Lights, Camera -Action!

3rd year Fionn Smyth and 4th year Jessica Panetta

McMaster Students are ready to help those in need.  The Drive Away Hunger food bank drive will occur this Tuesday as part of Welcome week.  The campaign will ask students to donate food to support the McMaster Student Union’s (MSU) Breadbin food-bank, St. Matthew’s House, the Eva Rockwell Centre and the Reach Out Centre for Kids (R.O.C.K).

 

“We are hitting two important things with this campaign,” stated Jessica Panetta who holds the volunteer position of Humanities Faculty Planner.  “We can do something about poverty and we can create a positive relationship with the community.” We want to “put the positive back into Welcome Week.”

 

Fionn Smyth, also a Humanities Faculty Planner, stated that the agencies are “very very happy to be asked to be part of this…beyond words happy”

 

“Our goal is to introduce students to (the agencies) said Jessica. “Students in first year are in transition, from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big community.”  Students need to know that they can make a difference and “that they are part of something that is so important to these agencies.”

 

Each campus faculty will have at least two planners working on the campaign.  There will also planners from the MSU, Inter-Residence Council, the Society for Off-Campus Students (SOCS) and the Centre for Student Development (CSD).  Each planner will then have a team of student volunteer reps who will work directly with the students as arrive on campus.

 

Jessica and Fionn said they wanted something that everyone could do.  “Just ask people to bring stuff” stated Jessica. This way we can “start off with a really strong year…then it can only get better.”

 

There has been an overwhelming response from faculty, staff and students.  “Fionn and I could not be more proud of the response.”

 

Jessica and Fionn also praised Michele Corbeil, co-chair of the McMaster United Way, who has with provided strong support. “Michele has been behind us 100%…she always has such a positive influence.  Just encourages us to make these efforts” stated Jessica.

 

Fionn Smyth is a third year student who is working towards a double major in Theatre & Film and Labour Studies. Jessica Panetta is a fourth year student who is doing a double major in Theatre & Film and religion with a minor in sociology.

 

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Nothing Is Impossible!

Andrea Kong VP Administration for the MSU.

In six short weeks, volunteers created a new campaign to help local area food banks.

The idea for the food bank drive started about six weeks ago, according to Andrea Kong, McMaster Student Union (MSU) Vice President for Administration who led the discussions about whether the campaign should occur during Welcome Week.

A group of planners called the CORE, worked out the details for the food drive.  This group made up of planners from each of the Faculties, the Society for Off Campus Students (SOCS), the Inter-Residence Council (IRC), the First Year University (FYU), the Centre for Student Development (CSD), and the MSU.

As Andrea explained, each Faculty has its own rep team and these teams will be promoting the food drive ahead of time. For example SOCS has about 100 reps, while the Faculty of Health Sciences has about 71 reps.  When the reps first meet their students, they will let them know about the food bank drive.  It is Andrea`s hope that students will then donate food to the campaign.  Starting Tuesday morning Andrea and Andrea Ouellette from CSD will travel around campus in a golf cart campus picking up the donated food.

There are going to be “points (that) will be associated with the number of canned goods“ and will count towards the Spirit Cup.  We hope this will encourage “competition will be between the faculties rather than just the first years“.

“My main goal is it will be going back to the community“. As well as showing “ the need on campus…that some students have to choose books rather than food which is really sad…The food drive will show the value of volunteering“ stated Andrea.

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MAC Gets Nominated For…!

Debbie Mattina, United Way Board of Directors; Chris Erskine, CAW Local 555; Terri Lewis, IBEW Local 105;John Grimshaw, IBEW Local 105; Bob Sutton, United Way Director of Labour Community Services; John Martin, IBEW Local 105; Chris Bart, United Way Board of Directors.

Nominated for 2007 Hamilton & District Labour Council Union Spirit Award

This award is presented to the Union Local who has shown exceptional and continuing support for the United Way.  This year, the award was won by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 105

Nominated for 2007 Campaign of the Year Award

This award is presented to companies and affiliated unions, which exemplify teamwork, leadership and community involvement in a Hamilton organization with over 250 employees.  This year McMaster University, CAW Local 555, CUPE Local 3906, SEIU Local On. 1, USW Local 9597, Operating Engineers Local 772 was nominated for Campaign of the Year.  The Scotia bank was this year’s winner.

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MAC Wins Dofasco and Leadership Awards

Brian Mullen, Dofasco Director of Human Resources; Debbie Mattina, United Way Board of Directors; Chris Erskine, McMaster United Way; Louis Schimdt, Co-Chair of the McMaster United Way; Carole Stevens, McMaster United Way; Chris Bart, United Way Board of Directors, Lorraine Redford, McMaster United Way; PJ Mercanti, United Way Board of Directors.

Wins the 2007 Workplace Leadership Giving Award

This award is presented to the organization in each community that best promotes the leadership giving program (donations of $1,000 or more) within their workplace.  This award was won by McMaster University.

Wins the 2007 Dofasco Community Builder Award

This award was developed to recognize and honour Dofasco for its leadership role as a community builder.  The Dofasco community builder award recognizes organizations that impact, inspire and lead the people of our community.  It is presented to the company or organization who demonstrates outstanding enthusiasm and support for the United Way as well as making a significant difference in our community.  This year the award was won by McMaster University.

 

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MAC Staff Saves The Day

Miriam Gracey, United Way Campaign Manager; Lisa Boniface, Campaign Co-Chair; Sue McKee, Chris Erskine, Louis Schimdt, Campaign Co-Chair; Ryan Moran, MSU 2006-2007 President; Lorraine Redford, Carole Stevens, Norma Busby, Catherine Bianco, Michele Corbeil. Not shown: Julie Fairservice, Matt Root, Betty Ann levy and Lilian Scime.

McMaster United Way Campaign went beyond all expectations and raised over $200,256 for community agencies in Burlington and Greater Hamilton.  The campaign surpassed the original goal of $180,000 due to the generous support of staff, faculty and McMaster retirees. The Burlington campaign raised $2,001,259 surpassing the goal by $2,021 while the Hamilton campaign raised $2,021 beyond the original goal of $4,700,000.  The modest gains highlight the importance of McMaster University and other non-traditional players in the future of the United Way and the agencies it support.

 

Beyond All Expectations

McMaster United Way Campaign went beyond all expectations and raise over $200,256 for community agencies in Burlington and Greater Hamilton.  The easily surpass the original campaign goal of $180,000 due to the generous support of staff, faculty and McMaster retirees. The Burlington campaign raised $2,001,259 surpassing the goal by $2,021 while the Hamilton campaign raised $2,021 beyond the original goal of $4,700,000.  The modest gains highlight the importance of McMaster University and other non-traditional players in the future of the United Way and the agencies it support.

Made it!

The United Way made it! The campaign surpassed it goal of $6.7 million by $3,200.  The Burlington campaign raised $2,001,259 while the Hamilton campaign raised $4,702,021.  With the continuing decline in manufacturing, finding new donors becomes ever more challenging.  Support from McMaster staff, faculty and retirees play a critical role in the final results – raising $20,000 more than expected.    

About

Chris Erskine

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