Get Ahead This Summer

By Courtney Diener and Sheldon Jackson, BACCHUS Student Trustees

As warm weather and sunshine begins to grace our presence, you might be asking yourself the question, "What role does summer play for peer educators and advisors?"

The obvious answer is that summer is a great time for everyone to take time to relax. That means summer barbeques, getting some vitamin D from the sun (remember to wear sunblock) and maybe watching a game on television. But summer is also great time for your peer education groups to get ahead.

Summer is a great time to take inventory of your stock of peer education materials and to place orders for the supplies you will need in the fall. Summer is also a great time where your peer educators can work on recruitment of new peer educators for the fall. Some campuses host summer retreats where their peer educators can work on their presenting skills and building a solid team. Other campuses work on updating and improving scripts or programs. Even just familiarizing yourself with The BACCHUS Network websites and campaigns can prepare you to kick-start your peer education group into a great fall.

So this summer in between all the pool parties, walks in the park and outside fun, consider spending some time getting your peer education group ready for fall.

What is the Value of Membership in The BACCHUS Network?

By Kendra Loomis (Area 1) and Taylor Schwab (Area 12)

At the 2011 BACCHUS General Assembly in November, network delegates convened to vote on an amendment to the BACCHUS bylaws. As a result of the meeting, an affiliation fee for The BACCHUS Network was implemented, effective January 1, 2012, requiring affiliates to pay in order to remain in the network.

Is the affiliation fee really worth the $300 cost? Well, would you rather pay for the services provided individually, which could cost roughly $1200; or would you prefer to pay for the $300 affiliation fee, which provides numerous discounts and benefits?

Essentially, BACCHUS pays for itself. Benefits include: a discounted fee for the General Assembly, the Area Conference, and local trainings, as well as promotional materials (posters, material packets, pre-designed health campaigns, training kits, etc.). Not only will you receive the discounts, but also the benefits of BACCHUS far exceed the tangible merchandise. Some of the ways in which BACCHUS enriches lives includes providing a sense of community, motivating leadership, and fostering networking skills. As the affiliation fee deadline of March 30, 2012 approaches, we hope you see the value that BACCHUS has to offer. Click here to renew your membership.