Appalachian & the Community Together (ACT) is Appalachian State University's clearinghouse for community service, service-learning, and community-based research opportunities within the NC High Country area, as well as across the state, nation, and world.

We offer diverse opportunities for individuals and student groups to get involved in human services and environmental advocacy, as well as assist faculty members and community partners with integrating community service projects into their academic courses and local agencies.

Due to the tremendous work of ASU students, faculty, staff, and our community partners, we have received some high accolades in the past couple of years!

• In both 2005 & 2006, ASU was recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as having a strong academic service-learning program. Find out more about "Service-Learning: The Appalachian Way".
• In 2006, ASU was recognized on the President's Higher Education Honor Roll for our work with hurricane relief efforts.
• In 2007, ASU was recognized "with distinction" on the President's Higher Education Honor Roll, with a focus on outreach to disadvantaged youth.
• In 2008, ASU received the Community Engagement Elective Classification for Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnerships by the Carnegie Foundation for the Engagement of Teaching.
• In 2009, ASU was featured in Beyond the Books for Excellence in Service-Learning.

Here's a quick look at our overall impact during the past 4 academic years (2004/05-2007/08):

• 368,247 student hours have been spent serving the local community
• $7.2 million of volunteer value has been provided to the local economy
• $144,400 in direct funds have been raised for local community agencies
• $105,000 in educational awards have been provided to ASU students for their participation in our NC-ACTS!/AmeriCorps Program
• 75 meals/day (nearly 20,000 meals/year) have been given to the community via ASU/ACT/Hunger & Health Coalition's Food Recovery Program

ACT is supported by both Student Development and Academic Affairs, and is a proud member of North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide coalition of 39 colleges/universities that is dedicated to community service, service-learning, and civic engagement initiatives. The ACT Service-Learning & Community-Based Research Program is a unit within Appalachian’s University College. University College consists of the university’s integrated general education curriculum, academic support services, residential learning communities, interdisciplinary degree programs and co-curricular programming all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

ACTmail is an e-newsletter distributed to ASU students informing then of current volunteer and civic engagement opportunities, as well as ACT-related programs and events. The e-mail is sent out two times per month to approximately 4800 students.

Students: Below you will find the most current volunteer opportunities available, which were posted on September 2. To view previous ACT mails, please see our Archived ACTmail.

Community Partners: If you would like for a specific current volunteer opportunity for your organization to be included in the next ACTmail, please fill out the ACTmail Request Form.

ACTmail, August-September Issue:

Join NC-ACTS! We are now recruiting for 2009-2010 NC-ACTS members. Volunteer 300 hours in the community and earn $1000 towards your education. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity.  You can print out a NC-ACTS! 09-10 Application and bring it into the ACT office located in Student Programs.

Contact Katie Jackson jacksonkm2@appstate.edu

Volunteer Opportunities:

• 9/4:  Bluegrass and BBQ!

• 9/9:  High Country Conservancy

• 9/11:  Blue Ridge Relay

• 9/12:  The "Big Sweep" River Clean-up!

The NC Cooperative Office would like to invite anyone interested.  Please help keep the high country rivers and streams looking beautiful.  Contact Margie Mansure 264-3061.

• The Community Care Clinic

The Community Care Clinic needs assistance with updating their brochure, as well as developing a press kit/marketing package for a free medical clinic for the uninsured persons in the community.  Days and times are flexible.  If interested, contact Rebecca Moore at 828-265-8591 or rmoore.ccced@gmail.com

• Volunteer Youth Soccer and Cheerleading Coaches

Watauga County Parks and Recreation is looking for volunteer youth soccer coaches and cheerleading coaches!

Soccer:

The program offers various leagues for youth ages 5 - 15 and runs from mid-August through early November. Games are played Monday - Friday at 5:30 pm or after and on Saturday mornings between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Teams typically meet 3 times per week.

Coaches must work well with kids and have knowledge of soccer. All volunteer coaches must undergo background checks and screening.

Interested? Contact Holly Gates or Rebecca Woolard at Watauga County Parks and Recreation office at 264-9511 or via email at holly.gates@ncmail.net  or rebecca.woolard@ncmail.net 

Cheerleading:

Parkway and Green Valley/Mabel cheerleading teams are short a coach for their cheer squads. Typically, the teams meet twice a week to practice (up to the coaches as to meeting times). Games begin at the end of August and run through October. A coaches' meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20th at the Optimist Clubhouse at 6:15 p.m. to cover essential guidelines for the season. Interested? Contact Keron J. Poteat, Recreation Specialist keron.poteat@ncmail.net 828.264.9511

ACTmail is an e-newsletter distributed to ASU students informing then of current volunteer and civic engagement opportunities, as well as ACT-related programs and events. The e-mail is sent out two times per month to approximately 4800 students.

Students: Below you will find the most current volunteer opportunities. To view previous ACT mails, please see our Archived ACTmail.

Community Partners: If you would like for a specific current volunteer opportunity for your organization to be included in the next ACTmail, please fill out the ACTmail Request Form.

ACTmail, September 9th Issue:

• 1000 Pint Blood Drive
• Join NC-ACTS
• Pennies for Peace
• Hardin Park Fitness tests
• Elk Knob Community Day
• Bark in the Park Festival Fundraiser
• Children's Playhouse Mothers Night Out
• High Country Health Care System-Hospice video project
• Outer Sanctum Salon
• ASU in DC
• HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness

• 3rd Annual 1,000 Pint Homecoming Blood Drive
  1000 Pints: ASU's Solid Gold Record
  Tuesday September 29th, 8am-7pm
  at the Holmes Convocation Center
• Join NC-ACTS!/AmeriCorps: We are now recruiting for 2009-2010 NC-ACTS members. Volunteer 300 hours in the community and earn $1,000 towards your education. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity. NC-ACTS! 09-10 Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the ACT Outreach Office. Interested students can also contact Katie Jackson at jacksonkm2@appstate.edu. Additional information regarding the program can be found here. org.elon.edu/nccc/NC-ACTS/index.html
• We will be kicking off a campus wide fundraising effort to raise money for Pennies for Peace, an organization that is linked to the Central Asia Institute that’s mission focuses on community-based education, especially for girls. Our hope is to build a school completely funded by Appalachian students, which equates to $12,000. So bring your lose change or donations
• Volunteer opportunities great for ASU students in Exercise Science, Physical Education, Health and Wellness!! Hardin Park School is hosting fitness tests for all children enrolled in grades 2-8 and could use some volunteers! Volunteers needed 9/9-9/11 and are encouraged to stay for at least 30 minutes or longer. Please bring a copy of current license to Hardin Park on day of service. Please contact Hardin Park (828-264-8481) and ask to speak to one of the coaches (Mac, Eggers, Denton) for more information.
• 9/12: High Country Conservancy needs 3 or 4 volunteers to table at the Elk Knob Headwaters Community Day Tabling. Contact Zachary Lesch-Huie at 264-2511
• 9/19: The Ashe County Humane Society is having their first annual Bark in the Park Festival Fundraiser. Volunteers are needed from 11:30-4:30 to set-up and clean-up, as well as to act as “bouncers”, dog-walkers, and to help serve food. They are looking for 20-30 volunteers and will be able to help with transportation. Contact Amy Mogler-Wyatt at amymoglerwyatt@nextsafety.com
• The Children's Playhouse needs volunteers who like to play with kids for upcoming Parents’ Night Out fundraisers. Parents' Nights Out are scheduled on Friday evenings from 5:15-8:45 on September 25, October 23, November 20, and December 4. They need about 6-10 volunteers for each PNO. The Playhouse will provide a supervisor and guidelines for volunteers. Contact Kathy Parham at kathy@goplayhouse.org or 263-0011
• High Country Health Care System- Hospice is in need of someone to make a video of their training sessions in October. Volunteers would be responsible for making and editing each session. This is a great way to showcase your talent and explore your interests while helping out the community. For more information contact Janet Trivett at jtrivett@hchealth.net
• The Outer Sanctum Salon in Boone has agreed to donate a portion of their sales during the entire month of September. Present this voucher and 10% of your service cost will go to benefit the Western Youth Network. For more information on services available visit, http://www.outersanctumsalon.com or call the Salon directly for an appointment. 828.264.8181
• ASU IN WASHINGTON DC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM at the STUDENT UNION CONTACT TABLES: Your Internship Resource Counselor will be at a Contact Table in the Student Union this Wednesday September 9, from 1-4; Thursday September 10 from 1-4; and Monday September 14 from 1-4 to discuss the ASU in Washington DC Internship Program. As you know, this is a very prestigious internship that provides you an opportunity to participate in an internship and study in Washington, D.C. for one Fall or Spring semester while maintaining full-time enrollment status at ASU. You can earn 6 credit hours for your internship experience and 3 credit hours taking the honors seminar, HON 3510, and engage in a 3 credit hour independent study. All majors, minors, and concentrations are encouraged to apply! Drop by the contact table and have a chat with Sharon Jensen about this fantastic internship opportunity. To read about our program
• “LIVE Positive, HIV Negative”: A Day to Focus on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Positive Living Thursday, September 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in W.H. Plemmons Student Union. Free. Hosted by ALFA and Appalachian State University. There will be free, confidential RAPID HIV TESTING all day, as well as 20-40 minute workshops, including: Let’s Talk About Sex, Come as You Are, World AIDS, Freedom Rainbow, HIV/AIDS 101, and more! In the evening, from 7pm to 8pm at Boone Saloon, ”Miss Information: Safer Sex Tips From a Diva”. **$5 donation suggested at the door to go to stopping AIDS in our community**