Student Organization Round-Up

This is a new monthly column reporting on current events, doings, and concerns of the AAAOM-Student Organization Committee (SOC). If you ever wonder, “What’s up with the Student Organization?”then this column is one place to look. Each month we’ll report on issues at the top of the SOC’s agenda. You can also directly contact us. The Committee members are listed below. Let us know what you think, feel, or want…what you want to know, or want to do.

More Active Student Participation in this April’s Convention…
We are publishing this issue of The Qi-Unity Report just after Barack Obama took the oath of office in Washington, calling for active service by everyone and greater participation in public life.

Students will have a chance to do just that during the AAAOM Convention in April.

The Student Organization Committee (members listed below) has planned big changes for more active student involvement in the AAAOM 2009 Conference and International Expo that will take place in Sacramento, California, April 23-26.

You can read the 16-page convention program (PDF). And you can register for the convention.

Five Ways to Get Involved…
Indeed, there are five new ways students can actively get involved during the AAAOM Convention. Three of the five involve the chance to earn scholarship money or a free registration to the Convention. A fourth involves making a presentation about your school at the student caucus. And a fifth involves participating in the AAAOM’s Acupuncture Awareness Day at the grounds of the California State Capitol.

Scholarship Dollars for Scholarly Competition…Enter your scholarly work in the exhibition taking place during the morning before the Student Caucus on Saturday, April 24. You might enter a research project on AOM, a look at allopathic or integrative medicine, or your research into public health care policy or the Classics. Three entries will be selected, and each will be awarded $250. (Contact: Jolene Habeck president, AAAOM-SOC, at jhabeck@nwhealth.edu)
Scholarship Dollars for Chapter Projects…Get recognition for the work of your college chapter of the AAAOM-Student Organization. Perhaps your chapter mounted a PR project, fundraiser, or membership drive. Submit your project to the exhibition. Three entries will be selected to win $250 each. (Contact: Jolene Habeck, president, AAAOM-SOC, jhabeck@nwhealth.edu)
Free Convention Registration if You Volunteer for Four Service Hours…Students who volunteer to work for four hours in a classroom, at the registration desk, or at the silent auction table will be able to attend the Convention for free. We are looking for 45 students to volunteer four hours apiece. (The first student-member who has volunteered for service hours during this year’s Convention is last year’s SOC president, Mandy Troelsen, a graduate of the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.) Slots are available for each day of the Convention, from Thursday, April 23, to Sunday, April 26. (Contact: Kimberly Benjamin, VP-Events, soundacupuncture@gmail.com)
Make a Presentation About Your School During the Student Caucus…The afternoon session of the student caucus (Saturday, April 24) will showcase the individual schools that make up AOM in the U.S. Each has a unique structure and size, academic philosophy, and clinical experience. Each school will field one or more student-representatives to stand before the caucus and make a presentation about what makes your school unique. (Contact: Kimberly Benjamin, VP-Events, soundacupuncture@gmail.com)
Participate in Acupuncture Awareness Day at the California State Capitol…This event (Thursday, April 23) is designed to offer a blueprint for conducting public awareness campaigns in your own state capitals and communities. More details on participation will be coming soon.

Members of the Student Organization Committee (SOC) Want to Hear from You…
The changes being made to the 2009 Convention are the direct result of requests made by students for greater participation. The SOC encourages ongoing feedback and dialogue. Below is a list of the officers of the SOC through April 2010. Please feel free to contact us:

Jolene Habeck, President
Minnesota College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (MCAOM)
952-594-4273
jhabeck@nwhealth.edu

Jim Pastore, Vice President
Tai Sophia Institute
202-669-8945
jimpastore@gmail.com

Marlene Baczek, Secretary
Midwest College, Racine
847-361-6398
marlene@lafandluv.com

Earnest Mounce, Treasurer
National University of Health Sciences
312-399-5255
earniemo@gmail.com

Amanda Troelsen, President Emeritus
Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Alumni
612-382-1937
atroelsen@comcast.net

Patty Fullin, President Emeritus
Midwest College, Racine
262-945-3634
pfullin@aol.com

Austin Homrighaus, Vice President of Membership
Tai Sophia Institute
202-271-4472
beaneedle@gmail.com

Elisa Behnk, Vice President of Communications
Tai Sophia Institute
202-436-1547
behnk@mac.com

Kimberly Benjamin, Vice President of Events
Five Branches Alum
970-214-6683
soundacupuncture@gmail.com

Nosh Marzbani, Southwest Regional Director
Samura
503-438-0448
serenehealer@gmail.com

Irwin Tjiong, Northwest Regional Director
Five Branches
415-794-8817
hitjiong@gmail.com

Ryan Secor, Central Regional Director
National University of Health Sciences
920-562-8778
jetleg26@hotmail.com

Anna Suter, Mountain Regional Director
ITEA
303-877-7061
goatsngarlic@hotmail.com

Cathlene Scoblionko, Southeast Regional Director
Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine
813-376-2490
cscoblionko82@gmail.com

Candice Holt, Northeast Regional Director
Tai Sophia Institute
410-978-3508
candiceholt73@yahoo.com