Group serves as community service organization

First things first -- they don't sell insurance. Nor do they chop wood.

The Modern Woodmen Student Chapter is a volunteer organization new to Southeast Missouri State University this year.

"We founded the club to promote community service opportunities around Cape and on campus," club president Chris Dzurick said. "We want to encourage people who want to get involved."

The group partners with Modern Woodmen of America, a special type of insurance and financial services provider called a fraternal benefits society. Dzurick's new chapter is one of more than 2,500 volunteer programs nationwide that are sponsored by the non-profit.

Membership coordinator Rachel Embree is looking forward to collaborating with other student organizations. Members who are involved with other clubs are encouraged to bring suggestions for projects.

Future projects, including one with the Association of Black Collegians, are already on the horizon.

"We expect most of our work this year to include partnerships with existing groups on campus since we're new," Embree said.

But don't expect just another canned food drive. The Modern Woodmen Student Chapter is designed to take community service to the next level. There are certain perks to being a subsidiary of a national organization, like access to $2,500 per year that allows members to match capital with partner groups to fund service projects of their choice. They are also tapped into a larger volunteer network to help handle logistics.

"If someone has an idea and they bring it to us, we might be able to provide the administrative support and match funds to help facilitate that. We can grow that project to be huge," Dzurick said. "[Instead of] a bake sale that raises a few dollars, we can expand that project so that it can bring in hundreds."

Embree was quick to add a caveat, saying that, "We're not the funding board, but there's no other organization other than student government that's capable of helping other groups the way we are."

If you've never heard the term Modern Woodmen before, you're not alone. Both Dzurick and Embree admitted that they hadn't heard the name until a business-networking seminar in St. Louis last year. But after realizing the potential for community service, they decided to found the club at Southeast as part of their internship with the company.

An insurance company may sponsor them, but they are first and foremost a service organization, operating like United Way to coordinate volunteer efforts in the community.

"Just to be clear. We don't try to sell insurance to anyone who becomes a part of the student group or talk about it at meetings," Dzurick said.

Beneficial membership in Modern Woodmen of America is not required to join the student chapter. In fact, all of the current students involved with the new organization are social members only, meaning they don't participate in the fraternal or financial side of the company.

"It's just $4.20 to join the student chapter and for that you become a social member and benefit from helping us serve the community," Dzurick said.

But the benefits of being a social member are hardly limited to altruistic satisfaction. For those studying business or finance, the Modern Woodmen Student Chapter holds attractive networking potential, though all majors are invited to join. Modern Woodmen of America provided $441,000 in scholarships to student members last year, and social members even qualify for banking services.

The official chapter meetings are held in the University Center's Tribute Room on the first Monday of each month, with informal meetings conducted when planning events.

Fifteen members attended the first official meeting last week, and while pleased with the initial turnout, Embree plans on enlisting more. Dzurick is available by email at cpdzurick1s@semo.edu and there will be an informational table set up for anyone interested in joining from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each Wednesday in the UC.