NEWSLETTER                           FEBRUARY 2016 


  


thisMONTH

W e l c o m e   N e w   S u b s c r i b e r s !

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT MEETING:
2016 SELECTION & PARENT ORIENTATION
Sunday, February 7, 2016
1:00pm - 4:30pm *
East Liberty Presbyterian Church (map)  
116 South Highland Avenue, 2nd Floor
*Adjusted length and content due to weather cancellation of selection mini camp in January

CISV Pittsburgh will be holding their 2016 Selection during this month's chapter meeting. Interviews for all delegate positions, junior counselor activities, and mandatory parent orientation will begin at 1pm. We encourage all chapter members to attend, regardless of applying for this year's programs. Selection of delegates and family preparation is enhanced by the experience and knowledge of all our chapter members, so please join us! In addition, the orientation is a great way to learn more about CISV if you are a new family, interested in local or future opportunities. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday! 

APPLICATIONS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
  • Village delegate - Female, age 11
  • Interchange delegate - Male or Female, age 12-13

There are possible positions that can be obtained in the late rounds of invitations from the international office. If you are interested in a specific program for summer or winter, please CONTACT US for more information or check out the WEBSITE to learn how to apply for specific programs.

EAST-MIDWEST 
REGIONAL MINI CAMP (RMC)
February 26-28, 2016     
Amelia, OH    

RMC is an annual weekend-long camp for all chapters in a particular region of Junior Branch USA. Anyone in the JB is invited to RMC, but it is especially planned for chapters in the East Midwest Region, which are: Northeast Ohio, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Over the weekend, participants engage in educational and thought-provoking activities planned by the region's junior presidents. It is a great chance to get to know the people and learn more about what a CISV experience is like. 

Official registration is now open! Please follow the following steps to attend:

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY / HEINZ COLLEGE
& CISV PITTSBURGH - Community Partners

CISV Pittsburgh is proud to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a university-community partnership with CMU for a second year in a row. We will be assigned a graduate student whose semester course will include helping our chapter improve our technology use, while giving the student the opportunity to develop technical consulting and management skills.

Last year's partnership helped to lay the foundation for our chapter's membership database on Salesforce. This year's focus will be on our website, its format, content and design, as well as with ways we can enhance the member/chapter relationship. 

We would like your input on the content of the new site! Please take a moment to fill out a very short SURVEY to give us your thoughts on how you would like to use a new site.

SUMMER PICNIC DATES 

Each summer, we come together for fun, casual, potluck picnics. Mark your calendar to join us as we celebrate another successful year of programs, and to send off/welcome back our delegations. We will be meeting at the David L. Lawrence shelter in Schenley Park (map). 

BON VOYAGE PICNIC - June 12, 2016
WELCOME BACK PICNIC - August 28, 2016
getINVOLVED
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES             

2016 is a very busy year for CISV Pittsburgh! We are hosting two great events, and we need your help. Every chapter family is required to volunteer, so please sign up for one of the following:
  • Junior Branch Cookie Bake Coordinator (works directly with JB VP, Drew Klein on 3/13)
  • National Mini Camp Committee - SIGN UP NOW
  • Youth Meeting 2016, Committee members
  • Summer Picnic volunteers - CONTACT CATE NOW
  • 2016-18 Newsletter Coordinator (beginning September 1) - CONTACT JENNIFER
Please CONTACT US to sign up or inquire into one of these much-needed positions.

CISV FAMILIES: HELP AJAPO
Donations are being accepted to help refugee families being resettled in Pittsburgh. Items needed include: housewares, furniture, warm clothing, school supplies, and food. Contact AJAPO for more ways to give at (412) 391-4985. 
inTHANKS
Thank you to everyone for their patience with rescheduling the January selection mini camp. We all know the weather can be tricky, so we appreciate your understanding with the change in plans!

In January, JBers Dani Jordan and Sofia Wynn gave a CISV presentation at the Frick Environmental Charter School. Charlie Wolfson, Laura Kelly and Nancy Golio also gave a presentation at Sacred Heart Elementary School. Sharing your CISV experience is a great way to teach others the values you have been learning.

Thank you for making it happen!
comingSOON                                         
Save the dates:
February 7 - Chapter Development Meeting - 2016 Selection and Parent Orientation
February 26-28 - East-Midwest Regional Mini Camp, Cincinnati, OH
March 6 - Chapter Development Meeting
March 13 - Annual Junior Branch Cookie Bake (NEW DATE!)
April 16 - Global Youth Service Day
May 27-30 - CISV USA - National Mini Camp - Pittsburgh, PA
June 12 - Bon Voyage Picnic
June 16 - World Refugee Day - Pittsburgh, PA
August 28 - Welcome Back Picnic

All events and more info can be seen on our website calendar! 
helpfulLINKS  
yourCHAPTER 

Junior Branch Board:
Adult Executive Board:
Charlie Wolfson
president & national youth committee
Amy Raslevich
president
Drew Klein
president elect
Gina Wynn
vice president, operations
Max Rogow
treasurer & national junior board of trustees
Nonie Heystek
vice president, programs
Lydia de la Parra
secretary
Dawn Gull
treasurer
Ilana Hollifield
historian
Alison Wolfson
risk manager
Nancy Golio
adult advisor &
national step up program chair
Dighan Kelly
secretary