Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015

Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015 Texas A&M University Staff Advisor Application

Howdy!

The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Executive Staff is very excited about your interest in our organization. Our goal is to not only heighten awareness about social issues, but also to cultivate active citizenship within the student body. As part of ASB, members volunteer for student-led trips to different parts of the country during the week of Spring Break. They then work with a community to fulfill a need related to a particular social justice issue (such as environment conservation, poverty, or education). ASB Staff Advisors participate fully in these trips, work to support the students, and act as a liaison to the university.

YOU can be involved by becoming an ASB Staff Advisor. We are looking for TAMU employees who value ASB’s principles of social awareness and active citizenship and wish to pass these values on to others through leadership and example. This is a unique opportunity to gain advisor and volunteer experience. We provide ASB Staff Advisor training- no previous ASB or advisor experience is required. To qualify, you must be an employee of Texas A&M University (full-time faculty or staff or graduate/teaching assistant), and you must qualify for business leave during the week of Spring Break. Trip Advisors receive a FREE trip, which includes housing, food, and transportation for the entire week of Spring Break.

Responsibilities  Act as the university staff representative on-site with the group

 Support student Site Leaders in their leadership role and provide assistance as needed in emergency situations

 Attend all trip advisor training (in the spring; dates and times TBA)

 Attend all other ASB events including:

o Alternative Spring Break (March 16-20, 2015). Staff Advisors must take Business Leave during this time

o Never-Ending Journey Banquet – April TBA (reflective event)

 Participate fully: serve, reflect, and relate with members and Site Leaders in pre-trip meetings and on during the trip

Keep this top sheet for you reference and return the rest of the application to Tyler Archer in Koldus Suite 224 or email the application to [email protected]

If you have any questions, please contact:

Staff Advisor Trainer Blake Sokora [email protected]

Or visit our website asb.tamu.edu Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015 Texas A&M University Staff Advisor Application

Thank you for your interest in ASB! Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015 Texas A&M University Staff Advisor Application

Name: ______E-mail: ______

UIN: ______Phone: ______

Local Address: ______City: ______State: _____ Zip Code: ______

Department: ______Title: ______

T-Shirt Size (circle one): S M L XL XXL

Before turning in this application, please read all the statements below carefully and seriously, signing to indicate your agreement. Thank You.

COMMITMENT: Being an ASB Trip Advisor requires a week of time, energy, and commitment. By signing this statement, I am agreeing to invest the time, energy, and commitment if chosen to be an ASB Trip Advisor. I will attend all mandatory Advisor and ASB events, including the events listed on the first page of this application.

Signature:______Date:______

ASB POLICIES: ASB Trip Advisors are required to not only follow all ASB and TAMU policies, but to uphold them by helping student Site Leaders to hold their group members accountable and enforce these policies before, during and after the trip at any ASB event. (For more information about ASB policies, please refer to the ASB website.) By signing this statement, I am agreeing to follow, uphold, and assist student Site Leaders to enforce ASB and TAMU policies to the best of my abilities.

SURVEYS and EVALUATIONS: ASB Trip Advisors will occasionally be asked to participate in several surveys and evaluations. The results will be kept confidential and will only be used for program feedback and improvement. By signing this statement, I am agreeing to participate in all ASB surveys and evaluations, and to give honest feedback.

TRIP ADVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES: ASB Trip Advisors are responsible to fulfill their role and responsibilities, as listed at the first page of this application packet, before and during ASB. By signing this statement, I am agreeing to fulfill the ASB Trip Advisor role and responsibilities to the best of my abilities.

Please keep in mind the responsibilities of an ASB Staff Advisor as you respond to the following: Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015 Texas A&M University Staff Advisor Application

1. What do you believe your strengths and weaknesses are? How could your strengths contribute to the success of your trip and the support of student Site Leaders? How could you prevent your weaknesses from detracting from the trip?

2. Do you have any quote, words of wisdom, or philosophy by which you live your life? How could you apply this to your relationship with Student Leaders and other trip members?

3. What do you hope to gain from your experience in Alternative Spring Break?

If you have participated in Alternative Spring Break in the past:

1. How will you use your previous experiences in Alternative Spring Break to positively impact and influence your trip this year?

Along with these answers, please include a letter of support from your supervisor to take Business Leave while on the trip.

***Please make sure to rank your trip preferences on the following page. ***

Listed below are the trips for ASB 2015. Please rank your trip preferences. Alternative Spring Break 2014-2015 Texas A&M University Staff Advisor Application

______New Orleans, Louisiana

-Those interested in animals will be able to volunteer at the Animal Rescue of New Orleans. Members will take care of mistreated or disabled animals as well as assisting with tasks that aid in the day-to-day running of the animal shelter.

______Memphis, Tennessee

-Those interested in water conservation and environmental awareness will be able to volunteer with Living, Lands & Water where they will explore large parts of the Mississippi River, cleaning up the area along the way and learning about the importance of maintaining clean such a crucial environment.

______Guadalupe Mountain National Park, Texas

- Those interested in learning more about environmental conservation will be able to volunteer at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Guadalupe Mountain National Park in Texas. Members will work in the caves and on the trails and assist the park rangers in keeping these parks beautiful!

______Memphis, Tennessee

-Volunteer at Mid-South Food Bank to help out underprivileged families. Students will take part in a variety of tasks from sorting food to feeding the hungry. Members will not only work in preparing the food but will be able to see the effect they are having by interacting with people in the community.

______Killeen, Texas

-To learn more about children with special needs we will be volunteering at Variety's Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children. Volunteers will be helping Peaceable Kingdom with their Environmental Education Program by running various activities with the children as well as helping with ongoing projects.