first year service requirement rayne loder americorps scholar in service, 2011 – 2012...
TRANSCRIPT
The essentials
• Each student must participate in (at least!) 3 community service activities during the first year of PA school– Service is a big part of this PA program’s mission!
The essentials
• Of these 3, 2 must be medically related• Examples include:– Blood pressure screenings– Health fairs– Volunteering as an EMT
The essentials
• The third service event can be medical or non-medical
• Examples of non-medical events– Stream clean-ups– Working at a soup kitchen– Organizing a food drive
How do I find opportunities to serve my community?
Finding opportunities to serve
• Each campus is unique and has its own opportunities– Coudersport is going to have some different types
of events than Harrisburg! – Lock Haven students can take advantage of events
planned for the entire campus community– Clearfield, well…you’ve got the YMCA! – You are all welcome to travel to different campuses
and different communities to complete your service requirements
Finding opportunities to serve
• You can start by talking to your AmeriCorps Scholar– Your AmeriCorps Scholar in Service is Christy
Lejkowski– Christy will be researching and informing you of
service events which can count toward your requirement
Finding opportunities to serve
• Don’t forget about the faculty!– Faculty members are also excellent resources and
will inform you of service opportunities throughout the year
– They know the campus communities very well and can help connect you with an organization which could use a helping hand
Finding opportunities to serve
• Opportunities through the university– The MountainServe Center at the Lock Haven
campus is a wonderful resource for community service activities (especially non-medical) in the Lock Haven area
– You can explore their website at: http://lhupvolunteer.wetpaint.com/• (you can also “like” them on Facebook!)
Finding opportunities to serve
• Get in touch with your local hospital– Hospitals frequently organize community health
screenings and charity events and can often use volunteers!
– Contacting the volunteer coordinator at your local hospital can be a great start to finding a service event in your area
Finding opportunities to serve
• Final words on finding service opportunities:– Christy and the faculty will help keep you informed of
local service events throughout the year. However…– Each of you are encouraged to find your own
opportunities to serve your communities! – You can either volunteer in a pre-existing event or
you can organize your own event!– I know you’re all expert internet surfers…sometimes a
Google search can be the best way to start
How do I get credit for my community involvement? Who is
keeping track of this?
Keeping track…
• As you participate in events, you will be reporting your involvement to Christy, your AmeriCorps Scholar– Be easy on her for now! She doesn’t technically
begin her assignment until August. She will contact you all in the future and let you know how she will be informing you of service opportunities and how she will be collecting data from you.
Keeping track…
• It is also a good idea to check-in with your faculty advisor and let him/her know when you participate in a service event
How do I know which events will count toward this requirement?
Does this count??
• “Well,” you may be thinking, “what about something like Relay for Life? Does that count?”– Great question! I’m glad you asked! Let’s look at
this example.
Does this count??
• “What if I raise money for my Relay for Life team?”– No, this doesn’t count. While this is definitely a
way to support a good cause, we want you to actually participate in the planning/organization /implementation of an event.
Does this count??
• “What if I help to plan the Relay for Life event or assist in the implementation of the event?”– Ding ding ding! Now you’ve got it! This is what
we’re looking for.
Does this count??
• Another popular type of service event is the blood drive– Helping to organize/set-up/tear-down/give out
juice at blood drives would count– However, just giving blood would not count
• Pop quiz: How about a food drive? Would it count if you organize a food drive? How about if you bring in 5 cans of food?
How do I know whether something is medical or non-medical?
Medical or not?
• For most events, it will be fairly obvious whether or not it is medically-related.– Measuring blood pressures = medical– Cleaning up a stream = non-medical
• “But,” you are probably thinking, “what about something like Relay for Life?”– Boy, you guys are really stuck on Relay for Life!
But again, I’m glad you asked.
Medical or not?
• Relay for Life, of course, raises money for cancer research. Cancer is a medical problem. So…
• Last year, we allowed medically-related events like this to count toward the medical requirement even though you won’t be directly providing medical services.
• It will ultimately be up to Christy, Craig, and the faculty to determine exactly what will count as medical. If you are uncertain, ask them for clarification.
Remember…
• If in doubt, ask Christy or a faculty member for clarification!
Final thoughts
Final thoughts
• Remember: You have to participate in THREE service activities between now and the end of your first year. – 2 MEDICAL– 1 NON-MEDICAL
Final thoughts
• This is YOUR service requirement!• Christy and the faculty will help you find
events and keep track of your progress• YOU need to make sure that you actually get
around to doing all 3 of them
Final thoughts
• Have FUN doing these! Think of this not as a chore, but as an opportunity to:– Make connections and network in your
community– Spiff up your CV– Begin a lifelong commitment to service!
Any questions about the service requirement?
Any questions about the first year in general?