Here’s a simple moralistic tale: if you’re unfaithful to your wife, the truth will come out, and you will pay the price. The popular media have repeated this tale recently, each time with a different leading character. First was Nevada Senator John Ensign, second South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and finally retired NFL quarterback Steve McNair. A random set of events among celebrities is ultimately responsible for this thrice-told tale. Random events often occur in streaks. That’s how randomness works, and yet we read into these random streaks some deeper meaning, just as we read animal shapes and faces into passing clouds.
We often have streaks of one kind of moralistic tale or another in the popular media since the media have only several moralistic tales in their repertoire: hard-working, heart-of-gold athlete leads the team to victory, average Joe labors years for his lifelong dream and finally achieves it—you can fill in the others. These tales work because they’re so simple and because they’re designed to grab our emotions. The unfaithful-husband-pays-the-price tale grabs our emotions because it’s about blatant good and evil. The evil, demon husband cheats on the good, sainted wife—end of story. We need to end the story quickly because any facts might muddy the tale. How blatantly evil can one be and still become a senator, a governor, an NFL quarterback, or some other celebrity? Yes, there are deeply flawed personalities who make it big in America—Nixon is a case in point—but I imagine such cases are are not the rule.
Let’s look at this tale of evil-unfaithful-husband-pays-the-price and ask some questions, not of these three men, but rather of the character or role that was pasted onto these men.
Was the evil man always evil? If so, why didn’t the public know? More important, why didn’t their wives know before they married them? Were these men also evil masters of deception?
Just as women who casually sleep around are sometimes called slutty woman, were these slutty men before they got married? Is a slutty man evil or do slutty habits of thought and action get washed away with marriage the way the soul is washed clean of sin through the waters of baptism? The problem then would be that some slutty men return to their slutty ways after marriage.
Were these men not evil, just narcissistic? Was it a case of their lives starting out as being mostly about themselves, their careers, and their desires and then becoming entirely about themselves, their careers, and their desires—moving from just kinda evil to all evil?
If marriage is a contract entered into knowingly, did these women have no hint of who they were getting hitched to? Or, did these men-with-a-bright-future dazzle their women so much that when the women did the calculus they decided to overlook these men’s ethical deficiencies? Also, were there absolutely no kind, faithful, caring men out there who these women might have chosen over their flawed, men-with-a-bright-future?
Marriage can be hard and complicated. Maybe moralistic tales about failed marriages are appealing because they help us believe, for a little while at least, that marriage is simple and that by comparison ours is doing just fine.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
New Opportunity to be Added to List Below
On Saturday, April 12th, the YMCA in Beverly will hold a Jr. Olympic Skills competition at the Beverly Field House from 9AM -1PM, holding events in track and field, soccer and basketball. The YMCA needs many volunteers to run the events, record times and give parents directions as to where the events are going to be held.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Moral and Civic Engagement Opportunities
Moral and Civic Engagement Opportunities
Below are a number of places from which to choose your moral and civic engagement activity. You’ll first need to go through the list, then get in touch with the organization to arrange an activity, and then perform the activity. There will be a discussion about your activities in the week of March 17 and a reflection paper will be due in the week of April 7 for most sections. The list is organized by cities where opportunities are located: Salem, Beverly, and Peabody. If you have another organization in mind, please discuss it with me, Professor Gubbins, first before getting involved.
In Salem
Salem CyberSpace
www.salemcyberspace.org
Mission
Brings technology training to a population of low-income and unemployed persons living North of Boston. Focuses on bridging the “Digital Divide” for many users who are becoming more socially disadvantaged because of their lack of computer knowledge.
Contact
Linda Saris, Executive Director
lsaris@salemcyberspace.org
978-740-6667
Contact Linda Saris directly. Use Professor Duclos-Orsello’s or Professor Gubbins’s name when explaining who you are and why you are looking for volunteer opportunities.
Location
98 Lafayette St.
Salem, MA
(across the street from Wendy’s)
(walkable from SSC)
Work Description
Marketing
Tutoring
Fundraising
Curriculum development
Time commitment varies depending on project
If you speak more than one language—GREAT! Be sure to tell Linda. Spanish is particularly useful.
Salem Mission/ Second Chance Thrift Store
www.salemmission.org
Mission
To end homelessness; to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the homeless, hungry and needy population we serve; to help those served achieve health, fulfillment and maximum independence; to provide educational, residential and employment services; and to partner with others wherever possible.
Contact
Ann M. Richardson/ Manager
Salem Mission/ Second Chance Thrift Store
978-745-2459
Let Professor Duclos-Orsello (Professor Gubbins’s colleague in the IDS department) know of your interest and you availability ASAP.
If there is a group of students, you will all meet with Ann as a group to learn more about the work of the Mission and be introduced to the volunteer projects. Then, you will set up your specific schedule with her.
Location
56 Margin St.
Salem, MA
(1 block from Salem Post Office)
(walkable from SSC)
Work Description
At least 4 weekly “shifts” – 2-3 hours each. You help out 4 times.
Help take in donations, sort clothes, arrange clothing in store, assist shoppers.
If you speak more than one language – GREAT. Be sure to tell Ann.
St. Joseph’s Food Pantry at Immaculate Conception Church
http://www.saintjosephsfoodpantry.com
Mission
St. Joseph's Food Pantry is a client choice food pantry that is truly dedicated to maintaining the dignity of the people it serves. 'Guests' come to the 'market' once a month to select the items that best suits their needs, and if they can't come to the 'market', the 'Moving Market' comes to them. Its outreach delivery program provides two bags of groceries and household items to more than 144 elderly, disabled and disadvantaged North Shore residents each and every month. Its Little Lambs Baby Program provides food, diapers, wipes, and other supplies of more than four hundred children in any given month and its Youth Summer Meal Program provides lunch and organizes field trips for more than 150 Salem area youths in June, July, August and early September. In all St. Joseph's Food Pantry serves and average of 2,285 clients and distributes over 2500 bags of food per month.
Contact
Mrs. Campbell (VeAnn Campbell)–Director
978-744-2532 (call before emailing)
sjfoodpantry@verizon.net
Contact Mrs. Campbell directly. Use Professor Duclos-Orsello’s or Professor Gubbins’s name when explaining who you are and why you are looking for volunteer opportunities.
Location
15 Hawthorne BlvdSalem, MA
(At Immaculate Conception Church – at large intersection near Hawthorne Hotel, Boys and Girls Club)
(30-35 minute walk from SSC)
Every Tuesday and Thursdays between 3 & 7 pm the store at the food pantry is open for guests to select food for their families.
Mrs. Campbell needs the following (you do not need to commit to the ENTIRE 4 hrs – 2 hrs/week on a T. or Th. for 4 weeks would be great.)
1) a greeter: greet the shoppers when they arrive. 1 greeter needed Tuesday and Thursday.
2) A reader: read to children of shoppers while parents shop. At least one reader needed Tuesday and Thursday.
3) Thursday evenings: volunteers to pack 50 bags of food for delivery
Also, if you have a car and are interested in helping deliver food to area residents, please let Mrs. Campbell know.
If you speak more than one language, GREAT! Be sure to tell Mrs. Campbell.
In need of bilingual volunteers – esp. for READERS. Many children have limited English; mostly Spanish as first language.
HAWC Walk
http://www.helpabusedwomen.org/walkforhawc.htm
Walk in April 27 in Salem: see website for details.
In Beverly
Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition
http://www.beverlyaffordablehousing.org/index.htm
Contact
David Bresnahan, Program Manager
Bahc2@verizon.net
978‑921‑4705
Students can contact David Bresnahan directly by phone or email and mention Professor Gubbins’s name and that you’re from Salem State.
Location
248 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Work Description
Students could be assign a specific 3‑hour project if they request that
Preferably, a student could come in for a couple hours a week as an intern who would provide support on various tasks including, potentially: Helping to manage our database, doing mailings, helping to manage Facebook and Myspace pages, filing and organization, organizing
scrapbooks and binders, creating and/or updating documents, running errands related to our properties and organization events.
Hours: Flexible.
Qualifications: Friendly, out‑going, flexible, able to write well, comfortable speaking with clients and donors on the phone or in person, interested in non‑profit organizations and able to work independently. A passion for social justice and sense of humor are highly desirable.
Beverly Bootstraps Community Services
http://www.beverlybootstraps.org/menu.html
Mission
To end hunger and its root causes in the Beverly community by offering a myriad of emergency and empowerment services to those in need within our community
Bootstraps provides a food pantry, community outreach services, a thrift store, and other services.
Contact
Tom Gifford
Kathy Kirlis, or
Andrea Jones, LCSW
Phone: 978-927-1561
Fax: 978-927-1553
tgifford@beverlybootstraps.org
ajones@beverlybootstraps.org
Location
371 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Work Description
Groups of students (up to 10) could do a 45 minute tour on Friday ideally or another as time allows, which would include a 12 minute video of a real Beverly family dealing with their eviction and discussion of why our services are needed.
Students could start a campus-wide food drive for Beverly Bootstraps, which is needed because of the dramatically increased demand.
American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts
http://www.northeastmassredcross.org/
Mission
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Contact
Cynthia D. Quinn, Interim Executive Director
American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts
978-922-2224 tel
978-922-0325 fax
execdirector@northeastmassredcross.org
www.northeastmassredcross.org
Students could contact Cynthia Quinn directly by phone or email so that she can schedule students when it is convenient for both parties. The work will change--especially if it is disaster services related (it's hard to predict when a disaster will happen). Generally the office is just open 8:30 am- 4:30 pm on weekdays and closed for national holidays.
Location
100 Cummings Center, Suite 207F
Beverly, MA 01915
(several blocks west of the intersection of Route 62 and Route 1A, Cummings Center is a huge complex on Route 62 with free parking in lots and around the buildings)
Work Description
Some possible jobs are to . . .
pickup/drop-off flyers for various activities
work at a blood drive to help register people or feed people after they have donated
inventory supplies (cots, blankets, comfort kits, etc.) that just arrived
do some data entry work
organize for a fundraiser
help organize the disaster supply closet, or other related activities as needed.
Good Friday Walk
http://goodfridaywalk.org/walk_info.htm
Mission
Raise money that is distributed to families in need on the North Shore.
See website for Contacts, Locations, and Work Description.
Beyond Salem and Beverly
Haven from Hunger
http://www.havenfromhunger.org/
Mission
The Haven operates a food pantry/meal program. Our food pantry program is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal program serves dinner the same four evenings at 5 p.m. We provide our food pantry clients with good nutritional food which consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, dairy products, etc. Our evening meal program serves our guests a hot nutritional meal.
See website for Contacts and Work Descriptions.
Location
71 Wallis Street
Peabody, MA
Below are a number of places from which to choose your moral and civic engagement activity. You’ll first need to go through the list, then get in touch with the organization to arrange an activity, and then perform the activity. There will be a discussion about your activities in the week of March 17 and a reflection paper will be due in the week of April 7 for most sections. The list is organized by cities where opportunities are located: Salem, Beverly, and Peabody. If you have another organization in mind, please discuss it with me, Professor Gubbins, first before getting involved.
In Salem
Salem CyberSpace
www.salemcyberspace.org
Mission
Brings technology training to a population of low-income and unemployed persons living North of Boston. Focuses on bridging the “Digital Divide” for many users who are becoming more socially disadvantaged because of their lack of computer knowledge.
Contact
Linda Saris, Executive Director
lsaris@salemcyberspace.org
978-740-6667
Contact Linda Saris directly. Use Professor Duclos-Orsello’s or Professor Gubbins’s name when explaining who you are and why you are looking for volunteer opportunities.
Location
98 Lafayette St.
Salem, MA
(across the street from Wendy’s)
(walkable from SSC)
Work Description
Marketing
Tutoring
Fundraising
Curriculum development
Time commitment varies depending on project
If you speak more than one language—GREAT! Be sure to tell Linda. Spanish is particularly useful.
Salem Mission/ Second Chance Thrift Store
www.salemmission.org
Mission
To end homelessness; to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the homeless, hungry and needy population we serve; to help those served achieve health, fulfillment and maximum independence; to provide educational, residential and employment services; and to partner with others wherever possible.
Contact
Ann M. Richardson/ Manager
Salem Mission/ Second Chance Thrift Store
978-745-2459
Let Professor Duclos-Orsello (Professor Gubbins’s colleague in the IDS department) know of your interest and you availability ASAP.
If there is a group of students, you will all meet with Ann as a group to learn more about the work of the Mission and be introduced to the volunteer projects. Then, you will set up your specific schedule with her.
Location
56 Margin St.
Salem, MA
(1 block from Salem Post Office)
(walkable from SSC)
Work Description
At least 4 weekly “shifts” – 2-3 hours each. You help out 4 times.
Help take in donations, sort clothes, arrange clothing in store, assist shoppers.
If you speak more than one language – GREAT. Be sure to tell Ann.
St. Joseph’s Food Pantry at Immaculate Conception Church
http://www.saintjosephsfoodpantry.com
Mission
St. Joseph's Food Pantry is a client choice food pantry that is truly dedicated to maintaining the dignity of the people it serves. 'Guests' come to the 'market' once a month to select the items that best suits their needs, and if they can't come to the 'market', the 'Moving Market' comes to them. Its outreach delivery program provides two bags of groceries and household items to more than 144 elderly, disabled and disadvantaged North Shore residents each and every month. Its Little Lambs Baby Program provides food, diapers, wipes, and other supplies of more than four hundred children in any given month and its Youth Summer Meal Program provides lunch and organizes field trips for more than 150 Salem area youths in June, July, August and early September. In all St. Joseph's Food Pantry serves and average of 2,285 clients and distributes over 2500 bags of food per month.
Contact
Mrs. Campbell (VeAnn Campbell)–Director
978-744-2532 (call before emailing)
sjfoodpantry@verizon.net
Contact Mrs. Campbell directly. Use Professor Duclos-Orsello’s or Professor Gubbins’s name when explaining who you are and why you are looking for volunteer opportunities.
Location
15 Hawthorne BlvdSalem, MA
(At Immaculate Conception Church – at large intersection near Hawthorne Hotel, Boys and Girls Club)
(30-35 minute walk from SSC)
Every Tuesday and Thursdays between 3 & 7 pm the store at the food pantry is open for guests to select food for their families.
Mrs. Campbell needs the following (you do not need to commit to the ENTIRE 4 hrs – 2 hrs/week on a T. or Th. for 4 weeks would be great.)
1) a greeter: greet the shoppers when they arrive. 1 greeter needed Tuesday and Thursday.
2) A reader: read to children of shoppers while parents shop. At least one reader needed Tuesday and Thursday.
3) Thursday evenings: volunteers to pack 50 bags of food for delivery
Also, if you have a car and are interested in helping deliver food to area residents, please let Mrs. Campbell know.
If you speak more than one language, GREAT! Be sure to tell Mrs. Campbell.
In need of bilingual volunteers – esp. for READERS. Many children have limited English; mostly Spanish as first language.
HAWC Walk
http://www.helpabusedwomen.org/walkforhawc.htm
Walk in April 27 in Salem: see website for details.
In Beverly
Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition
http://www.beverlyaffordablehousing.org/index.htm
Contact
David Bresnahan, Program Manager
Bahc2@verizon.net
978‑921‑4705
Students can contact David Bresnahan directly by phone or email and mention Professor Gubbins’s name and that you’re from Salem State.
Location
248 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Work Description
Students could be assign a specific 3‑hour project if they request that
Preferably, a student could come in for a couple hours a week as an intern who would provide support on various tasks including, potentially: Helping to manage our database, doing mailings, helping to manage Facebook and Myspace pages, filing and organization, organizing
scrapbooks and binders, creating and/or updating documents, running errands related to our properties and organization events.
Hours: Flexible.
Qualifications: Friendly, out‑going, flexible, able to write well, comfortable speaking with clients and donors on the phone or in person, interested in non‑profit organizations and able to work independently. A passion for social justice and sense of humor are highly desirable.
Beverly Bootstraps Community Services
http://www.beverlybootstraps.org/menu.html
Mission
To end hunger and its root causes in the Beverly community by offering a myriad of emergency and empowerment services to those in need within our community
Bootstraps provides a food pantry, community outreach services, a thrift store, and other services.
Contact
Tom Gifford
Kathy Kirlis, or
Andrea Jones, LCSW
Phone: 978-927-1561
Fax: 978-927-1553
tgifford@beverlybootstraps.org
ajones@beverlybootstraps.org
Location
371 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Work Description
Groups of students (up to 10) could do a 45 minute tour on Friday ideally or another as time allows, which would include a 12 minute video of a real Beverly family dealing with their eviction and discussion of why our services are needed.
Students could start a campus-wide food drive for Beverly Bootstraps, which is needed because of the dramatically increased demand.
American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts
http://www.northeastmassredcross.org/
Mission
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Contact
Cynthia D. Quinn, Interim Executive Director
American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts
978-922-2224 tel
978-922-0325 fax
execdirector@northeastmassredcross.org
www.northeastmassredcross.org
Students could contact Cynthia Quinn directly by phone or email so that she can schedule students when it is convenient for both parties. The work will change--especially if it is disaster services related (it's hard to predict when a disaster will happen). Generally the office is just open 8:30 am- 4:30 pm on weekdays and closed for national holidays.
Location
100 Cummings Center, Suite 207F
Beverly, MA 01915
(several blocks west of the intersection of Route 62 and Route 1A, Cummings Center is a huge complex on Route 62 with free parking in lots and around the buildings)
Work Description
Some possible jobs are to . . .
pickup/drop-off flyers for various activities
work at a blood drive to help register people or feed people after they have donated
inventory supplies (cots, blankets, comfort kits, etc.) that just arrived
do some data entry work
organize for a fundraiser
help organize the disaster supply closet, or other related activities as needed.
Good Friday Walk
http://goodfridaywalk.org/walk_info.htm
Mission
Raise money that is distributed to families in need on the North Shore.
See website for Contacts, Locations, and Work Description.
Beyond Salem and Beverly
Haven from Hunger
http://www.havenfromhunger.org/
Mission
The Haven operates a food pantry/meal program. Our food pantry program is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal program serves dinner the same four evenings at 5 p.m. We provide our food pantry clients with good nutritional food which consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, dairy products, etc. Our evening meal program serves our guests a hot nutritional meal.
See website for Contacts and Work Descriptions.
Location
71 Wallis Street
Peabody, MA
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