eRC7490 Service Blog
Thanksgiving: A Time for Service - November 24th, 2007
Thanksgiving has just passed. Grade schools are currently bedecked with images of gourds, turkeys, and pilgrims. For those of us in college, Thanksgiving is a mini-vacation, a time to visit family, see high school friends, or simply relax our minds before finals begin.
Whatever we do to celebrate Thanksgiving, all of us are united by the spirit of the holiday. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, to recognize our blessings and share what gifts we have with others.
Community service is often described as something that “we” do for “those people” (insert disadvantaged group here). Thanksgiving, however, was developed not by the donation of time or goods from one group to another, but by the community that was built through mutual generosity.
With the holiday season upon us (yes, it is here), I would like everyone to reconsider the definition of community service and embrace the Thanksgiving spirit by serving those around you in order to build community.
Take a moment to reflect on those people who mean the most to you or have positively impacted you. Let them know what they mean to you, or surprise them with some small act of gratitude. Reach out to a family member, co-worker, or former teacher that you are thankful.
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily,” spoke Sally Koch. Look for the small opportunities to serve one another. If you have an opportunity to hold the door, take it. Whether it’s saying hello to someone who is having a rough day, helping an neighbor, or surprising a family member with a small gift, opportunities to serve abound. Share the spirit of the holidays with others and strengthen the our communities through service.
Autumn Adventure Weekend - August 15th, 2007
The date for Autumn Adventure Weekend has been chosen! Mark your calendars for October 26-28th and talk to your favorite team or group about teambuilding training over Halloween weekend. For more information, visit the AAW webpage: http://www.e-rotaract7490.org/events/aaw/
My Favorite Pair of Earrings - August 5th, 2007
Friends of e-Rotaract of District 7490;
We are writing you to request your support in an eRC fundraiser to benefit the District RYLA program.
To meet our goal, the e-Rotaract Club is assembling a book of inspirational stories of Servant Leadership. Based on the Good Deeds Exercise facilitated at RYLA 2007 and inspired by Rotarian stories at Rotary Morning, we are asking our friends and members to share with us any stories of unselfish giving, service above self, and teamwork that exemplify the Rotary ideals and RYLA lessons. These stories will be edited, compiled into a book, and published. All profits will be donated to the betterment of the District RYLA program. Attached is the title story, “My Favorite Pair of Earrings,” written by an eRC7490 member and RYLA counselor.
Please email stories to book@e-rotaract7490.org. A member of our team will contact you shortly concerning your submission. Any support, suggestions, and questions are welcome. If you prefer delivering your story orally rather than in written form, a member of our team would be happy to help.
Yours in Service,
e-Rotaract of District 7490
Edwin Acevedo Jr. Attends the International RYLA Conference - July 13th, 2007
The e-Rotaract Club of District 7490 would like to congratulate Edwin on his recent accomplishments! A RYLA 7490 alumni from 2005, he attended the International RYLA Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Edwin was featured in the Bergen Record on July ninth, as well as Karina Ruiz-Flores from RYLA 2006. We’re very proud of them both!
Click here to read the article from the Record
The Summer Update! - July 13th, 2007
We published our first ever newsletter! (and by publish I mean distribute by email). Download the attached PDF to read about all the service and good news from the past couple months!
Click here to download the Summer Update.
2007-2008 Executive Board Announced - June 29th, 2007
eRC7490 is proud to announce our 2007-2008 Executive Board:
President Carrie Ledgerwood
Vice President Scott Jacobson
Secretary Kate Freed
Treasurer James McCabe
2007-2008 Minor Board
RYLA Alumni Chair Ali Hermann
Service Chair Chrissy Mohle
Sunshine Chair Lauren Svec
Web Chair Jenn Vargas
Wiki Chair Kristen McClurg
We’d like to thank the past Boards for their service to the organization and wish the new ones luck in the coming year.
My Favorite Pair of Earrings - June 29th, 2007
Subject:Awesome moment
Posted by: “Kate Freed”
Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:15 pm (PST)
Hey everyone,
You’ll never believe what happened to me today. I was walking back
from the train station and the Puerto Rican Festival was going on by
the waterfront in Hoboken. I stopped by one of the tents and started
talking to this guy. We were talking about bobble head turtles and I
saw a pair of shell earrings much like my favorite pair (which I was
wearing), only in a bronze color. I decided to buy them and then
realized that I didn’t have any cash. I went to the ATM a block away
and as I was walking back, I saw the gentleman from the booth about 30
feet from the tent and approaching me. He hands me a bag with the
earrings in them and says, “these are the ones you wanted right?” I
was speechless and nodded with this huge smile on my face and he
simply said, “Do a good turn for someone else. Have a great day.” I
replied that I definitely would.
I’ve had friends and acquaintances perform random acts of kindness for
me before but never a stranger, not like that. I was so struck after
all that we had done at RYLA and how much we had served one another to
have someone I didn’t know give me a piece of that RYLA magic. I think
these are definitely my favorite pair of earrings now.
Just wanted to share,
kfreed
RYLA 2007 Planning in Full Swing - March 3rd, 2007
The District 7490 RYLA Committee and e-Rotaract Club of 7490 are teaming up for the best RYLA ever in 2007! All new RYLA Rep Documents have been posted on the RYLA page. We’ll also be presenting at the March 5th District Meeting. Come find out what RYLA is all about and learn how your Club can send students to this amazing week of learning, friendship and personal growth.
9/11: A Day of Service - September 11th, 2006
Happy Monday everyone!
I’m sure no one needs reminding of the significance of this particular Monday. Everyone has their own individual stories from 9/11/01, but on this milestone year, I think it’s important that we reflect on that day and, as the awesome RYLA team that we are, see how we can draw motivation and inspiration from it. September 11th, in a sense, is almost the encompassment of everything we stand for at RYLA. It’s a day that is synonymous with Service. When we think back on 9/11 now, yes, we think first of the incredible tragedy of the day, but along with it we remember the incredible sense of Service and Community that arose from the tragedy.
The events of 9/11 are engrained in everyone’s mind. It’s not only of the events of the day that were covered on every news station and in every paper and website, but of the personal events: where we were when it happened, what we did when we got home from school or work, even what happened the next day. It has been 5 years since that day, and so much has happened not only with the world as a whole, but within each of us. Although nearly every day since 9/11 has been cloaked in tragedy of some sort, if you think back 5 years from today, and of everything, both insignificant and significant that has happened since then in your own life, it’s amazing how fortunate we’ve been.
Reflecting back on my own life since then, I realize that I could not have been more fortunate. Five years ago today I was just starting high school. It was my first full week of school. I was ridiculously shy and quiet. I had no idea what RYLA was. I didn’t even really know what Rotary was except for the fact that they gave me an award the previous year. 5 years ago I was blissfully ignorant of what my high school career would have in store for me. By the time I had somewhat broken out of my shell, I was a junior and involved in all sorts of clubs and activities. Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to meet all of you. The 2 years since then have been two of the most incredible years of my life. I’ve learned so much from all of you and I’m so incredibly fortunate to have you all in my life.
These past five years have been host to so much change, both in the world, and in each of us. Looking back on these past 5 years, as individuals, as RYLA, as Americans, and as citizens of the world, we need to ask ourselves the ever-present question: “How can we do it better?” How can we make these next five years as amazing, if not more amazing, as the past five years? How can we effect more change in these next 5 years than we did in these last five years? How can we, in these next five years make our community, our world, a stronger one than it is today? You have a choice this Monday: are you going to reflect on 9/11/01 and derive anger and frustration? Or are you going to reflect on that day, that day of Service, and take from it the positive, inspirational message that joined us together as a Community?
A New Year and New Members - July 28th, 2006
The e-Rotaract Club of District 7490 is starting the new Rotary year with five new Members! Please join us in welcoming Jessica Pruzinsky, Stacey Buffalino, Jenn Vargas, Megan Anderson, and Angi Kang. These new Members reside locally and are alumni of the Rotary District 7490 RYLA program. Our Club is excited to have these great new additions!
The excitement about new members doesn’t stop there! Along with Our five local additions, eRC7490 has received applications and invited members from five other nations: Nigeria, Congo, Philippines, India, and Nepal. These applications are pending responses at press time.
The decision to admit international Members was a logical extension of our Club mission. Since the Club is a “cyber” Club (the “e” before the Rotaract stands for “electronic”), our application was posted online and made available to anyone in the world with Internet access. “I’m really excited that we have been given this opportunity to extend the Rotary mission by becoming a uniquely international e-Rotaract Club. As technology shortens the distances across the globe, we have the ability to be connect people and services unlike any time before,” said eRC7490 President Kate Freed.
The international members will fulfill the same community service requirements as the rest of United States-based members. These requirements involve completing two hours of community service (public) and two hours of Club Service. This may include writing an article about a service project, writing up and executing a project proposal, or attending a leadership training session - anything that delivers value to Our Club and Our Mission. Our international Members will also fulfill the same reading requirements as the rest of Our Club Members.
One book is assigned every two months, chosen by Our Club Leadership from a pool of Our Membership’s suggestions. Typical topics include service, personal development, and leadership. At the end of the two month period Members post their impressions and reviews of the assigned book. The idea is to spark thoughts and discussions of new service plans, while simultaneously educating Our Membership in ways that assist them vocationally (Rotaract falls under Rotary’s Vocational Service Avenue). While the United States Members and the international Members are held to the same standards, concessions may be made due to location and other circumstances facing Members from abroad. The important idea is that we are all united through Our common vision of service and fellowship.
Our Club Membership has now reached eighteen Members and five alumni/Rotary Advisors! We have increased our dues to $50 this year and are looking to put some of the funds towards Club pins and Club shirts. We’ve also invested in a state of the art technology infrastructure that will take us into the next five years of growth and service. Treasurer David Ledgerwood commented, “We took a serious look at the kind of technology needed to manifest the Club and decided that an increase in dues would ultimately benefit the Club in the long run.”
We are very proud of our Club’s accomplishments in such a short period of time. It gives a satisfying feeling to think that our pins and shirts will be worn by individuals in six different countries. With smiles and resolve we look forward to a successful year of service!