Students

Student Chapter Activity Ideas

Volunteer to help animals in your campus’ community

There are many ways that HSVMA student chapters can help animals in need in their campus community. These are just a few ideas:

  • Organize a work day at a local animal shelter or sanctuary.
  • Participate in local spay/neuter clinics for feral cats or animals of low-income families; Collect food and supplies for animals of the homeless.
  • Organize a microchip or vaccination clinic in a low-income area.
  • Coordinate a program to provide nursing care for sick animals at a local shelter.

Host a social event

Social events aren't only a great way to show potential members that you are a welcoming and fun group, they're also a great opportunity to partner with other student clubs on campus. Before the event begins, be sure to give a quick pitch for HSVMA and have informational materials available near the entrance and exit.

Examples:

  • FREE MOVIE NIGHT featuring a film related to animal welfare. Some ideas for films include:
    • Dealing Dogs
    • Food, Inc.
    • March of the Penguins
    • Marley & Me
    • Peaceable Kingdom
    • Shelter Dogs
    • The Witness
  • CO-SPONSOR A CAMPUS EVENT such as a concert, festival, or seminar which promotes another social awareness theme related to animal welfare such as green living.

Participate in legislative efforts

Veterinary students can be effective advocates for animal welfare legislation since lawmakers give added credence to testimony from the veterinary profession. Here are just a few examples of how you can get involved in efforts to advance animal protective legislation:

  • Organize a letter-writing drive on behalf of a specific animal welfare bill in your community.
  • Recruit veterinary students to testify at your state Capitol on an animal protection bill; Distribute emails to the campus community on important animal welfare legislation.

Recruit more members

In addition to social events, the following ideas can help bring more members to your chapter:

  • MAKE THE MOST OF THE HSVMA SPEAKERS BUREAU. Choose topics that will appeal to the student body and advertise the presentation all over campus. Be sure there are plenty of HSVMA brochures to hand out to attendees at the event.
  • HOLD A “BRING A FRIEND” MEETING. Have each chapter member bring a non-member friend to a meeting and have a brief introduction about HSVMA, a fun ice-breaker activity, and snacks. Even if they don’t join the chapter, ask the friends to sign up for HSVMA’s e-newsletter and to consider an HSVMA membership—both are free!
  • DEVELOP A WEBSITE and/or START A FACEBOOK GROUP to share chapter information with other students, including pictures from previous activities and an event calendar. Your university may provide web pages to student chapters. Contact Erin Luebkeman, Student Outreach Coordinator, for the HSVMA Student Chapter Facebook Guidelines. Be sure to include the chapter’s website and/or Facebook Group URL on flyers.
  • LIST UPCOMING ACTIVITIES IN YOUR COLLEGE NEWSLETTER AND THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER.
  • SET-UP AN INFORMATIONAL TABLEat freshman orientation and student activities fairs.
  • WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR YOUR CAMPUS NEWSPAPERabout a Speakers Bureau presentation or recent chapter project.
  • BRAINSTORM WITH EXISTING MEMBERSabout other ways to bring in new members.

Contact Erin Luebkeman for more information on HSVMA Student Chapters.
 
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