Summer of Service:

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Welcome from County Executive Ken Ulman

This will be a summer unlike any other – a Summer of Service filled with exciting volunteer opportunities throughout Howard County and the state of Maryland. Thank you for your interest in our program, and I look forward to all the good work we can accomplish together this summer.

Yours in service,

Ken Ulman

Summer of Service is a summer-long volunteer program that gives you a chance to serve your community and get a ticket to this summer's hottest concert - the Virgin Mobile FreeFest at Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 30th.

A celebration of the value and importance of service, the Summer of Service (SOS) program is a unique partnership with Virgin Mobile USA, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Howard County Government and community organizations to encourage service and volunteerism this summer. At its heart is recognition of the value of devoting our most precious resources – ourselves and our time – to a cause that is much bigger than any individual. The program is grounded in the simple belief that the collective power of individuals committed to making a difference really can change our world for the better, one person and one day at a time.

How does it work? It's simple: One day, one ticket. One day of service entitles you to one general admission ticket to the show. For additional program guidelines, please see below.

Between July 11 and August 23, Howard County Government and its community service partners will be sponsoring numerous volunteer service projects both big and small - from stream clean ups to blood drives to serving in our local libraries and senior centers. There will be projects available on an almost daily basis during the Summer of Service program, so there's bound to be something that fits your schedule.

The schedule of projects will be available when registration opens at noon on Thursday, July 2. You must reserve a spot in order to participate! Because we have a limited number of tickets, only those who register beginning on July 2 at noon will be guaranteed a ticket. Be sure to log on to http://sos.howardcountymd.gov at noon on Thursday to register. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

We’re also partnering with Volunteer Centers throughout Maryland to create service opportunities in each corner of the state. Information about these and any additional projects will be available on July 14. Keep an eye on this site or follow County Executive Ulman on Twitter for updates (http://twitter.com/kenulman).

Questions? Send us an email at sos@howardcountymd.gov.

For more information about how to get involved in Virgin Mobile USA’s FREE.I.P. program, visit the Virgin Mobile FreeFest website.

Howard County Summer of Service guidelines for participation:

• Participants must be 18 and older.

• Outdoor projects will take place rain or shine.

• Volunteers must bring a signed SOS waiver (click here to download) on the day of their project and must stay throughout the entire event in order to get a ticket.

• On the day of your event, you will receive a voucher for one ticket to the FreeFest. You can exchange the voucher for a ticket at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on the date listed on the voucher. You will need to bring some form of identification with your voucher in order to receive the ticket.