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RIO GRANDE — A new club at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College (URG/RGCC) is bringing some fun and entertaining projects to campus. The brand new Finer Things Club is made up of students and faculty members who work together to come up with creative ideas for activities on campus.

“We’re just interested in doing projects that are fun,” said Benjy Davies, a faculty member who is part of the group.

On Sept. 20, the group held a “Poetry and Pottery,” event, where everyone who took part helped make pottery, shared poetry and enjoyed pancakes. The event had a theme of including events starting with the letter, “P” and it proved to be very popular.

“It was great,” Davies said. Some members of the group took photos of the event and are planning to turn the photos into a short documentary.

For a second activity, “Fade,” the Finer Things Club invited 45 second grade students from Rio Grande Elementary School to assist with the project. The elementary students raked leaves into piles on the main Campus Green on Oct. 25, and the leaves were put into a polka dot pattern.

Time lapse photography was taken of the students making the piles, moving them around and then leaving them on The Green. The leaves were left there for about two weeks, and the Finer Things Club is also planning to make a short film out of the photos of the leaf piles being created, moved around and then disappearing.

A third project, “Grace,” was held on Monday, Nov. 21. On this day, students, faculty and staff were invited to Conference Room C inside the Davis University Center for an afternoon of drinking tea, eating cookies and discussing the different things they are grateful for. The event did not have a formal program — it was just an opportunity for those attending to share positive thoughts and interact with each other.

The next project will be on Thursday, Nov. 30, which will be Academic Regalia Day at Rio Grande.

“Everyone on campus is invited to wear their caps and gowns all day,” Davies said. The event does not have any deep meaning or hidden purpose, he added.

“It’s just a fun thing to do,” Davies said. He doesn’t know how many people will take part that day, but he is hoping that a large amount of faculty, staff and students get involved.

Photos will likely be taken of Academic Regalia Day, and the Finer Things Club may make a short film out of those photos, as well.

Davies invites people all across campus to take part in the Nov. 30 event and to get involved with the Finer Things Club. The organization is made up evenly of students and faculty, and the members will soon be coming up with ideas for the spring semester.

The club was inspired by a “Finer Things Club,” on the popular television show, “The Office,” and it is serving as fun and creative outlet for students, faculty and staff at Rio Grande. It’s also another great example of how students, faculty and staff work together closely on the small campus and how individuals and small groups of people are able to successfully start new clubs, organizations and activities in order to meet the different interests of people at Rio Grande.

For more information on the Finer Things Club, call Davies at 1 (800) 282-7201.