Relief efforts: The Salvation Army Simon Center on South Cherry Lane in White Settlement (just north of I-30W and just past Ridgmar Mall) needs all the help it can get sorting items that have been delivered for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. North Texans have been very generous in donating items to the Salvation Army, but these items must be sorted into categories (clothing, water, food) in order for the Salvation Army to distribute them.

First Wednesday chapel: Join students, faculty and staff at 5:15 p.m. today in Robert Carr Chapel for the first Wednesday chapel. It is a monthly chapel service building conversations and community across the campus. “What Matters to Me” – guest speaker, Dave Watson, SGA President. There will be refreshments following the service. For more information, call 817-257-7830.

Convocation: Join the TCU community for the annual convocation at 11 a.m. Thursday where there will be a State of the University Address by Chancellor Victor Boschini, a performance by the Concert Chorale, a presentation of the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar, a presentation of the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community Founders’ Celebration. The ceremony will be held on the lawn by the Clark Brothers statue following the program. Refreshments will be served, and entertainment will be provided by the TCU Jazz Combo. For more information, call 817-257-7802.

TCU has welcomed nearly 50 students who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. As our community struggles to deal with the tragedy of the hurricane and its aftermath, we have a remarkable opportunity to welcome these students and their families who have been displaced by the disaster. There will be a Welcome and Orientation Dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday for the students and their parents in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center Ballroom. For more information, contact 817-257-7855.

The Honorable Jim Wright, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will be interviewed onstage about his new memoir, “The Flying Circus: Pacific War 1943 as Seen Through a Bombsight” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Ed Landreth Auditorium. He will answer questions from the audience and sign copies of his book. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved. There will be a wine and cheese reception prior to the event at 6:30 p.m. in the Walsh Center. For more information, contact 817-257-6109.