The ICE Chest

April 2009

Volume 1, Issue 7

Center Staff

Marlon Anderson
Director

Ann Margaret Trujillo
Associate Director

Jennifer Lilly
Assistant Director for Volunteer Services

Gregory Frieden
Administrative Associate II

Migel Navarro
Graduate Assistant

Matthew Morris
AmeriCorps VISTA

Tracy Hunt
Graduate Intern

Erica Proo
Student Assistant I

Casity Williams
Student Assistant I

Eraldo Elizondo
Student Assistant I

 

UTSA United to Serve – April 4, 2009

Deadline to sign up Thursday April 2

The 5th annual United to Serve, an event that brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends in service to the greater San Antonio community, will take place Saturday April 4, 2009. UTSA’s United to Serve event is one of many projects taking place at Texas universities as part of the UT System’s United to Serve initiative.  

 

Individuals and groups are invited to sign up online beginning March 4, 2009 by visiting UTSA United to Serve Registration. Fourteen different projects are posted with 15-50 volunteer spots available at each. Projects range from a painting project with Boys Town, to volunteering with a tennis tournament benefitting Any Baby Can, to helping sort donations at Goodwill, and many more!

 

All participants will receive a t-shirt, and will be invited to a volunteer recognition event during National Volunteer Appreciation Week later in the month of April. United to Serve is sponsored by the Office of the President, The Inclusion & Community Engagement Center, and Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education & Service (VOICES). For more information please contact the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center at 458-4770.

Be a part of the tradition!

Upcoming Events

Asian Tea

It’s Tea time!  The Inclusion and Community Engagement Center is ready for the Asian Tea Party, scheduled to be the First Friday event for April! 

 

Come taste a variety of different teas from various regions of Asia!

 

First Friday

Asian Tea

Friday April 3, 2009

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

UC Paseo

Luau

Join us for a Polynesian experience!  Authentic Hawaiian Dancers, Drummers and Food!

 

Luau

Thursday April 16, 2009

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

UC Paseo

 

For more informatio, please contact the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center at 210.458.4770 or via e-mail at engaged@utsa.edu.  

 

Eric Alva Announcement

 

Alternative Spring Break 2009 is a Huge Success

ASB Group PictureASBASB Picture 3

10 students and 2 staff members spent Spring Break working with Habitat for Humanity in Corpus Christi. The group built the frame of a house on what was only a slab of concrete, removed overgrown brush and rotted floors from a donated house, and spent a rainy day organizing donations at the Habitat Re-Store. When asked whether or not this trip was a good choice, one student said “YES! It was a great choice, I made new friends, met people from all over the US, helped out a family in need, and had a great time doing it all. I am so glad I decided to go on this trip, it was a beyond great experience.”

 

ASB Picture 4 ASB Picture 5

Organization Spotlight
Indian Cultural Association

ICA Holi Festival Holi Festival

The Indian Cultural Association has been a registered organization on our campus intermittently for the past three years.

With the growing Indian population in our community, it is important to bring us together, to celebrate together, and to promote learning and awareness about the Indian population and culture, says Amar Bhuta, Co-President of the organization.  Vasooda Kumar also serves as Co-President of the organization.


The organization recently celebrated Holi Festival at the UTSA Main Campus on March 20 on the West Convocation Lawn.  The Festival, which is a time to celebrate spring, included traditional and contemporary Indian music and dancing, authentic Indian foods, creation of henna tattoos and of course A LOT of color powder paint!


The organization has also held Formals and other social events.The group is growing, they currently have approximately 20 members and they hope to have more events on campus that provide the opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness about the Indian culture.  Some of their plans include Diwali, Independence Day, Gandhi’s Birthday and possibly a Talent Show. 

 

Their website is currently under construction, but, if you would like information about the organization can contact Amar and Vasooda at ica.utsa@me.com.

 

Resource Library

 

 

 

Come check out our   growing resource library. Whether you are doing research or just looking for a great book on leadership, volunteerism, or a culture other than your own; come and check out your choice of books.

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here.

Questions or comments? E-mail us at engaged@utsa.edu or call (210) 458-4770

Inclusion and Community Engagement Center

The University of Texas at San Antonio
UC 2.01.04
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, Texas 78249
Voice: (210) 458-4770
Fax: (210) 458-6927

Need to Chill?

April First Friday

Then “Come N Chill” with the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center on April 3, 2009 as we help celebrate First Friday. This month First Friday will focus on an important cultural element in Asian culture, Tea! Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world only behind water, has been consumed for thousands of years, and there are literally hundreds of varieties and flavors. The ICE Center will be sampling Tea from different regions in Asia as well as offering fortune cookies in the UC Paseo from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Make sure to come by and sample a rich part of tradition and history.

 

*First Friday is the ICE Center’s version of the monthly First Friday events held in the arts district of San Antonio. First Friday at UTSA is an opportunity for students to unwind and celebrate being a student.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunity Highlight

United Way Kid’s Day in the Park on April 18, 2009 is in need of volunteers for a free, fun day that is geared towards families in the community with children up to ten years old. At the event there will be entertainment, food, and informational and activity booths.

 

Volunteers register by going to Volunteer Solutions or visiting the United Way of San Antonio website.  

 

To find out about more volunteer opportunities visit Volunteer Services.

FIESTA SAN ANTONIO

Did you know that Fiesta San Antonio is a celebration commemorating a significant occurrence in Texas history? 

 

It’s true!  Fiesta San Antonio has its beginnings in a tradition started in 1891 commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto and the heroes from the Alamo.  The Battle of San Jacinto was the battle fought in 1836 against General Santa Ana and the Mexican Forces.  The battle lasted all of eighteen minutes and Texas’ victory paved the way for Texas to become its own independent country (from Mexico). 

 

The first Battle of Flowers parade in 1891 had horse-drawn carriages, bicycles decorated with fresh flowers and floats carrying children dressed as flowers. The Belknap Rifles represented the military. The participants pelted each other with blossoms.

 

To learn more about the historical significance and traditions of Fiesta San Antonio, please follow this link:

 

http://www.fiesta-sa.org/about-history.aspx

 

There are events, in addition to the Battle of Flowers that also have historical significance.  Here is a list of those events:

 

San Jacinto Victory Celebration ~ April 18 10:00 a.m. in front of the Alamo

Pilgrimage to the Alamo ~ April 20 4:00 p.m. Alamo Plaza

Battle of Flowers Parade ~ April 24 12:45 p.m. (see link for details)

 

For a listing of other Fiesta San Antonio events and details on the events listed above, please follow this link:

 

http://www.fiesta-sa.org/schedule-eventdescriptions.aspx

 

One final fact:  UTSA sponsors two official Fiesta San Antonio events – don’t miss them!  They are:

 

Fiesta UTSA ~ April 17 ~ 11:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. ~ Sombrilla (Main Campus)

Fiesta Under the Stars ~ April 24 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~ UC Ballroom (Main Campus); this is a ticketed event.  See the above link for information.

 

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