Volunteer Opp: Dogtober Day 2011
Arlington’s Parks Department is seeking volunteers for its annual Dogtober Day celebration at Lacey Woods Park (1200 N. George Mason Drive).
On Saturday, Oct. 8, dogs will compete for prizes in categories like best kisser, best tail wagger, cutest costume and fastest pooch. The day will also feature dog training, grooming, treats and rescues.
Arlington is seeking up to 25 volunteers to help with set up, registration, ribbons and prizes, dog games, judges’ paper work and end-of-program break down. Anyone interested should contact volunteer coordinator Rhonda Nibert online or at 703-228-4724.
Although information for this year’s event hasn’t been placed online yet, the info page from last year’s Dogtober Day is still available.
Volunteer Opp: AHC Seeking Teen Tutors
Students in Arlington Public Schools head back to the classrooms on Tuesday. Not all of them are fully prepared for the school year, but you can help.
AHC Inc., an affordable housing developer, needs several dozen volunteers to tutor middle and high school teens. Tutors get paired with a student for the academic year and meet up once a week for 90 minutes at one of the program’s six locations. Several of the locations are Metro accessible.
More help is needed this year than in the past because the program has expanded the number of nights per week that tutoring is available to the teens.
The Teen Tutor orientation takes place on September 14 and 15. To get involved with the program, click here for the registration form. To request more information, contact Jennifer Cavaliere, cavaliere@ahcinc.org or 703-486-0626 x 154.
Arlington Plans 9/11 Commemorations
We’re one month away from the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and Arlington is planning several events to commemorate the solemn occasion.
On Saturday, Sept. 10 Arlington County will host a special 9/11 tribute event to honor the 184 people who perished during the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
“The event will be held at the Air Force Memorial and will be emceed by ACFD Lieutenant Dave Santini, with an invocation by ACFD Chaplin Reverend Leonard L. Hamlin, live instrumental music and a vocalist to lead attendees in singing ‘America the Beautiful,’” according to the county web site. “This event is free and open to the public.”
Also on Sept. 10, Arlington’s public safety personnel are hosting a 9/11 memorial 5K race in Pentagon City. Registration for the race, which benefits several 9/11-related charities, is still open.
Another annual public safety-sponsored commemorative event, the First Responders Cup softball tournament, will take place Sept. 9 to 11 at three separate South Arlington fields.
For anyone interested in giving back to the community to honor the memory of 9/11 victims, Arlington County is compiling volunteer opportunities for the 9/11 Day of Service. Among the options is a Sept. 10 and 11 grocery store food drive to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
More information on 9/11 events in Arlington can be found on the county’s “Arlington Remembers September 11, 2001″ web page.
Discounted Registration for 9-11 5K Ends Today
Registration for the Arlington Police, Fire & Sheriff 9-11 Memorial 5K Run will get more expensive after today.
The annual race will be held on Sept. 10 this year. Registration is $25 today, $30 from Aug. 5 to Sept. 9 and $35 on race day. Teams (including firefighter, law enforcement and military teams) need to be registered by Sept. 1.
The race will kick off at 6:00 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Pentagon City (300 Army Navy Drive). Runners will follow a course that will take them past parts of the Pentagon. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack on the World Trader Center and the Pentagon.
Proceeds from the race will benefit 9-11 related charities, including the Fisher House Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, Operation Purple, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
Organizers are looking for volunteers to work on race day. Volunteers will be asked to pass out food and water and assist with other race duties. Anyone interested in volunteering can find more information here.
Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA
Volunteers Needed for County Fair
The Arlington County Fair is fast approaching, and organizers are looking for volunteers.
Help is wanted from August 10-14. Volunteers are asked to attend an orientation session to learn about the fair and what opportunities are available. The first orientation is tonight and the other is next Tuesday. Volunteers will have the chance to win a door prize of tickets to a concert at the 9:30 Club.
If you’d like to volunteer, click here for the application, or email arlingtoncofair@gmail.com for more information.
AFAC Requests Produce Donations
The Arlington Food Assistance Center is asking local gardeners and farmers to donate extra produce to bolster AFAC’s food pantry.
“Each week, over 1,300 client families visit AFAC to pick up supplemental groceries,” the organization said in a statement. “Fresh fruits and vegetables are in high demand among AFAC clients, especially as fuel prices drive up food prices.”
Produce donations can be made at the following locations:
- AFAC (2708 S. Nelson Street) — Monday though Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Master Gardeners Help Desk at the Courthouse Farmers Market (N. Courthouse Road & 14th Street N.) — Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon
- Rock Spring United Church of Christ (5010 Little Falls Road) — Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon
For more information on donating, and to learn about other ways to help, contact Puwen.Lee[at]afac.org or call 703-845-8486. The produce donation drive is part of AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger program.
County Wants Citizens to ‘Adopt a Street’
It’s sort of like the “Adopt-a-Highway” program, but without the corresponding road signs.
Arlington has launched an “Adopt-a-Street” program that allows civic-minded residents and organizations to commit to picking up litter and debris along a road of their choosing. After signing up, volunteers receive safety and cleaning supplies, a five gallon collection bucket and scheduled pickups of collected debris.
Adopters are asked to perform their cleaning duties on a quarterly or as-needed basis, with a minimum one year commitment.
The program, which is run by the county’s Solid Waste Bureau, is intended to reduce storm water pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed with minimal cost to taxpayers. Supplies for the program have been purchased through sponsorships, the county says.
Summer Camp Volunteers Needed
A local non-profit is looking for energetic volunteers to help out with their summer camp program.
Affordable housing developer AHC Inc. hosts “educational and fun” summer camps for low-income youngsters “to help ensure they don’t drop behind over the summer months.” The camps — held at six community centers throughout Arlington — start on July 11 and run from noon to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, until Aug. 18.
AHC is seeking chaperones for its off-site swimming trips on Mondays and its field trips on Thursdays. They’re also looking for volunteers who can help with the art activities, literary activities and outdoor games that are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
“Enthusiastic volunteers are critical to the program and mean so much to the young people we serve,” said AHC spokeswoman Celia Slater.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Jennifer Cavaliere at cavaliere@ahcinc.org or 703-486-0626 x154.
The ‘Huffington Patch’ Seeks a Few Good Bloggers
Patch.com’s two Arlington sites are seeking a few good bloggers, part of an initiative by parent AOL to recruit 4,000 to 8,000 unpaid local contributors in 800 communities nationwide.
AOL, which recently purchased the Huffington Post, is using the blogging engine from its new acquisition to power the new Patch blogs.
“The introduction of blogging on our sites is far more than just the release of a new feature,” said Patch Editor in Chief Brian Farnham, according to Paid Content. “It is a full-on course correction heading Patch in the direction we want to go. It’s going to unlock community and engagement and thread us even deeper into the fabric of the communities we’re serving.”
The Ballston-Virginia Square Patch and the Clarendon-Courthouse-Ballston Patch are taking two different approaches to recruiting bloggers.
Ballston Patch is emphasizing the fact that they’re not looking for news reporters.
“This isn’t a reporting job. It’s blogging,” the site says. “Be interesting. Be provocative. Be yourself.”
Clarendon Patch is emphasizing their specific expectations for unpaid contributors, in list form.
The list includes: “1. You Need to Know What It Takes To Be Relevant,” “2. You Need to Know What Kind of Blogs We’re Looking For,” “3. You Need to Know What We Consider Responsible,” and “4. You Need to Know We’re Paying in Gratitude.”
“Up until now, we’ve primarily been a news operation, written by our staff and freelancers,” Clarendon Patch said. “But soon, very soon, we’re hoping to add a new voice to the site: Yours.”
Volunteer Opp: Arlington County Auxiliary Police Unit
It’s perhaps the only volunteer opportunity in Arlington that requires a background investigation, polygraph exam, physical fitness test, drug screening and a sworn oath to protect and serve.
The Arlington County Auxiliary Police Unit is looking for a few good men and women to join their ranks.
The unit was formed in 1942 to help keep Arlington safe while the full-time police force was reduced due to military service during World War II. It has been an active unit ever since.
Auxiliary officers volunteer at least 180 hours per year performing various law enforcement functions, including:
- Bike and foot patrols of county roads, parks, trails, and commercial areas
- Handling accidents and other traffic incidents
- Assisting at DUI checkpoints
- Conducting child safety-seat inspections and installations
- Providing security and crowd control at special events, such as the Marine Corps Marathon, July 4th celebration, Crystal City 5K Friday and other parades, festivals, and races
- Patrolling shopping malls during the holidays
Interested applicants should be “21 years of age, a resident of Northern Virginia, and a U.S. citizen with 60 college credit hours and a good driving record.” Find more information here or here, or call Heather Hurlock at 703-228-4057.
Volunteer Opp: Sister Cities Conference in Crystal City
A family reunion of sorts will be taking place in Arlington next week. The Sister Cities International program will be holding its 55th annual conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott (1601 South Eads Street) from March 3 -5.
When it comes to sister cities, Arlington is part of a big family. Arlington County has familial relations with Aachen, Germany; Coyoacan, Mexico; Reims, France; and San Miguel, El Salvador. A relationship with Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine is also in the works.
So when the whole extended family comes to town, Arlington’s sister city organization wants to make sure we cross the T’s and dot the I’s.
The organization is looking for dozens of volunteers to fill various roles at the conference.
From Arlington Sister City Association board member Chris Dufour:
Volunteers will be needed to man registration, information and membership desks as well as ushering and directing conference attendees to and from buses and around the hotel. Volunteers will also be needed to assist in setting up exhibit halls, distributing lunches, and check attendee badges.
SCI will conduct a mandatory volunteer orientation from 3-4pm and again at 5:30-6:30pm on Wednesday, March 2nd at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Salon B. Volunteers will help stuff conference bags while participating in orientation and meeting SCI staff.
Shifts will occur over 3 days from Thursday, March 3rd, to Saturday, March 5th. This is an all ages volunteer opportunity; we typically have volunteers from high school all the way up to retired seniors.
Several shifts are available for any of these opportunities.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Malcolm Phillips at 571-214-1827.
Volunteer Opp: Marketing for Anti-Underage Drinking Campaign
Arlington’s Community Health Protection Bureau is looking for a volunteer with marketing or communications experience “to partner with a community-based coalition working to address underage binge drinking and drug use in Arlington County.”
Responsibilities include working with a team to develop program image; developing marketing plan; and creating various promotional materials such as pamphlets, brochures, and press releases.
Desired qualifications include: communications/marketing experience, excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and accuracy, good interpersonal skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Publisher, PowerPoint). This is a great opportunity for someone looking to expand their portfolio and work with a community group.
This is a Virtual Volunteer position. The volunteer will need to meet with the program team periodically and communicate on a regular basis via e-mail and phone. All work can be done off-site.
See more details here. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact Margaret Ostafin at 703-228-5659.
AHC Needs More Teen Tutors
Local affordable housing outfit AHC is “in serious need” of teen tutors.
AHC has been running its teen tutoring program for more than 15 years. Tutors act as a teacher, mentor and role model for at-risk middle school and high school students who live in AHC communities. They work one-on-one with the teens, devoting at least an hour and a half per week.
“AHC’s Teen Tutoring program is growing, which is wonderful, but as the second half of the school year gets underway, we need more volunteers to work with middle and high school teenagers, particularly at Berkeley Apartments (2900 South Glebe Road),” AHC spokeswoman Celia Slater wrote in an email. “Now that the third quarter is starting, students are more and more interested in working hard to get good grades for the year. Volunteers work closely with one student for about an hour and a half one evening a week, which helps build strong mentoring relationships.”
The organization recently produced a short public service announcement (below) about its work with at-risk teens.
If you’re interested in donating your time and tutoring talents, email Jennifer Cavaliere at cavaliere@ahcinc.org, or call 703-486-0626 x154.
MLK Day Celebrations, Closures
Arlington County is gearing up for its tributes to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Arlington is holding its 42nd annual tribute to Dr. King at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center auditorium (3501 Second St. S.). The event will feature keynote speaker Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a local civil rights leader who worked with Dr. King, as well as performance by the World Children’s Choir and the Washington-Lee High School Jazz Band.
ABC 7 reporter Horace Holmes will emcee the event, which is taking place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16.
On Monday, Arlington’s AmeriCorps team will hold a Martin Luther King Day of Service. From 10:00 a.m. to noon, volunteers will meet at the Arlington Mill Community Center (4975 Columbia Pike) then go forth to help clean up a section of the Pike and the nearby Four Mile Run stream. Anyone interested in participating is asked to register by emailing volunteer[at]arlingtonenvironment.org.
There will also be a “Save a Tree on MLK Day” event from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Road). Volunteers will help save trees by pulling invasive species from the ground. Call 703-228-3403 for more information.
Arlington government offices, schools and libraries will be closed on Monday. The Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center will be open, but every other community center will be closed. Parking won’t be enforced, but trash will be collected.
Metro and ART will be running on a holiday schedule, but Blue and Orange Line work will make commuting into the District tricky.
Volunteer Opp: Work at Arlington’s MLK Day Celebration
Arlington will be holding its 42nd annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. next weekend.
The event is being held at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center Auditorium (3501 Second St. S.) on Sunday, Jan. 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. It will feature a keynote address from Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, a local civil rights leader who worked with Dr. King, as well as musical performances and other entertainment.
The organizers need volunteers to help make the event a success. They’re looking for greeters, green room monitors and an artist to assist with the production. Contact Milada Weaver at 703-228-4730 if you’re interested in volunteering, or see more information about the opportunity here.
