The Richter Center Ambassadors

Presenting in Portland

MJ — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:52:46 +0000

It’s official! The Richter Center Ambassadors’ presentation as listed in the conference handbook.

The Richter Center Ambassador team traveled to Portland, Oregon last week to present at the 16^th Annual Continuums of Service Conference. Six of us made the trip and delivered a student-led discussion of ways to increase the impact of student volunteers at institutions of higher education. My fellow Ambassadors Alexi Kimura, Song Vang, Paulina Flores, Emily Hentschke, Amanda de Lima and I presented The Richter Center Ambassadors: A Framework for Recruiting and Retaining Student Leaders to a packed conference room. Two of our peers from the Richter Center S.E.R.V.E. Committee – Oshea Carter and Bianca Mancilla supported us from the audience.

We all found the conference to be very beneficial as we were able to learn about all the other awesome things going on in the world of community service in higher education.

We are already making plans for presenting at the 17^th Annual Continuums of Service Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii in April of 2014.

Visit the Washington Campus Compact website to see conference highlights and a list of the presentations.

All hands in! The team is ready to present.

If you are interested in what the Ambassadors work to achieve at Fresno State and wish to further your leadership skills and commitment to service, please consider applying for one of the Richter Center student leadership positions. The S.E.R.V.E. committee plans and coordinates service events for Fresno State. The Reflection Facilitators lead a meaningful reflection of the days’ work at the various one-day service events held throughout the academic year. And the Ambassadors, of course, promote service work to the Fresno State community and serve as liaisons between students and the Richter Center. Applications can be obtained at fresnostaterca.com/recruitment/ and must be turned in by Wednesday, May 1^st.

-Ambassador Daniel

Portland OR Bust!

MJ — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:28:18 +0000

Here we are presenting a poster at last year’s Annual Continuums of Service conference in Seattle, WA. This year we will present a workshop at the conference in Portland, OR

The Richter Center Ambassadors are at it again! In a few short weeks a group of six Ambassadors will travel to the 16th annual Continuums of Service Conference in Portland. In February, we received the good news that we would have the opportunity to present at the conference, the theme of which is ‘The Engaged Campus: Higher Education for the Public Good’. The COS conference is the largest higher-education community service-learning conference in the United States and the we are very excited to present a 75-minute interactive talk entitled The Richter Center Ambassadors: A Framework for Recruiting and Retaining Student Leaders.

The Ambassador team is also very excited to learn about the new trends and best-practices in community engagement and service learning so that we can bring these ideas back to campus and become even more effective leaders and champions of service. Please wish us luck and, if you happen to be in the Portland area, consider stopping by the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront hotel, Salon B, at 3:45 on Thursday, April 25th to see us in action.

If you are a Fresno State student and you are particularly interested in the work we are doing as Ambassadors (including our travel opportunities) then be sure to stop by the Recruitment Mixer this Friday, April 19th at 3:00 PM in Library, room 3212. Learn more about recruitment here.

-Ambassador Daniel

A Heart for Service

MJ — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:37:02 +0000

One of my favorite things about serving is that it has introduced me to some people with pretty amazing hearts. Some of the people who have inspired me and touched my life the most have been those that I have met while volunteering. These people come from all walks of life with different backgrounds and skill-sets; the only thing they all have in common is their heart for service.

Having a heart for service is something that anyone and everyone is capable of simply by having the right mindset and experiencing meaningful volunteerism.

Here are the characteristics that I think make up a heart for service:

An Open Heart: Volunteer work can introduce you to an incredible variety of people and situations. It is so important to have an open heart and be willing to stretch yourself beyond the norm. The wider you open your heart, the more room there is for it to be filled.

A Humble Heart: Volunteer opportunities allow you to lend a hand to people who could benefit from some extra help. When serving others, it is crucial to remember that although you may be fortunate enough to be in a better situation than them, you are not a better person than them. An important part of service is making people feel valued and loved, and treating people like a charity case will have the opposite effect. Rather than feeling sorry for the people you help, try to feel inspired to help improve their situation.

A Grateful Heart: Volunteering allows for many opportunities for self-reflection. Be grateful that you have the chance to serve, to learn, and to grow. Also, let your service experiences aid in being thankful for your own life. Volunteering has definitely helped me to appreciate my family, my friends, and my life so much more.

A Strong Heart: Sometimes when serving you will be exposed to unfortunate situations and sad stories. Volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club and learning about the struggles some of the kids have to face has definitely sent me home in tears, so having a strong heart is something I am working on. It is all about finding the balance of feeling compassion without becoming disheartened. Strength allows you to be moved but not shaken.

A Joyful Heart: Volunteering has created some of my best and happiest memories. Serving allows you to do so much good that is it hard not to feel joyful and proud. Enjoy service and all of the great warm fuzzy feelings that go with it!

So, now we want to know what you think. What do you think makes up a heart for service?

-Ambassador Emily

Support Richter Center Student-Leaders with the Live Discount Card

MJ — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:17:14 +0000

The Richter Center Ambassadors are currently engaged in a fundraiser to support our ongoing projects and activities. Live Discounts offers “The Live Card” which allows the cardholder to save money at over 500 locations in Fresno (and others throughout California)! Discounts are offered in areas such as Food & Drink, Home & Auto, Beauty & Spa, Entertainment, and Shopping. Every location offers its own discount and cardholders are able to use it just about every day for an entire year!

There are many benefits to the Live Card! For instance, there is no coupon book to lug around. Simply show the Live Card at the participating location to receive the discount. Also, check livediscounts.com to view current offers as well as new offers that are added all the time!

Live Discounts also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android users.

The cards are $20 each and they last for an entire year (expiring March 31, 2014). Once you purchase the card, simply use the member number on the back to activate it on the website (livediscounts.com), create a login and start saving money.

Check out this short “How the Card Works” video to learn more!

To purchase your Live Discounts Card supporting the Richter Center Ambassadors, please stop by our office in the Thomas Building Room 107, or contact Ambassador Miguel at miguelvieira209@gmail.com.

Thanks!

-Ambassador Miguel

Kid’s Day: Are You Ready to Serve?

MJ — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:24:55 +0000

Fresno State students have fun working together to raise money for Children’s Hospital Central California at a previous Kid’s Day.

It’s that time of year again; the flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and the sun is driving away the chill of winter. The signs of the changing season are everywhere, including on the streets of Fresno where volunteers will be gathered in mass on Tuesday, March 5th armed with newspapers and friendly smiles in hopes of raising money for Children’s Hospital Central California.

It’s quite an inspiring sight to drive through Fresno on a Tuesday morning and see volunteers gladly giving their time and having a lot of fun in the process! I highly encourage you to join your peers next Tuesday as they sell special editions of The Fresno Bee. Join the volunteers throughout the valley who will be braving the brisk morning air to stand on street corners and sell copies of the Kid’s Day newspaper.

At Fresno State, Kid’s Day is big deal. Last year, the students, staff, and faculty of the University collectively raised over $36,000 for Children’s Hospital Central California. It is absolutely extraordinary that the Fresno State community is so willing to give of their time for this worthy cause!

Richter Center Ambassadors arrive to campus at dawn to help distribute papers to student clubs and organizations . We love seeing how excited our peers are to get started selling papers in order to raise money and awareness for Children’s Hospital Central California!

As a Richter Center Ambassador, it is my duty to convince my peers to get involved with service and I cannot think of a more fun project than Kid’s Day; trust me, if you are looking to have a lot of fun and want to have the contentment that comes with the knowledge that you are helping kids right here in the Central Valley, this is the event for you. You don’t want to miss out!

If you are interested in volunteering, please follow this link: www.fresnostate.edu/academics/cesl/about/events.html

-Ambassador Daniel

Picturing the Change at I Love Me

MJ — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:04:50 +0000

Earlier this month, we took Picture the Change to the I Love Me event sponsored by Fresno State’s Suicide Prevention Program and USU Productions. It was great to see so many students willing to make a pledge to make a positive impact on the community. Check out the latest pledges here.

And keep an eye out for the Picture the Change booth and your chance to make your pledge!

Consider International Community Service

MJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:41:25 +0000

Are you passionate about volunteering your time to community service? Are you interested in traveling out of the country?

Try combining the two, and consider community service abroad! Kofi Annan once said, “If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.” There are many different organizations providing opportunity to travel the world and engage in service. Some of these include:

International Student Volunteers

International Service Learning

Projects Abroad

Global Service Corps

Cross-Cultural Solutions

Ambassador Alexi with fellow volunteers in Costa Rica from International Student Volunteers, Summer 2012.

These all include various projects and sites that you can choose from. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved in community service abroad or different organizations you can travel with, there will be a meeting on International Community Service on February 22, 2013, at 3:00 pm in USU 308. We will be discussing various organizations that provide opportunity to travel around the world, as well as fundraising tips to get you there. Also, pizza will be provided, so please stop by!

So, what do you think? Who’s interested in taking their passion for service abroad? Where would you like to go? Has anyone engaged in international service? Share with us!

-Ambassador Alexi

Anybody Can Serve: Blood Drive & Kid’s Day

MJ — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:33:34 +0000

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here are a few upcoming events where YOU can serve.

Fresno State Blood Drive

When: 02/12/13 – 02/14/13

Where: Busses located at Student Union, Education Building, Maple Mall, and Engineering East Building

Times: 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM

Extra info: To donate you must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be at least 17 years old. Photo ID and Social Security Number are required at donor registration. Please eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids four hours prior to donation. Donating blood is not painful and takes less than an hour. YOUR donation could save up to three lives!

For more information on blood donation, please call the Central California Blood Center at 559.224.2900.

A Fresno State student sells Kids Day papers to raise money for Children’s Hospital Central California.

Kids Day

When: 03/05/13

Where: Throughout the Central Valley

Times: Newspapers may be sold from 6:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

Extra info: Join the Fresno State community in helping Children’s Hospital Central California provide health futures for all children. Register for this annual fundraiser by visiting www.fresnostate.edu/academics/cesl/about/events.html and select the Kid’s Day link. Questions can be directed to Renee Delport (rdelport@csufresno.edu).

A Valentine for Veterans

MJ — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:05:41 +0000

Photo Credit: VA Healthcare System

Valentine’s Day is usually a day of planning and anticipation in hopes of being able to show those you care about how much they mean to you. In Fresno and in many other counties around the US, the week of the 14th offers a different opportunity. Incorporating the spirit of both Valentine’s Day and President’s Day, National Salute Week, February 10-16, offers citizens another chance to reach out to veterans, thanking them for their past service and continued sacrifice in the name of our great nation.

This year, while making Valentine’s Day plans with your special someone, take some time to either make a Valentine for a veteran in your community or call and stop by the Fresno VA Medical Center to give a personal salute to one of these brave men or women.

Cards can be mailed to the address below or dropped off at the front desk, room E107.

2615 E. Clinton Ave

Fresno, CA 93703

Attn: Voluntary Services

Find out more and keep up with the center by liking the VA Healthcare Systems page on Facebook!

So who are some special Veterans in your life?

-Ambassador Kayla

Spring Fair Recap

MJ — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:12:02 +0000

The Community Service Opportunities Fair, held January 23rd, was a great event! Fifty-six community benefit agencies were in attendance and students took time out of their day to walk around the different booths and learn about current community service opportunities available to them. The Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement had a booth along with the Picture the Change Campaign put on by your Richter ambassadors. The Richter Center team leads the campus in finding ways to serve and Picture the Change is a student run campaign to promote community service awareness on campus and throughout our community. Richter Center Ambassadors encourage and challenge you as Fresno State students to create meaningful goals to serve in your community. Most importantly, the Ambassadors and the Richter Center are here to help you find ways to engage in the community. If you couldn’t make it to the fair, come by The Richter Center on campus in the Thomas Building, Room 107 or check out our website at http://www.fresnostate.edu/cesl to find out how you can start serving today!

-Ambassador Aldi