We will be welcoming 16 new VISTAs. They will begin after their PSO on November 7-11. Also, please join me in welcoming the newest member of The Points of Light Foundation VISTAs, Brian Molder. He writes: Hello! My name is Brian Molder. I am honored to join the POLF family. I am the new VISTA that will be working on the EITC Initiative. I am a 12 year resident of the District of Columbia, I am a native of New Jersey and was educated in the public school system. I attended Edison State College. I hold a BS in Business Administration and Development. I have worked in the field of non-profit and higher education as well as in the high schools working in the underserved and impoverished communities. I am excited about working on the EITC Initiative. As you know the EITC provide tax reduction and wage supplements to low- and moderate-income working families. I am committed along with POLF to supporting and improving the lives of families. I hope to further grow the EITC Initiative that POLF has already begun.
Intersecting Points of Light Though we each joined VISTA for different reasons, it is probably safe to say we all have one thing in common: we want to make a difference. So the question is, how? How do we spend our time over the next year to ensure we leave our special mark, and how do we gain the most from this experience to take into the next step of our lives? For our assignments this year, we have each been assigned to a specific focus area: Faith, Family, Asset Development, or Disaster Relief. While it is important for us to complete the mission assigned by our respective initiatives, the practice of mingling the focus areas can be a beneficial and creative way to expand our goals and mission. If some natural co-mingling did not occur, we would not be utilizing all our options and resources to best serve those in our communities. Each focus area has a thread of the others run closely through it, and so the missions can tend to mesh quite nicely. Faith-based organizations tend to be some of the first to answer the call for disaster relief by organizing food pantries and volunteer teams. Family volunteering intersects with faith since parents bring their children up in religions centering on good stewardship and love. EITC work directly affects families, as one of the major qualifications for the credit is the number of children. When families lose everything due to an event such as a disaster, the EITC can help give them a leg to stand on to get them back on track financially. For example, VISTAs can maximize the potential of the mission by reaching out to the community leaders engaged in other areas. After Hurricane Katrina, Dorian Spears and Rebekah Kaithern, both Faith VISTAs, spent a great deal of time engaged in disaster relief efforts, including manning call centers, collecting food, and coordinating volunteer deployment. While these activities temporarily pulled focus from their faith-based tasks and partnerships, the girls found the experience to be incredibly beneficial for the long-term mission of the faith initiative. Dorian and Rebekah met community leaders they otherwise would not have crossed paths with, who they will now be able to reach out to in their future work endeavors. So as you think of ways to best perform your work, think about how you can intersect other areas, engage other partners, and reach out to other audiences. If we each take the chance to think outside our focus area box and expand our horizons, we will make more of an impact with our service by being able to offer a wider spectrum of services to a larger audience. In turn, we will expand our own talents and knowledge bases, which will be personally beneficial long after our VISTA terms are over.
Down to the Wire: Two Weeks to NFVD By now, you all know about National Family Volunteer Day (NFVD), the next day in the Points of Light Foundation's Seasons of Service. You know how it can strengthen families, provide much-needed services to your neighborhood, and give your Volunteer Center a great opportunity to be seen in the community. But as NFVD (this year on Saturday, November 19) rapidly approaches, a big question looms: if your Volunteer Center doesn't already have a program set up for NFVD, what can you do with the limited amount of time you have left? So much depends on the size of your Volunteer Center, the amount of work you want to do, and the kinds of opportunities that are already being offered in your community. Sometimes, especially in larger cities, the Points of Light Foundation's Seasons of Service are already established parts of the community; for example, the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles was able to promote the Make a Difference Day project sponsored by the Mayor's office. If this is the case in your area, giving support to larger programs is something important that your Volunteer Center can do. If your area doesn't have outside organizations that celebrate Seasons of Service, there's still a lot you can do to promote NFVD. Instead of supporting one group's efforts, create media targeting individual families. The official NFVD guidebook, including templates for press releases, is available online. By letting your community know about this opportunity for volunteering, small projects may start popping up all over. Although NFVD is less than a month away, there's still a lot your Volunteer Center can do to celebrate and promote this important day in family volunteering. By encouraging other families, by becoming involved in other organizations' NFVD projects, and by helping to spread the word about National Family Volunteer Day, your Volunteer Center can make a real difference in family volunteering this year.
Stellar Disaster Initiative of the Month Each month I will feature one extraordinary disaster preparedness program. I am hoping that you can use these examples as inspiration for creating your own programs. I realize that each Volunteer Center has different needs and also varying capacity, so these examples are meant to give you more ideas, not necessarily to be copied directly. Volunteer Center: Volunteer Services of Manatee County, Inc. Project: "Home Safety for Seniors" Description: Teenage Volunteers perform a cursory safety check in the homes of Senior Citizens to determine which products (in their current stock of inventory) would best fit the senior, and later return to install this equipment. Other projects: The Volunteer Center also tries to schedule one-day events, involving an entire senior community, like a mobile home park, or retirement condominium. The advantage of these one-day events is that they utilize many volunteers and homes at one time. The Process:
Example of a checklist/waiver/questionnaire: Home Safety for Seniors This information was provided to you by: Adraine LaRoza, Executive Director
From the Quill of McGill Well, we just wrapped up a reporting cycle. Thanks to everyone who submitted thorough reports by the deadline of October 15. It sure makes it easier for us at the Points of Light Foundation to report the progress we are all making towards meeting the 5 common goals of this project when you provide descriptive and comprehensive reports by the set deadlines. If you didn't submit the best account of what you have been doing or if you had trouble getting your report in on time, Fear Not! , for you will have another chance to do this in 3 months in January! Overall, Strengthening Communities VISTAs (that is YOU!) are doing really amazing work, and the Points of Light Foundation is proud to report to the Corporation for National Service. When we take all the numbers, VISTAs in our grant are responsible for engaging 2190 volunteers that contributed 16909.5 hours of service to their communities and raising $15,205 in in-kind donations and $60,634 in monetary donations, grants, or fundraising. Outstanding! The following are some more specific examples of how Strengthening Communities VISTAs are getting things done in their community:
Nation's Capital Welcomes New Monument
An open-air event followed the indoor ceremony, highlighted by former First Lady Barbara Bush and a sixth-grade student from Harriet Tubman Elementary School officially unveiling the dedication plaque for the monument. Speeches by Kennedy Shriver and the Fullers were extended not only to the honorees, but also to the crowd of appreciative spectators and Washington, D.C. tourists who stopped to listen. A Foundation staff member gave one of the most stirring speeches. A visibly emotional John Johansen, senior director of Public Affairs and the progenitor of The Extra Mile, expressed his joy and humble gratitude. He, like many other speakers, thanked his family for their many years of support. After the formalities ended, honorees and their families filled 15th and G Streets NW as they visited and posed for pictures with their medallions. After viewing the monument, many returned back inside for hors d'oeuvres, champagne, and a chance for Points of Light Foundation staff and honorees to commingle. A Booker T. Washington descendant approached staff members with extended hands. “Thank you,” she said. “This is incredible.” She continued, “When I'm at a ceremony, I'm used to being the center of attention for being related to Booker T. Washington. It's so wonderful to see all these families who have made a difference.” For more information or to nominate an individual, visit www.ExtraMile.us or contact John Johansen, senior director, Public Affairs, JJohansen@PointsofLight.org, 202-729-8273. Reprinted from the October 2005 issue of To The Point, the bi-monthly, online newsletter of the Points of Light Foundation.
Halloween Can Be A Scream!
Kristen Cambell: Points of Light Foundation, DC Sean Duggan: Volunteer San Diego, CA Abbey Kos: Points of Light Foundation, DC What's better than my postmodern costume is what my mom did a few years ago. We have two miniature dachshunds named Simon and Rascal. She got hot dog costumes for them -- buns and condiments. Simon was the hot dog with mustard, and Rascal had ketchup. Shelley Tibbs: Voluntary Action Center of the Prince William Area Inc, VA Deb Steed: United Way and Volunteer Connections of Montcalm, MI
Featured VISTAs of the Month
Why you joined AmeriCorps?
A thing or accomplishment you are most proud of. Adia – Athena & I have gathered lots of volunteers and trainers, so our program will be a success. Athena – I have enjoyed developing deep relationships at the Resource Center, in the community, and nationally. Your favorite dessert Adia – German chocolate cake Athena – Strawberry cheesecake Previous education Adia – 24 credit hours of college @ Baker College of Flint with a concentration in accounting. Athena – BBA from Detroit College of Business-Flint, MSA from Central Michigan University, and additional work toward a graduate degree in Education. Other job experience Adia – Child care, dietary, front desk, and clerical work. Athena – Landscaping, computer consulting, and property management Advice to other VISTAs Adia – Stay focused and be dedicated—really want to help the community, in addition to getting an education award and acclaim. Athena – Discover your purpose in life, love who you were created to be and excel in all you do!
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Athena McKay and Adia Wheeler at Resource Center in Flint, MI