OVP Spring 2007 Programs and Events

Non-Profit Government Career Fair
The Non-Profit & Government Career Fair offers a wonderful opportunity for all students, regardless of major or year in school, to meet with representatives from various Non-Profit and governmental agencies. The NP & GCF is open to all graduate and undergraduate UIUC students seeking full time, part time, internship, summer or volunteer positions. Students are encouraged to come out to learn about the wide variety of degrees and experiences that these organizations are seeking. This fair provides insight into the competitive salaries and the opportunities for professional growth and career advancement with Non-Profit and governmental agencies. This year the fair will be held on Monday, March 12 th . in the Illini Union Rooms A, B, and C. 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Some past participants include the American Red Cross, the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and the Peace Corps!

National Volunteer Week
Each year during National Volunteer Week, OVP organizes service projects to be conducted throughout the community in which student organizations will provide volunteer services. This year, services will be conducted during the week of April 15 through the 23rd. During National Volunteer Week, OVP also recognizes students and agencies throughout the community that have done outstanding service work. For more information please contact OVP at 217-333-7424 or via email at ovp@uiuc.edu. The deadline for registering your group or RSO for a volunteer project is Wednesday, April 11, 2007!

Workshops and Seminars

RSO Service and Leadership Workshop
Sunday, January 28, 2007
405 Illini Union
2:00p.m.-4:00p.m.
Interested in getting your group involved in public service? The Office of Volunteer Programs is offering a free, 2-hr workshop to help your group plan the perfect project ! Refine your skills in recruiting, marketing and fundraising. Learn more about effective event preparation and coordination. We'll share with you ideas for project organization from start to finish! E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

Illinois Service and Leadership Conference
Sunday, February 4, 2007
407 Illini Union
1:00p.m.-5:00p.m.
"Social Entrepreneurship at Illinois" with Professor Ann Abbott
What is social entrepreneurship, you ask? For some, it is a new buzzword describing what non-profits and mission-based organizations have been doing for years. For others, it is a new trend in organizational management and an innovative way to look at service. To hammer out some solutions to the challenges that your organization has been dealing with, the Office of Volunteer Programs would like to propose a day of collaboration among service RSOs and University faculty/professionals. In order for this conference to reach its full potential though, we need participation from as many groups as possible! E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

"Communicating With Children"
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
406 Illini Union
7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
Come learn how to tutor, mentor, and connect with the children you volunteer with more effectively from a panel of local school administrators and educators! No Registration Required. E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

"Volunteering Abroad"
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
406 Illini Union
7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
Learn how to turn your dreams of volunteering overseas into a reality from those who have been there! No Registration Required. E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

"Race, Class, and Community Service"
March 28, 2007
406 Illini Union
7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
A workshop focusing on the implications of volunteering where the race, ethnicity, and/or socio-economic status of the community may be different from the volunteer’s background that has the goal of exploring strategies for using service experiences in the Champaign-Urbana community as a link toward deeper cultural awareness and understanding. No Registration Required. E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

"Persuasion and Social Change"
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
406 Illini Union
7:00p.m.-8:00p.m
"Persuasion and Social Change" with Professor Patrick Vargas
Knowledge itself is often not enough to inspire change. Real change requires action. Come learn about persuasion, one key to moving people from knowledge to action. No Registration Required. E-mail us at ovp@uiuc.edu for more information.

Ongoing Events

Pull For Access
Pull for access is a year-round ongoing program developed for the purpose of assisting persons with disabilities so that they can achieve and/or maintain independent living. By collecting donated pop tabs, PACE, Inc. (persons Assuming Control of their Environment) recycles the tabs and purchases independent living equipment from the acquired financial proceeds. This is a great and trouble-free philanthropic project for any campus program and/or organization. All you need to do is place a tab collection container in your house, RSO cubicle, or student residential facility. Collection canisters can be picked up at the OVP, 2 nd .floor, Room 277 on the south side of the Illini Union.

Cell phone Drive
The Office of Volunteer Programs is sponsoring an ongoing drive in which new and used cell phones are collected and donated to A Woman's Fund in order to help protect Victims of Domestic Violence. Phones can be dropped of at the OVP office, 2 nd . floor, Room 227 on the south side of the Illini Union.

Listserve
The Listserve is an ongoing program in which weekly emails are sent out to individuals interested in receiving information on upcoming volunteer opportunities. It is a great resource to stay informed about local community events and programs in need of volunteers! If you are interested in signing up for the Listserve, please email the OVP office at ovp@uiuc.edu or call us at 217-333-7424.

Cuvolunteer.org
Cuvolunteer.org is a website resource to help individuals locate upcoming volunteer opportunities within the Champaign-Urbana community! Hundreds of agencies use this website to advertise volunteer opportunities. Individuals can search for opportunities to fit their specific needs and interests such as available volunteer hours and specific areas of interest. This website is easy to use and full of great information! All you need to do is log onto www.cuvolunteer.org and click on “find an opportunity.” If you need assistance please feel free to contact OVP at 217-333-7424 or drop by the office.