Service-Learning

COM 308W

Dr. Silverman

Reflection Paper #2

It took me a little while this semester to get started with a client, but once I did, I really got the ball rolling. I am currently writing for Jericho Road Ministries, in particular, The Priscilla Project. I have met with Matt Tice several times so far. And each meeting has been beneficial to the both of us. I am doing the writing that will be sent out to volunteers for The Priscilla Project. So my key public is mature, nurturing women. They are most likely middle-aged with families of their own. We are going to eventually send the brochure that I have been working on to local Women’s Bible Study groups and churches.


I have met with Elaine Smyth-Bogumil as well. I really appreciated her input for the brochure, because the volunteers will be in direct contact with her for their orientations. She also asked me to give her an example of a news release so that she can use for JERS. Which reminds that I should do that. My experience so far has been positive. Because Matt isn’t all that familiar with PR, he let me really use what I have learned and my creativity for the project. This was good because I was not sure what he was expecting. And he is very easy to work with and appreciates my time and effort in the project.


I have learned that a lot goes into PR writing. I spend a lot of time staring at my computer screen until I finish brainstorming what I want to say on paper. Sometimes it is frustrating, but I think I am getting better. Hopefully that shows in my writing.


I really do like the idea of Service Learning because this is what I will actually be doing when I graduate. I will retain so much more of this, rather than sitting in a class and listening to theories. I’m really glad I can take what I have learned and put it to good use already.


This project has also allowed me another opportunity to better my writing. I am currently blogging for the Career Development Center. They have set up a blog for the VSL project. I think that are actually going to get it up and running this week! So far, so good.

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October 23, 2006

This week I really have my work cut out for me. I have to start to organize my layout for my brochure for The Priscilla Project, because I meet with Elaine and Matt next week. My panel discussion for COM 308 is on Thursday, and I have to start writing a paper for COM 408. Oh yeah, and I have to study for my ANT 101 exam which is tomorrow. On top of all that, work has been super crazy! If I have to develop one more picture of the “October Surprise,” I might scream. However, seeing all of the devastation in the photos makes me realize how lucky we were.


So far for my brochure, I have started to write down the content that will go inside the brochure. I am trying to make it the most informative and appealing to my key public. In case you were wondering what a key public is, it’s a group of people you are trying to reach with your message. My key public for this brochure is middle-aged women, who are nurturing, dedicated and patient. These will be the mentors to the women in this project. My brochure will be a 4-page foldout. Well, that’s the plan, lets see if I can get it to work on a computer screen! Like I said, that is the hard part. I am currently waiting for Matt to send me pictures to include in the brochure too.


Another big win for the Sabres tonight! We are on fire this season! I am going to try and get an internship with them hopefully next semester or in the summer. My manager at Wegman’s used to do Community Relations for them, so he said he would help try to set something up. So I’m hoping that works out…..


As I procrastinate on doing my homework some more, I might as well keep blogging! If I had a dollar for every time I did this, I would be one rich lady. One of my worst habits is definitely procrastination. I need to work on that. But I feel it’s a problem a lot of college students have. So at least its not just me.

I
’m really looking forward to this weekend. It’s Halloween weekend, and there are plenty of parties going on, and one of my friends turns 21! It’s shaping up to be a pretty good weekend, and the Bills have a bye week, so we don’t have to watch them lose again either!


Well, I think I’m going to get back to my homework. Or I’ll just be on myspace…….try and find me!

Posted by Kelly at 03:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 17, 2006 Well, I’m a little new at this, considering this is my first blog. EVER. So the purpose of my blog is to give the students and faculty a peek at what it’s like to be not only a student here, but what it’s like to be a part of the service- learning program with the Career Development Center. The purpose of the program is to take the skills I have learned at school and use them in the community. I think it’s a really great idea, and I’m happy to be a part of it! The community organization I am working for is Jericho Road Ministries. They are located on Barton St. on the West side. Their organization provides faith-based healthcare and other services for the community and they work hand-in-hand with Journey’s End Refugee Services . So they also provide healthcare and other social services for the incoming refugees. You should check out their website httphttp://www.jrm-buffalo.org/ !! So this semester, I am actually doing Public Relations writing for them. They have created a new program there, “The Priscilla Project.” This is a program where volunteer women, will mentor medically at-risk women. The “at-risk women” are self-identified women of poverty, all refugee women as well as those with medical needs such as malnutrition, diabetes, unplanned pregnancy, anemia and many others. Social factors such as housing, transportation, and improper food storage can increase the level of risk. Women have been seen as “gatekeepers” to family health, and this program bases its foundation on just that. The impact this program will have is a trickle-down effect and will reach out to their children and future generations. I actually took that from the brochure that I am currently working on for the program. The brochure will be used to canvas for volunteer women to be mentors. This brochure should be interesting to make! I am very new at this, and am not a very tech-savvy. So I have a feeling I might sit in front of the computer very frustrated for a decent amount of time! But this is something I have to learn, and I want this brochure to turn out really nice, because I really support this cause! I also have been a bit set back by this ridiculous storm that hit on Friday! Friday the 13th! That was absolutely crazy! I am very fortunate that I have power and heat in my house! Because some of my friends still don’t! And the roads flooded, and two cars were actually underwater! And someone please tell me why Buff State was the only college open on Monday?! We were still in a state of emergency! But that was my little rant about that. That and I just wish it would stop raining! That’s all for now!

Continue reading "thundersnow 06'" »

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