Organizational Communication

Current Internship and Applied Project Opportunities

The Experiential Learning (EXL) office at MTSU has compiled a list of nonprofits that need interns and volunteers.
http://blueweb.mtsu.edu/cgi-bin/users/webprod/EXL/Vol_NPOList.cgi.

Some of the ongoing opportunities for MTSU students are:

American Cancer Society - Nashville
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. We are now on the Middle Tennessee State University campus and want to work with MTSU students to help us save lives and create a world with more birthdays by helping people stay well, by finding cures and by fighting back.  Contact Kelly Kormos, 615-341-7330, Kelly.Kormos@cancer.org.

Country Music Association
The Membership and Balloting department plays a fundamental role in the overall success of CMA. First, the department concentrates on the recruitment and retention of CMA members. Secondly, the department operates the balloting system, which oversees the process for CMA Awards Balloting, Broadcast Awards, and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame inductees.  Must be available to work three or more days a week, and must be 21 years or older.  Contact Betsy Walker (615) 244-2840, bwalker@cmaworld.com. 

Elliott Events 
Mt. Juliet.  Unpaid, and is for those who are working for school credit.  Elliott Events specializes in decor, coordinating and planning, and florist services. We do weddings throughout middle Tennessee. Any students who would be interested interning this fall can respond by sending their resume to tiffanie@elliottevents.com.

Expanding Your Horizons
This is a conference designed to nurture girls' interest in science and math courses and to encourage them to consider science and math-based career options such as engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and physical science. Over 350 high school and middle school girls attend the conference, which is held at MTSU.   Volunteers must enroll in a 1-hour service-learning college credit through the EXL program at MTSU.  This class meets Mondays, 4:10-5:10 p.m.  To become a volunteer or join the class, email Laura Clippard at laura.clippard@mtsu.edu.

Greenhouse Ministries
Greenhouse Ministries is an interdenominational faith-based nonprofit organization. Our purpose is to serve the underserved in our community through a food pantry; furniture program; adult education classes; job and housing referrals; homeless housing; networking services, resources, and advocacy; and community service.
Website: www.greenhousemin.org
Address: 410 West Lytle Street, Murfreesboro
Responsibilities: Days at Greenhouse Ministries are very variable, so an intern must be flexible and able to adapt to many situations. Event planning will be a large role for an intern. Throughout the year we plan fundraising dinners, our 5K run, food drives, etc. An intern will also be responsible for helping with publicity and marketing of various Greenhouse Ministries events. Interns will be expected to interact with clients as needed in order to help with various needs.
Contact : Leslie Mertz, 615-494-0499, leslie.mertz@greenhousemin.org
Other information: Our office hours are Tuesday-Friday 9:00-4:00. We also currently offer adult education classes Thursday evenings 5:00-8:00 p.m. Students should take these hours into consideration when planning an internship.

Hispanic Family Center
Website:  www.hispanicfamilycenter.org
A nonprofit organization in Murfreesboro which offers English classes, tutoring, translation, and other services, to the Latino families.  It does not yet have a building, so several churches in town allow it to use their facilities for classes.  Spanish classes for the general public are also offered.  This organization needs volunteers for fundraising, grant writing, marketing, tutoring children and adults, web development, and social media.  Contact Karen Duvall at karen@hispanicfamilycenter.org.

KID-FIT Tennessee
KID-FIT Tennessee is a preschool physical fitness company offering on-site programs to child care centers and preschools in Middle Tennessee. The internship involves planning special projects, marketing, and social media. Contact Katie Kowalski, Katie@kidfittn.com . Check out the web site at www.kidfittn.com.

MTSU College of Liberal Arts
Website: http://www.mtsu.edu/liberalarts
Contact: Connie Huddleston, College Coordinator, chudd@mtsu.edu
Unpaid
Responsibilities: Event Planning

• Plan events
• Work at events
• Attend meetings

Musicians On Call
Needs an intern to assist with various tasks in the Nashville office. Potential internship would include assisting the Nashville Program Director and Manager of Volunteers and Programming with day-to-day tasks including: program coordination, fundraising campaigns, and events. This internship offers students the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience while interacting with the music and non-profit communities.  Please send applications to nashville@musiciansoncall.org.

Nashville Wedding Planners Group
Volunteer to help this group with events and weddings.  Contact Tiffani Helms, Owner of Creative Designs & Events, at 615-430-0427.

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
Responsibilities include:

1. Assist with retention calls to active members.
2. Assist team in research of opportunities for chamber members.
3. Assist with Director of Membership & Membership Account Executive with event planning and preparation, workshops, and any other special events that might be available to members.
4. Prepare materials for prospects/new chamber members.
5. Assist with Diplomat program and materials for these meetings.

Contact: Please submit resumes or questions to Chassen Haynes at CHaynes@rutherfordchamber.org.

St. Clair Street Senior Center
As an intern at St. Clair Street Senior Center, students have a 'hand-on' experience in a not-for-profit setting assisting Program Staff in planning, promoting, implementing, evaluating and executing senior center activities and trips. St. Clair Street is an activity center for adults 60 and older; no one lives here. Each day 150-250 senior citizens come through our door to participate in the activities programming staff put into place.

Under the supervision of Programming Staff you will:

1. Experience how a non-profit works
2. Plan a local trip for the seniors and escort that trip
3. Learn event planning skills used in a not-for-profit situation
4. Learn to execute a 'diamond party on a coal budget'
5. Gain an understanding of issues facing today's adult age 60 and over
6. Learn how an organization communicates within itself to create a monthly newsletter that features every department
7. Be an active member of the 'St. Clair Staff' family
8. Attend staff meetings
9. Attend planning meetings; learn the importance of working with outside organizations to meet your planning goals
10. Have responsibilities that are vital to making each day the best it can be for our participants
11. Learn the importance of good attendance, work place procedures and how to exist successfully in a 'real life' work situation

Interns are asked to submit their own goals and objectives the second week of the internship. Program Staff uses these goals and objectives to mold the internship to meet the needs/desires of the student.

Operating at the current location since January, 1982, St. Clair Street Senior Center offers a variety of activities, trips and services geared toward enhancing the quality of an independent lifestyle for individuals 60 years of age or over in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.

To begin your internship process contact Brenda Kiskis Elliott or Lisa foster at 615-848-2550.

Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition
Website: www.tbcc.org
Hermitage Golf Course
Address: 3939 Old Hickory Boulevard, Old Hickory, TN 37138

Responsibilities include some data entry, event management, auction leads follow up, volunteer management, mailings, etc. This position helps with our main fundraiser for the year The Lowe's Celebration of Life Golf Classic presented by Kroger. It is part-time now and gets progressively busier towards the event. We are a grassroots small staffed 501 (c)3 with a large outreach throughout Tennessee. Therefore we are open to whatever the student is interested in learning.

Contact: Laura Scott, LL_Scott@comcast.net, 615 -772-3681 or 615-337-8777.

Tennessee Literacy Coalition
A non-profit organization that supports and promotes adult learning across Tennessee. We currently have an Event Coordinating/Fundraising internship opportunity available. We are seeking an intern for the Summer to assist in the expansion of our monthly trivia night fundraisers and our fall fundraiser. I am thinking that this could be a great opportunity for a student in the Organizational Communication program at MTSU and for someone who wants experience in the non profit world. It would be an unpaid position, and we are looking for someone who is willing to help out 10-20 hours a week.  Contact Erin Guglielmo at 615-259-3700.