Retention!

As the 2010/2011 AmeriCorps term comes to a close, it's time to start thinking about leaving all of our partner organizations with the tools they need to maintain the volunteer programs VIP Fellows have created.  One of the things our partner organizations will need to do is retain all of the volunteers who have been recruited over the year.  If you're a VIP Fellow, start thinking about:

• What do I do to retain volunteers?  
• Who will do that when I leave?  How can I explain to them how to keep volunteers around?
• What are some additional things that could be done to keep volunteers around?

Check out this article to see why volunteer retention is so important and some things that can be done to keep your volunteers coming around.

What do you do to retain volunteers?  What has worked well at your organization?

Answering the Call to Service for Fresno's Homeless Youth

The following story is about VIP Fellow Alphonso Russ, who is serving at Sanctuary Outreach to the Streets.  It was written by his supervisor, Joe Martinez, Community Relations and Outreach Manager at EOC Sanctuary.  This story details the kind of passion and dedication that so many of our VIP Fellows have and develop over their year of service.

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Answering the call to service, is how Alphonso Russ describes his purpose and mission in his young life as an Americorps VIP member through HandsOn Central California. Since September 2010, the 22 year-old college student has served as a dedicated street outreach worker helping hundreds of Fresno’s homeless and street youth leave the streets and find safe and secure housing. “It about building relationships,” says Russ as he bravely walks the streets handing out emergency food, clothing and hygiene products as part of his street based services through EOC Sanctuary and Youth Services. Also, as the volunteer coordinator, Alphonso links these young and vulnerable people who traditionally do not volunteer with community service projects so they can give back to improve their communities. Alphonso has recruited and managed 86 youth volunteers who have contributed more than 600 hours toward feeding the homeless, organizing clothing giveaways, and conducting community outreach. Alphonso also contributes his time toward operating a Drop-In-Center for homeless youth, monitoring the agency social network sites, and conducting workshops for transitional aged youth. Alphonso believes in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Everyone Can be Great, because anybody can serve.”

VIP Summer Newsletter Out Today

Happy first day of summer!  I hope you are enjoying the warm weather and summer activities.

In recognition of the first day of summer, our VIP Summer Newsletter came out today.  Check it out to see a little bit of what's going on at some of our partner sites and to get a little update on our statewide goals...

Have a wonderful Tuesday afternoon!

Looking Back Over the Year - Make a Difference Day 2010

As the year starts to wrap up, we can see the incredible difference VIP Fellows have made across the state by mobilizing volunteers.  The following is a reflection from a volunteer at Make a Difference Day, one of the National Days of Service, at CSU Monterey Bay.  This piece appeared in the university's Illuminator publication in November.

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 What a Difference We Made...

     Actually, that’s incorrect.  I didn’t do anything except take pictures and watch.  But I feel lucky enough to have witnessed one of the largest collaborative gatherings of CSUMB students for a cause in a long time.  The occasion?  Make A Difference Day 2010.  As I watched Soledad St. in Salinas transform that day, I saw about 50 student volunteers from Out & About, W.H.A.A.T, Return of the Natives, Service Learning Institute, several fraternities & sororities and many other student organizations working hard together in a way I have never seen, at least at CSUMB.

                                 I may have not had a chance to get my hands dirty (even though in hindsight I wish I had!), but I did see that when people come together for a good cause, magic can happen.  When I arrived, it was dreary, the street was dirty and the overcast sky blotted out any light, but as the day unfolded and the sun emerged I discovered a healthy community thriving on good vibes and collaborative action.

     I saw artists painting raised garden beds with children.  I saw the students hand fresh fruit to the homeless.  I saw an entire block littered with garbage be transformed into a beautiful street full of life and activity.  I saw a band perform a free show for anyone to hear.  I saw donations being given to the non-profits organizing the event.  I saw a weedy and empty lot become clean and traversable again.  I saw smiles.  I hear laughter and music.  I smelled sunflowers and fresh vegetables being harvested.  I tasted fresh fruit given freely for all to share.  I felt amazed; the progress made in such a short time! 

     When people organize for humanitarian projects, wonderful things happen.  Having witnessed a beautiful coming together of many people from many different cultures, backgrounds, and ages, I can’t help but to wonder about what is still possible.  The CSUMB community may be mostly young and transitory, but Make A Difference Day 2010 gave me a good feeling about what we can accomplish if we really put our minds (and hands!) to it.  I wonder what we will set our sights upon next.

               I learned that if we truly commit, and we are willing to get our hands dirty… 

we really CAN make a difference.

by Joshua Reed-Doyle

At long last: Announcing our Video Contest Winner!

We had some amazing, inspiring, and heart-warming videos come to us for our recent video contest, making picking the winner a tough choice!  But at long last, we've chosen:

"This AmeriCorps Life" Video Champ: By Rachel Lebowitz from Outside the Lens

We love this video because it is life as a VIP to an extent; Rachel's video includes a project run by volunteers that she coordinated!

Congratulations, Rachel!

Thanks, everyone, for your submissions!  And have a wonderful rest of your Monday.

It's Time for Family Volunteering

It's almost officially summer - which means the sun will be out more, plants are abloom... and children are out of school for a couple of months!

This is a great time to think about incorporating family volunteering into your organization.  With children free for an extra 5 or more hours a day, many families are looking for things they can do to enjoy eachother's company until school starts again.  Family volunteering can provide a fun experience and bonding time for a family, instill children with a value of service as they serve alongside their parents and siblings, and can provide many hours of extra help for your organization.

Check out Energize,Inc's resource section on Family Volunteering to find some information on involving families in your volunteer program.

Unrelatedly - an update on our video contest: we've had some delays in judging because of the large quantity of projects going on in VIP right now.  We won't be able to announce a winner this week, but we'll post them as soon as we have a champ!

Have a great evening!

Smart Storytelling: It can get you more volunteers!

Compelling storytelling about an organization and its cause can be tremendously helpful in recruiting volunteers to serve for any cause.  Great storytellers ignite passion in those who are willing to listen by communicating well what makes their organization so important. 

If you'd like to get some advice about telling your organization's narrative effectively, check out these free resources:

• Chronicle of Philanthropy chat with Michael Margolis.  This morning, Chronicle of Philanthropy held a live chat with Michael Margolis, a consultant focused on helping nonprofits tell their narrative.  View the transcript to see how Michael answered the audience's questions.
• Free digital book: Believe Me.  Michael Margolis is offering a digital copy of his book for free when you sign up for his mailing list.

Enjoy!

VIP Impact: Clean Up Project at the Guerneville Winter Shelter

Here is a great story from one of this year's service projects coordinated by VIP Leader Annabele Grace!

 

Volunteers at the Guerneville Winter Shelter. VIP Annabele Grace is pictured second from the left at the top of the stairs.

On February 5th, Sebastopol Community Church Youth Group and several client volunteers participated in a service project at St. Hubert's Hall led by West County Community Services VIP Leader, Annabele Grace. The high school students, several community volunteers and shelter clients scrubbed and cleaned, dusted and organized every inch of the building used for the last 3 months as Guerneville's Winter Shelter for the homeless. The group was also led (by shelter clients) on a trash patrol throughout the areas surrounding the shelter, including Main St. and the Guerneville Plaza. Kids, adult volunteers and homeless themselves worked side by side with an enthusiasm that was inspiring.
Client volunteer Justin Miller remarked: "I am thankful for the opportunity to do something useful and positive in my community. I was feeling down (because of not having work) and today I felt I did something worthwhile."
Another client volunteer said, "I am grateful I have a warm place to sleep every night thanks to the shelter. This is one way to show my appreciation."
"We hoped to leave the facility in even better condition than before we started the lease." said another volunteer, who asked to remain unidentified. (St. Catherine's church opted not to renew the lease at St. Hubert's Hall through March. The Winter Shelter moved after this project to the Guerneville Veterans Memorial Hall, where it functioned through March 31.)

Announcing... Photo Contest Winners!

Over the last month, we've held our year-end photo contest:

We asked our VIP Fellows to submit photos that represent life in AmeriCorps VIP.  Thank you to everyone who participated!  We got some wonderful submissions.

We are pleased to announce that we have some winners!

Best Promotional Photo - Submitted by Kim Nguyen, NCOE

 Just look at all of those proud AmeriCorps 'A's!  Pictured are all the VIP Fellows at the Napa County Office of Education: Sonia Ayala, Haley Schandelmier, Cherri Alcantara, Thanh Tran, Naima Wright-Clay, Kim Nguyen, and Aileen Savage.  

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Best Action Shot - Submitted by Anna Sieh, City of Duarte

 We love this photo because it shows both a volunteer volunteering, and a VIP Fellow assisting the volunteer in serving!  Pictured is VIP Fellow Philip Ledesma, who serves at the Foothill Unity Center.

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Most Creative Photo - Submitted by Lindy Capps, Volunteer San Diego

The following is a series of three photos of VIP Fellow Rachel Lebowitz at a service project at the Lakeside River Parks Conservancy on an MLK Day of Service.

 We love this series of photos because they're lighthearted - we're serious about serving and getting things done, but we hope to all have a little fun doing it!

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Congratulations to our winners!

Check out our blog next week to find out the results of our video contest...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Volunteer Vision: A story from CalSERVES After School

We love our volunteers.  They are the best resources in our program, and they make a huge difference in nonprofits around the state.  They not only allow organizations to make a bigger impact, but they themselves are often changed through the service they so generously offer. 

The following is a statement from Verenice Chavez, a volunteer at the CalSERVES after school program at Taylor Mountain Elementary School in Santa Rosa, CA.  Verenice was recruited by VIP Fellow Richelle Andrae.

"My experience with CalSERVES has very much impacted my life in a positive way. When I started to volunteer, my objective was to be updated on both my sisters who attend the program.  I also attended the program when I was in elementary.

As time passed by, I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with a third grade class at Taylor Mountain. Being in that classroom twice a week helping out the mentors, I had one on one time with the kids and I realized most of them didn't have the resources CalSERVES offered. Those kids are very talented and with the little push we give them they will go a long way. They may not show they have been impacted, but if you see the changes from the beginning of the year till now, it has shown they have grown in many aspects. I know I wanted to help kids as a career choice.  This experience made me comprehend that I want to be more than just a teacher, but a mentor too. I never would have thought those kids would have so much to learn from. They may be small but they sure know what they are talking about. There's not a day where I don't remember them, all of them I shared moments with, and their ways of being."

What's Next? : Life After AmeriCorps Resources

As the year is winding down and some of our VIP Fellows are getting ready to transition out of their current positions, "what's next?" seems to be the question on everyone's mind.

A year as a VIP Fellow provides experience in leadership, organization, service, and other skills that come from a year of building capacity, working on a team, and managing volunteers.  We  know our members are well prepared for the road ahead, whether they are going back to school, continuing to serve, or launching themselves into (or back into) the job market.  Here are some of our favorite resources that provide information you'll find helpful if you're looking for a job or to continue serving after AmeriCorps.

• A job hunting guide specifically for AmeriCorps members, developed by Education Northwest’s AmeriCorps program officers.

• The AmeriCorps Alums Career Center: provides not only job postings related to civic service, but also has professional development resources and tips as well.  Under the tab "For Alumni," select "Career Center."

• Idealist: job, internship, and volunteer opportunity search site for the nonprofit and public service sector.

• Indeed.com: a way to search multiple job search sites at one time. 

• Non Profit Expert: almost exhaustive list of nonprofit job search resources.

• Peace Corps, if you're looking to serve abroad for a couple of years with all expenses paid.

• Go Abroad: a search site for volunteer opportunities around the world.

• VISTA Campus Life After AmeriCorps Resources - these informational guides are geared towards AmeriCorps VISTAs, but most apply for all AmeriCorps members.

 Do you have any other helpful "life after AmeriCorps" resources to share?  Let us know in the comments!