ALD promotes good service

College life is a stressful for many students, but there is one group on campus that remembers to help out others as well.

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (ALD) is a national honor society club at Lyndon State College.

"We promote excellence in academics while encouraging members to give back to their community on campus and off," President Emma Shattuck said.

To get in, you need a 3.5 grade point average or higher in your freshman year of college; the only exception is if you are a transfer student who was already a member of ALD at their previous college.

Janet Bennion is the club advisor. At the end of the semester she gets a list of everyone that made Dean's list or Presidents list and then sends everyone on the list an official letter inviting them to join the club. This letter should be going out soon to prospective members. It only costs $25 for lifetime membership, and this fee goes towards the national society.

Currently on the executive board are Shattuck as president, Christine George as vice president, Margaret George as secretary, and Catherine Vitale as treasurer. In order to become president you must already hold a position on the board, however anyone including freshman have the ability to run for any other position. The vice president slot will be open this fall as Christine George is graduating in May.

This club is active on campus, having participated in the leadership conference by presenting how and why you should get involved in your community. The club also did a candy cane gram fundraiser and all the money went to the Santa Fund. All of the money that it raises always goes to a charity as the club is all about giving back to the community.

"While it's obviously a club it's also a hobby to me. I like doing community service and everyone in the club is really nice." Margaret George said.

ALD currently has about 40 members and 10 of them are active. The club usually has monthly meetings to discuss current fundraisers, report on success of past events and talk about what future community services and events the members want to plan.

The club is currently helping people in the community by shoveling their driveways after snowstorms, will be participating in Green Up Day, and planning a variety show which will be held sometime in April.

One new thing ALD is working on starting is picking up leftover food from Aramark and dropping it off at designated locations to help people in need. So far the club has arranged Hope and some senior meal sites to receive food.

Daisy McCoy, an LSC mathematics professor, has been doing this on Thursdays and Fridays and ALD would like to expand this great community service.

"You don't need to be a member to help out with any of these activities, we welcome all the help," Shattuck said.

 Christine George is the person to contact if interested in helping with this service.

            The club is very passionate about helping with this new venture.

             "It helps to appreciate what you have to see people who are less fortunate then you," said Christine George.