MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Friday, January 21, 2004

MWCC KICKS OFF TSUNAMI RELIEF DRIVE AT STUDENT ORIENTATION

By Kimberly B. Caisse

	New Mount Wachusett Community College student Erika Fregia of Leominster shares her interest in volunteer opportunities offered through the college at the tsunami relief campaign kickoff Wednesday. Proceeds from the campaign will benefit the American Red Cross International Response Fund.

Mount Wachusett Community College launched a fund-raising campaign for the Indian Ocean tsunami crisis when it welcomed back students for the spring semester Wednesday, Jan. 19.

As part of the Decade of Civic Engagement initiative, the college is partnering with the Red Cross of North Central Massachusetts to raise money for the organization’s disaster relief efforts in the affected countries. All proceeds will benefit the Red Cross International Response Fund. The campaign will end Friday, Jan. 28.

Student Government Association President Diana Russo said the SGA and other student clubs plan to organize other fund-raising projects for the tsunami relief effort. Collaboration among students began during orientation activities in the college’s commons area, where representatives of student clubs and college support services met with new students.

“I’m proud that our students have given back a tremendous amount of time to their communities,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “That they are extending their generosity to the global community through the tsunami relief effort as part of their orientation experience makes me extremely proud.”

Earlier the new students were encouraged to meet with their advisors and ask any questions before the halls become crowded with returning students Thursday, Jan. 20.

Vice President of Student Services & Enrollment Management Ann McDonald told the students, “You have an opportunity here to get to know your professors and advisors, and that’s a very precious thing.”

Russo invited the students—many attending college for the first time and some who transferred to MWCC—to get involved either in one of the 14 student clubs or through a service-learning project.

For more information about MWCC’s programs, contact the admissions office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.

MWCC and SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE HONOR FIRST UNSUNG HEROES OF 2005: The Young Republican Club of St. Bernard’s High School

By Lea Ann Erickson

	Some of St. Bernard’s Young Republican Club members are, from left, Brandon McLaren of Winchendon, Matt DeMalia of Hubbardston, Angela DeMalia of Hubbardston, Bryan Watkin of Westminster, Rachel Jacobs of Leominster, Matt St. John of Leominster, Kaila Blovin of Fitchburg and club advisor Bill Watkin.

According to Barbara McGuirk, who nominated these Unsung Heroes, the Young Republican Club at St. Bernard’s High School has inspired debate of local and national issues in the classroom to benefit the entire student body.

The club’s mission statement, in part, reads, “we exist to advance our intellect and awareness of the social and political issues of our time, and to seek to diversify and broaden our own political spectrums...and to invoke and inspire political and social involvement and awareness among all members of the student body, regardless of their party affiliation.”

The students actively participated in local and national campaigns this past November, volunteering at phone banks, literature drops and visibility stand-outs for candidates.

St. Bernard’s Headmaster James Conry, a MWCC alum, said, “Today there are givers and takers in society. These are the givers. They react to problems and need. They’re great kids.” advisor Bill Watkin was impressed at the club’s self-direction and leadership. “I thought I’d call the meetings and direct the meetings, but I was most impressed with how they supported and directed their club.”

Post-election plans for the club include a series of roundtable discussions at the school on current issues and events.

Campus Events:

• On display in Mount Wachusett Community College’s East Wing Gallery, outside the Theatre at the Mount, until Wednesday, Jan. 26 are works produced by MWCC students Andy Argon, Corinne Goodrich, Marsha Hersey and Alaina Youngsma. For more information, call Professor John Pacheco at (978) 630-9184.

• The Fitness & Wellness Center at MWCC’s age-appropriate baseball clinics will run on Sundays Jan. 30, Feb. 27, March 6 and March 13 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost is $45 per player. Pitching clinics for children 13 and up will be held on Sundays March 20 and March 27 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The cost is $25 per player. For more information, call the center at (978) 630-9212.

• The Mount Wachusett Community College Winchendon Skills Program, funded by a grant from Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, is offering free GED prep classes at the Community Action Center at 273 Central St., Winchendon, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Enrollment is ongoing. For more information, call Janet Brown at (978) 297-1667 or Tim Robinson at (978) 630-9259.

• Register now for the Fitness & Wellness Center’s annual golf lessons, which begin the week of Monday, Feb. 28. Directed by PGA Professional Mike Egan, the lessons include individual instruction and video analysis. Participants can bring their own clubs or use the center’s. Beginner lessons will be held Mondays and Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. Intermediate classes will meet Tuesdays at 7:15 and 8:15 p.m. and Thursdays at 8:15 p.m. Advanced lessons will be held on Mondays at 8:15 p.m. The cost is $85 per session; fitness center members are eligible for a 10 percent discount. For more information, call the center at (978) 630-9212.

• The Greater Gardner Community Choir will hold sign-up and first rehearsal for the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. Under the direction of Diane Cushing and Associate Director Mary Chapin Durling, the choir meets Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30pm in room 182 at Mount Wachusett Community College. The choir is open to all adults who love to sing—no experience required. A $20 music purchase fee is the only cost associated with joining. For more information, contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162 or by e-mail at g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu.

• The Forest & Wood Products Institute at MWCC will host a free presentation by members of the United Kingdom Forestry Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. They will share the obstacles, hurdles, success stories and opportunities they have encountered in the UK. Area forest management and biomass professionals are invited to attend. To register, contact Mary Petersen at mpetersen@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9334.

• MWCC’s Entrepreneurial Resource Center, 100 Jackson Road, Devens, will host its next Entrepreneur Speaker Series presentation, “Human Resource Basics: Top Five Pitfalls to Avoid” by Kathleen Mills, founder of HR Off Site Resources in Leominster, on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Mills will review all the areas human resources covers, the importance of being in compliance and common pitfalls. Participants also will take a mini-audit to help them understand how prepared they are. The cost is only $15, and includes lunch. To register, call (978) 630-9569.

• In Celebration of Black History Month, MWCC will host a black inventions exhibit on Friday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the commons area. This exhibit highlights the accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of science, aerospace communication, health care, agriculture, transportation and engineering. The golf tee, automatic traffic light, cellular phone and the world’s fastest computer—peaking at 3.1 billion calculations per second—were created by African Americans. The exhibit is sponsored by the Office for Student Life. For more information, call (978) 630-9322 or (978) 630-9547.

• MWCC and the Forest & Wood Products Institute will host a 10-hour OSHA safety training session Monday, Feb. 14 and Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wood Products Workforce Development Coordinator Ken Hanson will cover at least nine OSHA safety standards. The cost is only $198 per person and includes lunch. To register, please call Hanson at (978) 630-9179.

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at MWCC on Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the commons area. It is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome. Call Marianne Stoy or Diane King at (978) 630-9136 to register.

• The Entrepreneurial Resource Center will host the Entrepreneur Speaker Series presentation “Taking the Mystery Out of Bulk Mailing” by management consultant Paul Lambert on Thursday, Feb. 17 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Direct mail can be an effective marketing tool. Lambert will review such issues as determining when direct mail is cost effective, purchasing mailing lists versus creating your own and direct-mail software options. The cost is only $15, and includes lunch. To register, call (978) 630-9569.

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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