Brittney Calabro
JOUR 305 Sec 2
Paper #3
Giving
Back to Palouse Community, One Volunteer at a Time
A Washington
State University student was able to choose the path less traveled and pursue
his passion for helping animals within the Pullman community, while setting an
example for other peers.
Michael
Peet, a junior communication major at Washington State University (WSU), said
the Whitman County Humane Society changed his life. After coming to WSU three
years ago with a troubled past causing a court ordered 500 hours of community
service, said Peet, I felt overwhelmed and helpless in a small town. I had six
months to complete my hours, but I wanted to find an organization that was
interesting and made a difference in the community.
Peet explained his advisor at the time,
told him over 25 percent of students at WSU are either court ordered, required
by their Greek chapters, clubs, or classes, to participate in volunteer hours
within the Palouse community. Peet spent over a week researching all the service
opportunities the Center for Civic Engineering was offering and selected the
Humane Society. Their dedication to the community along with their desperate
need for volunteers was the main reason I wanted to give back to their
organization, said Peet. Since that day three years ago:
“I
went from volunteering around ten hours a week, to volunteering around 25 hours
a week, to completing my 500 hours of court ordered community service at the
animal shelter. But it didn’t stop there… I was then offered a full time
position as Animal Care Specialist, where I have been employed for over two
years,” said Peet
A
volunteer coordinator and front desk representative for the Center for Civic Engagement
(CCE) Brittney Kreagurud, said everyday we have organizations contact us asking
for student volunteers. The advantage about completing service hours through
the CCE, is the diverse opportunities available for students, said Kreagurud.
Once students sign up for service opportunities online, their hours will be
tracked through the CCE, making it more convenient for teachers and peers to
view their volunteer hours. Kreagurud recommends all students visit the CCE
office in TODD, to learn more about volunteer opportunities and help local organization
prosper.
All
Greek members are required by Greek Counsel to participate in eight hours of
community service every semester, including many chapters requiring their members to exceed
this number dramatically. Cari Crane, a member of the Greek community at WSU, completes
her hours through the Humane Society with a small group of friends every
semester. Even if our chapter didn’t require the members to volunteer in the
community, said Crane, we would still volunteer at the Humane Society, everyone
loves playing with all the animals, and the shelter is always in need of help.
“ I felt
so appreciated when I first started volunteering, if more students would give
back through volunteering, our community would become much stronger,” said
Crane.
I have
had many jobs and volunteered in various organizations, but no experience has
been more powerful and appreciated then my time at the Whitman County Human
Society, said Peet. Community members can attend a volunteer information session
at the animal shelter every Monday night. Every volunteer who walks through the
door, said Peet, is a valuable asset. The Humane Society of the United States is the
nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization, backed by
11 million Americans. The Whitman County animal shelter has seven full time
employees who take care of up to 100 animals at a time, causing them to rely
heavily on their dedicated volunteers. The animal shelter welcomes all volunteers, whether your looking to
complete hours for school, extra curricular activities, or just love animals,
said Peet, the Whitman County Human Society is a great place to give back to
the community.
I. A Washington State University (WSU)
student was able to choose the path less traveled and pursue his passion within
the Pullman community
II. Introduce Mike Peet and give background of how Mike arrived
to his position at the Humane Society today.
a.
How
it has affected Mikes Life
b.
Why
the Human Society needs student volunteers
c.
Give
stats of impact and # of volunteers that Mike has given me.
III. Impact of the Human Society in the
Palouse region and CCE contributions to organizing WSU volunteers.
a.
Brittney
Kreagurud about the the importance of Volunteering and effectiveness of the CCE
IV. All Greek members are required by Greek counsel
to participate in eight hours of community service every semester, with some
chapters requiring their members to exceed this number dramatically.
a.
Testimony
from Cari Crane, a member of the Greek community at WSU who first volunteered
at the Humane Society for the first time two years ago, and has been a
dedicated volunteer ever since.
V. WSU is calling all students to make a
difference and volunteer in our community.
a.
Besides
the Humane Society, the Center for Civic Engineering has a vast amount of
alternative opportunities to give back to the community.
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