National Service in the News for Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Marshfield Clinic
Health System starting new program to curb drug abuse
WisBusiness.com (WI), May 4, 2017
A new program from Marshfield Clinic Health System will be launched in
September to help people suffering from substance abuse in northern Wisconsin. MCHS
Recovery Corps program is a part of AmeriCorps, a national service network
launched in 1994 under the Clinton administration as part of the National and
Community Service Trust Act. Since then, nearly 1 million AmeriCorps members
have contributed approximately 1.2 billion hours in service across the country.
The new program is recruiting 20 full-time AmeriCorps members to work as
recovery coaches throughout the area served by the HOPE Consortium, a
partnership of 10 different organizations working to address issues related to
opioid abuse.
AmeriCorps
tutors raise reading achievement
The White Bear Press (MN), May 3, 2017
Two Reading Corps volunteers walk the halls at Matoska International Elementary
School strategically pulling students from class for an extra reading
boost. Merry Gray and Karey Dufresne,
both White Bear Lake residents, are literacy tutors who work with students in
kindergarten through third grade to help them stay on top of their reading
skills. Gray has been tutoring younger
students in letter sounds and older students in fluency for three years. “It's great to work with the kids and see
them grow and become more confident in what they can do,” she said. They work with students who are just below
grade level in literacy skills, Dufresne said. The goal is to give the students
an extra boost until they grow out of the program.
Sixth
Ward Community Garden gets some help from AmeriCorps team
KXLH-TV (MT), May 3, 2017
Eleven AmeriCorps members got busy on Tuesday installing irrigation in Helena’s
Sixth Ward Community Garden. The members from AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region
Gold 3 are part of a weeks-long project to get the garden up and running. Group
member Laurel Johnston said the team is preparing the community to take over
the garden: “This is really just laying the groundwork for everybody else to
come in." AmeriCorps is sponsored
by the Helena Family YMCA. With their help, the group was able to install
varying sizes of pipes that will provide water to future plants at the garden.
Larsen Volk, another AmeriCorps volunteer, said the smaller piping is also more
efficient.
MSU’s
Build-A-Bed Project Distributes 256 beds
The Floyd County Times (KY), May 3, 2017
The MSUCorps AmeriCorps program and its partners participated in the seventh
annual Morehead Build-A-Bed Project held at the Morehead Peddler’s Mall. The
mission is to provide beds to children who are living in homes with not enough
beds or none at all. A total of 256 beds were built and distributed and
provided to families who applied to the Morehead Build-A-Bed Program. The goal
is to give beds to children PK-12, who are forced to sleep on floors, couches,
or in beds with multiple other children or family members. This project has
provided more than 1,000 beds to children in Eastern Kentucky since it began in
2010. Each child received a brand new bed and mattress along with a bedtime bag
containing sheets, pillow, blanket, stuffed animal, book, alarm clock or nightlight
and a hygiene kit.
AmeriCorps
recruiting and orientation set
The Record Bee (CA), May 3, 2017
Lake County AmeriCorps is currently seeking applicants for the 2017-18 school
year to tutor or mentor in the schools throughout Lake County. AmeriCorps, in
conjunction with the Lake County Office of Education, has openings for paid
volunteer positions for the upcoming school year. AmeriCorps members provide
students with academic, social, emotional, and nutritional development through
their specialized programs. There are a variety of different programs and
choices of hours to serve that are available.
Alumni
Spotlight: Nanotech Canter Gave Student Chance at a New Life
UA Little Rock (AR), May 3, 2017
During the past 11 years, dozens of students have worked at the University of Arkansas
at Little Rock Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences. Undergraduates, graduate students, and even
high-schoolers helped shape the center, enriching it with their diverse
backgrounds, interests, and personalities. However, few students made an impact
on the center like Dereck Oshin, a first-generation American who was looking
for a second chance. In 2006, Center Director Dr. Alex Biris was in Washington,
D.C., for a conference, accompanied by UA Little Rock’s then-Vice Chancellor
for University Advancement Bill Walker (now retired). While in town, Walker
decided to pay an impromptu visit to the Earth Conservation Corps, a nonprofit,
AmeriCorps-funded environmental service organization for at-risk youths in the
southeast part of the city.
Cottonwood
earns prestigious safety award
The Orange Leader (TX), May 3, 2017
Just like the rest of the local community, Cottonwood Generating Station in
Deweyville was impacted by the April 2016 flooding. Employees and contractors
worked hard to restore the power plant, which was flooded with 5 ½ ft. of
water, back to service. In total, 350,000 man hours were spent over six months
in restoration operations. The entire time, safety was top-of-mind for the
employees and contractors at Cottonwood. Cottonwood power plant’s 30 employees
live in the surrounding communities of: Orange, Deweyville, Beaumont and
Mauriceville. Two Cottonwood employees’ homes were from the area impacted by
the flood. While working to restore the station, they were also dealing with
the impact of the floods on a personal level as well.
Santuit
Preserve Receives Improvements
The Cape News (MA), May 3, 2017
Improvements continued in the Santuit Pond Preserve, a 287-acre property
straddling the town line between Mashpee and Barnstable. Workers with AmeriCorps
and the Mashpee Conservation Department teamed up during the winter and in
April to install new signs, stairs, and other markers for the walking trails
that snake around old cranberry bogs and marshes and along the Santuit River
and Pond within the preserve. The improvements coincide with a new parking lot
and sign installed at Mashpee’s entrance to the preserve on Route 130.
Call
for math and literacy tutors in Roseville
The Lillie News (MN), May 3, 2017
Roseville needs 13 literacy tutors and three math tutors for the 2017-2018
school year according to Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. This
is part of an AmeriCorps recruitment effort of approximately 1,700 literacy and
300 math tutors throughout the state, with as many as 1,000 tutors in Twin
Cities schools. Both full- and part-time tutors are being recruited to begin a
year of paid service this fall. By joining Reading Corps or Math Corps,
individuals will be helping more than 35,000 students statewide. Minnesota
Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps are statewide programs designed to help
every Minnesota student succeed in reading by the end of third grade, and in
math by the end of eighth grade.
Forest
Heritage to be featured
The Inter Mountain (WV), May 4, 2017
Conservation partnerships will be featured during the upcoming Appalachian
Forest Heritage Area annual meeting in Summersville, along with information and
tours of Nicholas County historic sites and presentations by AFHA AmeriCorps
members. The 2017 annual members meeting of the Appalachian Forest Heritage
Area will be May 11 at the Old Main building, 405 Old Main Drive, Summersville.
Appalachian Forest Heritage Area is a regional organization, based in Elkins,
that works in 16 counties of the West Virginia Highlands and two counties in
western Maryland, focusing on cultural heritage, conservation and place-based
tourism to support rural community development.
New
event lets you rappel down 5 stories in South Bend
The South Bend Tribune (IN), May 4, 2017
A new fund-raiser is coming in September that will let you rappel five stories
down the side of the office building at 100 E. Wayne St. A carnival atmosphere
will await at the bottom — on a blocked-off section of Michigan Street — with
the city’s own climbing wall and food trucks. To earn that right: You need to
raise $1,000 for the Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County. The point:
Understand how edgy and anxious life is for the at-risk and homeless youth that
the charity serves. Take the girl who came to the YSB’s Safe Station shelter in
April after her parents booted her from their house. She’d turned 18. Time to
go. Never mind that she was still in high school.
Groups
request county funding
The Independent Enterprise (OR), May 3, 2017
Representatives of various county-funded organizations have lately been making
their yearly requests to the Board of Commissioners for continued funding in
the county’s next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. On Monday, the
commissioners’ agenda included brief visits from representatives of WICAP, the
Payette County Museum, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in New Plymouth and
Payette. The museum and a WICAP unit that includes WICAP’s Homemaker program
each are hoping for increases of $2,000 — for the museum, from the current
year’s $8,000 to $10,000 next year, and from $9,000 to $11,000 for the WICAP
unit — while Monday’s other pitches were for maintaining current levels of
support.
College
Graduates: Is a Gap Year Right For You?
Forbes, May 3, 2017
Studying for finals and scraping together a thesis is a good distraction from
the question most soon-to-be college graduates face: What’s next? With an
average of $37,172 in loans, many grads are itching to get into the job market.
But diving into the workplace isn’t the only option. Here are some gap-year
opportunities to consider. When Maria King graduated from Tufts University in
2012, she considered graduate school and applied for a few jobs before
ultimately deciding to buy a ticket to Australia to travel and volunteer with
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). “I knew that I wanted to
take time to travel after graduation,” says King.
Sports:
Bellrose a shorebird haven
The Southern Illinoisan (IL), May 4,
2017
The Frank Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve was built as a safe haven for ducks and
geese, both during hunting season and migration periods. During the spring, the
1,000-acre tract, now part of Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, provides
habitat to migrating shorebirds. Karen Mangan, the refuge’s wildlife biologist,
said more than 30 species of shore and wading birds use the mud flats and
shallow water areas during the spring. “We started seeing them in March,”
Mangan said. “It was really early this year. This is definitely usually the
peak about right now, late April, early May. It will slow down, but we’ll
continue seeing occasional stragglers coming through.”
Outdoor
Club to host Recreation Forum on Thursday, May 4
The Chronicle News (CO), May 3, 2017
Folks in the Trinidad area who love to fish, hike, and bike or enjoy other
forms of outdoor recreation are in for a special treat. A Community Recreation
Forum will be held from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, at Moose’s
Social Club & Martini Bar, located at 308 W. Main St. in downtown Trinidad.
The Purgatoire Watershed Partnership, in collaboration with Trout Unlimited and
the Trinidad Outdoor Club, will host a panel of local experts to give an update
on new opportunities in the area for recreational development.
Winkeler:
Little things that make Southern Illinois home
The Southern Illinoisan (IL), May 4, 2017
In “Back Home Again," John Denver writes “it’s the little things that make
a house a home.” It’s a simple sentiment that strikes at the heart of someone
who has grown comfortable with his/her surroundings. It’s an intuitive notion
that we all understand, yet, it seems so profound when another person speaks
those words aloud. And, that’s precisely how I felt last Tuesday when Dale
Bowman, longtime friend and outdoors writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, bounced
down the gravel roads of Pope County. We were enroute to Bell Smith Springs to
meet Sam Stearns for a twilight hike.
Meet our
AmeriCorps members – Jacquelyn Conrad
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, May 3, 2017
I applied to be an AmeriCorps Member to have an opportunity to work in the
Austin Community to help make a difference. In my role as an Outreach
Associate, I have learned the key components of an effective program. One must
be patient, research, find the right constituents, create a foundation,
establish who your members are and determine who your leaders are. Once you
have created your support team, coordinate one on one meetings with your
leaders and organizations to produce great relationships.
Tina
Hodges Named to 2016 Women of Influence List by the Nashville Business Journal
Press Release, May 4, 2017
Nashville-based financial services company Advance Financial announced the
inclusion of Chief Executive and Chief Experience Officer Tina Hodges on the
Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence list for 2017. Hodges was
honored in the Family Business category. Advance Financial has become one of
the fastest growing companies in its industry, and its success is due in large
part to Hodges’ unique vision and guidance. Committed to growing the company’s
community outreach, she, with the help of VP of Corporate Citizenship,
Shantrelle Johnson, founded the Advance Financial Foundation in 2014. The
Advance Financial Foundation annually awards grants to organizations committed
to education, health and wellness, as well as scholarships to deserving high
school seniors.
At
Trekkers, it’s all about relationships
The Knox Village Soup (ME), May 3, 2017
Exciting trips across the country and wilderness adventures set the stage for
building important relationships, according to Trekkers Program Manager Brandon
Caron. "It's understanding the power of relationships," he said.
"When you're more connected to your community, your surroundings and your
peers, you're only going to be better off because of it." Caron, 27,
probably knows as much about Trekkers as anyone. He first joined the program
when he was in seventh grade and living in St. George. He spent six years
taking part in Trekkers activities and trips to places including Acadia
National Park and Colorado. Later he came back to help with Trekkers as an
intern and AmeriCorps volunteer. Now, he works there full-time as one of the
program managers.
Advice
for the unadvisable
The Brunswick News (GA), May 4, 2017
This column probably isn’t for you — that is, unless you’re one of the several
hundreds of high school seniors who will graduate in the coming weeks. Seniors,
over the next few weeks, your neighbors, relatives, coaches, even strangers
like me will impart advice upon you, and today it’s my turn. First thing’s
first: You don’t have to go to college. It’s OK to admit you’re 18 and not
quite mature enough to move away from home. I wasn’t when I went to Middle
Georgia College in Cochran 13 years ago. I did about three semester before I
realized I just wasn’t ready for the experience.
Foster
program pairs seniors with students in need
The West Seneca Bee (NY), May 3, 2017
Erin Pustulka is working to bring seniors and children together in an effort to
improve both their lives. Pustulka was recently named coordinator of the Foster
Grandparent Program for Catholic Charities, a program that allows seniors age
55 and older to help out in classrooms in the Buffalo City school district.
Pustulka, who started with the program in 2007, says she just fell into the
role. “I’m very close with my family, so even hearing the word foster
grandparent felt warm and comfortable,” she said. Seniors are placed into the
classroom, where they work one-on-one with children from age 3 to third grade
who are in need of extra attention. The volunteers, Pustulka says, can keep a
child’s focus and reiterate what a teacher is discussing.
Veterans
Home hosts a special salute to volunteers
The Salem Press Media (NH), May 3, 2017
Residents and staff at New Hampshire Veterans' Home gave a special salute to
their volunteers last Wednesday afternoon with a special recognition luncheon
and some small tokens of appreciation for all they do throughout the year. Bill
Bertholdt of the Residents Council said the countless services provided by
volunteers are deeply appreciated by he and all of his fellow veterans.
"They mean an awful lot to us, and do more than a lot of us probably even
realize," Bertholdt said. "The volunteers help us in any way they can
and they're just a wonderful group of people."
Fill
your days with volunteer work that makes a difference
The Pocono Record (PA), May 3, 2017
When Suzanne Bornemann’s employment came to an end, she wondered how she would
fill her days. That’s around the time she heard about the Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program and decided to check it out. Suzanne still has the letter — dated March
17, 2011 — that welcomed her as an RSVP volunteer. Having had first-hand
experience with family members needing nursing home care, she began her RSVP
volunteer service by visiting Golden Living Nursing Home in East Stroudsburg to
help with activities. Suzanne recalled how her mother cared for her grandmother
when she had Alzheimer’s and eventually went to a nursing home. “I saw what my
mother went through,” Suzanne said.
Older
Adults Volunteer in LTCFS and Communities
Managed Health Care Connect, May 3, 2017
Part of their celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM), the Administration
for Community Living (ACL) spoke with a number of older adults who help out at
local nursing facilities and older adult volunteering agencies. The month of
May is a time for US citizens to reflect on and appreciate the past and present
influence of older Americans in society. The ACL has announced that the 2017
theme for OAM is “Age Out Loud”: emphasizing that older adults today still have
much to say. In light of this year’s theme, the ACL spoke with some older
Americans who continue to volunteer and make a difference in their communities,
with many choosing to volunteer at local senior centers and nursing homes to
give back to institutionalized older adults.
RSVP
to honor its volunteers
The For Madison Daily Democrat (IA), May 3, 2017
Tomorrow, there will be a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program RSVP 55+
Appreciation Dinner honoring volunteers that have been devoted to serving
hours, for years, for the community. “In this busy world, these volunteers take
the time to volunteer and make a difference in so many lives. If you think
about time, it is a precious commodity,” Shirley Gabel, RSVP Program Director
said. “We have to recognize that giving their time is valued and appreciated.
So, this recognition is just a small token of appreciation to show how much we
value their time. It is our way of
saying “job well done” and thank you for your donating your time.”
WATCH:
RSVP
WSYM-TV (MI), May 3, 2017
Director of Senior Companion Program, Theresa Shadduck tells Bob and Mary some
of the benefits of becoming a Senior Companion volunteer and how to get signed
up.
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