Happenings


Opportunities Available Through United Way's Volunteer Center

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Crabtree Farms-
The summer at Crabtree has been a busy time, but with limited resources it is a very demanding time as well. We are looking primarily for volunteer groups, but could definitely use individual volunteers as well.

Projects include:
Fall Plant Sale preparation - washing pots, transplanting seedlings, starting seeds in the Greenhouse, weeding and watering crops.

Fall Crop maintenance - planting new beds, weeding crops such as strawberries, thornless blackberries and blueberries.

We are here Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:00, and Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 12:00, but are flexible to other's schedules. Contact Sarah Malone at 423-493-9155 ext 16 or by email at smalone@crabtreefarms.org

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce presents: Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. Volunteers are needed to team-teach basic financial skills to Hamilton County 11th graders. Topics covered in the 1-1/2 hour sessions include:
• Education Pays
• Saving Should Start Early
• Credit Misuse Can Slow You Down
• Stay Away From Fast Cash Promises
• Small Things Add Up
• Investing in Your Future

There will be a training session held September 11, from 11:00-1:00 at the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, 811 Broad Street. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Cathy Humble by Sept. 6, at chumble@chattanoogachamber.com or 423-763-4321.

The Chattanooga Nature Center is having its annual Festival of the Jack O’Lanterns on Oct. 20. Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, activities, pumpkin carving, games, hayrides, and parking from 2-9 p.m. and clean up from 9-10:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up for a shift, please contact Mattea Rolin at mrolin@mickleslawfirm.com.

Partnership for Families Children and Adults The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults seeks an intern to assist the Development department in day-to-day fundraising and marketing activities. The intern will be considered an integral part of the department, and as such, his/her ideas and input will be valued. Different aspects of the work may include correspondence to funders; mailings; planning for events; identifying and researching prospective donors; etc. This is an excellent opportunity to gain professional fundraising experience in an established nonprofit organization. Previous administrative experience, interest in development activities, and commitment to social causes desirable. Major in marketing, public relations, communications or other liberal arts field preferred. To be considered, please send your resume, along with a letter of interest to: Cynthia Fagan, Director of Development at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, 1800 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404 or by email to cfagan@partnershipfca.com, or call 423-697-3807.

Parent Education Workshop-
A brief review of several curriculums will be featured with an in-depth look at Active Parenting Now. This curriculum is being used to provide education sessions for parents that have a court mandate to attend a parenting class. This workshop will serve as part of the requirement for those seeking certification to teach Active Parenting classes. The workshop will take place at the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults at 1800 McCallie Ave on Friday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (snacks will be provided). For more information contact Holly Ashley at 423-752-0333.

Pet Placement Center-
Volunteers are needed to help feed the animals, play and walk the dogs and cats, and cleaning the kennels. On weekends, some of the animals go to PetCo for the adoption program; volunteers are need for this as well. Contact Katie Fuller at 423-314-0419.

Lookout Mountain Land Trust
Join the Lookout Mountain Land Trust for Weekly Wednesday Workdays at John Wilson Park (JWP). JWP is located at the base of Lookout Mountain. Take Broad Street toward Ruby Falls and as you start up Cummings Highway, you will see the park about 1/8 of a mile on the left (just past a Hardee's billboard). We will be working in two hours shifts, from 6:30-8:30 a.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m. Activities include weeding, transplanting plants and spreading mulch. Work dates and times are as follows:
Wednesday, Aug. 22 - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 29 - 6:30-8:30 a.m.

Please contact Sarah Quattrochi at (423)653-0091 or sarahq@cnpchatt.org for more information. Light refreshments are always served!

Tennessee River Gorge Trust
On Saturday, Oct. 20, more than 150 volunteers are needed to help with Tennessee River Gorge Trust's 2nd Annual Gorge Fest. This event is an educational and family-friendly event that will take place on Baylor's campus and William's Island. We will educate local residents about the amazing significance of the Tennessee River Gorge through a variety of hands-on and recreational activities including pontoon rides to William's Island, hayrides, science experiments, and many other opportunities. Don't forget the chance to see the river from a hot air balloon. Volunteers can participate individually or as a group (with scouts, schools, etc) and will be needed to assist with children's activities, set-up, decorating, grilling hot dogs, handing out lunch, and much, much more. For more information, please contact Sarah Quattrochi at 653-0091 or sarahq@cnpchatt.org.

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden
Join the Garden Restoration Group at Reflection Riding's Humphreys House on Thursday mornings from 9-11 a.m. for a time of weeding, planting and friendly conversation. Contact Sarah at 653-0091 or sarahq@cnpchatt.org for more information.

On Saturday, Sept. 1 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., join Jeffrey Hunter from the American Hiking Society and Reflection Riding staff and volunteers for a work day on the Riding's trails. Help us prepare the trails for the great opportunity to welcome hikers and nature-lovers of all kinds throughout the fall and winter. Contact Sarah Quattrochi at (423)653-0091.

Chattanooga Cares Cut Up for Life, benefiting Chattanooga CARES, will be held Saturday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. We will need volunteers from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Volunteers will assist with setting up, breaking down, assisting different participating salons, managing the food and beverage area, and various odd jobs. It will be a fun day, and volunteers will receive a t-shirt and a meal and beverages throughout the day. Contact Sarah Spencer at 423-648-9912.

Tennessee Aquarium has the following opportunities available. Contact Julie Piper to volunteer, 423-785-3057 or jmp@tnaqua.org.
1. Docents are our "sharers of knowledge." Docent volunteers take "southern hospitality" seriously. Docents welcome guests from all over the world and fascinate people with our beautiful plants, animals and fascinating facts about the Tennessee Aquarium. Volunteers commit to 4.5 hours one day a week. If you have the time we will provide the information to make volunteering fun and rewarding. Training is on Tuesday evenings beginning Tuesday, Sept 18, from 6:15-8:30 p.m.

2. Youth Volunteers are trained on the interesting plants and unique animals in our galleries. Volunteers talk to Aquarium visitors about touching a sturgeon or how seahorses eat their food. This is a great way to earn community service hours and meet other students from the Chattanooga area. Youth Volunteer training is offered beginning Tuesday, Oct. 9-30 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland- Saturdays are an excellent time for groups to come out and volunteer. If you are involved in a church, work, or civic group please consider getting your group to volunteer to fill a Saturday construction crew. A construction group needs to be between 8-15 people. If you have a group that might be interested we can send someone from Habitat out to talk to your group and/or we can provide your group with information about the organization. To get your group involved please call Jaime Lynn Barks at 423-476-6947 or email chabitat4@bellsouth.net.

Hamilton County Parents are First Teachers is hosting Touch a Truck. Touch-A-Truck’s purpose is to provide a unique venue for families to participate in fun activities that promote parent/child bonding and interaction. Touch-A-Truck was begun in 2003 with juvenile justice funding provided by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. Juvenile delinquency research consistently reports the value of positive parent/child interaction as a protective factor against children engaging in delinquent behavior. Saturday, Aug. 18. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Tennessee River Park, Maintenance field parking lot adjacent to the C.B. Robinson Bridge. Volunteers are needed to assist with activities and food service. Please contact Marguerite Chambers 423-209-6837/6838 or Maureen Davis 423-842-6748 to volunteer.

AIM Center Tutors are needed for AIM Center members. AIM Members are consumers of mental health and function at very different educational levels. Hours of tutoring are very flexible and dependent upon the member needs and your individual schedule. AIM Center hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Teachers or those who would like to teach are encouraged to teach wellness orientated classes at the AIM Center. Currently the AIM Center offers three Wellness and Recovery classes. We need volunteer teachers to teach two of those courses. One of the courses we need a teacher for is titled Wellness and the other one is named Self-Determination. The Wellness class encourages participants to become educated about their physical health issues, and the Self-Determination class helps train participants to become their own self advocates. AIM Center would like to offer more classes for our members and their special needs. For more information about the AIM Center or other volunteer opportunities please contact Lauren Thomas or Rachel Hawkins in Education. 624-4800 X110.


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Roy Exum: The Westminster Dogs Bark!

The brightly-lit tower on top of New York City’s Empire State Building is now purple and gold, the traditional colors of the much-beloved 136th Annual Westminster Dog Show that is currently being staged at Madison Square Garden. For a dog lover like me, the televised finals are always a fun-filled delight as the USA and CNBC networks show the spectacular animals on Monday and Tuesday ... (click for more)