Today's post is written by Diana O'Neill, Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network. Diana discusses her positive experience with the Save Service Campaign, the tremendous feedback from her Members of Congress, how her actions have built a relationship with them.

For the past year, the Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, has been doing its part to help "Save Service" and in the process learning a lot about advocacy while making good contacts in the legislative arena.  In addition to calling Congressional offices on pre-determined dates we have also faxed and emailed statements and made posts to Facebook and Twitter accounts as suggested by different Save Service promoters.

A recent request from Points of Light Institute to reach out to US Congressman Peter King resulted in a well-received meeting with his district representative supported by 3 nonprofit agency executive directors who shared their volunteer stories and successes.  The latest go-round of calls produced a very encouraging letter from US Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy who incidentally sent a recommendation for us when we applied for a Volunteer Generation Fund grant through New York State this past June.  Since we were successful in receiving that competitive grant funded by the Corporation for National & Community Service, we now have a vested interest in its continued appropriation.

Who knew that our early efforts to advocate for this vital national organization which administers important programs like Americorps and RSVP would come back in kind with needed infrastructure funding for us to increase volunteer engagement on Long Island!  We owe it all in memory of a great service advocate and visionary, former US Senator Edward Kennedy--his example and leadership reminds us that this works carries great responsibility as well as honor.