Project Linus of WVU SoM
Mission
The purpose of Project Linus is to:
provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals, for the benefit of children.
Year-round donations: All blankets to be donated must be at least 36 x 36 inches without buttons, tags or other attachments. Finished blankets can be delivered to Student Services. You can receive up to 16 hours for the first blanket and 12 hours for each additional blanket.
For years, Project Linus of WVU SoM has enabled students to contribute and to develop their fibercraft skills to benefit children in need. Project Linus, the non-profit from which this organization primarily, but not exclusively benefits lists the following as their history:
"On Christmas Eve, 1995, an article titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. It was written by Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist, Eddie Adams. Part of the article featured a petite, downy haired child named Laura:
“Laura has unusual compassion for others,” Charlotte Barry-Williams of Oceanside, California, says of her daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. “I guess part of the reason is that she has experienced so much pain herself.”
A special “blankie” has helped Laura, 3, get through more than two years of intensive chemotherapy. She takes it to the hospital with her when she goes for treatment. When she was first diagnosed, 97 percent of her bone marrow contained cancerous cells. Although chemotherapy has helped eradicate the cancer, she has had to endure nausea, high fevers and the loss of her hair. An allergic reaction at one point caused her to lose vital signs.
“She doesn’t understand what cancer means,” her mother says. “She’s a very joyous and happy person, very curious.” Her mother hopes Laura can start preschool next spring.
After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to provide new handmade security blankets to Denver’s Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center, and Project Linus was born."
Source: https://www.projectlinus.org/
Officers
- Ivy Kaznoski
- President
- Sarah Mitchem
- Vice President
- Tony Chen
- Secretary
- Matthew Fleshman
- Treasurer
- Emma Shychuck
- Outreach Coordinator
- Lisa Costello
- Faculty Advisor
Bylaws
ARTICLE 1: Name, Purpose, and Membership
Section 1
The name of this organization will be the Project Linus Club of West Virginia University School of Medicine.
Section 2
The purpose of Project Linus shall be:
Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
Provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals, for the benefit of children.
Section 3
Membership is open to medical students enrolled at WVU. No person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, military status, or such other factors which cannot be considered lawfully, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity within the organization.
ARTICLE II: Officers and Duties
Section 1
The executive council shall consist of the following:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Section 2
Duties of the President
Shall be responsible of calling meetings
Shall reside at and conduct all meetings
Shall be responsible for appointing committees
Shall plan a program of events for his or her term of office
Section 3
Duties of the Vice President
Shall fulfill the duties of the president as stated in Section 2 during the absence of the presidents
Shall assist in the coordination and planning of calendar events
Section 4
Duties of the Secretary
Shall be responsible for maintaining accurate minutes of all minutes
Shall be responsible for correspondence to other organizations and individuals
Shall be responsible for all publicity for the organization
Shall fulfill the duties of the vice president as stated in Section 3 during the absence of the vice president
Shall assume duties assigned by the president
Shall assume duties related to alias and contacting members
Section 5
Duties of the Treasurers
Shall administer financial affairs
Shall fulfill the duties of the secretary as stated in Section 3 during his or her absence
Shall submit a budget proposal at the beginning of each school year
Shall assume duties assigned by the president
ARTICLE III: Election Rules and Regulations
Section 1
Election of officers will be held at the last organizational meeting of the spring semester. The officers will be elected for a period of one year. This election will be by a simple majority of those attending the meeting, thus determining the winners.
Section 2
To hold an elected, or appointed office in this organization, a member must have at least a 75% average at the time of election or appointment, and must be a full-time student. Furthermore, the member may not be on academic or disciplinary probation.
ARTICLE IV: Removal and Succession
Section 1
Removal. Action for impeachment or removal of an office may be enacted at any regular meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, providing the proposed action shall have been submitted in writing at a previous meeting and written notification given to the general membership.
Section 2
Succession. The filling of vacancies in unexpired officers’ terms shall be accomplished by holding an election in the usual manner at the regular scheduled meeting immediately following a notice of vacancy. The election can take place during a meeting in which a vacancy occurs ( e.g., impeachment or resignation).
ARTICLE V: Amendments
Section 1
Any amendment to this constitution must be approved by two-thirds vote of those members present and voting.
ARTICLE VI: SPECIAL WVU REQUIREMENTS
This organization will adhere to the West Virginia University Conduct Code.