Last year, I received the info on UGA's Alternative Spring Break too late to plan anything. Attached is the letter from Volunteer UGA stating the basics on this Alternative Spring Break for the students. It is alcohol free (no jokes please ) and service-focused. The students will be volunteering their time and energy working in the State Parks in SoWal. If you are able to help them in any way by providing meals, food donation, money donation, or with other services, etc (read the letter attached) please contact the peeps in charge noted on the letter. I am planning on hosting a cookout or buying pizza for them at Amore as well as allowing them to use my kayaks for an afternoon or two.

These kids are doing something very different than the kids who will be hanging off the 10th floor balcony of the Panama City Beach Holiday Inn puking their guts out. The people on this Alternative Spring Break could be our leaders of tomorrow. They are giving to our area, so the least we can do is say thank you some small or great way. Please try to find a way to make their trip more memorable.

Please take a moment to read the brief letter attached, and write these kids into your schedule.

Thanks for the consideration.

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UGA Volunteer.jpg (120.3 KB, 70 views)

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I hope our daughter will be interested in something like this when she is older. It sounds like a great program.

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"Peace .... starts with the person who attempts to diffuse the tension and backs away from the inflammatory rhetoric."

what a great concept that could be emulated by other universities or even high schools. I love it - I hope they receive support from our community. we will gladly help with food or supplies...

I'll send a donation. Thanks for letting us know. I hope this idea catches on throughout the U.S.

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Paula

Wow~ Thanks for the info.

Wow. More power to 'em. A more honest approach to spring break...at least compared to my past spring breaks. Do they do different places every year?

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"Let's face it: We live in state infested with rubes and rednecks, particularly among Alabama football fans."- Paul Finebaum

As the letter states, they are going to 13 cities in the SE USA this year. There was a group here at Grayton last year, but that was the first time I heard about it. I bet Cat or Lori, with UGA, could answer that question.

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I didn't read it close enough...just went back through and re-read.
That's cool though. Good idea. Sic 'em dawgs.

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"Let's face it: We live in state infested with rubes and rednecks, particularly among Alabama football fans."- Paul Finebaum

This sounds great! Do you think anyone would notice a 4o-something year old woman in the group? I want to go on spring break!

According to the reply email I just received from Lori at UGA, they begin their work around 8-9am every morning and end around 4pm. They have Friday off for funn. Still interested in joining?

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That's it? Pretty short work day! I'm in!

poor brainwashed children, spending their school breaks working - quite enough of that after graduation! I would count down the days to the break, saving every penny, getting all the supplies needed for a full-on 6-day taxonomic dive trip to the keys, spending the too-excited-to-sleep nights before checking everything ten times over, taking turns driving all night and into the morning, wallowing in the confirmed identification of every marine invertibrate species encountered, sleeping around the fire right there on the beach, the freezing cold of the porta-potty seat on a midnight visit, the clinking of the blue crabs moving about in the cooler, and the stars, oh the stars - someone supposedly burned their bra one night and I had my very first taste of sushi on that trip - truly great memories that I would not ever deny anyone just because some bananas in their bunch were spoiled rotten - but I'm just weird that way.

I will be glad to help out - I emailed Lori from the letter and I see she just registered - welcome Lori!

Hi everyone, my name is Lori Cruz. I'm a leader with Alternative Spring Break. We've been coming down to Grayton for 4 years now. A friend and I began the trip in 2002. Here's a little info about our trip. There is a no drug/alcohol policy, not just because we're perfect straight A students but also because we're on a UGA sponsored trip. Camp Helen hosts us we do work in the state parks during the day. We basically work from 9ish-4/5 every day with about an hour lunch break somwhere in there. If you have any questions or have taken an interest in our trip, my contact info is lorindac@uga.edu The Alternative Spring Break website is http://www.uga.edu/volunteeruga/asb.htm just in case you're interested. Thanks!

Hi Lori - you will find our members very helpful. Just post here with any needs you have or info you require. Thanks for helping our parks. I bet you have a great and rewarding time.

How many are you expecting to come?

Right now we're still adding/dropping participants but it looks to be right around 9 or ten total. We might even have another boy this year. Generally, we only have one guy and about 10 girls so this year we might actually have two! Guys really change the dynamics of the whole trip.

Lori, this is a great thing you are doing. I wish I could be there to help.

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I know I don't get there often enough, but God knows I surely try, It's a magic kind of medicine that no doctor could prescribe!

Lori!

I love that you're doing this with the students.

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"Peace .... starts with the person who attempts to diffuse the tension and backs away from the inflammatory rhetoric."

Lori. I sure hope my children get involved in Alternative Spring Break when they are in college. What a fantastic idea. I did a little google search and saw that many colleges do this and do service in different places. I think SoWal is one of the nicest places to go!

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Paula

Did Lori say mostly girls would be coming? I will definitely have to plan on being present at any event which I host for you guys.

Welcome to SoWal.com, Lori and Cat!

You have my contact info, so let me know how I can help. I will email you with details of plans in the next few days.

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What are the dates for the Grayton gig? If I am there, will host some kind of dinner for this group. But I will make a $100 donation to the cause whether there or not. Who do I make this check out to and where do I send it? What a wonderful and generous gesture.

Donna, read the letter attached to my original post and it will give you the contact name and number as well as the dates. If it is too small for you to see, just let me know. (You must click on the attachment to enlarge it for reading)

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I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner- my professors have these funny expectations and want me to be in class. I don't get it The dates of our spring break are March 11th (the day we arrive) to March 18th, the day we leave. We will be arriving mid/late afternoonish on the 11th and leaving (at the latest, fingers crossed) by 10 on the 18th.

I'm not ignoring this question- I'm just looking for the exact answer. When I know I'll post it here. Thanks so much for your help!

Here's an ASB update. I've been in contact with the Americorp leader in the state parks and she listed several activities slated for us: beaver dam removal, trail maintenance, exotic plant removal, bench and bridge installation, overlook area maintenance, and several other projects.

In other news, I've found where donations are supposed to go. All checks should be made To: UGA and the For: should say GRAYTON BEACH. Please send checks to

University of Georgia
152 Tate Student Center Attn: ASB
Athens, GA 30602

Thanks for all of your help and tips. We really appreciate it.

Lori, you may have to explain this one to me.

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Usually thought of as non-native, invasive type plants.

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"Peace .... starts with the person who attempts to diffuse the tension and backs away from the inflammatory rhetoric."

Kudzu comes to mind but I don't think there is any in Sowal.

Beaver dam removal? This sounds sad. Where will the beavers go?

Like palm trees????

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The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

Wow..what a great idea! Maybe some of us here can help SJ or do lunches for the group..Tootsie? Can we find out if they have grills at Camp Helen..any one know? I wish my nephew was participating.

I believe they relocate them.

That would actually be really cool. One of our other ASB trips to Asheboro has people bring them lunches. It would just depend on where we were working for the day.

As far as the non-native/exotic plant removal, that includes plants like a certain type of pine tree, cactus, those saw palmetos (they look like palm trees without a trunk).

There is a grill at Camp Helen- it is fairly small but easy to use. But it's not a fancy gas grill- it needs charcoal and fire.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Franny, I am hosting the group for dinner on Wed. and appreciate the offer to help, but I have it covered -- we are going to Amore. The group is booked for Thurs dinner as well. Try hosting them for another night or see about taking them some tasty lunch. I know they will be hungry doing all of this work. Thanks for helping them out.

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Thank you for your recognition and support of the Alternative Spring Break program, and specifically our trip to Grayton Beach. As our Spring Break is quickly
approaching (less than two weeks away!), we would greatly appreciate if you could let us know exactly how you will be helping us. If you could provide
specifics about your donation (dollar amount, meal specifics, directions to where we are eating, etc.**), it would help us tie up some of the details of the trip that our adviser has been asking us to give her. We would to receive this information as soon as you could possibly get it to us, so we can finalize our budget and reassure our participants. Thank you for your wonderful support and for helping make our environmental awareness trip to Grayton Beach productive and successful, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Lori, I am hosting you guys for dinner on the evening of Wednesday, March 15. I will send you specifics in a pm (private message).

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well, i just got back from dinner with the group from georgia and i really can't say enough good things. they're a really cool group of young people from UGA having a great time on their break. i am so stoked to see people so helpfull and excited to make a difference!!! not to mention we saw a great "show" and learned some new dance moves. I am so lucky to have hung out with such great people. same time next year peeps!
sincerely j funn.

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"Nice parking. I guess they didn't have you in mind when they painted these lines." note left on Whiteyfunn's car
www.30afunn.com
30A Funn Facebook

I found out that our MBAs did an alternative spring break to help hurricane Katrina victims. I believe other parts of the University of Michigan sponsor alternative spring breaks as well (I heard about this kind of break for the first time on this board).

They travelled to New Orleans to help with post-hurricane reconstruction efforts. Our student newspaper said that they focused on helping victims complete real estate tax credit applications correctly and quickly -- they learned about the "complicated policy decisions that face the city, state and federal governments to affect a lasting and meaningful recovery...for the majority of the week, the students... filled out government forms in an effort to help make available over 700 affordable housing units for displaced low-income residents of the city..." They heard many stories from residents and were reminded once again that ... "sentimental objects are the things that really have value. One of the saddest stories told was that of a son who watched his mother seaching through the debris for their grandparents' photo album. She eventually found the pictures, but theyw ere severely damaged by the water and she ended up thorwing them teafully away. It is amazing how the most precious possessions for many families are the collection of 14 cent photos tucked away in the bookshelf."

Kudos to all the schools, students, teachers, and administrators who make this alternative spring break possible.

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Paula

Wow Jfunn. It sure is good to see you giving back. I know first hand how you spent your Spring Breaks- and your weekends for that matter, so it's good to see you giving back. I think it's important that we all take some time out of our "crazy" weekends and do something good, for someone else. Maybe I'll skip partying on Saturday night and go work at the soup kitchen or at a homeless shelter.

Jfunn, looks like you're finally coming around. Way to go. High five.

Does this mean you may actually start going to church or something? Hopefully these guys had a real affect on you.

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"Let's face it: We live in state infested with rubes and rednecks, particularly among Alabama football fans."- Paul Finebaum

you are getting around girl...glad to be back in SoWal?

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Buy the book, kiss the cook - AlisonCooks.com

A few shots of some hard-working and really funn people.

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YAY!!! They got SoWalled!!!! A fine looking group!

Oh how cute.

Is that Spidey with the dinosaurs? He may meet Debbysaurus Rex before he knows it.

Is that the same crew Jfunn hung out with?

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"Let's face it: We live in state infested with rubes and rednecks, particularly among Alabama football fans."- Paul Finebaum

Actually, Spidey met Lisasauraus and fell in love. Yes, the group was eager to announce that they had funn with JessiFunn.

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Hey guys! I was the other leader for the Alternative Spring Break trip and I just wanted to say thanks for all of your support! We had a great time down there. You should all go check out Eden State Gardens to see what we worked on. We built a trail that overlooks some water (okay, it's a swamp but it's really pretty), we wrestled bamboo (it's exotic.. if you want to take some home, I don't think Eden would mind at all), some of the participants built a bridge, and others removed those pesky stumps on the trails that everyone keeps tripping over.
By the way, that pizza restaurant was great--I've never eaten so much pizza in one sitting before. It was amazing, really.
We apparently got on the news on Thursday night, but we didn't have a TV at Camp Helen so we still haven't seen it. We did find the TV station's recap of it online though: Students Use Spring Break for Volunteerism
This was my third year doing this trip and it's sad to think that I'll be graduating and won't be returning next March to hang out with the rangers and cool alumni who feed us (and have their kids put on shows for us). Here are some pictures of us (I think.. I have no idea if it's gonna work right).
Thanks again for being such an awesome community!

- Cat

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	stump removal.jpg (126.7 KB, 7 views)
	amy bridge.jpg (57.4 KB, 34 views)
	swamp gals.jpg (103.2 KB, 8 views)
	sykes dance2.jpg (63.9 KB, 6 views)

Cat, hope your last day was a restful one, and your Alternative Spring Break was one you will remember forever. I enjoyed meeting you all and sharing dinner with you guys. Tell Lori to email her mailing address to me and I will mail her a cd with the photos.

Glad you made it on the news. On Wed night, after our dinner, I emailed a long message regarding you guys to the director at Channel 13 News in Panama City. I never received a reply and watched for the story on Thursday's evening news and Friday's morning news, but never saw one, so I thought they failed in getting out to Eden Gardens. I told them that you guys deserved as much or more face time on the news as all of the drunks in Panty Bra City Beach, including the drunk girl who fell off the railing at a motel. I am glad to see that you at least received a little press.

Perhaps you and Lori will pass to the torch to capable hands, and I will get to host a larger group for dinner next year. It would be great if we could provide dinners for the group for every night of the week during your stay in return for all of the physical labor that you guys put forth, volunteering in our back yard.

Thanks again, and best of luck in the future. You guys are a great bunch. If any of you need/want summer jobs in this area, just send me an email. I can hook you up.

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We all enjoyed meeting you guys and had a great time. You made the home page!

http://www.sowal.com