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SUNY Plattsburgh Alumni to Join Forces in Service at Three Sites

SUNY Plattsburgh graduates will go to work in three communities during the inaugural Alumni Day of Service this April 21.

The event — which the Office of Alumni Relations intends to make an annual occurrence — will feature teams of alumni helping nonprofits in Plattsburgh, Albany and the Washington, D.C., area.

Plattsburgh Team to Help Project HELP

In Plattsburgh, graduates will join forces with students through the college’s Project HELP.

Project HELP began lending a hand to the United Way of the Adirondacks during the organization’s annual Day of Caring last year. At that time, more than 500 students volunteered at 14 sites throughout Plattsburgh, including the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, nursing homes and the Plattsburgh Community Garden.

This year, Project HELP is looking for 15 alumni volunteers to join the efforts, according to Michael Cashman ’03 G’06. The assistant director for campus activities with Student Activities and Volunteerism is organizing the Plattsburgh effort.

Following the day’s labors, a networking social for all area alumni will be hosted by Cashman, Bethany Arthur ’06, Melissa Hart ’01 and Tammy Rock ’09 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Olive Ridley’s, 37 Court St., in Plattsburgh. In the spirit of service, participants are asked to bring non-perishable items for the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf.

D.C., Albany Area Alumni to Help Habitat

Meanwhile, in Virginia, Dr. Richard Semmler ’68, a life-long Habitat for Humanity volunteer, will host “A Brush with Kindness,” a Habitat project that includes fence replacement work for a Vienna, Va., family. Semmler is looking for support from up to 18 alumni volunteers.

A networking social for all D.C. area alumni will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. that night at Hilton Arlington, 950 North Stafford St., Arlington, Va. It will be hosted by Semmler, Jessica Donah ’06, Crystal Crippen ’05, and Victoria Lu ’05. Food donations will go to an area food bank.

Finally, the Capital District Alumni Club will sponsor another Habitat project in Albany’s south end from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Later that day, the club will host a networking social for all area alumni at the Albany Pump Station, 19 Quackenbush Square, from 6 to 8 p.m. Again, donations for the food shelf will be accepted at the door.

Strengthening Relationships with Communities

“Service is part of the Plattsburgh tradition,” said Joanne Nelson, director of alumni relations. “I hope that the SUNY Plattsburgh Alumni Day of Service will strengthen alumni relationships with local communities and grow to include different geographical locations each year.”

For information on the SUNY Plattsburgh inaugural Alumni Day of Service and networking receptions in Plattsburgh, Virginia and Albany, contact the Office of Alumni Relations, (800) 964-1889 or [email protected]. Register for the Albany and Virginia efforts with that office by April 13.

To join in the Plattsburgh United Way Day of Caring efforts, contact Cashman at 518-564-4830 or [email protected] no later than April 5.

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