About the BlogMeister

A letter from the creator:

Dear Visitor,

My name is Tanner Francisco. Currently, I am the only author on Ames’ Students in Action Blog.  I created this blog for the public relations course English 305 at Iowa State University under the instruction of Diane Bugeja. I chose the organization Students in Action for the focus of my project because I am an active member and now the newly elected student coordinator of Students in Action. This allows me easy access to useful information concerning the organization, its workings, its goals, and its clients.

I designed this blog and most of this course’s assignments around the idea that once the semester is over, I can actually implement all I’ve learned and work I have done, into a real public relations campaign for Students in Action and the Volunteer Center of Story County. The authorship of the blog will be opened up to all of the members of Students in Action and will be used as a communication tool between members and as an informational resource to potential volunteers.

Photo by Tanner Francisco
I am a super-senior in fisheries biology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. I live with my loving fiancee, fluffy kitty-cat, fish, and snake in a cozy two-bedroom apartment in West Ames. My fiancee, Julie Boyer, proceeded me as student coordinator for Students in Action, and she is an active member on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Center of Story County. After she felt she was not doing enough with her life, she got involved in volunteering around Ames. Being the wonderful boyfriend that I am, I attended volunteer events with her and soon found myself very involved in the community. I had volunteered many times earlier in my life for such organizations as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, community service projects, and teaching children to fish at the annual Hy-Vee fishing derby at Water Works Park in Des Moines, Iowa, however, it wasn’t until I left my childhood home and started my life that I became a real member of a community.

Few students realize that their presence and actions affect the non-college age crowd in Ames. We forget that there are others besides students and teachers which make up the Ames community. Going outside of those college related boundaries and interacting with Ames’ residents can really humble an ignorant college kid. I was also surprised at the number of volunteer, service, and assistance organizations in the Ames area. As a volunteer, there are endless opportunities in the Ames’ community. If you say “yes” to all the help people ask for, you would quickly find yourself utterly overwhelmed.

Photo by Julie Boyer

From what I have said so far you might be thinking I have no other life than volunteerism which is far from the truth. Volunteerism is more of a few-times-a-month-thing for me and most of the Students in Action members. Its a way to make your past-time worth while. I love to fish and be outside in Nature where I can see all of the little wonders of the world carving out their own niches. I’m an avid video gamer as well, devoting many hours a week to “PWNing noobs” and “fragging” zombies or aliens. One of my few true passions in life is caring for aquariums and other pets. I have a 22 pound, 3.5 foot long, maine-coon cat named Pumpkin and a corn snake named “Snake Griffin”–(Family Guy reference).

Photo by Tanner Francisco

While my college career is ending soon with a degree in fisheries biology, I started out in many other areas of study. I settled for fisheries biology because I though it was a good fit, only to find that I hate it with a semester to go until graduation. Therefore, I’m getting a degree in a field in which I no longer have any interest. Hopefully, I’ll still be able to find suitable work before I have to start paying on student loans.

I may add more to this page at a later time but until then, I am all ranted out.

Please explore the blog, make comments, submit inquiries, whatever you want, and I’ll try to help you out along the way.

Thanks,

Tanner Francisco

2010 Student Coordinator for Students in Action

franco@iastate.edu

Personal Biography of Tanner Francisco

By Tanner Francisco

1. Early Life
   1. Grew up outside of small town—Dallas Center, Iowa
   2. Did well in school
   3. Showed high aptitude for the biological sciences
   4. Active member and president of Future Farmers of America
      1. i.      Organized volunteer events, fundraising events, and active volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization
2. University
   1. Attended Iowa State University in fall of 2005.
   2. Major in fisheries biology
   3. Became active in the Ames’ community in 2007
   4. Attended many volunteer events
   5. Became member of Students in Action in 2008
      1. i.      Organized and executed volunteer events/opportunities
      2. ii.      Elected student coordinator (leader) of organization in 2009 to take effect through spring of 2010
3. Personal Information
   1. Home Life
      1. i.      Lives with spouse, Julie Boyer, in West Ames
      2. ii.      Has several pets
   2. Hobbies
      1. i.      Aquaria and fish care
      2. ii.      Reptile care
      3. iii.      Insect Care
      4. iv.      Home science experiments
      5. v.      XBOX 360
      6. vi.      Reading Star Wars novels and comic books
4. Letter about myself to Blog Visitors