Participate in a workday with the Nature Conservancy of Vermont!
Upcoming worksite date: Tuesday, 10/30 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont is looking for volunteers to join us in removing invasive plants from our Snake Mountain South Natural Area in Bridport. These days are an excellent opportunity to get to know a great conservation organization here in Vermont, give back to your community, and to gain field experience. For these days we will be cutting and clipping non-native invasive shrubs which threaten the health of this beautiful forest. No experience required, just an interest in working hard in a very special place. Snake Mountain South, just south of the often hiked Snake Mountain, is home to rare amphibians and other wildlife, and many rare and uncommon plants and trees. This year, we will be working on top of the cliffs, so you can expect a good workout and stunning vistas. If you are interested in joining The Nature Conservancy on any of these dates please RSVP to Tim Duclos (tim.duclos@tnc.org) or call us at 802-229-4425 ext. 111.

Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
Date: Wednesday, October 31st from 5-8pm
Location: Meet up at ADK (trick-or-treating in Middlebury neighborhoods)
Want to volunteer and trick or treat at the same time? Come help trick or treat for canned goods on Halloween night. The neighborhood will be expecting us so dress up, ring door bells, and gather canned goods. All canned goods will later be donated to the HOPE Food shelter. If interested, please email vso@middlebury.edu.

You can still register to vote in Vermont!
Vermont voter registration deadline: Oct. 31,2012
If you haven’t registered to vote in your home state or requested an absentee ballot there is still time to register to vote in Vermont for the November general election! Fill out a VT voter registration form here and mail it to: Ann F. Webster, Town Clerk, 94 Main Street, Middlebury, VT 05753. If you need an envelope + stamp to mail in your registration or have questions, visit Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator in the Center for Education in Action (Rm. 210, Adirondack House).

Interested in education? Enjoy making a difference for others?
Consider being a mentor for a local high school teenager! Middlebury Union High School is ready to kick off its mentoring program, which aims to pair Middlebury College students with local high school students with the aims of providing support to graduate and helping them build their own post-graduation plans. Attend an interest meeting about the program on Thursday, November 5th at 5:30 pm in Hillcrest 103. Questions? Please contact Nestor Martinez at 802.443.3010 or at nmartinez@middlebury.edu.

Become a Reading Buddy: 3 volunteers still needed! Transportation available from campus.
Bridport Central School is seeking 3 more volunteers to act as Reading Buddies. Volunteers will be asked to commit to one hour each week reading one-on-one with a four-year-old preschool student and completing literacy-related activities. Volunteers are needed either on Tuesdays from 9:45-10:45 or Thursdays from 12:15-1:15. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Beth Bearor, Preschool Teacher, bbearor@addisoncentralsu.org.

Addison Central Teens Fall Clothing Swap: Volunteers needed on 11/13 & 1/14
Volunteer for the Teen Center on November 13th & 14th at Middlebury Union High School. Tasks may include organizing clothing, working with the high schoolers, and assisting students in paying for clothes. If you are interested in volunteering with the Teen Center on one or both of these days, email Co-Director Jutta Miska at jutta@addisonteens.com to coordinate shifts.

Clinton Global Initiative University
Early Application Deadline: November 30th, 2012
CGI U 2013 will be held at Washington University in St. Louis from April 5 – 7, 2013, bringing together nearly 1,200 attendees to make a difference in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health. President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.
Attendees are welcome to apply for EIA Civic Engagement Mini-Grant funding to support their participation!

Great hands-on winter term internship opportunity: Apply via MOJO by November 9th
A meaningful opportunity to see urban education reform at work! This internship provides teaching and learning opportunities at the Paul Cuffee School in Providence, RI. The Paul Cuffee School is a public charter school, currently serving 625 to 700 students in grades K-11. The majority of the school population is from the city of Providence; most are students of color and live below the poverty level and for many English is a second language. The school is one of the top performing charter schools in the state and is a model for urban school reform initiatives. Two Middlebury students can participate. Over J-Term each student will be assigned to work as an intern with a classroom teacher in the elementary, middle school or high school program. Tasks will vary but may include: observing classes, tutoring, directing small-group work, working with special education students, working in the computer lab and working with outreach programs. Students will spend five full days at the school each week, keep a journal, and complete a formal essay about their experience. You will receive credit for this internship. A food stipend will be provided to students, and local housing will be arranged through Midd alums.

Writing Tutors Needed: Middlebury Union High School World Literature Course
Middlebury Union High School is seeking 3-4 volunteer writing tutors to help 11th and 12th grades students in World Literature. It would be ideal if the college volunteer and high school student determine a mutually agreeable time once a week to help generate, develop, and revise current writing assignments. Interested? Email teacher Kate Carroll, kcarroll@addisoncentralsu.org.

Put your math skills to work in the community: Calculus tutor needed
A volunteer is needed to tutor a high school student in Calculus at the Middlebury Union High School Learning Lab. The student is available between 8:45 – 10:10 a.m. Monday – Friday and could meet during those times based on your schedule. Interested? Contact Jim Burnett, jburnett@addisoncentralsu.org.

Native Spanish speaker or individuals with Spanish skills needed
Consider becoming a mentor for a local Spanish-speaking child! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages 6-12, is seeking a willing volunteer to be a mentor for a Latino child that is in need of different experiences. Take him to a hockey game, practice your Spanish together while taking a walk! The possibilities are endless. You could be an important part of this child’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, and different ways of transportation are available at no cost. For more information about the program, or to apply to be either one of these or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nestor Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).

Gym partner and friend needed
A community member is seeking a gym partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Need money for service? Apply to the Flex Fund to finance your initiatives!
Whether it is transportation expenses, pumpkins to carve with Porter hospital residents, or turkeys to cook at the local shelter, we want to help you serve others. Click on Civic Engagement Funding here to find our application. Email scboard@middlebury.edu for more information.

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

Get trained to volunteer at the Charter House Homeless Shelter
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24th, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Ross Basement B11
The Charter House winter housing facility that serves as an emergency home staffed 24/7 by trained volunteers who provide a warm, welcoming environment for families in stress. Attend this training over October Break to learn more about volunteering at the Charter House. Contact Adam Schiff, aschiff@middlebury.edu if you have any questions or would like to be notified of future training dates.

Participate in a workday with the Nature Conservancy of Vermont!
Upcoming worksite date: Tuesday, 10/30 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont is looking for volunteers to join us in removing invasive plants (primarily buckthorn) from our Snake Mountain South Natural Area in Bridport this fall. These days are an excellent opportunity to get to know a great conservation organization here in Vermont, give back to your community, and to gain field experience. For these days we will be cutting and clipping non-native invasive shrubs which threaten the health of this beautiful forest. No experience required, just an interest in working hard in a very special place. Snake Mountain South, just south of the often hiked Snake Mountain, is home to rare amphibians and other wildlife, and many rare and uncommon plants and trees. This year, we will be working on top of the cliffs, so you can expect a good workout and stunning vistas. If you are interested in joining The Nature Conservancy on any of these dates please RSVP to Tim Duclos (tim.duclos@tnc.org) or call us at 802-229-4425 ext. 111.

October 23rd: College Defensive Driving Class [Required to drive campus vehicles!]
This program is required for anyone who wishes to rent a College passenger or 15-passenger vehicle. If you might want to use a campus vehicle for volunteering in 2012-2013 get prepared by taking this class! There is no cost for the class but a driving orientation (a 1 hour review on the road) is required for 15-passenger Vans and larger vehicles. Class time is about 2 Hrs. REMINDER: A valid state license is required to take the class. Individuals wanting a 15-Passenger Van license must have 3 years of driving experience. To sign up email Ed Sullivan, Sullivan@middlebury.edu. Upcoming class: October 23rd 4:00PM at Hillcrest 103 (The Orchard Room).

JOIN IN ON A FARM SERVICE DAY!
WHEN: Saturday, October 27th. We’ll meet at ADK circle at noon, arrive at the farm by 1pm and work until we’re worn out (not past sun set).
WHERE: Evening Song Farm south of Rutland. The owners lost the entire farm last year due to Irene and are still working to rebuild their infrastructure on a new location. As winter approaches, there is a lot of work to be done and extra hands are needed. During this particular weekend, the farm needs help spreading mulch over a quarter acre of garlic and harvesting winter root crops.
WHO: Anyone and everyone. Invite your friends!
RSVP: Please email Avery McNiff, amcniff@middlebury.edu, if you are interested in helping out by Wednesday, October 24th so we can arrange transportation.

Can’t wait to try out your costume before Halloween? Have some time to spare?
The Dance Marathon committee will be volunteering at the Halloween Dance at the Teen Center in town on Friday night (9/27). We would love volunteers to help us with this event, or other community service initiatives throughout the semester. The teen center especially needs volunteers for the later shift from 9:30pm to 11:15pm but also from 7:45pm to 9:45pm. Dance Marathon takes place over J-term and will raise money for family with patients at the Vermont Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Fletcher Allen. To get involved contact middleburydancemarathon@gmail.com.

Writing Tutors Needed: Middlebury Union High School World Literature Course Middlebury Union High School is seeking 3-4 volunteer writing tutors to help 11th and 12th grades students in World Literature. It would be ideal if the college volunteer and high school student determine a mutually agreeable time once a week to help generate, develop, and revise current writing assignments. Interested? Email teacher Kate Carroll, kcarroll@addisoncentralsu.org.

Volunteer/Intern positions available: Explore educational experiences on the mountain
Curious about the experiential educational opportunities in the outdoor environment? Comfortable handling challenging situations related to leading a group of children or your peers outside in the winter weather? Willing to commit time for training …and then be available for assisting with PE classes at the Bowl over Jterm or weekend series with locals? Both paid positions as well as volunteer/intern situations available. Email the Middlebury College Snow Bowl Snow School (sbsc@middlebury.edu) for more information.

Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
Date: Wednesday October 31st from 5-8pm
Location: Meet up at ADK (trick-or-treating in Middlebury neighborhoods)
Want to volunteer and trick or treat at the same time? Come help trick or treat for canned goods on Halloween night. The neighborhood will be expecting us so dress up, ring door bells, and gather canned goods. All canned goods will later be donated to the HOPE Food shelter. If interested, please email vso@middlebury.edu.

Community Friends
Really enjoy playing soccer, baseball and other sports? Want to feel like you’re making a big difference for someone else? Consider becoming a mentor for a local 8 year old boy! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages six twelve, is seeking a willing volunteer to be a mentor for a child that is in need of “someone that he feels comfortable and trusts to talk with.”. Take him to a hockey game, talk about the world while taking a walk. The possibilities are endless! You could be an important part of this child’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, no car required, and alternate ways of transportation are available at no cost. For more information about the program, or to apply to be either one of these or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nes Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).

Join DREAM! Become a Mentor!
The DREAM Program is a non-profit mentoring organization that builds communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams! DREAM is looking for new mentors to visit the children of the Pine Meadow and John Graham Court Neighborhoods in Middlebury Friday afternoons. The only requirements are enthusiasm and energy to spend time with kids! Among some of the planned activities this year are a Halloween Party, a “Science Day” and a mentor-mentee culminating event (ropes course and a visit to a local pizzeria have been some of past years events). If you think you’d like to be a part of this or to help plan some of these events, please email Simran Sabharwal at ssabharwal@middlebury.edu.

Speak Fuzhou, or know someone who does?
Local ELL instructor is in search of a Fuzhou speaker to help orally interpret some forms for a local family. For some information, please contact Nes Martinez at nmartinez@middlebury.edu or call 802.443.3010.

Creative Website Design Assistance Needed!
Lynn Slaughter-Naves is working on a website project at the Monterey Institute of International Studies along with EWAY Entertainment & Foundation. The website would aid women’s self-defense training programs in developing countries around the world; connecting these programs with each other and with potential partners and donors. They are currently looking for a student volunteer with website-building expertise, someone who would like to develop their portfolio and help strengthen women’s international security programs in the process. Contact Lynn (lslaughternaves@miis.edu) to learn more details!

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

MiddAction
Like food? Join Nutrition Outreach and Mentoring (nom) in Cooking at the Teen Center tomorrow (Wednesday)
Date: Wednesday, 10/17 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Addison Central Teens (located close to campus – right by Twilight Hall!)
Nom is looking for volunteers to teach teens how to cook. The group will be making a collection of appetizers and volunteers eat with the teens, too! If you are passionate about food and food education and want to connect to members of the community, this opportunity is for you! Email Nes Martinez at middlebury.nom@gmail.com to sign up to participate.

Get trained to volunteer at the Charter House Homeless Shelter
Training Date and Time: Thursday, Oct. 18 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Ross Basement B11
The Charter House winter housing facility that serves as an emergency home staffed 24/7 by trained volunteers who provide a warm, welcoming environment for families in stress. Attend this training to learn more about volunteering at the Charter House. Contact Adam Schiff, aschiff@middlebury.edu if you have any questions or would like to be notified of future training dates.

Can’t wait to try out your costume before Halloween? Have some time to spare?
Come be a chaperone for the Addison Central Teen Center Halloween Dance on Friday 10/19 at the Town Hall Theater. Come hang out for a shift between 8-11pm, have some treats, get into the spirit of Halloween! Best of all, check out the neat costumes! For more information, please contact Jutta Miska at jutta@addisonteens.com or call ACT at 802.388.3910

Tropical Storm Irene Long Term Recovery: Volunteer Worksite Opportunity
Date: Saturday, October 20th, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Brandon, VT (only 16 miles from Middlebury!)
The Rutland County Long Term Recovery Committee is sponsoring a volunteer project to benefit the Brandon Town Players. The storage area for their props and supplies were flooded and now need to be removed so the building can be demolished. Volunteers will shovel out silt that covers the props and stage materials. Interested? Email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu. Ashley will set up a carpool of interested students and can provide supplies including shovels and gloves. Refreshments and water will be provided.

Participate in a workday with the Nature Conservancy of Vermont!
Upcoming worksite dates: Saturday 10/20, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and Friday 10/26, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont is looking for volunteers to join us in removing invasive plants (primarily buckthorn) from our Snake Mountain South Natural Area in Bridport this fall. These days are an excellent opportunity to get to know a great conservation organization here in Vermont, give back to your community, and to gain field experience. For these days we will be cutting and clipping non-native invasive shrubs which threaten the health of this beautiful forest. No experience required, just an interest in working hard in a very special place. Snake Mountain South, just south of the often hiked Snake Mountain, is home to rare amphibians and other wildlife, and many rare and uncommon plants and trees. This year, we will be working on top of the cliffs, so you can expect a good workout and stunning vistas. If you are interested in joining The Nature Conservancy on any of these dates please RSVP to Tim Duclos (tim.duclos@tnc.org) or call us at 802-229-4425 ext. 111.

Student Panel on Poverty Studies Internships
Thursday, Oct. 18th 7:00 p.m. Axinn Rm. 219
This summer seven Middlebury students helped tackle issues of poverty through paid internships in Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and, locally, in Addison County (VT). Come hear about their experiences working with immigrant services, emergency housing, farm to table and gleaning initiatives, social services for women and children, and environmental education in coal country. For students interested in poverty studies at Middlebury, Tiffany Sargent (EIA) and Professor James Davis (Religion) will be on hand to share information about these annual internship opportunities, as well as about Middlebury’s exploration of a Privilege and Poverty program as part of the Shepherd High Education Consortium on Poverty. Sponsored by EIA Civic Engagement.

Local J-Term internship opportunity at the Charter House emergency winter shelter – application due 10/21
Spend your January Term interning at the Charter House Emergency Winter Shelter in Middlebury, which provides emergency housing to individuals and families through the winter months. Interns will support the management staff of the Charter House Emergency Winter Shelter in meeting client needs, maintaining a spirit of welcome and community within the building, and staffing the Shelter. Interns will gain an in-depth understanding of how The Middlebury Community Care Coalition and the broader community support the transition of homeless families to stable housing. Visit go/internships and click on “Winter Term” for information on receiving course credit for this internship. Visit MOJO and search for “Charter House” to find more information and apply for the internship.

Teach Spanish with the Monkton Central School World Language Program
The Monkton Central School World Language Program is looking for one additional volunteer who would like to team-teach Spanish to a 5th and 6th grade class on Tuesdays 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. In this program, volunteers come to the Monkton Central School 6 times in the fall to teach foreign language in an elementary school classroom. Each session is 50-60 minutes long and should be fun for you and the kids. They love playing games, singing songs, learning basic vocabulary, and exploring the culture. Transportation is available. If you are available Tuesdays 1:15-2:15pm starting 10/23 for 6 weeks, please email Jen Stanley, jstanley@wildblue.net. We will begin a new volunteer session in February. Email Jen Stanley if you would like to be notified when those volunteer openings are available.

You can still register to vote in Vermont!
Vermont voter registration deadline: Oct. 31, 2012
If you haven’t registered to vote in your home state or requested an absentee ballot there is still time to register to vote in Vermont for the November general election! Fill out a VT voter registration form here and mail it to: Ann F. Webster, Town Clerk, 94 Main Street, Middlebury, VT 05753. If you need an envelope + stamp to mail in your registration or have questions, visit Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator in the Center for Education in Action (Rm. 210, Adirondack House).

Gym partner and friend needed
A community member is seeking a gym partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Community Friends
Have a scooter and want to ride it around? Want to teach a boy some new moves in his favorite sport? These are some of the things you could be doing right now with a child from Addison County! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages six to twelve, is seeking a “supportive, caring adult” for this child. Take a walk, read books together, do some arts and crafts, play mini-golf at Whirlie’s World! The possibilities are endless. You could be an important part of this young boy’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, no car required, and alternate ways of transportation are available. For more information about the program, or to apply to be this or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nestor Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

October 9: College Defensive Driving Class [Required to drive campus vehicles!]
This program is required for anyone who wishes to rent a College passenger or 15-passenger vehicle. If you might want to use a campus vehicle for volunteering in 2012-2013 get prepared by taking this class! There is no cost for the class but a driving orientation (a 1 hour review on the road) is required for 15-passenger Vans and larger vehicles. Class time is about 2 Hrs. REMINDER: A valid state license is required to take the class. Individuals wanting a 15-Passenger Van license must have 3 years of driving experience. To sign up email Ed Sullivan, Sullivan@middlebury.edu. Upcoming class: October 9, 9:00 a.m., Mitchell Green Lounge

Participate in E2 Environment & Equity Student Leadership Conference
Oct. 20th, 2012 (workshop) and Jan. 21, 2013 (conference) at ECHO Museum in Burlington
Student teams are invited to participate in the January 2013 E2 Environment & Equity Student Leadership Conference, which will explore the intersection of social justice and environmental sustainability. Teams of 5 or more people will gather on Oct. 2012 to learn and teach each other about environmental and social justice issues, and local service opportunities, and strategies for effecting change. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a project or workshop to present to the public as part of a community-wide MLK Jr. Day Environment and Equity Summit, and network with other Vermont environmental and social justice student groups. Registration is free, and transportation support from Middlebury to Burlington can be provided. Interested? Contact Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu. Individuals or groups are welcome to contact me! More information here.

Applications due Wednesday (10/10) for February Middlebury Alternative Break Trips!
All students are welcome to apply to participate in the student-led MAlt trips over February Break! This year’s trips will focus on border and immigration issues (El Paso, TX), cultural and environmental awareness (Cherokee Nation), conservation in El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), women’s empowerment (Dominican Republic), and the US prison system (New York).
Find more information and the application here.

Local J-Term internship opportunity at the Charter House emergency winter shelter – Application due 10/21
Spend your January Term interning at the Charter House Emergency Winter Shelter in Middlebury, which provides emergency housing to individuals and families through the winter months. Interns will support the management staff of the Charter House Emergency Winter Shelter in meeting client needs, maintaining a spirit of welcome and community within the building, and staffing the Shelter. Interns will gain an in-depth understanding of how The Middlebury Community Care Coalition and the broader community support the transition of homeless families to stable housing. Visit go/internships and click on “Winter Term” for information on receiving course credit for this internship. Visit MOJO and search for “Charter House” to find more information and apply for the internship.

Put your math skills to work in the community: AP Calculus tutor needed
A volunteer is needed to tutor a high school student in AP Calculus at the Middlebury Union High School Learning Lab. The student is available between 1:35 – 2:55 p.m. Monday – Friday and could meet during those times based on your schedule. Interested? Contact Jim Burnett, jburnett@addisoncentralsu.org.

Gym Partner Needed
A community member is seeking a gym partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Staying in Middlebury over October Break? Volunteer with the Nature Conservancy of Vermont!
Upcoming worksite dates: Friday, 10/12, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10/13, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont is looking for volunteers to join us in removing invasive plants (primarily buckthorn) from our Snake Mountain South Natural Area in Bridport this fall. These days are an excellent opportunity to get to know a great conservation organization here in Vermont, give back to your community, and to gain field experience. For these days we will be cutting and clipping non-native invasive shrubs which threaten the health of this beautiful forest. No experience required, just an interest in working hard in a very special place. Snake Mountain South, just south of the often hiked Snake Mountain, is home to rare amphibians and other wildlife, and many rare and uncommon plants and trees. This year, we will be working on top of the cliffs, so you can expect a good workout and stunning vistas. If you are interested in joining The Nature Conservancy on any of these dates please RSVP to Tim Duclos (tim.duclos@tnc.org) or call us at 802-229-4425 ext. 111.

Make an impact in a child’s life: Become a mentor for Community Friends
Enjoy making an impact in someone’s life? Want to strengthen the community in which you’ll be spending time? Become a mentor for Community Friends! Since 1960 Community Friends has been matching Middlebury College students with children from Addison County. Mentors and mentees spend time together weekly, exploring whatever interests may arise out of these friendships. Find more information and an application here. Questions? Contact Nestor Martinez, Mentoring and Youth Programs Coordinator, at 802.443.3010, nmartinez@middlebury.edu.

Like food? Join Nutrition Outreach and Mentoring (nom) in Cooking at the Teen Center
Date: Wednesday, 10/17 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Nom is looking for volunteers to teach teens how to cook on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The group will be making a collection of appetizers and volunteers eat with the teens, too! If you are passionate about food and food education and want to connect to members of the community, this opportunity is for you! Email Nes Martinez at middlebury.nom@gmail.com to sign up to participate.

11/1-11/2 Virtual Conference Opportunity: Literacy as a National Priority
Registration is now open for the Read.Write.Act. Virtual Conference here. The annual Read.Write.Act Virtual Conference, connects college students at campus-based literacy groups from around the country with content specialists, community-based literacy organizations and other leaders in literacy who are committed to creating a more just society by engaging young people in literacy education. Virtual conference sessions will be held on Thursday, Nov. 1 – Friday, Nov. 2: Full schedule for Thursday, November 1st, Full schedule for Friday, November 2nd, Full schedule for Saturday, November 3rd. Student fee for Thursday and Friday: $25. Funding available from EIA Civic Engagement to support attendance, if you are interested email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Volunteer in a “Website English” class: WordPress-experienced individual needed
The Diversified Occupations Program’s class called “Website English” gives students the opportunity to learn how to create, maintain, and write content for their WordPress-based webpage (http://doprogram.org). A volunteer is needed to be an occasional helper in the classroom, or act as a contact for questions about trouble-shooting their WordPress website. Interested? Email teacher Ian Hoefle, ihoefle@addisoncentralsu.org.

Need money for service? Apply to the Flex Fund to finance your initiatives!
Whether it is transportation expenses, pumpkins to carve with Porter hospital residents, or turkeys to cook at the local shelter, we want to help you serve others. Visit go/funding to find our application. Email scboard@middlebury.edu for more information.

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

Announcing the Middlebury Alternative Break (MAlt) Service Trips for February Break 2013!

This year’s trips will focus on border and immigration issues (El Paso, TX), cultural and environmental awareness (Cherokee Nation), conservation in El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), women’s empowerment (Dominican Republic), and the US prison system (New York).

The application—please read directions carefully!—is due by Wednesday, October 10th at 5:00 pm to Ashley Calkins in Room 210 of the Center for Education in Action (EIA) on the second floor of Adirondack House.

MAlt participant application: Participant application 2013

Fundraisers from now through J-term ensure that those who need financial assistance to fund their trips will be able to participate (you don’t need to be on financial aid from the College to receive MAlt financial assistance). Each participant must pay at least 25% of the cost—but you have until mid-January to do it! All costs below are estimates and will be finalized soon—cost includes transportation, lodging, and food. MAlt is a perfect opportunity to get involved with rewarding and meaningful service work during break as well as a great way to connect to a new community!

Questions? Check out this “Intro to MAlt 2012-2013”, or e-mail MAlt co-chairs Charlotte Zelle (czelle@middlebury.edu) or Maya Neria (mneria@middlebury.edu).

Trip Descriptions:
Conserving a Tropical Ecosystem Treasure (Puerto Rico): We will focus on environmental conservation efforts in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque Rainforest, a tropical rainforest with a wide diversity of flora and fauna including many species that occur nowhere else in the world. Activities include forest maintenance projects and environmental education projects to support the El Yunque National Forest Service’s efforts to educate the thousands of tourists who visit El Yunque every year. The trip also involves engaging with researchers in the rainforest to learn the effects of climate change and land use in El Yunque.
Trip Leaders: Justin Koatz ‘13 and Maggie Khuu ‘13
Approximate Cost: $500

Examining a Broken Justice System (New York City): To better understand the complexities of the current U.S. retributive justice system, we will visit organizations in New York City related to the pre- and post-incarceration process. Topics will include juvenile sentencing, education, and alternative methods to incarceration. By working with representatives from non-profits, legislatures and juvenile halls, we will examine all steps of the incarceration and re-entry process through a variety of lenses. We hope that through this trip, participants will challenge their preconceived notions about today’s prison system and continue related service work in the future.
Trip Leaders: Lydia Gordon ’15 and Maya Neria ’15
Approximate Cost:$250

Breaking Through Preconceptions (Cherokee Nation): Rediscover history when you visit the land of the Cherokee near the Smokey Blue Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. Immerse yourself in their culture and traditions while passing on your own by interacting with the elderly at the Senior Center and tutoring and playing games with youth at the Recreation Center. Learn from members of the community about the issues they face as a nation within a nation and take part in an ongoing effort to maintain the cultural land of the Cherokee “where eagles nest and bears still roam.”
Trip leaders:Mika Tan ’15 and Emily Hoang ’15
Approximate cost: $700

Different Voices, New Perspectives Along Mexico/US Border (El Paso): Students will travel to El Paso, Texas, a city that shares a border with Mexico, living and working at a shelter for undocumented migrants. We will assist in the daily running of the shelter, attend border education workshops, and meet the many faces of migration, from activists and migrants to government and law enforcement officials.
Trip Leaders: Amanda Pertierra ‘13 and Hannah Postel ’13
Approximate cost: $775

Empowering Local Communities (Dominican Republic): We will work with the Mariposa DR Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to empower women through various educational and health programs. The Mariposa DR Foundation is committed to helping children, especially girls, gain access to quality education and to provide to provide girls with a comfortable environment where they can develop a strong sense of self. During this trip, we will help to develop English programs and work on sustainability initiatives in the community.
Trip Leaders: Rana Abdelhamid ‘15 and Lily Ghebrai ‘15
Approximate cost: $875

Register to vote or request an absentee ballot
There is still time to register to vote and request an absentee ballot prior to the November general election – however many states’ deadlines are coming up in the next week so now it the time to act! Register to vote and find more information at Rock the Vote. If you need an envelope + stamp to mail in your registration or have questions, visit Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator in the Center for Education in Action (Rm. 210, Adirondack House).

MAlt Information Session
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd 8:00 p.m. BiHall Rm. 216
Attend this info session to learn about applying for the student-led February 2013 Middlebury Alternative Break Trips. Trips will focus border and immigration issues (El Paso, TX), cultural and environmental awareness (Cherokee Nation), conservation in El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), women’s empowerment (Dominican Republic), and the US prison system (New York). Questions? Contact MAlt Co-chair Charlotte Zelle, czelle@middlebury.edu.

Can you use scissors and tie knots?
Then you can make Brady Blankets for Porter Hospital and the VT Children’s Hospital!
Saturday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Location: Mt. Abraham High School Bristol, VT
To register to volunteer call: 802-453-2376 or just show up. Join the fun for one hour or all morning… This is a great project for your family, friends, sports team, club or organization!

Swimming Partner Needed
A community member is seeking a gym partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Native Spanish speaker?
Or have you been studying Spanish for some time and want to put it to good use? Consider becoming a mentor for a local Spanish-speaking child! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages six twelve, is seeking a willing volunteer to be a mentor for a Latino child that is in need of different experiences. Take him to a hockey game, practice your Spanish together while taking a walk. The possibilities are endless. You could be an important part of this child’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, no car required, and alternate ways of transportation are available at no cost. For more information about the program, or to apply to be either one of these or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nestor Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).

Homework helpers needed at Beeman
Beeman Elementary School is seeking volunteers to serve as Homework Helpers on Tuesday, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Pick a day based on your schedule!) Interested? Contact Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Parlez-vous Français?
A volunteer is needed to tutor a high school student in French at the Middlebury Union High School Learning Lab. The student is available between 10:10 – 11:30 a.m. Monday – Friday and could meet during those times based on your schedule. Interested? Contact Jim Burnett, jburnett@addisoncentralsu.org.

Four-year-olds starting violin: Volunteers needed
Mary Hogan Elementary School is starting a Suzuki-principled violin program this fall. Four year-old students will be invited to take part in this part of our project which will occur four days/week (most likely, M-TH) between 11AM-noon. Volunteers with string experience are needed to volunteer with the program – we can base volunteers shifts on your schedule! Interested? Contact Ultima Danforth, udanforth@addisoncentralsu.org.

Become a Reading Buddy
Bridport Central School is seeking 12 volunteers to act as Reading Buddies. Volunteers will be asked to commit to one hour each week reading one-on-one with a preschool student and completing a literacy related project or activity. Seven volunteers are needed on Tuesdays from 9:45-10:45 and five volunteers are needed on Thursdays from 12:15-1:15. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Beth Bearor, Preschool Teacher, by e-mail at bbearor@addisoncentralsu.org or by phone Monday-Thursday at 758-2331.

Join DREAM! Become a Mentor!
The DREAM Program is a non-profit mentoring organization that builds communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams! DREAM is looking for new mentors to visit the children of the Pine Meadow and John Graham Court Neighborhoods in Middlebury Friday afternoons. The only requirements are enthusiasm and energy to spend time with kids! For more information, email Simran Sabharwal at ssabharwal@middlebury.edu.

Need money for service? Apply to the Service Cluster Board Flex Fund to finance your initiatives
Whether it is transportation expenses or ingredients to cook meals at the community lunch program, we want to help you serve others. Click on “Service Cluster Board Flex Fund” here to find our application. Email scboard@middlebury.edu for more information

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

Monkton World Language Program Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 27 6:30 p.m. Twilight 201
The Monkton Central School World Language Program has been in existence for about 10 years with great success. It introduces children from kindergarten through sixth grade to a different language and culture, an experience which, hopefully, will be continued during middle and high school. Middlebury College students teach various languages six times during the semester, on either Tuesday or Thursday. To learn more attend the information session or contact Jennifer Stanley, jstanley@wildblue.net.

Apply for the Oct. Break Middlebury Alternative Break Trip to Merck Forest and Farmland Center
Application deadline: Friday, Sept. 28th
Visit here for more information and an application.
Join us for the fifth annual October MAlt break trip to breathtakingly beautiful Merck Forest & Farmland Center in southern Vermont at the height of the foliage season led by Tshering Yudon ‘13 and Teddy Pendergast ‘13. Merck Forest’s mission is to teach and demonstrate the benefits of innovative, sustainable management of forest and farmland. Our work will likely include trail maintenance in the forest and helping with the harvest. We will be camping (sleeping in a cabin) and cooking together as a group in fall temperatures ranging from 40-60 degrees during the day and 30-50 degrees at night. It’s about a two-mile hike into the site. We’ll depart Saturday ~12pm, Oct. 13, (leaving after the Dalai Lama talk is over) and return late afternoon on Monday, Oct. 15. Camping gear can be provided!

Did you ever wonder what all the fuss is about at Whirlie’s World?
Then let a local eight-year old girl show you! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages six to twelve, is seeking a “big sister to do fun things with” for this child. Take a walk, read books together, make a bead necklace, play mini-golf at Whirlie’s World! The possibilities are endless. You could be an important part of this young girl’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, no car required, and alternate ways of transportation are available. For more information about the program, or to apply to be this or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nestor Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).

Spanish-speaking volunteers needed to work with preschool students!
Head Start is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers to work with two Spanish-speaking three-year-olds who don’t speak any English. Volunteers are needed Tues, Wed, and Thurs mornings between 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. (flexible schedule based on volunteer availability). Interested students should contact either Michael Katz (802-462-2899) or Head Start teachers Helen or Lisa (802-382-1478).

Want to volunteer at grandma’s house?
Join us at Living Well, a residential care home in Bristol, where we celebrate the wisdom and achievements of our elders every day! Flexible volunteer opportunities available. Interested? Contact Sudeshna Trivedi, Volunteer Development Coordinator, sudeshna@livingwellvt.org

Native speakers of Amharic: Volunteer Opportunity
A local family with an adopted child from Ethiopia is seeking a native Amharic speaker to volunteer with their child. Interested? Contact Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Womensafe Volunteer Training Announcement
WomenSafe in Middlebury works toward the elimination of physical, sexual and emotional violence against women and their children through direct service, education and social change. Apply to become a volunteer and sign-up for required volunteer training here. Volunteer opportunities include working on the hotline, helping with education and awareness, and providing special events assistance. [Note: Required training for fall volunteers starts on September 27th! Take action and fill out your application today]

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

MiddAction Fair
Wednesday, Sept. 19th 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
McCullough Social Space
Come learn about opportunities to volunteer and get involved in the local community! Engage with over 50 non-profit organizations and student service groups to learn how you can get involved in local activism, volunteering, social justice, and service-learning activities in areas such as education, literacy, youth mentoring, environment, emergency services, public health, poverty, hunger, housing, and much more. Questions? Contact Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

MiddVOTE Registration Drive (+absentee ballot requests!)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
4:30–7:30 p.m. Outside the Gamut Room (rain location Crossroads Cafe)
MiddVote is hosting a non-partisan voter registration drive! Come if you want to register to vote, apply for an absentee ballot, or have questions about the voting process! This is a great opportunity to make sure you are registered to vote in time for the November elections. Volunteers are needed to help out at the event, if you are interested email Julia Welsh, jwelsh@middlebury.edu.

United Way Days of Caring: Habitat for Humanity build in Cornwall
Volunteer to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity this Saturday, Sept. 22nd at 9:30 a.m. Transportation provided from campus. If you might be interested in participating in Habitat builds this is a great introduction! To sign up email Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Enjoy a Saturday picking apples at Sunrise Orchards
United Church in Underhill is looking for student volunteers to help pick apples on September 22nd from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall for their Harvest Market Days (they need to pick 350 bushels!). Interested? Contact Dave Clift, 202-764-4419, daclift59@yahoo.com.

myAmerica? An Immigration Symposium
Come learn more about America’s immigration dilemma through art, poetry, journalism, and more. Visit go/myamerica? to see the complete schedule.

Page 1 Information Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 20th 5:30 p.m.
Ross Basement B11
Do you love reading, children, and volunteering? Come check out student organization Page 1 for a great volunteer opportunity in local schools! Questions? Contact pageone@middlebury.edu.

Volunteer at St. Mary’s School
St. Mary’s Elementary School is seeking volunteers! Yard Duty Helper Monday – Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to during recess to help supervise and play games with the children. After-school activities: 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. (flexible days) Volunteers are needed to lead a club (such as Chess Club, Math Club, Science Club, Fitness Club) for 4-6 weeks – creativity welcome! If you are interested in these opportunities please contact Angela Pohlen, smsprincipal@saintmarysvt.org.

DREAM
The DREAM Program is a non-profit mentoring organization that builds communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams! DREAM is looking for new mentors to visit the children of the Pine Meadow and John Graham Court Neighborhoods in Middlebury on Friday afternoons. The only requirements are enthusiasm and energy to spend time with kids! For more information, email either Simran Sabharwal ’14 at ssabharwal@middlebury.edu or Emily Roach ’13 at eroach@middlebury.edu.

Womensafe Volunteer Training Announcement
WomenSafe in Middlebury works toward the elimination of physical, sexual and emotional violence against women and their children through direct service, education and social change. Apply to become a volunteer and sign-up for required volunteer training here. Volunteer opportunities include working on the hotline, helping with education and awareness, and providing special events assistance. [Note: Required training for fall volunteers starts on September 27th! Take action and fill out your application today]

Bridport Central Elementary School: host an after-school club
Bridport Central School (only 10 miles away from Middlebury!) is seeking volunteers to lead an after school club for elementary school students one afternoon a week from 2:25-3:40 p.m. for 6 weeks starting in October. You pick the topic – creative ideas welcome! Previous clubs have included card games, running, chess, jump rope, yoga, crafts, etc. Deadline is Sept. 27. Consider involving your athletic team or student organization in planning a club together! Contact Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, for a short application and more information. Funds can be provided for transportation and club supplies.

Willowell Foundation Artist Residency: volunteer mural assistant opportunity
The Willowell Foundation is hosting muralist and sculptor Marela Zacarías for a residency in September. Marela Zacarias lives in Brooklyn and grew up in Mexico City. She has created more than 30 large murals in the U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala, often working with local communities and at-risk youth to envision, design and paint. During her residency, Marela will work with Walden students to paint a mural just beyond the entrance to the outdoor classroom. For the first time, she’ll be combining her sculptural paintings, which recall textiles, with muralism to create a dynamic, 3-dimensional “wall in the woods.” The Willowell Foundation is seeking two volunteer assistants to help with the mural project and related field trips and programming. Volunteers will preferably have experience with painting and/or sculpture. Interested? Contact Administrative Director Hannah Mueller, hannah@willowell.org, 973-306-9238.

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099