Hospice Volunteer Opportunities -- Johns Hopkins Home Hospice provides support to patients and families during end stages of a terminal illness. The hospice is looking for volunteers for direct patient service, bereavement care and administrative/office support. Volunteer training is provided.

The next volunteer training and orientation program will begin in late January. For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Jean McHale, at 410-288-4692.

Learn Israeli Dancing -- Every Sunday evening in February, Hopkins Hillel is sponsoring Israeli dance lessons by Moshe Shem-Tov, considered by many the best Israeli dance teacher in the Washington area. Lessons will be given from 8 to 9 p.m., followed by requests from 9:30 on.

The classes will be held in the ROTC Building (the white building behind the Athletic Center) on the Homewood campus. Cost is $5 general admission; students can participate free. For more information, call Shana at Hopkins Hillel, 410-516-0333 or by e-mail, hophill@jhu.edu.

Versata Software Presentation -- The Versata Corporation will make an executive and technical presentation of its system software on Jan. 23, in the Garrett Room of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Homewood campus. The executive presentation, which begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. will be a high-level overview of the corporation. The technical presentation will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

The university has purchased the Versata software and is presently developing the budget and account setup information system (BASIS) using the Versata rule-based tool. The Versata software provides a complete standards-based system that reduces the time and resources required to implement, manage and change complex transaction-based e-business applications such as business-to-business commerce sites, dealer service portals, internal operations and packaged applications.

Animal Exposure Surveillance Program -- It is mandatory that all individuals working with animals at Johns Hopkins University enroll in the Animal Exposure Surveillance Program. The individual's ability to work with animals in course work, as a faculty, staff member or student, is dependent on participation in this program. The program is designed to prevent occupation-related disease among those working with animals.

Report to 3E Phipps at JHMI to enroll in the program. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, or to make sure of current enrollment, contact Ellen Bibb at 410-955-6211 or 410-614-1129, or go to: http://infonet.welch.jhu.edu/research/safety/safetypolicy/ index-900.html.

Provost's Undergraduate Research Awards -- The 2001 Provost's Undergraduate Research Awards will provide a number of grants to current freshmen, sophomores and juniors in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Nursing, and in the Peabody Conservatory.

The money may be used to pay the costs of the winner's research or creative projects. Winners may choose to receive up to $1,500 of the total award as a cash stipend or to receive academic credit for their work.

Applications are available from the office of Theodore Poehler, vice provost for research, at 275 Garland Hall on the Homewood campus, or by phone at 410-516-0146. Completed applications for summer projects must be submitted by noon on March 9 and by April 6 for fall semester proposals.

Alternatives to Animal Testing -- The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is soliciting projects that will focus on investigating and developing alternative methods to the use of whole animals for safety/hazard evaluation, risk assessment and efficacy. In vitro approaches to evaluate cellular and target organ toxicity are encouraged. CAAT does not currently fund projects relating to carcinogenicity or mutagenicity.

To apply, complete a preproposal form, following the instructions on the form, and return no later than March 15. The preproposal should be mailed to: CAAT Grants Coordinator, Suite 840, 111 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202-6709. Preproposals may also be submitted online through the following Web sites: http://altweb.jhsph.edu or http://caat.jhsph.edu.

No other materials are required for this stage of the application process. Only abstracts using the appropriate format will be reviewed. Appropriate applications will be invited to submit a complete grant application package. All responses will be forwarded by e-mail or U.S. mail. No telephone responses will be given.

Community Fellowships Program -- The Open Society Institute-Baltimore announces the fourth round of its Community Fellowship Program, which will provide up to 10 awards to individuals who wish to work in public or community service in Baltimore City. The goal of the fellowships is to encourage public and community service careers, expand the number of mentors and role models available to youth in inner-city neighborhoods and promote initiatives and entrepreneurship that will empower those communities.

Fellowship awards are in the amount of $48,750 for a term of 18 months. Applicants may either apply for a fellowship to work at a nonprofit organization, or apply for a fellowship to start a project. In cases where the felowship takes place at an organization, applicants must secure sponsorship from that host organization. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 12.

For more information about community fellowships or to receive an application, call the Open Society Institute-Baltimore office at 410-234-1091.