With only four meetings left, the next four weeks will be filled to the brim with activity for the University of Arkansas chapter of Engineers Without Borders. On top of officer election and national evaluation, members will host a guest speaker from Colorado State University, participate in five local service projects, continue Belize trip plans and have a goodbye gathering for senior members.
An evaluation by USA-EWB will take place for the chapter on April 18, to decide if the RSO should continue under national status as an official EWB chapter. The group had been grandfathered in with the Central Arkansas professional chapter of EWB when the national office underwent crucial changes to the organization, leaving the UA chapter in a grey area.
“When they consider our chapter on April 18, they’ll look at our numbers (of membership), if we’ve been attending national events, which we have and if we’ve participated in conference calls, which we have,” said International Project Chair, Ben Marts.
The status of national membership will do little to change the main goals and interests of the group. Each member voiced dedication to the ongoing project plans and discussed options in case of denial.
“If we don’t get accepted this year it’s okay. They’re interested in us,” said EWB Secretary, Jenny Doyle. “The hardest part is staying on top of the paperwork. It’s not hard, just takes time in waiting for approval.”
Each international project requires five years of involvement in the chosen country and a detailed series of paperwork for each stage of the project. The sheer magnitude and particular style of paperwork requires coverage during regional conference workshops, which organization treasurer and or secretary usually attend.
Doyle assured members that the University of Arkansas chapter should continue to be in good standing with the national office.
“Every year they’re more and more organized, and we keep in contact,” she said.
President Nikki Lorenz called for April 13 to be an official group debate on national status.
“We’ll have a debate next week, and then we’ll make the final decision during elections on April 20,” she said.
EWB officers encouraged members to research the national chapter and its project requirements so that next week’s debate will be filled with informed opinions that could move the organization forward.
“If you argue during the debate, please come with facts, not opinions like ‘EWB is very nice,’” Doyle said.
Updates on the Belize Front
A total of eight members will participate in the end-of-the-semester service project in Belize, at a significantly reduced cost, thanks to a dedicated fundraising team, generous department heads of the University of Arkansas and regional companies.
According to Ben Marts, international project manager, initial total trip costs were $18,000, but were cut to $11,000 or $2,300/person. Those attending are paying less than half of that out of pocket so far, which is $1,100. In fact, fundraising is not over.
“We’re still talking to department heads,” Marts said.
Project members should expect to make a deposit when the group purchases plane tickets to Belize and should prepare for defense of sand flies, by packing for use any of a variety of oils: olive oil, canola oil or hemp oil.
A few of the group activities during this trip will be digging a 300-foot long trench at two feet deep, putting up spigots, cinder blocks, with other design and construction responsibilities.
Creativity will play a large part in the international project, when members won’t have access to all common tools.
“During the last trip, we were tamping dirt with sticks,” said EWB Website Manager, Halley Malle.
EWB events this month are as follows:
Scull Creek clean-up on April 12, from 4-7 p.m.
Rebuilding Day on April 16, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Speaker Lloyd Walker, water systems specialist from Colorado State University, April 18 at 6 p.m.
Hamestring Creek April 19, from 4-7 p.m.
Leverett Elementary Science Club April 21, from 3-4:30 p.m.
To participate in building a Garden Shed, email Gavin Smith at gavintree@gmail.com
Senior Goodbye Gathering at Powerhouse or Mellow Mushroom (TBA)
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