Volunteer where you're needed this week!‏

HOT Projects

Community Threads
Grab your knitter looms, needles, crochet materials and join us in making hats and scarves for individuals undergoing cancer treatment at The Wellness Community in Greater Miami. The Wellness Community provides free psychological and emotional support for people with cancer and their families. Experienced and non-skilled knitters are welcomed to participate-no experience needed! Volunteers must bring their own materials. This project is open to active and pending volunteers. Family-friendly: minimum age with an adult is 16. * A new volunteer orientation will be held prior to the project at 6:30pm.The project itself begins at 7:00pm (8-10 volunteers) (project #30)
Neighborhood:
Books & Books- Coral Gables
Date & Time:
Tuesday , December 11th · 6:30 pm -8:30 pm
VL:
Sue Haynes 305-598-9645 (h) haynessusan@bellsouth.net
Career Night at Regis House
Do you have a great career and a story to go with it? Join us as we share details about our jobs at Regis House, a program for teens who have become involved with the juvenile justice system. Your story will brighten their future! (2-4 volunteers) (project #7)

Neighborhood:
Little Havana
Date & Time:
Wednesday, December 12th ·6 :00 pm - 7:00 pm
VL:
Peter Haas 248-444- 3587 (cell) peter@handsonmiami.

Fun and Games at Boystown
Join us at Boystown for a morning of games as we play volleyball, soccer, and basketball. The kids really enjoy the volunteers' visits, so come and help make their day memorable. Help put smiles on the faces of these wonderful kids. Haitian Creole and Spanish speakers, and male volunteers are encouraged to attend. (8-10 volunteers) (project #9)

Neighborhood:
Perrine
Date & Time:
Saturday , December 15th · 11:00 am - 1:00pm
VL:
Linda Gomez 786-252-6370 (cell) LGomez0769@yahoo.com

Neat Stuff
Sort clothing, books, and toys at Neat Stuff Inc., where foster children can "buy" items free of charge. Help them get the "stuff" they need for school or play. (10-13 volunteers) (project #14)

Neighborhood:
Miami
Date & Time:
Saturday , December 15th · 10:00 am- 1:00pm
VL:
Franklin Monjarrez 305-638-5878 (w) franklin@neatstuffhelpskids.org

Bear Cut Beach Clean-Up
Volunteer and help keep our beaches clean. The Bear Cut Nature Preserve is an important area for nesting sea turtles, migratory birds and mangrove habitat. Help us beautify and protect this unique environment. Family-friendly: all ages with an adult. (8-15 volunteers)(project #24)

Neighborhood:
Key Biscayne
Date & Time:
Saturday, December 15th ·9:00 am - 12:00 pm
VL:
Barbara Viscito 305-361- 8740 (h) barbara.viscito@eds.com

Botanical Garden
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a green oasis in the heart of South Beach. Bromeliads, orchids and tropical palms thrive, along with other exotic plants. Volunteers will help with gardening activities. Family- friendly: minimum age with an adult is 12. (8-15 volunteers)(project #25)

Neighborhood:
South Beach
Date & Time:
Saturday, December 15th ·9 :00 am - 12:00 pm
VL:
Danielle De Pas 305- 725-2075 (cell) Danielledepas@hotmail.com

Pelican Harbor Clean Up
Come out for a fun-filled beach clean up day! Volunteers ride out in a boat to Pelican Harbor to clean up our beautiful bays and beaches. Family- friendly: minimum age with an adult is 8. (25-30 volunteers) (project #27)

Neighborhood:
Pelican Harbor (79th Street Causeway)
Date & Time:
Satruday, December 15th ·9:00 am - 12:00 pm
VL:
Rob Hellestrae 305-613- 8414 (cell) robhelle@hotmail.com

Youth Volunteer Corps Winter Community Service Camp!

Teens can earn community service hours before heading back to school! Join the YVC for their Community Service Winter Camp on January 3rd and 4th from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Participants will complete 4 meaningful, direct-service projects over the course of 2 days.
For questions and to sign-up, please contact Jeff Tampakes at 305-646-7251 or Jeff@HandsOnMiami.org. You can also get the registration application on www.HandsOnMiami.org.
'Tis The Season for Giving!

Make this holiday season a happy one for children of farm workers, children of women who have HIV/Aids, children of women who have suffered from domestic abuse and at-risk youth from Little Haiti and Liberty City. Collect new toys, games and any other items suitable for children age 3 to 17. Start a gift drive at your school, office or organization. Gifts can be brought to the Hands On Miami office any time during the week of December 10, but preferably on December 14.

Donated presents will go a long way towards brightening up the holiday season for these children, so thank your support will be greatly appreciated.

Please contact Bobbi@HandsOnMiami.org for more information about where to leave donated gifts.
Inter-American Development Bank 2008 Annual Meeting

In a competitive national bidding process the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) selected Miami to host the bank's Annual Meeting in April 2008. The Inter-American Development Bank , the oldest and largest regional multilateral development institution, was established in 1959 to help accelerate economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Over 6,000 representatives from across the Western Hemisphere will attend this week- long event (April 4th to April 8th). This gathering has long served as the premier global forum on Latin American finance, trade, and development. Participating companies, universities, and institutions will connect with the Latin American community through publicity and through exclusive engagements with the finance ministers and central bank presidents who make up the Board of Governors. More than that, sponsors will gain a meaningful stake in the core mission of the Annual Meeting: promoting social and economic development in the Americas.

The IDB Miami 2008 Host Committee invites all Hands On Miami (HOM) volunteers to participate in this grand event. Volunteers from all professional backgrounds are encouraged to lend a hand and support the IDB, welcoming honored representatives and organizations to the Miami community. The IDB Host Committee will particularly need volunteers beginning March 24. Please stay tuned to the Weekly Email, Volunteer Update, and HOM website for upcoming dates and announcements. For more information, please contact Cristin Forrest at 305-646-7204 or Cristin@handsonmiami.org.

HOM is honored and excited to support IDB 2008 Annual Meeting!

EXECUTIVE EFFECTIVE BOARD LEADERSHIP TRAINING

A NUTS AND BOLTS SEMINAR
Hands On Miami, in partnership with United Way of Miami-Dade's Young Leaders Society, is presenting a seminar series for people wishing to acquire or enhance skills to serve on boards of non-profit organizations. Participants will hear from local experts on a variety of topics, including the roles and responsibilities of non-profit board members, legal and ethical considerations, fiscal management, fundraising, human resources, public relations, marketing, and demographics and delivery of services in Miami-Dade County.

The 3-part seminar presented will be held on three consecutive evening nights: February 5th, 6th, and 7th, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

The cost is $100 per person for all three sessions.
You may pay online AFTER you sign-up below, by selecting the "Donate Now" button on the left. Please fill out all pertinent information; indicating your full name and contact information, under the 'Purpose of Gift' Section please check the Registration Fee box, include the $100 fee amount, and select "Effective Board Leadership course".

Registering for the first session automatically enrolls you in the full three-session series.

If you have any questions, please contact Sania Elshorbgy at Sania@HandsOnMiami.org or 305- 646- 7293

KaBOOM!

Are your Wednesdays kind of dull? If you want to do something different and exciting to get over those weekday blues, join Hands On Miami and participate in KaBOOM! and bring back the joy of playgrounds and the imagination to children of the West Perrine Community! Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department was selected by KaBOOM!, a non-profit that builds playgrounds across the country, to receive a new playground at West Perrine Park.
During the week of January 14th 2008, the following services are needed:
Prep Day, Monday January 14th 2008, 8:30am to 4:00pm
Want to take on a leadership role? Build Captains are needed to assist in organizing stations and event components, attend on Prep Day and Build Day. A 45 minute training will take place on Prep Day. (15-20 volunteers)

Build Day, Wednesday January 16th 2008, 8:00am to 4:00pm
Volunteers will assist in construction of the playground. On Build Day, the community volunteers alongside staff volunteers from Miami-Dade Parks, will build and complete the playground by the end of the day. (160 volunteers needed)



*Volunteers do not have to be trained, skilled, or have any special tools to do work.

For more information, please contact Alicia Quillen at 305-646-7460 or at Alicia@handsonmiami.org or Laura Borst at Laura@handsonmiami.org

World Celebration Day

Miami is known as a melting pot of cultures. Having a representation of every race, nationality, creed, and religion, Miami is filled with much diversity and this holiday season Hands On Miami wanted to take the time to honor holiday traditions from around the world.

Join us on December 15th 2007 as we celebrate YOUR traditions from generations past or from your own household. For more information on how you can help us represent your country and tradition.

For more information, please contact Sania Elshorbgy at Sania@HandsOnMiami.org.
FREE Independent Lens Film Screening on the Beach!

MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH: TERRA INCOGNITA
Some consider stem cell research the Holy Grail of regenerative medicine. Others view the idea as morally wrong. But what would you do if your child became paralyzed from the waist down and you had access to the research that might allow them to walk again one day? These are questions our society continues to grapple with. Come along this journey with Director Maria Finitzo as she follows a respected neurologist into the unknown territory of stem cell research.

This is a Family-Friendly event with a minimum age with an adult being 13. PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE.
Date :Thursday, December 13th
Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm
Where:Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Española Way
For more information please contact Lisa Elson at Lisa@HandsOnMiami.org; 305-646- 7293
*The PBS series Independent Lens airs on WPBT Channel 2, Tuesdays at 11 p.m.
Special Volunteer Opportunities

PLEASE NOTE: These are not Hands On Miami volunteer projects. You will not receive volunteer hours from Hands On Miami.
Art Supplies Drive:
Bring desperately needed supplies to the community schools of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.They need whiteboard markers, construction paper, paints, paintbrushes, markers, colored pencils, crayons, glue, stickers, and any other art supplies.

Who: El Nahual, organization that runs Art and English Programs in Quetzaltenango for disadvantaged children ages 6-17.
When: From now- December 18th
Contact: Evian White, 954.849-6016, Evian.White@gmail.com