We started out the meeting with a devotion from John Webster who led us in some meditation and prayer.  

 

We broke into focus groups for part of the meeting to reflect on PSJS and other recent activities.  Then we came together as one big group and each focus group told everyone what they've been up to.  Here are their updates:

It's Not Easy Being Green (Or is it?) had their garbology event last Friday, assisted by a rep from Able Disposal.  They sorted through trash from the Union and Guild and Memorial and made two piles, one consisting of actual trash and the other of items that could have been recycled.  It turned about that around half the things thrown out actually could have been recycled.  This included stuff like paper boats from the union, those Pepsi cups, and freshen cups.  There isn't a market right now for products that say 6 on the bottom along with the recycle but otherwise 1 through 7 are fair game!  The group is going to try to put up signs around campus so students have a better idea of what they can and cannot recycle.  

 

Human Trafficking- They are still in the process of making a paper chain 1000 links long, each chain representing 15 people, to account for the 15,000 people trafficked into the United States each year.  They are going to put the chain up in the VUCA during chapel break tomorrow (Wednesday), so feel free to join them!  They had a nice turnout for their PSJS workshop, where they watched a short documentary from CBS about human trafficking in the United States.  A few weeks ago the group got together and watched Taken to see how Hollywood addressed the issue of human trafficking.  

 

Limelight (Mental Health) has placed dots all over the cafeteria with info about mental health (1 in 4 people suffers from a mental disorder sometime in their life) and did an on-campus survey about mental health, which about 300 people responded to.  They had a panel for their workshop at the PSJS consisting of director of the counseling center on campus, a psychiatric nursing professor, a mental health worker from downtown, and Alissa and her roommate Alex.  During the next few weeks they are planning on helping out on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Social Club at the Mental Health Association downtown.  

 

School of Americas is going to a protest during the start of Thanksgiving break in Fort Benning, Georgia.  So far about nine people are signed up.  About 20,000 people show up to this protest every year.  On Sunday there will be a memorial service for those killed by people trained at SoA.  The group also screened a documentary last Tuesday about the School of Americas and around 40 people showed up.  They had a poster at the PSJS and might have formed some connections with some people who were arrested for protesting SoA.

 

Stop the Spread: Infectious Diseases- Last week they sold pocketsize Kleenex packs in the Union for a dollar each in order to help raise money to send insecticide treated mosquito nets that cost five dollars each and last about 3-5 years to children and pregnant women in Kenya.  They are doing this through a small, grassroots non-profit called Project Mosquito nets that really emphasizes educating people about how to use the nets.  So far they have raised about 90 dollars and are still selling Kleenex, so if you are interested in buying some talk to someone who is part of this group (Laurie Kenyon will always have some in her backpack if you see her around campus).  Stop the Spread also had a workshop at the PSJS. 

 

After we heard from the focus groups we heard from Josh from Youth Works.  He told us about a summer ministry opportunity where you could work with youth groups going on mission trips at two sites in Puerto Rico, three in Canada, and many sites in the U.S.  If you are hired you are placed in a community with other college students and work with youth in a variety of contexts such as through service programs, sports programs, painting houses, etc.  Most of your expenses would be covered and you'd get a paycheck of around $2500.  Youth Works is in both rural and urban areas, as well as Native American reservations.  If you didn't get to sign up for more info at the meeting try going to http://www.youthworks.com to learn more!  

 

We ended the meeting by finding one-on-one partners…always a valuable experience!  

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your weeks and see you at next week's meeting!

If anyone has announcement for next week email it to Melissa.Kariger@valpo.edu

Before the meeting some Salters played the game "Penny Pinchers" which highlights problems with unequal opportunities.  We will be playing this game at the Peace and Social Justice Symposium. 

John opened up the meeting in prayer for us and then helped us form a massage train to de-stress. 

We then broke into focus group time for the rest of the meeting and concentrated especially on preparing for the Peace and Social Justice Symposium. 

Announcements:

-The Peace and Social Justice Symposium will be this Saturday November 7th.  Breakfast starts at 9:30 and at a 10:00 we will start playing the Penny Pincher game.  At 11:00 we will hear from our keynote speaker, John Nunes.  Lunch will be served at noon for those who signed up ahead of time for the ethnic luncheon and after lunch we will break up into workshops

-This Friday It's Not Being Green (Or is it?) will be having their garbology event during chapel break on the lawn between the VUCA and the Union.  This will involve sorting out trash from several places on campus and learning more about what can be recycled.  A representative from Able Disposa will be educating everyone about recycling. 

-All this week Stop the Spread: Infectious Diseases will be selling Kleenex packs for a dollar at the Union during chapel break.  Proceeds will go toward sending mosquito nets to pregnant women and children in Kenya in order to help stop the spread of malaria.

 

-The School of Americas focus group will be screening a documentary about the School of Americas in the Lumina Room this Wednesday at 8:00 PM.

 

-This week Put the Break on Human Trafficking will have a table at the Union and will be making a paper chain to represent victims of human trafficking

-If anyone has an annoucement they would like to see on the annoucement sheet at next week's meeting please send it to Melissa.Kariger@valpo.edu by Sunday evening.

Enjoy the rest of your weeks and see you either at the PSJS on Satruday or at Tuesday's meeting!