January 2, 2012 by Sandra Rogers.

Dear Readers,

I’m very excited about 2012 because I’ll be going back to school for my doctorate in Education.  This has been a dream of mine for many years.  I’ll continue to work full-time while I’m attending school.   Subsequently, our organization is looking for volunteer or interns.  If you’re interested in blogging for us about the job hunt, please send me an email.  Additionally, we have several social media platforms that will need tending, such as our twitter account, YouTube channel, and weekly e-newspaper.   While these don’t take up much time, they need to be consistently updated with fresh and reliable content.

We had an intern this past year from The University of Alabama, and she was very helpful.  It also made me think the intern tasks through, so if you volunteer, I have explicit instructions and tutorials ready for you.  Social media evangelism is the current job title for the work that you do to promote something you really believe in online.  The job perk is that you can telecommute—that is you can complete the work online from your home or coffee shop.  We can arrange virtual meetings via Skype to plan.  Basically, the rest of the volunteer work would include reading emailed directions and  logging into our social media platforms to tweet or blog about job opportunities and advice.

As you may have read from my past blogs, we focus on the use of social media as a career tool.  We’d love to hear your stories about the use of these tools for landing an interview or job.  Any takers?  I surely hope so.  Also, don’t forget about all the resources we have shared on our 20-page website: http://brokebutnotforlong.org/1.html.  One of our ideas for an outreach project is to host Job Clubs and invite speakers or demonstrate how to use social media for the job hunt.  Would you like to host a Job Club in your area?  You are welcome to use our website’s resources and informational blog to share with job seekers.  Just let us know.

Thanks in advance for your consideration!

Sandra Rogers,

Founder

sandra@brokebutnotforlong.org

Posted in Internships, Volunteer!, Social Media, Philanthropy | Print | No Comments »

April 28, 2011 by Sandra Rogers.

4-27-11 Tornado Tuscaloosa, Al from Crimson Tide Productions on Vimeo.

On April 27, 2011, Tuscaloosa, Alabama was hit by a mile-wide tornado and caused severe damage to the community with 36 fatalities and 600 injured.  Birmingham and other cities in Alabama were affected, as well.  I wanted to share some of the requests for assistance that I’ve encountered today, April 28th, on social media venues.   Natural disasters can be overwhelming for those effected and for those who want to help but don’t know how.  What can we do?  I’ll start this list and hope that readers provide updates.

1.  Donate time, blood and/or money to the Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/.  To find a Red Cross blood donation center near you call 1-800-Red-Cross or go online: http://www.redcrossblood.org.

2.  LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, the largest supplier of blood in Alabama, is holding blood drives to address the current shortage.  LifeSouth also has donor centers in Mobile at 967 Hillcrest Road and in Daphne at 6451 Merritt Blvd.  Call toll-free (888) 795-2707 for more information and hours of operation at these locations.

3. A drop point is being set up to collect goods for those affected by the storms. Anything such as clothing, water, toys, diapers, canned food, etc that can be used by those in need can be brought to Flex Digital, 5330 Technology Lane, Birmingham, AL 35217

4.  URGENT REQUEST—Walker County Emergency Services would like to share the following:  Any EXPERIENCED chainsaw operators who have their own saws can meet at the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church parking lot (90 Nick-A-Jack Lane, off of North Highway 341). There are Deputies on scene to direct volunteers.

5. MagicCitypost.com which is part of the Birmingham News has a detailed list like this one to offer assistance: http://magiccitypost.com/2011/04/27/tornadoes-kill-dozens-across-alabama-now-is-the-time-to-help/

6. Facebook Group: Animals Lost & Found from the Tornadoes in Alabama, http://www.facebook.com/ALTornadoAnimals?sk=wall

7. Natural Disaster Group on TappedIn.org has an online discussion board for specific requests and members of TappedIn (TI) would like to offer assistance, contact BJ Berquist, at their help desk.

8. Convoy of Hope is a religious organization that is providing  food, water, ice chests and other essentials to the affected areas.  They need your donations: http://ht.ly/4J1JT. They are highly organized.  “One of Convoy of Hope’s strengths is responding to disasters in the United States and around the world, because of our logistical expertise, partners and strong relationships with government agencies and local organizations we can get help to those who are suffering.”

9. Salvation Army: Cash donations to The Salvation Army allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors without incurring many of the costs associated with sorting, packing, transporting and distributing donated goods.  Salvation Army disaster services are funded entirely by donors, and the Salvation Army uses 100 percent of all disaster donations in support of disaster relief operations.

Credit Card Donations: www.salvationarmyALM.org

Phone Donations: 1-800-SAL-ARMY         (1-800-725-2769)

Donations by Mail:  Please make checks payable to “The Salvation Army” and clearly marked “disaster relief” or labeled with the name of the disaster event you are supporting. Mail your gift to your local Salvation Army or to the nearest territorial headquarters:

The Salvation Army

Southern Territory

1424 Northeast Expressway

Atlanta, GA 30329-2088

10. University of Alabama Acts of Kindness Fund: From the UA President, Dr Witt: Many of you have asked for additional ways you can help. Contributions to the UA Acts of Kindness Fund will be used to help UA students, faculty and staff who need assistance as a result of storm damage.
https://www.ua.edu/advancement/giving/donate/?division=2&account=349

11. University of Alabama-Birmingham  has a special tornado relief fund to assist faculty, staff and students with emergency needs. Donate online at www.uab.edu/tornadorelieffund or by check to UAB Benevolent Fund, (specify tornado relief) Administration Building B-84, 1530 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0100.

12.  The nonprofit group, Alabama Possible, has an extensive list of ways to assist vicitims: http://alabamapossible.org/2011/04/tornado-relief-how-you-can-help/

13. Facebook page to assist with returning lost photos to tornado victims: http://www.facebook.com/PicturesandDocumentsfoundafterAprilTornadoes

These are but a few, please post comments for other services being provided to those affected.  On tonight’s news I heard about university students who lost their cap and gowns in the storm.  Graduation has been delayed till August.  Perhaps providing graduation caps and gowns might be another way to help.  As an alumnus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and current resident of the state, I thank you!

Sincerely,

Sandra Rogers

Posted in Disaster Relief, Volunteer!, Philanthropy | Print | 7 Comments »

January 14, 2011 by Sandra Rogers.

 Dear Readers,

In observance of MLK day, I wanted to bring to your attention some short-term volunteer opportunities.  For those of you who have been unemployed for a long time, volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community either stateside or abroad.  In the past, I blogged about the Peace Corps.  This is a different volunteer opportunity from USAID.  They have several short-term assignments listed in various career areas.  Generally, for US government positions, you would not receive pay for your work; however, you would receive travel and per diem allowances, as well as insurance.

Volunteers for Prosperity

Best Wishes,

Sandra Annette Rogers

sandra@brokebutnotforlong.org

Posted in Volunteer!, Workforce Development | Print | 1 Comment »

January 13, 2011 by Sandra Rogers.

[Another version of this story is in the How to Write Persuasively Today by Carolyn Davis, published by ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Press in 2010]

Strathmore House was an unregistered  Children’s Home in Spanish Town, Jamaica that was under the auspices of the Peace Corps in Jamaica.  Neglect, filth, and the accompanying parasites were pervasive for the residents.  There were about five times the number of children and young adults in the house could be accommodated comfortably.

As Peace Corps Volunteers in Jamaica from 1997-1999, a group of us tried to help the assigned Volunteer and the residents once a month or so by cleaning the house, helping the residents to bathe, and giving some lessons in care-giving to the staff.  The Volunteer who was assigned there introduced changes in hygiene and attempted to introduce attitudinal changes towards people with disabilities.

A young woman who had lived at Strathmore for quite a while talked to me about her condition.  Her body was emaciated and paralyzed; her intellect was clear as she relayed her story.

In 2006, Strathmore was no longer a Peace Corps site.  Few Americans or people of the European Union will ever live in such a home, since laws, policies, and funding reflect priorities that prohibit that degree of neglect.  In other parts of the world, however, not only does it exist, but it is condoned as care-taking.

Carolyn Davis, 

Guest Blogger

Posted in Disabilities, Volunteer!, Behavior Change | Print | No Comments »

December 24, 2010 by Sandra Rogers.

The best Christmas present I ever received was a homemade CD from my brother a few years ago.  He’s a musician, so at first, I thought it was a CD of his music.  Instead, it was a recording of my dad singing songs with the family during the 1960s.  This gift was more than a Christmas present; it was the joy of getting to hear my dad’s voice again because he passed away in 1966.  Several of my family members were gathered at my mom’s house, so we played the CD.  None of us realized that it even existed!  Moreover, my dad’s voice was simply amazing.

My brother had taken the time to transfer the old reel-to-reel tape to a CD.  He said that the tape had been through a flood and misplaced for some time.  This type of tender gift-giving is something to consider if you can’t afford to purchase something new.  For example, I  remember cleaning house for my mom, as a gift when I was a young girl.  Another brother of mine washed and waxed mom’s car for her birthday this year.  This year, I plan to make her a pecan pie for Christmas.

Part of my gift-giving is this nonprofit, something I commit myself to all year long, as a volunteer.  I hope that our website, blog, and twitter account have aided you in the job hunt, or at the very least—some inspirational reading!  In closing, I’d like to offer a list of gift ideas for under $12.  Please add your comments below as to the best inexpensive gift you ever received.

1. Car wash and vacuum
2. Homemade CD (I remember making homemade tapes!)
3. Homemade Pies or Cakes
4. Poinsettias or other Plants
5. Email scanned Photos to family members
6. Novel
7. Framed Picture
8. Calendar
9. Day Planner
10. Basket with treats from the Dollar Store/Family Dollar/99 Cent Store
11. Christmas Ornament
12. Your time: janitorial, landscaping, carpentry, painting, decorating, running errands, or fixing meals

Your Blogger,

Sandra Annette Rogers

sandra@brokebutnotforlong.org

Look for a job on Indeed.com and we get a few pennies for your searches:

http://www.indeed.com/p/index.php?pid=7080813311402333

Tweet

Posted in Volunteer!, Inspiration | Print | No Comments »

December 11, 2009 by Sandra Rogers.

In recognition to all the young displaced workers, especially the recent graduates, I’d like to share my experience volunteering for the Peace Corps.  It’s an alternative to the 9 to 5 job and can lead to an international career.  Given the current economy, looking for work outside the US may be the right move for you! When I graduated from college, I joined the Peace Corps in 1985.  I remember how many of my friends and even professors thought that it wasn’t a good idea for my career.  In fact, I had difficulty finding references for my application because my professors didn’t approve of my decision.  One professor did; she told me that it’d be the best decision that I ever made.  She was right!

How was I selected to go?  I had received my bachelor of science in clothing, textile and design and was accepted to work as a nutrition educator because many of the volunteers in this branch were also working with clothing cooperatives, as income generating projects for destitute women.  I also grew up with the Spanish language spoken at home.  I served in a small village in the state of Copan in Honduras, Central America.  I was a nutrition educator and worked with the local nurse and school teachers to give presentations on health and nutrition, as well as arts and crafts.  Besides working in the village, once a month, I assisted another volunteer in teaching some children in a remote village where there was no formal schooling.

I received three months of language training in Tegucigalpa, as well as cross-cultural communications and nutrition classes.  All the volunteers lived with Honduran host families to help us acculturate to our new setting and learn the language.  We even attended language classes on Saturdays.  Training was extremely stressful but also a wonderful time to meet other volunteers from all over the US.  After passing the language exam and being sworn in, I was placed in San Jose de Copan.  It was an impoverished village with dirt roads, no electricity or indoor plumbing.  However, my village was better than most because past volunteers had lived and worked there and implemented several projects.  The history of collaboration between the Peace Corps and Josefinas (as the villagers were called) contributed to my success as a volunteer.

I continued working with an existing clothing cooperative, but provided more authentic designs to the products.  I incorporated the Mayan Indian designs from the nearby ruins of Copan.  In the past, volunteers have helped the villagers produce embroidered clothing with tourist motifs such as palm trees, setting suns, and hibiscus.  I was able to improve on the design of the clothing by utilizing my degree. After I felt comfortable in my new setting, I started other artisan projects.  There were several women who worked with different mediums: clay, seeds, guacales (gourds), and loofahs.  It was such a great experience to work with these women to see their own creations and work on marketing the products.

During my two years’ service, I also made great friendships with the Honduran families in my village.  I like to read literature and write poetry and was able to do both of these, as there was nothing to distract me.  I wrote about the characters in the village.  Even after I left Honduras, the images, smells, and music remain with me.

The Spanish language has stayed with me, as well.  When I returned to the US, I was able to teach Spanish to pay for my graduate studies, as a teaching assistant.  I received tuition remission and a stipend plus teaching experience at the college level!  My professors were amazed!  I had to take a few advanced grammar classes to professionalize my speech because the majority of my Spanish language interactions in the village were in the local dialect and not formal speech.  Fortunately, I’ve used Spanish as part of my work since that time.  I  became a bilingual elementary teacher and used my Spanish to educate children in East Los Angeles to become biliterate.  I also worked for an educational publisher that produced Spanish and English as a second language books and materials.

I didn’t realize what irreplaceable gifts I’d receive from serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  The gift of interacting with a culture different from your own; the gift of learning a second language; and the gift of having served others!  I first got interested in the Peace Corps when noticing a poster on the wall in my college.  It said, “Peace Corps, the toughest job you’ll ever love!”  They weren’t kidding around.  It definitely is difficult on your health, your mental health, and your long distance relationships.  If you’re interested in learning more, here are the links:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatispc

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.  The Peace Corps’ mission has three simple goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Sandra Annette Rogers

sandra@brokebutnotforlong.org

Posted in Internships, Volunteer!, Job Hunt | Print | 4 Comments »