DOBSON — Surry Community College debuted a new program for the general public this semester.

The Speakers’ Bureau, which has been in the works since the fall, is up and running. This service provides faculty and staff speakers on a variety of topics for community groups, civic groups or schools free of charge.

“The purpose of this is to share the expertise our faculty and staff have with our local community,” said Karen Fullerton, director of communications.

Viticulture and ceramics faculty already have been called into service through this program, giving presentations in their respective fields.

Other topics listed for which faculty members are available include local history, math, Web design, online learning, planning for college, positive child guidance and reading to children, preventing birth defects with vitamins, the Civil War and using a PC. If groups are interested in other topics, Fullerton is willing to try to find a faculty member with that expertise.

“We kind of want to be a partner with our community. We just want to share our expertise with them,” said Fullerton. “Our topics are really specific to kind of broad.”

The faculty members are willing to travel to where groups typically meet, but ask that community members be flexible with their schedules in order to allow them to work around teaching classes.

“For the most part, even if they haven’t formally replied, they’re pretty excited about helping out,” said Fullerton of the faculty members.

For more information about the Speakers’ Bureau or to book a faculty member for an event, contact Fullerton at 386-3444 or by e-mail at fullerk@surry.edu, or visit the college’s Web site at www.surry.edu and follow the link for Business and Community. A further link to the Speakers’ Bureau is listed on the left-hand side of that page.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.