Most students at Texas A&M University-Commerce are aware of the vast array of organizations available to them, but there is one found off-campus that may not be as well known.
The Chamber of Commerce has a Psychology Club, which anyone is eligible to join.
“The Psychology Club was started by a group of women in Commerce, and originally, this club had an emphasis on child rearing. Although we used to be based on psychology, we now put more emphasis on community service,” Margo Harbison, treasure of the Psychology Club said. “We have a limit of 30 members and the members may be nominated for membership. They then go before the executive committee for approval.”
Upcoming events include a tour of the homes on Dec. 9 from 2-5 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person or $15 for two people.
The tour consists of visiting homes that were built years ago but have been renovated and refurnished in Commerce.
“We have a house on Bonham Street that was built in 1904; it’s been restored and renovated. Most of the homes get out and decorate their homes with Christmas things which give us the Christmas spirit,” Harbison said. “This is open to anyone in the community. You can buy a ticket from any club member or at the Chamber of Commerce. You can also buy a ticket at the door.”
The Psychology Club has also donated a great deal of their time and devotion to community service.
“We do a lot of service projects. For example, we give a scholarship to a female junior in high school. We also have a Care Bear project. We make bears and give them to the hospital. We make about 75 a year,” Harbison said.
According to Harbison, the Psychology Club supports both the Commerce literacy program and Children’s Museum with a contribution.
“I’ve never heard of the Psychology Club but it sounds like it would be interesting. I love doing community service and to see organizations that have the same passion makes me want to look more into it,” undergraduate Christina Wheeler said.
The tour of the homes that the club hosts annually is its main source of fundraising.
“I’ve actually been on one of the tours that they’ve held. I’m not sure what year it was, but it was really nice to see some of the homes because some of them were really beautiful. You can tell that they were made hundreds of years ago, but it comes with a modern twist,” undergraduate Don Richardson said.