Dance Marathon 2012

TRECS | March 2 - March 3, 2012

Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus, has been held at UT every year since 1995 and to-date has raised more than $900,000.

UT is one of 77 colleges and universities around the country participating in the Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon program. Each school chooses an area hospital to benefit and UT’s event benefits the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The event is the culmination of a year of fundraising for the hematology and oncology clinic at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

UT’s Dance Marathon lasts from 9 p.m. Friday, March 2nd, to 9 a.m. Saturday, March 3, in the Tennessee Recreational Center for Students (TRECS) on campus. Check-in for participants starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call 865-974-8481, check out the website, or email utdm@utk.edu .

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MLK Day of Service

University Center and various Knoxville locations | January 21, 2012

TeamVOLS’ 11th annual MLK Day of Service will be held on Saturday January 21, 2012. Day-of check-in is required for all volunteers and will begin at 7:30am in the UC. All student volunteers need to be signed in by 8:30am. Please note that all volunteers must BOTH register online and sign in at the UC on Jan. 21. A light breakfast will be served and the keynote speaker will present in the UC Auditorium from 8:30am-9am. All volunteers will serve from approximately 9:30am-12:30pm and will return to the UC after their service is complete.

Online registration IS NOW OPEN and will be limited to 500 participants. UT students can sign up as individuals OR teams. If you wish to sign up as a team, everyone must sign up individually, but each member will need to write the SAME team name on the registration form. When possible, the TeamVOLS staff will try their best to make sure everyone on a team is placed at the same volunteer site.

“In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action. The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships, and is an opportunity to recruit new volunteers for your ongoing work.” – MLKDay.org

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED due to extremely high numbers of student volunteers. Thank you for understanding and we will see all those who pre-registered between 7:30am-8:30am on Saturday morning!

Team VOLS Leadership Board Positions

TeamVOLS Executive Board:

TeamVOLS Chair

The TeamVOLS Executive Council consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Chair, and Fundraiser Chair. The TeamVOLS Chair is the overall face of Leadership Board and will work closely with the Program Advisor and Graduate Assistant to further the scope of the Volunteer Center. Specifics of the TeamVOLS Chair’s position are listed below. Responsibilities of the TeamVOLS Chair:

• Facilitate all biweekly (every other week)  leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Attend all TeamVOLS executive board meetings with Chair and TeamVOLS Staff
• Supervise all aspects of TeamVOLS Weekly programming by members of the Leadership Board
• Expand the knowledge of the members of the Leadership Board through team building and personal development
• Oversee all of TeamVOLS Leadership Board and be first line of communication with Program Advisor and Graduate Assistant
• Hold two (2) office hours, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office
• Research Grants and benchmarking statistics of other SEC schools
• Plan Leadership Board retreat

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

TeamVOLS Vice-Chair 

The TeamVOLS Executive Council consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Chair, and Fundraiser Chair. TeamVOLS Vice-Chair will assist the Chair of TeamVOLS whenever necessary and help coordinate TeamVOLS annual special events. Specifics of the Vice-Chair’s position are listed below.

Responsibilities of the TeamVOLS Vice- Chair 

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Attend all TeamVOLS executive board meetings with Chair and TeamVOLS Staff
• Serve in the absence of the Chair when necessary
• Distribute TeamVOLS listserv every Monday by 10am
• Help exec in the planning of TeamVOLS Service Days (Big Day Out, MLK Day and April Play Day)
• Assists Chair in administrative oversight of event directors
• Understand Parliamentary procedure and TeamVOLS by-laws
• Hold two (2) office hours, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office
• Assist Chair in planning retreat
• Update Blackboard with sign-ups; announcements; events
• Send TeamVOLS events to other listservs: Student at TN; Habari; etc.
• Take attendance at LB meetings
• Send out minutes from meetings

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

TeamVOLS Fundraising Chair

The TeamVOLS Executive Council consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Chair, and Fundraiser Chair.. The TeamVOLS Marketing and Public Relations Chair will assist the Chair of TeamVOLS whenever necessary and help coordinate TeamVOLS annual special events. Specifics of the TeamVOLS Marketing and Public Relations Chair’s position are listed below.

Responsibilities of the Marketing and Public Relations Chair

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Attend all TeamVOLS executive board meetings with Chair and TeamVOLS Staff
• Serve in the absence of the chair when necessary
• Help exec in the planning of TeamVOLS Service Days (Big Day Out, MLK Day and April Play Day)
• Coordinate all TeamVOLS wide marketing and membership drives
• Control all Office social media outlets
• Tweet at least once a day from TeamVOLS account
• Update Facebook at least 3 times a week; including weekly volunteer opportunitites
• Make posters for events: MLK Day; Leadership Board Applications: Spaghetti Fundraisers etc.
• Manage and take photos and update on website and FB page
• Order TeamVOLS Leadership Board T-shirts
• Send TeamVOLS announcements to The Daily Beacon, Knoxville News Sentinel, The Metro Pulse
• Update website with weekly service opportunities; current events; and biographies for LB members
• Make promotional videos for TeamVOLS and post on YouTube
• Serve as the go-to for all publications, website updates, etc.
• Hold two (2) office hours, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

TeamVOLS Fundraising Chair

The TeamVOLS Executive Council consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Chair, and Fundraiser Chair. The Secretary/Treasurer will coordinate fundraising initiatives, take minutes at all Leadership Board meetings, keep track of the Leadership Board’s budget, take attendance at bi-weekly Leadership Board meetings and  track UT student service hour logs.
Responsibilities of the Secretary/Treasurer Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Attend all TeamVOLS executive board meetings with Chair and TeamVOLS Staff
• Hold two (2) office hours, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office
• Plan at least one fundraiser per semester
• Help promote all fundraisers
• Promote donation from alumni on website
• Start Former Break Trip Participants sponsorship

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Alternative Break Program:

Alternative Spring Break Leader

The intended purpose, or mission, of the alternative break program is to engage students in meaningful and collaborative community service in an effort to increase awareness of social issues and strengthen the communities in which they serve as well as foster a strong sense of community among trip participants and to the university as a whole. Alternative Spring Break Trips provide a great opportunity for UT students to commit their time to service and meet an amazing group of students. Instead of taking time off, students apply for one of two annual trips to participate in community service opportunities in another area of the country. In 2012,  ASB trip destinations were Morgantown, WV and St. Louis, MO.

Responsibilities of the Alternative Spring Break Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate all aspects of Alternative Spring Break Trip and submit it in proper proposal format to the TeamVOLS Staff on the first day of Fall classes (Wed. August 22, 2012)
• Raise all necessary funds for the trip through grants, donations, fundraisers, etc.
• Select and develop a strong team of students to attend the Alternative Spring Break
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office, until ASB is completed

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Alternative Fall Break Leader

The intended purpose, or mission, of the alternative break program is to engage students in meaningful and collaborative community service. The program’s purpose is to increase awareness of social issues and strengthen the communities in which they serve as well as foster a strong sense of community among trip participants and to the university as a whole. Alternative Fall Break Trips provide a great opportunity for UT students to commit their time to service and meet an amazing group of students. Instead of taking time off, students apply for one of two annual trips to participate in community service opportunities in another area of the region. In 2011, AFB trip destinations were Tuscaloosa, AL, Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA.

Responsibilities of the Alternative Fall Break Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate all aspects of Alternative Fall Break Trip and submit it in a proposal format to the TeamVOLS Staff on the first day of Fall classes (Wed. August 22, 2012)
• Raise all necessary funds for the trip through grants, donations, fundraisers, etc.
• Select and develop a strong team of students to attend the Alternative Fall Break
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office, until AFB is completed

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Frequently Reoccuring Service Programs:

Animal Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Animal Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Knoxville’s animals and the people in their lives. To accomplish this, our volunteers spend their time at the Young-Williams Animal Center, Humane Society and Mane Support, to name a few. Volunteers walk dogs, play with cats, clean kennels and help with various fundraisers to further the reach of these agencies.

Responsibilities of the Animal Outreach Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Animal Outreach
• Track and record all hours logged by Animal Outreach Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Animal Outreach volunteer centers and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Environmental Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS:  Environmental Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to beautify their community. Student volunteers participate in tree plantings, litter pick-ups, flyer clean-ups around UT’s campus and park clean-ups with South Knoxville Beautification, IJAMS Nature Center, Friends of the Fort, and other local environmental agencies such as Beardsley Community Farm.

Responsibilities of the Knoxville Beautification Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1)program per week for volunteers interested in Knoxville Beautification
• Track and record all hours logged by Knoxville Beautification Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Knoxville Beautification service sites and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Global Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Global Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to raise awareness and coordinate volunteer opportunities that will benefit populations outside of our country. Volunteers for this program will have the opportunity to work with local agencies such as Bridge Refugee Services and Catholic Charities of East Tennessee who both provide services to immigrants and refugees relocating to Knoxville. In addition, this position would help coordinate emergency relief efforts on our campus for global crisis situations like the Haitian earthquake in January 2010.

Responsibilities of the Global Issues Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Global Issues
• Track and record all hours logged by Global Issues Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Global Issues agencies and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Healthcare Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS:  Healthcare Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to make a difference and volunteer with our local hospitals and affiliated organizations. Students have worked with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Parkwest, Thompson Cancer Center, and UT Medical Center. Student volunteers also work with various medical non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross and Remote Area Medical.

Responsibilities of the Healthcare and Hospitals Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Hospitals
• Track and record all hours logged by Hospitals Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Hospitals volunteer centers and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Hunger and Homelessness Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Hunger and Homelessness Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to alleviate the problems of hunger and homelessness in the Knoxville area and participate in fundraising events the Ramadan Fast-A-Thon. Student volunteers work with several agencies including, but not limited to, the Love Kitchen (a local soup kitchen recently featured on ‘Secret Millionaire’), the Crop Walk, Lost Sheep, Water Angels and the Salvation Army.

Responsibilities of the Hunger and Homelessness Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Hunger and Homelessness
• Track and record all hours logged by Hunger and Homelessness Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Hunger and Homelessness service sites and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Literacy/Youth Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Literacy/Youth Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to work with children at the pre-school and elementary school, middle school and high school levels. Volunteers have the chance to mentor and tutor the youth of Knoxville. Student volunteers can also go play with, read to, mentor or just hang out with Knoxville-area youth at any of the 10 local Boys and Girls clubs.
Responsibilities of the Youth Outreach Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Youth Outreach
• Track and record all hours logged by Youth Outreach Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Youth Outreach service sites and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Special Populations Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Special Populations Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to work with and learn from individuals from various populations: those with special needs, senior citizens, etc. TeamVOLS sponsors a variety of opportunities to work with them, including recreational, mentor, and fundraising activities. Opportunities for service are primarily through Sunshine Industries, Special Olympics of Greater Knoxville and disability associations around Knoxville. Each spring, there is a Special Olympics Unified Bowling League, at the ‘Down Under’ Campus bowling lanes, pairing Special Olympics athletes one-on-one with UT students for six weeks of competition and fun. Service opportunities for shorter-term commitments include hosting event parties for various organizations, assisting Special Olympics with specific competitions and the occasional weekend-long Vision Camp.

Responsibilities of the Special Persons Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Special Persons
• Track and record all hours logged by Special Persons Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Special Persons service sites and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Women’s Outreach

The mission of the TeamVOLS: Women’s Outreach is to allow UT students the opportunity to focus on issues facing women and single-parent families. Volunteers spend time at abuse shelters, the Florence Crittenton Agency, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM) and with various homeless shelters dedicated to women and children. Student volunteers also coordinate toy and toiletry drives, make blankets for shelters and spread the word about women-focused speakers and events on campus.
Responsibilities of the Women’s Issues Leadership Position

• Attend all biweekly (every other week) leadership board meetings and mandatory functions
• Coordinate one (1) program per week for volunteers interested in Women’s Issues
• Track and record all hours logged by Women’s Issues Volunteers
• Maintain relationships with current Women’s Issues service sites and create new opportunities for service
• Hold one (1) office hour, per week, in the TeamVOLS Office

Back to TeamVOLS Leadership Board Application page.

Spaghetti for Service

Black Cultural Center | February 20 - February 23, 2012

Get hungry! Team VOLS will be serving up the pasta to support their Alternative Spring Break trips once again. Come and enjoy hot pasta, bread, fresh salad, drinks and the legendary “TeamVOLS Puddin’ Suprise!” all in the name of serving others.

Spaghetti for Service Lunch: Monday, February 20th from 11:30am-2:00pm
Black Cultural Center | $5 All you can eat

Spaghetti for Service Dinner: Thursday, February 23rd from 5:30pm-8:00pm
Black Cultural Center|$5 All you can eat

Tickets can be purchased from a Break Trip participant, from the TeamVOLS Office (315-A UC) or at the door!

Animal Outreach: Volunteer certification

If you were unable to attend the orientation/training or have recently just signed up with the Animal Outreach program, please email Deonna Light (dlight@knoxpets.org). She is the volunteer coordinator at Young Williams and she facilitates all volunteer training.