Rock Eagle Volunteer and photographer Ralph Meacham is currently battling Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The SRVF Service-Learning Project is developing awareness and dollars to find a cure for ALS. As some of you may know, the state of Louisiana will be hosting the Southern Region Leader Forum AKA “Rock Eagle” in October 2008. Our planning committee decided to incorporate Service-Learning Activities that will benefit ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease). Ralph Meacham, a 4-H volunteer from Tennessee, was diagnosed with ALS about 3 ½ years ago. If you have attended Rock Eagle in the past, you will know him as our beloved photographer.
It is our desire and mission to set a precedent at Rock Eagle. This is the first time that a Service Learning project has been incorporated into our regional meeting. Our goal is for each southeastern state to raise $10,000 before our conference in October. Louisiana has already raised about $1,000 and we need your help in raising funds for this very worthwhile cause.
As a volunteer leader and co-sponsor of my middle school’s 4-H club there are many opportunities for you and your club to raise money that will be earmarked for “Developing Dollars for a Cure”. All funds raised will be designated to go towards research. Did you know that every ninety minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and that there is no cure?
To find out more information about Ralph Meacham, our Service-Learning Project, and fundraising ideas please visit the website that has been specially designed for our project at http://www.4hsrlf.org.
We are excited about this service learning project and hope that you will help us to reach our $10,000 goal. For more information or if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can contact me, Belinda Krumtum, at richnbell@bellsouth.net or Karen Martin at kmartin@agcenter.lsu.edu.
A Tribute to Ralph Meacham
2008 SRVF Service-Learning Project
HOW TO GET YOUR STATE INVOLVED:
1. Indentify a contact within your state to coordinate your efforts and serve as a liaison to the committee. Please send your coordinator’s contact information to the host state, Louisiana by May 1st.
2. Visit the national/state website www.alsa.org, or www.alsa
(yourstate’sname).org as a resource for information and ideas.
3. A special tribute to Ralph Meacham website will be launched on May 1st where individual states can continuously make contributions and/or report and track their ongoing donations. Details for participation will be communicated through your state’s coordinator.
4. Plan to participate in the ALS 90 minute walkathon during the forum - get pledges or donations prior to attending Rock Eagle.
5. Contact your state’s ALS office and get ALS Awareness bracelets.
6. Encourage your volunteers to conduct individual fund-raising activities. Some ideas are:
· Get your club to hold a dance.
· Go through your local school and if students wear uniforms, ask principal if you can sponsor a “Green for Jeans” Day (You can charge anywhere from $1 to $3).
· Conduct a community spaghetti supper.
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR ROCK EAGLE:
1. The ALS 90 Minute Walkathon.
2. Roving Gumbo Pot for donations.
3. Get your picture made with Santa for a donation – Friday Night Dinner by the lake (theme is “Holiday on the Bayou”).
4. Get your Mardi Gras picture taken at the “Mardi Gras Ball” for a donation.
5. Purchase an awareness bracelet at the showcase ALS educational booth.