American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Portage, Michigan

External Communication/Event Planning Internship
American Cancer Society
5110 S. Sprinkle Road
Portage, MI 49002
269-349-8719
Fax 269-349-0846

Internship objective:
To provide assistance to the five community development directors with planning, promoting and implementing their Relay for Life events.

About the interning organization:
Since 1913, the American Cancer Society has focused on the same goal of eliminating cancer and has funded the work of over 30 Nobel Prize winning researchers. ACS is a nation-wide voluntary health organization that has three goals by the year 2015: (1) Reduce cancer mortality by 50%; (2) Reduce cancer incidence by 25%; (3) Measurably improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

Interning organizations mission:
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

Semesters interns are needed: su I & su II, fall and spring semesters annually

Number of interns needed: up to 5 each semester
At least one – potentially more if CDDs have enough work/meetings to attend

Start date: On or near the first day of the semester, negotiable

End date: On or near the last day of the semester, negotiable

Hours per week: 5-15, negotiable, based upon the student’s schedule and the number of weeks they are scheduled to intern

Academic qualifications:
Declared major or minor in the School of Communication

Desired skills and qualifications:
Student interns should have excellent written and verbal communication skills for press releases; have the ability to create documents that meet ACS branding guidelines appropriate to distribute to media outlets; have knowledge of local media opportunities; be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher (PageMaker). Proficient experience in Microsoft Word, Excel & Publisher. Writing samples, portfolio and letter of recommendation from professor a plus.

Description of intern responsibilities:
Intern responsibilities would include, but not be limited to, the following:
Work with Lead Staff in planning and implementation of Relay for Life event.
Work with Lead Staff and Chair to plan and implement a successful media and communications program to include: TV, radio and print promotions, materials/distribution, and photography
Become an educated informant for RFL
Schedule media interviews
Arrange TV/Radio coverage before/during/after event
Develop public service announcements, news releases, human interest stories, etc. to promote RFL
Create a list of spokesperson contacts for media outlets
Recruit a photographer for team/event photos
OK any press release, interview, etc. with Lead Staff
Send and follow up any media information submissions
Attend regular committee meetings to report on progress
Compile all notes and records in a final report for the Secretary at Wrap-Up

Location:
5110 S. Sprinkle Rd Portage, MI 49002
Intern will be able to do bulk of work within local office; additional attendance at event committee meetings may be required which normally occur in the evenings.

Intern sponsor:
One or more of the following:
Pam Hughes, Marie Teitgen, Jean Thompson, Shelli Stockbarger, Alison Satkoski (Community Development Directors)

Interested students should contact:
Alison Satkoski
269-349-8719
Fax 349-0846
alison.satkoski@cancer.org

*Please email or fax letter of interest with resume for consideration.

Credit: College credit toward communication major, minor or general electives. One hour of college credit is earned for 40 hours of work.

Evaluation: The evaluation will be completed by Marilyn Kritzman, Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships and will be based upon the following:
The student's journal/log of all intern activities
The student's copy of all work produced
A final paper
The internship sponsor's mid-internship evaluation
The internship sponsor's end of the internship evaluation

Method of evaluation:
Student's on going journals and final log: 20%
Copies of work submitted: 20%
Paper: 20%
Internship sponsor's mid-internship evaluation: 20%
Internship sponsor's end of the internship evaluation: 20%

Calendar:
E-mail updates to the Coordinator of Undergraduate Internship every month.
Additional communication via email, phone or in person as needed
All materials are to be submitted to the School of Communication's Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships the Wednesday prior to final weeks of the semester/session registered.


Intern’s Signature


American Cancer Society Staff’s Signature


School of Communication Faculty Sponsor’s (Marilyn S. Kritzman) Signature