STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS The Love Your Neighbor Club invited students of all majors to join in their service with a re-branding of the organization. The SocialWork Club officially renamed themselves the Love Your NeighboCr lub in spring 2018, in order to shift their actions and mission to include anyone, not just social work majors. Senior social work major Emily Tanley was secretary of the club during the spring 2018 semester. When she and junior social work major Susannah Ayers ran for officer positions, Tanley said they brainstormed ways that the club's actions and image would reflect its new name. They designated speakers for each meeting, reached out to students who were not social work majors and made T-shirts. "We basically went into the start of the semester with enthusiasm and positive energy, as well as determination to turn the club around and make it into something that people would want to join," Tanley said. "We had about 15 to 20 people for each meeting, where before there would be around seven people there.... I think that it absolutely has the potential to keep growing, developing within its members a new passion for social work, as well as encouragement in seeking out a job in social work that will bring them a purpose in their lives as they move on to better the lives of others." Ayers was the club's secretary in fall 2018 and president in spring 2018, and she said that the inclusion of all students encouraged cooperation between many different academic disciplines. "While our guest speakers are often social workers, they work direccly with doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, law enforcement agencies and many ocher professionals," Ayers said. "By serving hand-in-hand with members of ocher disciplines, we learn from their perspectives as they learn from ours, and we encourage an environment of collaboration." Members had a fee of $5 and a minimum requirement of five service hours each semester, which were fulfilled through service projects on an individual basis or through projects with the club. Seniorsocial work major Jenna Davis, vice president in fall 2018, said that the organization was a great way to get plugged into service opportunities. "We have service hours so that we can get people more involved within the community," Davis said. "We have service projects as often as we can. . .. We try to participate in whatever kind of service projects are presented to us." Ayers said love was demonstrated through service, which was a goal of the club. "As an organization, we are focused on many things such as education, connection and community building, but our main purpose is to serve those in need within Searcy," Ayers said. "If our members gain nothing else from being involved with us, at least we know they played a role in meeting a need in their own neighborhood." story by Maleah Brown 284
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