Want to view this Newsletter in your browser? Access the RSO Digital Newsletter.   Happy February, everyone! We can't believe that January has already come and gone, and now we are on to the shortest month of the year. Even though it feels like this semester might be flying by so far, we hope you've found time to enjoy yourselves and make some winter memories on campus. -Student Activities, a unit of the Dean of Students Office The RSO of the Month! Submit your RSO!   Want to see your group featured here? Nominate your organization for RSO of the Month by filling out the RSO of the month application! Winners will receive $50 for their RSO. RSO of the Month application   General Announcements Now Hiring: Welcome Week Student Crew Do you know any students with school spirit who love working on a team and enjoy welcoming new students to campus? If so, encourage them to apply to be a part of the Welcome Week Student Crew for August 2024! They can check out the job description online at Jobs.IllinoisState.edu to learn more about available positions and how to join the team.    University Program Board - Leadership Team University Program Board Leadership Team Applications are open Thursday, February 1, through Sunday, February 18. Visit the UPB webpage for more information. Being a member of the Leadership Team will give you hands-on experience, professional development, personal growth opportunities, leadership training, the ability to impact ISU, and so much more! A leadership position within this organization allows you to work one-on-one with an advisor, become part of a team with your peers, and have fun while doing it. We are in the "Making Redbird Moments" business and are excited to make new ones with you! No prior UPB experience is necessary.     Redbird Life TipsAttendance Tracking If you're hosting a significant event or a weekly chapter meeting, be sure to track of attendance to see how many people you have participating with your group. Through Redbird Life, attendance tracking can be a quick and easy process. To track attendance, first create your event on Redbird Life. From there you can select how you wish to check in people, including creating a check-in QR code, scanning attendee's Redbird Life Event Passes, or having people RSVP before the event. Redbird Life will then track attendance numbers, show unique visitors and provide email and other contact info for your records. This information can also be exported to Excel. Check out the Redbird Life resource page for step-by-step instructions on updating your roster and managing the functions Redbird Life offers.   RSO Funding Opportunity Fund Funds are available until depleted. *Retroactive applications will not be accepted.  Check out the Student Organizations funding page to find available hearing dates. Sport Clubs and Student Affairs Sponsored RSOs are ineligible to apply. Program Fund Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are open! These applications are for events/travel from July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 9, at midnight.  More information and applications for these funds are available on the RSO funding website.   RSO Funding Training Reminder, if you received any funding from the Program Fee Board for this academic year, don’t forget to set up a training appointment with Heather Marshall, our RSO Financial Associate, using the Bookings link   Is your RSO looking for additional funding options? Our office is pleased to announce that we can now offer Papa Johns promo codes for your RSO to market and use to earn money back as a donation from Papa Johns! If your RSO is interested in being issued a promo code to participate in this Papa Johns fundraiser, please submit the RSO Papa Johns Fundraiser request form. Codes will be issued at the end of February, so act fast if you want to participate in this opportunity.  Information & OpportunitiesRSO open booking for the Spring 2024 semester in the Bone Student Center is now available. A booking privileges form for your RSO must be completed for this academic year prior to making a reservation. Reservations may be made via the online form, by calling (309) 438-2222, by email, or by visiting the Event Services and Catering office in person, room 206 in the Bone Student Center.  It's Student Leadership Award Season! Student Leadership Award nominations are now open! Please complete the Student Leadership Award Nomination Form by Friday, February 9. If you have questions regarding the Student Leadership Awards or the nomination process, please contact Leadership Education and Development at RedbirdsLEAD@IllinoisState.edu. For more info on what awards are available, visit the awards website.  Additional Civic Engagement Grant Funding Available The Office of Civic Engagement is offering funding through their Civic Engagement Service Learning Grants, co-sponsored by Senior Professionals, the Center for Civic Engagement and the State Farm Foundation. These are available for Illinois State University registered student organizations or individuals working together on an in-course project that is aimed at making a difference within the Bloomington-Normal/McLean County community. Up to $1,000 can be awarded for local Civic Engagement projects that are led by ISU students. The funds must be used during the 2024 spring semester. If you are interested in applying or would like more info visit the Senior Professionals website! Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024    Giving back with Redbird Philanthropy Week Consider bringing your RSO to enjoy Redbird Philanthropy Week, where we celebrate the impact of donations from alumni, parents, employees, and friends on your Redbird experience. There will be a digital philanthropy quest where the first 500 students to complete the quest will receive a pair of Reggie slippers. You can also join the party for free food, activities, and prizes at the Bone Student Center, Circus Room, on Thursday, February 22, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. You can learn more info on the Redbird Philanthropy Week webpage.   Safe Redbirds Connect- Safety Presentations On behalf of Emergency Management, the Safe Redbird Ambassadors (SRA) are now conducting safety presentations! Open to all RSOs, organizations, and campus groups, the SRA are a group of dedicated leaders aiming to educate the ISU community to help keep them safe. The available presentations include: Personal Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety, Bird Watch, Cyber Awareness and Electronic Safety, and the Safe Redbirds App. To book a presentation, send an email to SafeRedbirds@IllinoisState.edu and a member of SRA will contact you to coordinate a presentation. For more information please visit the Safe Redbirds' website or email SafeRedbirds@IllinoisState.edu. Let's Connect!   RSO Newsletter submission Submit materials to be featured in this section of the newsletter by filling out the RSO Newsletter submission form.    New RSOs this month Helping Hands Mathematics Education Doctoral Students Redbird Culinary Club Personal Finance Club   Student Involvement Center The hub of all things RSOs. We have lots of fun resources available for your organization!   Board games Conference Space  Computers with Adobe Creative Suites  Free 15 pages of printing per day per RSO  Black & white or color   Half- and quarter-sheet flyers also available   Button Makers  24 buttons per semester per RSO  RSO mail pick up  Digital display screen General seating areas  We also provide free marketing opportunities for RSOs. Submit a Marketing Request through the online form!    Contact us at StudentOrganizations@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-2151. 227 Bone Student Center Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.– 6 p.m. Student Activities StaffJacob Rottinghaus (he/him) Student Involvement Program Coordinator Email: jtrotti@IllinoisState.edu   Mike Trubshaw (he/him) Student Involvement Graduate Assistant Email: vpsamatrubs@IllinoisState.edu Heather Marshall (she/her) RSO Financial Associate Email: hllough@IllinoisState.edu Important Links General Resources Find information on navigating Redbird Life as an RSO, FAQs, marketing opportunities, and so much more! This section also includes annual orientation information for presidents, treasurers, and advisors.   Redbird Life If you have any questions regarding Redbird Life, please contact Jacob Rottinghaus.   Funding Information Find information about how to apply for funding, how to set up an RSO bank account, and purchasing guidelines to ensure your student org uses its funding allocation properly! If you have questions about funding information, contact Heather Marshall.    Event Planning Find information about how to reserve space, manage risk, and promote your event on campus. Follow the guidelines, and remember to plan ahead!   Student Activities Redbird Life Student Activities Dean of Students Illinois State University Campus Box 2700 (309) 438-2151