~Sunday~ I slept in this morning and just enjoyed my “day off.” I caught up my Friday and Saturday blog entries, and I did a little volunteer work for Manbites Dog, as we have our October board meeting coming up on Wednesday evening.
I tweeted about this on Friday, but haven’t yet covered it in my blog. At the end of the day on Friday, my office phone rang, which in and of itself is a rarity, let alone at 4:30 on a Friday. On the line was Mike Giancola, who is NC State’s Director of the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service, commonly referred to on campus simply as CSLEPS.
One of CSLEPS’ big offerings is the Alternative Service Break program, in which instead of heading to Fort Lauderdale for sand, sex, and beer over spring break, for example, students instead do something service-oriented and meaningful in various cities and countries around the world.
Trips have included experiences such as: Alaska, working on environmental and educational issues; Philadelphia, working with the homeless and being immersed into different religions; Belize, building a sidewalk, putting on a new roof, constructing tables for a school, painting a craft center and a tortilla room, as well as teaching in schools; and the Dominican Republic, educating the people about nutrition and women’s health issues.
Mike was calling to invite me to be one of two Team Advisors, who along with a Team Leader, provide leadership to the group of participating students. We’ll be going to Thibodaux, LA from March 13-21, 2010, where we will be doing post-Katrina Habitat for Humanity work. There are about 300 students going in approximately 18 groups, so 15-16 students in each group, of which ours will be one.
I’m excited about the opportunity and have only just begun to get the details, one of which is about the housing: “Collegiate Challenge host sites will provide your group with a safe place to sleep, shower and prepare meals at no additional cost. Sleeping arrangements are usually on a church floor or in a volunteer center, so a sleeping bag is necessary. Shower and kitchen facilities may be located in a separate location from your sleeping arrangements.” I guess I’ll be looking to borrow a sleeping bag.
This What You Need to Know covers, in addition to the housing: cost, food, transportation, insurance, and some notes about the week-long schedule.
Of course updates will be forthcoming between now and March, and I look forward to finding the energy to continue my daily blogging during the trip.
I met Joe at Flex at a little after 9:00 for scareyoke. All the usual suspects. I left before 11:00, and made a stop at the grocery store on the way home.
I have a 9:00 work meeting in the morning. I hate meetings first thing on Monday mornings. Hate is such a strong word.