Community Service-Learning
2nd floor Student Success Center MSC 1011
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Phone: 540/568-6366
Fax: 540/568-6719
Dear Faculty/Staff Alternative Thanksgiving Break Small Group Leader applicant,
Thank you for your interest in serving as a small group leader during CS-L’s Rebuilding New Orleans 10 year
Commemorative Katrina Relief Efforts during Thanksgiving Break! Our success in previous breaks has been a
result of stellar leadership from JMU students, faculty, and staff, and we couldn’t do it without YOU.
We are so excited to continue our commitment to Rebuilding the Gulf Coast and New Orleans with this special
commemorative experience. It is hard to believe that 10 years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast
region. In the true spirit of “be the change” and educating students who will lead productive and meaningful
lives, JMU sent a bus full of committed faculty, staff and students to Biloxi, MS in 2005 during Thanksgiving
Break and has since sent hundreds of faculty, staff and students. We are looking forward to commemorating this
momentous occasion by returning to New Orleans to celebrate our 10 year partnership with approximately 50
participants comprised of current students, faculty and staff, while also opening the break up to a small group of
alumni. CS-L will also be hosting a Katrina Awareness Week, (September 14-18, 2015) a week filled with
events and activities to educate the JMU community about this long-term partnership, the impact we have had
on the Relief Efforts, and celebrate the culture and people of this resilient area.
The Thanksgiving Break will occur on Friday, November 20 (leaving that evening) through Saturday,
November 28. While we are in New Orleans we will be working with and staying at the volunteer facilities
provided by Project Homecoming. In order to make this break successful, we need your help…
As a Faculty/Staff Small Group Leader, you work closely with the 4-Member Site Leader Team, as well as a
student co-leader for your small group of 8-12 student and alumni participants. We expect that you will
participate in some training with the other small group leaders, and that you will create your own preparation
meetings for participants. Your primary role during fall semester will involve team building with your small
group, helping to prepare them for this experience by emphasizing service and educating them on issues
affecting the region and serving as facilitators in the Katrina Awareness Week of events. You and your group
will help in fundraising efforts, and you and your co-leader will be a part of a leadership team that will work
together on the details. This will be a life-changing experience, and although that is priceless, we would like to
show our appreciation for your hard work by waiving the break fee (valued at $350 for faculty/staff who serve
in this important role.
If you are interested, please complete the application below to assist us with our selection process.
Application deadline is noon on Friday, April 24, 2015. We plan to notify all applicants of their status the
week of April 27, 2015 so that we can have a leader meeting before the end of the spring semester.
Please let us know if you have any questions about the small group leader position or about the break in general.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Thank you!
Faculty/Staff Site Leaders
Sarah Sunde (sundesa@jmu.edu) & Jeremy Hawkins (hawkinjl@jmu.edu)
Alternative Thanksgiving Break: Commemorating Katrina Relief Efforts
Friday, November 20 – Saturday, 28, 2015
Faculty/Staff Small Group Leader Application
Please return completed applications by e-mail to abp@jmu.edu by noon on Friday, April 24, 2015
(We will not accept paper applications)
Mark Your Calendar Now:
If you are offered a Small Group Leader position you will be expected to attend the following events, please
check your calendar to ensure you are available:
Small group leader initial meeting (all leaders): April 30 at 5 – 6 pm OR May 1 @ 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Katrina Awareness Week…10 years later (all leaders): September 14-18, 2015 throughout campus
ATB Information Sessions: September 22, 2015 @ 7- 8 pm in Taylor 402
ATB Placement Night (all leaders and participants): September 30, 2015 @ 8 – 10 pm
Community Meeting (all leaders and participants): October 14, 2015 @ 8 – 10 pm
I am currently registered to vote.
Yes
No (explain)____________
I can attend a small group leader meeting on April 30 @ 5 – 6 pm
Yes
No (explain)____________
I can attend a small group leader meeting on May 1 @ 2:30 – 3:30
Yes
No (explain)____________
I will be available to respond to emails throughout the summer
Yes
No (explain)____________
and will respond to messages within 48 hours
I will attend training in the fall**
Yes No (explain)____________
I will attend small group leader meetings in the fall**
Yes
No (explain)____________
I will have all of the dates above recorded in my calendar
Yes
No (explain)____________
(and any conflicts emailed to all site leaders) by August 31, 2015 (first day of class fall semester)
I will be available to facilitate Katrina Awareness Week Events
Yes
No (explain)____________
scheduled for September 14-18, 2015
**A 1-time 2-hour training and approximately 2 -3 leader meetings will be scheduled once all leaders are selected. These meetings will be planned
to accommodate all schedules.
Name:
JMU E-mail:
Cell:
Department:
T-shirt size:
Allergies/Dietary Restrictions:
Preferences for a student co-leader:
Previous ABP experience:
JAC #:
Position:
What motivates you to partner with the Alternative Thanksgiving Break Commemorative Katrina Relief Effort?
How do you define service-learning?
What do you hope to give to the New Orleans community through your service?
Please describe any previous experience with disaster relief/rebuilding.
Please describe any previous participation as a Learning Partner/Small Group Leader for a domestic or
international Alternative Break.
In a few words, what’s your leadership “style”?
What are some of the challenges and benefits of working with a student co-leader?
What expectations would you have of your student co-leader?
What skills, talents, or quirks do you as an individual bring to a group?
What are your expectations of this experience? What experience do you hope to give to participants?
Being a faculty/staff co-leader, you will be responsible for community building, education and facilitating
reflection. In what ways do you feel you could contribute to these components?
Please email this application to abp@jmu.edu by noon on Friday, April 24, 2015.
(We will not accept paper applications)
Thank you!