international project. At this time, we are looking into many different projects, ranging from book drives for students in Africa, working soup kitchens in Plymouth, and donating both time and money to worthwhile charities such as Habitat for Humanity. We are always looking for any new opportunity to help people.
How can I join?
If you are interested in joining the Plymouth State University Rotaract Club, or just want more information about Rotary International, please contact one of the following people.
President: Gregg Oberg; Gboberg@plymouth.edu
Vice President: Megan Cooper; Mbcooper@plymouth.edu
Secretary: Todd Gardner; tagardner@plymouth.edu
Treasurer: Brad Wilkinson; bcwilkinson@plymouth.edu
Or simply go to www.rotary.org.
The results are in! Plymouth's blood drive a huge success!
Thank you to all who came out and helped support the blood drive. Whether it was by donating blood or your time helping, it was much appreciated!
Together we:
- Had 212 donors!
- 40 of those donors were first time donors!
- We collected 147 regular units of blood!
- We collected 26 double red units!
- Total we saved over 50 lives!!!
November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness month…
To kick off the start of the month, the hunger and homelessness committee will be sponsoring a campus wide food drive. Drop off locations will be in the HUB
November 9-13 is the campus food drive
October 30– November 13 will be the food drive at Hannaford's
Also, the hunger and homelessness committee is sponsoring an awareness concert!
Music for Mankind 
Kelly Moore will be performing in the HUB FPL Wednesday, November 4th at 4:30pm
Kelly Moore has been involved with music for more than 3 decades. He founded the benefit concert “Music for Mankind” which helped to benefit the United Nations World Food program.
For more information about Kelly Moore http://www.musicformankind.net/events/concerts.htm
For more information about Hunger and Homelessness or how to get involved contact Katie Watts at kkwatts@plymouth.edu
Upcoming Service Project!!!
November 11th is veterans day and classes are cancelled! What better way to spend your day than volunteering in Plymouth??
The Congo Church on Main Street will be hosting a clothing drive/distribution:
Tuesday, November 10th and Wednesday, November 11th from 11:00am-5:00pm
If you can even just spend an hour of your time on one of the days! Your help is always needed and appreciated!
For more information on how to take part in that contact: Christine Schultz at ceschultz1@plymouth.edu
Angel Tree Season is here!!
SAVE THE DATES!!!
The table will be set up in the FPL next to the Christmas Tree. Come out and help make a child’s Christmas brighter this season.
November 20th and 23rd 10:ooam-3:00pm
December 1st-4th and 7th-11th 10:00am-3:00pm
Any questions? Contact Morgan O’Connell at mmoconnell@plymouth.edu
A new service organization coming to Plymouth.
Plymouth State University Habitat for Humanity Local Chapter
The organization is partnering up with Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity to decrease poverty and housing. They promote the four main functions of Habitat which are fundraising, building, advocating, and educating.
For more information on how to get involved or to help assist them with the build on Friday and Saturday’s contact…
President, Sam Wisel; sdwisel@plymouth.edu
Treasurer, James Dube; jcdube2@plymouth.edu
Letter from the editor...
It seems like fall just started yesterday and now we’re already preparing for what feels like, the long winter season. ASB has already chosen their participants for their 3 upcoming trips spring semester. They have been working hard raking lawns this fall season to help cut the costs of their trips.
The International Service Trip club has been really working hard this semester. After taking an absence last winter, they’ve kicked up their heels and gotten right down to work. Their silent auction during homecoming was a huge success giving away gift certificates from local food places and shops in town. There were numerous donations from HUB administrators and from families of the students going. They’ve sent out hundreds of letters asking for donations and held bake sales outside of the HUB to help fund their trip. It’s a small group of students going to Jamaica this winterim break, but they are going to make a huge difference.
There seems to be a huge emergence of service based organizations this year! Both the Rotaract Club and the Habitat for Humanity local chapter group (both featured in this edition) are hitting the ground and running. It’s great to see students starting up new organizations to help benefit our community. If you still haven’t been able to get involved in a group on campus, definitely check these ones out.
The Outdoor Center is starting a new service based activity. Thursdays at 9:00am they are meeting to help clean up our beautiful campus. This is a great way to get some service done if you are too busy to donate an entire day of your time, and it benefits YOU directly.
As always, feel free to stop by the HUB administrative office on the second floor of the HUB. The community service center is located inside and there are always things to sign up for and check out. Keep your eyes peeled for banners in the HUB and announcements on the portal. It’s never too late to get involved here on campus. There are always places off campus looking for volunteers, the Senior Center, Pemi Youth Center, and the Bridge House.
Are you an organization that takes an active role in community service?? Want to be featured in our next spotlight edition? Contact Christine Schultz at ceschultz1@plymouth.edu to find out more information. We’re looking to highlight students and student organizations for all the hard work that they do!
Have a great November!!
Download The Spotlight, November 2009, Volume 9, Issue 8 (PDF).
The Community Service Center is located in the Hartman Union Building's Administrative offices on the second floor. For questions regarding what you've seen here, to contribute to an article, or to sign up for an event, please see Linda Corriveau or email her.
