The Retort

Student United Way

February 19th, 2010 by Bailey Martin Of The Retort Staff

Student United Way (SUW) started at MSUB during the summer of 2009. SUW President Eric Braun started the organization after he came back from working in the Gulf Coast with the United Way after Hurricane Katrina. "I had made a few attempts to get things started. Finally after my fourth year down South doing hurricane relief, I put my foot in the door and I didn't really stop until something was done and we had a club formed," said Eric.

SUW is a student-led campus club that helps facilitate the volunteer needs of MSUB and the Billings community. They focus on health, education, and income through giving, advocating, and volunteering. When other clubs need volunteers for a project, SUW helps provide them with those volunteers.

The first Service Saturday of the year was hosted by SUW and aproximately 50 people attended. SUW is very involved with all Service Saturdays and many other projects. SUW is also hosting "Live United" night at the Yellowjacket basketball games on February 27. At the "Live United" night there will be much fun and a chance for someone to win money at each of the half times. SUW is working on hosting a clothing drive with Good Will during the two weeks after Spring break.

Kathy Kotecki of the Office of Community Involvement is SUW's faculty adviser. According to Eric, none of their success would be possible without Josie Greene, their secretary; Elizabeth Collins, their programming chair; and Kelsie Hanson, their recruitment chair. "They also deserve a lot of credit for things running smoothly and I have a ton of respect for them," Eric said.

SUW meets every Tuesday on a rotatinf schedule. Usually they have a logistical meeting, a service project, another logistical meeting, and then a social meeting. Their social meetings are to just have a fun time, help keep their group together, and to keep all of their members familiar with each other. Their meetings are held at 6:15 PM in the Missouri Room on the second floor of the SUB.

Anyone is welcome at SUW's meetings.

If anyone has questions about SUW, they can ask for more information at the Office of Community Involvement, SUB 225.