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VISTA News -- volunteeer activities
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Date: Thu, 22 Sep 1994 08:38:10 -0400
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N a t i o n a l :::: :::: ::: .:::::::::::::::. :::::::: :::: :::: ::: ::::' ::: :::' '::: ::' ':: ::: '::::,. ::: ::. .:: N E W S :::. .::: ::: .:::: ::: :::: :::: ::::::: '::::::::::::::' ::: :::: ::::
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Volume 3 (excerpted) Summer Edition 1994
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The National VISTA News is published quarterly by the Corporation for National and Community Service and VISTA. The printed version was first created and distributed in Winter '93-'94. This electronic version is made available for Summer '94 and subsequent editions.
The electronic version contains excerpts of the printed. Articles of general interest and articles especially relevant to former or potential VISTAs, have been included.
VISTA also publishes "NewsFlash," a short bulletin designed supplement the Newsletter with information of immediate concern, like jobs, grants, or other "hot" items. The VISTA NewsFlash is "posted" quarterly to VISTANET. (VISTANET is a discussion group of current and former VISTAs, as well as those interested in National Service.)
You can subscribe to VISTANET by
Sending the message -- Subscribe VISTANET
These publications are edited by Sondra Friedman at National Service Headquarters in Washington, DC. You can contact her at (202) 606-5000 ext. 253
* Thanks to St. Johns University for hosting the electronic VISTA News!! *
NOTE: Another on-line resource is "VISTA On-Line," a bi-weekly electronic
bulletin of specific opportunities with VISTA, as well as the latest news
on National Service. To subscribe to "VISTA On-Line" (VOL)...
send this message -- Subscribe VISTA-L
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NOTES for the Summer edition:
The Summer '94 version is 6-7 pages when printed; future editions will include more of the published. Note that instead of page numbers, you can find the article that interests you by using your wordprocessor to "search" for listed keyword.
In this issue we have included a letter from Eli Segal, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. While the letter is written to current VISTAs, we thought you may be interested. You also will find some contributions from current VISTA Volunteers in Alaska, Utah, Texas, Washington, and Arkansas, as well as some advice on how to recruit volunteers.
Enjoy.
Sondra Friedman, VISTA News John Zelson, VISTA Placement 73302.2504@Compuserve.com
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| IN THIS ISSUE: | CEO's Letter: | ...............................| Dear AmeriCorps*VISTAs, | Search on | In May of 1993, I visited the Chicago Article Keyword | Alliance for Neighborhood Safety (CANS), a ------- ----------- | VISTA project in the Englewood section of | Chicago. Although I had already been in <> North to ...North | Washington, DC, for a few months-- and Alaska | although the President would not sign our | legislation until several months later-- VISTA Volunteer describes | that visit was, for me, a part of the project with EPA in AK. | Corporation for National Service's | beginning. The CANS VISTAs had recruited <> VISTA Across Nation | local volunteers to board up abandoned ...Utah | buildings to prevent neighborhood crime and ...Texas | violence. In their hammering, I heard ...Arkansas | loudly (literally) and clearly what national ...Washington | service was about. | VISTA Volunteers describe | VISTAs know that ordinary citizens, all of their work in above states. | us, are our country's greatest resource. | You also know, and see in your service every <> ideas ...ideas | day, that we need those resources more ...to recruit | urgently now than ever. | A VISTA Volunteer describes | This September, AmeriCorps*VISTA will join a neat recruiting technique | in the formal launch of AmeriCorps. This is and a VISTA Placement Officer | an ideal time to join forces with your offers advice. | national service partners in the Senior ................................ Corps, Learn and Serve, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and AmeriCorps*USA. Learn about our new service initiatives. Reach out to one another in the field to broaden and strengthen your community-building efforts. Connect with other service participants in your city, state, and across the country.
Welcome to the AmeriCorps National Service Network, and to the Corporation for National and Community Service. I know that you will continue to be invaluable in shaping service nationwide, and I look forward to joining you in this next chapter of success.
Sincerely, Eli Segal
NORTH TO ALASKA: VISTA Joins Forces with the EPA By Mary Gable
When VISTA Placement Officers routinely ask applicants if they can work in adverse conditions, most people have economic factors in mind. But for three VISTAs in Alaska, adverse conditions means arctic temperatures, travel in snowstorms, and remote living conditions. Because of Alaska's intense geography, many villages are accessible only by water or air. For this reason, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires the VISTAs to fly to small Alaskan villages to work on a solid waste management program. Almost all Native Alaskan villages are unable to manage waste properly. Lack of resources and transportation, remote locations, and extreme temperatures lead to solid waste deficiencies. Liquid and solid waste are seen strewn about many sites. Severe winters and spring flooding compound problems as waste spreads easily across the tundra. Says VISTA Mardell Gunn: "In villages, people just don't like the looks of it. We're trying to get people to take responsibility." Since this two-year pilot VISTA EPA project counts heavily on community acceptance and participation, VISTA outreach has been essential. VISTAs work with the EPA to develop sustainable waste management systems that will be run by communities. To begin outreach, they first call the Tribal, City, or Traditional Council of each village and discuss how waste management will benefit the community. Upon invitation, the VISTAs then fly to the village. Once in the village, they educate Councils about trash management and pollution prevention. They communicate the five R's: "Reduce Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Refuse." Education programs allow VISTAs to demonstrate how solid waste can be used as a resource. While VISTA Amelie Redman is trying to revitalize the "flying cans" program (which transports aluminum cans from villages to Anchorage for recycling), VISTA Christine Moran has been introducing Bethel village members to the natural products of Alternative Household Cleaning Kits. The Native Alaskans in Bethel emphasize that their is no local Yupik word for "garbage." Mardell focuses on the village of Wales (population @160) and is working with youth to set up a landfill. It is a slow process because most open land is either wetland or berry-picking area. And in a non-cash economy where everyone is dependent on the three months of summer to fish, hunt, and gather food, finding appropriate land is not simple. The need, however, is great. "Much of the local diet comes from the sea," says Mardell, "Contamination from plastic bags or hazardous materials-such as batteries or oil-comes out in the mammals of the sea." Since hazardous materials are frequently left on the ground, Mardell spends a lot of time "making sure the trash gets hauled on a sled to Anchorage, not just dumped somewhere along the way." Each EPA VISTA travels alone and is at least a 45-minute plane ride away from another VISTA. Christine says they often stay in village homes, which helps provide cultural insight. Unfortunately, inclement weather sometimes strands them for days. Because many villages have no grocery stores, VISTAs carry enough food to last a week or longer than their scheduled stay. What keeps these arctic VISTA adventurers going is their deep commitment to communities and the environment and their willingness to work in extreme conditions (a great sense of humor also helps). Although they endure bone-chilling weather and sometimes frightening airplane rides, they gain valuable experience from interacting with people of many Native Alaskan cultures. Each VISTA commented on the village residents' overwhelming warmth and hospitality which created a comfortable working environment. With this climate of cooperation, these projects will surely succeed.
Submitted by VISTA Mary Gable. Mary serves with the Office of Public Advocacy in Anchorage Alaska.
VISTA PROJECTS ACROSS THE NATION
UTAH Literacy and Adult Education Coalition VISTA Steve Rutberg helped bring a much needed GED ON TV program to Utah. The State Office of Education had conducted a statewide needs assessment and found many potential GED candidates were unable to complete courses due to lack of transportation, child care issues, classroom intimidation, and inadequate rural services. To help solve this problem, Steve researched and organized the GED ON TV program. Airing this September on network television (KULC), the program will service students age 18 and over who have yet to receive their high school diploma. GED ON TV consists of 43 half-hour lessons, broadcast over a 15 week period. The lessons help students sharpen their reading, writing, science, social studies, and math skills in preparation for the GED examination. Though GED ON TV has existed for years, only 17 states have adopted the concept designed originally by Kentucky's KET network. All VISTAs serving with adult education programs are encouraged to explore Utah's model. Find out more information by contacting: Steve Rutberg, VISTA, Utah State Office of Education, 250 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, (801) 538-7612.
TEXAS Habitat for Humanity San Antonio Five VISTAs traveled above and beyond their scheduled work plans to build a "Youth Hope House" for Habitat for Humanity. The Habitat VISTAs wanted to give at-risk youth in San Antonio an opportunity to be part of constructing something positive: a home. They conceived the idea of Hope House in December and have been fundraising and organizing volunteers ever since. Habitat's VISTA Fundraiser brought in resources for the Hope House and took on the additional role of Volunteer Coordinator. The VISTA South Side Organizer conducted public relations on behalf of the dwelling. The other VISTAs recruited volunteers and solicited food donations for a month's worth of work. Over 150 at-risk youths were recruited to build the home. A low-income family of five, ready for home ownership, was selected for residency (they also put in over 300 hours of service). From June to July, juvenile delinquents, impoverished teens, and kids on probation worked side by side with VISTA and the Espinoza family to build the home. The home was blessed in time for the Espinoza family to enjoy Independence Day in their own backyard. Youth Hope House serves as a symbol of how VISTA, youth, and communities all working together can make a real difference. By Shea Palamountain, VISTA, Habitat for Humanity
ARKANSAS Good Neighbor Center VISTAs serving the Good Neighbor Center of W. Memphis, Arkansas run a "pledge bank" which helps low-income individuals access donated resources. The Good Neighbor Center is an umbrella organization for many agencies including a homeless education program, food services, and housing projects. The Pledge of Services Department identifies caring organizations willing to provide in-kind services. Donations are cataloged in a database. A resource staff interviews and screens low-income families in urgent need and matches available pledges with the need. The Arkansas Rice Depot, Memphis Food Bank, and a Used Tire Shop are among the many community givers. The Pledge of Services has been able to cover families' utility and medical bills; house disaster victims; supply food for the hungry. Each of the three VISTAs strengthen the service. One is the contact representative, soliciting pledges by telephone and making personal visits to secure pledge forms. Another operates the database and trains volunteers to use the program. The third handles all public relations and has written a step-by-step manual to help other communities begin a Pledge of Services. A sample of a big pledge success is the recent Postal Service Food Drive, conducted by VISTAs, which brought in 2,000 lbs. of food for distribution. A sample of a small success is the Beauty Shop hairdo donation which made the recipient felt so "perked up" that she went out and got a job. To date, 350 pledges have been received for present or future use. By Grayce Alexander, VISTA
WASHINGTON The Encyclopedia Project If you want information, where do you look? Of course, in an encyclopedia! Two years ago, Washington Human Development wrote a prototype Encyclopedia of Everyday Life in English and Spanish. They brought in six VISTAs; five of us to create regional editions, and one to write text. All fervent listeners and communicators, the VISTAs started by meeting communities with the question: "What information do you need?" The resulting text covers topics from local agriculture, alcohol/tobacco/drug prevention, and youth issues. Included are emergency numbers, maps of agency locations, libraries, schools, and community parks. The editions will be available this fall. The next team of VISTAs will spend an entire year distributing books; they will give recipients a careful orientation on how this book may be used. In the third year, VISTAs will integrate the Encyclopedia into curriculum of classes teaching adult basic education, survival skills, ESL, and citizenship. By Rachel Studer, VISTA, Washington Human Development
IDEAS & INNOVATIONS Put Your Project in the Spotlight: Recruit Volunteers in the Movie Theater
Imagine a darkened theater about to present one of many blockbuster movies due out this season...a contemporary soundtrack fills the auditorium and then, presented to thousands of attentive, receptive audiences, are 20 feet by 40 feet full-color spots promoting your organization. The impact is tremendous. Since I help expand outreach for the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Inc., I spoke with our local theater and AMC (American Movie Corporation) office to find out the details on how to pull this off. Here's what I discovered: AMC shows a limited number of slides (so the viewers aren't bombarded) for about 4-8 seconds while patrons await their movie. The cost estimate was about $190 per slide (price depends on your location). AMC will make a slide of your logo or recruitment materials; however, make sure they are camera-ready. And plan ahead. AMC public service spots are limited and fill really quickly (I made my reservations in November 1993 for December 1994). Also, it's a one-shot deal--you can only reserve space for one month per year. Though not every organization has $190 or so to spare on advertising, it may be worth investing some time in fundraising or getting local sponsorship-- this $190 movie slide can reach out to 300,000 people in your community! Submitted by VISTA Tara C. Toth. Tara is a VISTA with Literacy Volunteers of Northern Virginia, Inc., (703) 237-0866, serving as their Special Projects Coordinator.
HOW TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS
During your VISTA year, you will probably need to recruit volunteers. Volunteers are essential for most VISTA projects because you simply cannot do it all by yourself. As the Region II VISTA Placement Officer, I'd like to offer some advice.
I. Develop a Job Description Before you start, consider how you'll employ your volunteers. Develop a job description to give to your new recruits. This gives them a clear idea of what is expected and makes them feel useful. It also helps you focus on what skills and qualities are needed. Job descriptions also establish guidelines which are valuable if you have problems with an unsatisfactory volunteer.
II. Provide Good Training Consider what training the volunteer will need. This ranges from guidelines on parking to teaching a skill. Volunteers need information such as how to record the number of hours worked (grants usually require record-keeping), where to park bikes, what hours they'll be needed. And spell out everything to prevent chaos. If you want a fence painted, consider how you want it done. Paint it top to bottom? Or left to right?
III. Recruit Creatively Recruit volunteers everywhere, all the time. Recruit when you're out on a Friday night or camping on a holiday. You never know who will be a resource for your project so talk it up! Good places to look are colleges, churches, military bases, schools, community centers, volunteer bureaus, newspapers. Word of mouth through clients and satisfied volunteers also works. Always start looking in your immediate vicinity--build up support from your neighborhood businesses and residents. Recruit volunteers and promote your program by placing free ads in church bulletins or airing them on local cable. Distribute flyers and door hangers throughout the area to inform the community about your services--you're likely to find volunteers this way also.
IV. Recruit Recruiters I recruited volunteers for four different components of my VISTA project. The directors for each component also recruited volunteers. The more people you have recruiting, the wider circle of people you can draw on. I also found offering potential volunteers a variety of opportunities enabled me to recruit all kinds of people.
V. Retain Volunteers Consider how to keep volunteers interested and returning to help in the future. Hold a summer picnic and a Christmas party for all volunteers. Send out postcards when some volunteer haven't come in a while to indicate that you're thinking of them. Spend time weekly with each volunteer to see how they're doing (Do they enjoy their work? Do they want a challenge?) and thank them for coming. This goes a long way in building loyalty. If you can, print tee-shirts, mugs, pins, or caps to give for terms of ( i.e. six months, one year).
VI. And Remember... The volunteer wants something from you too-they want to feel good about themselves, gain experience, and be of value. Be open to the needs of your volunteers and they will recruit themselves. ```
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