Groups 'spring' to action, seek members

Student Organization Night highlights new clubs, missions

KONA GALLAGHER / contributing photographer Members of the JMU Triathalon Club try to recruit members and spread their mission at Student Organization Night Monday.

Students received a chance to explore the wealth of opportunities campus organizations have to offer during the third annual January Student Organization Night Monday.

Students packed PC Ballroom, listening to electrifying music, complements of UPB, and enjoying free food and drinks from JMU dining services. Ninety-five clubs participated in the showcase of sports clubs, religious organizations, various service, social and academic fraternities and sororities and an assortment of other organizations.

Katie Morrow, coordinator of Student Organization Services/Clubs and Organizations, said, "I think it gives students an opportunity to get involved in some organizations they may have missed in the fall.

"In addition, we recognized some 15 new clubs last fall, and this gives students an opportunity to showcase what they are about," Morrow said.

One of JMU's newest clubs, the Optimist Club, is a community service club that aims to help children, especially those in the Harrisonburg area.

The club's secretary, junior Mike Navarrete, said, "There is a huge interest in this type of volunteer service. We are trying to bridge the JMU community to the Harrisonburg community in a different avenue of community service."

Optimist Club member junior Danielle Vozza said the group's purpose for being at Student Organization Night was to "explain our various activities, like the Valentine's Day rose sale and Benefit Ball for JMU students, a semiformal that will raise money for Harrisonburg High School kids. We also want to initiate new members. We have a lot of older members, and we need some new, younger members."

Sophomore Craig Shackelford said, "It was a great opportunity to see the different types of activities offered at JMU that I was unaware of. I was especially interested in the table tennis club. They seemed really excited and enthusiastic about their sport."

The founders of the table tennis club, sophomores Mike Bobbin and Chris Brindley, said, "Our purpose is to increase the popularity of the sport table tennis and get people here at JMU involved in the most popular racquet sport in the world."

Bobbin also expressed his anticipation for the team's journey to the East Coast Finals at Virginia Tech in the spring.

Several a cappella groups also were showcased this spring. Note-oriety, one of JMU's all-women a cappella groups, showcased not only its club but also its new CD, according to junior Note-oriety member Rhea Hesse.

Sophomore member Pam Hoover said, "We have a new CD coming out in April, and we wanted to use Student Organization Night as an opportunity for students to pre-order it. We also wanted to spread our name. We use our benefit concerts to raise money, and the more people that know about us, the better."

Morrow also wanted to note the charitable offerings of local businesses along with the time and donations of JMU Dining Services and UPB.

Students in attendance had the opportunity to win door prizes from local companies including Buffalo Wild Wings, Plan 9 Music, Valley Lanes and Dominos Pizza, among others. "I hope students will continue to enjoy this event and find worthwhile involvement opportunities while they are here," Morrow said.

For more information on any of the clubs or organizations at JMU, students can access Student Organization Services at www.jmu.edu/ucenter/sos/clubs.