US Volunteers Continue to Produce Results

by Cody Cibart, VIP Statewide Leader 

Good deeds aren’t just limited to the holiday season. According to Volunteering and Civic Life in America, a report issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 64.3 million Americans (more than one in four adults) volunteered through a formal organization last year. That’s an increase of 1.5 million people from the year before. 

California volunteers alone contributed 977.9 million hours of service, valued at $20.9 billion. 

The report goes on to highlight the support and contributions of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs that serve communities throughout the U.S. “Every day, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members help more than three million disadvantaged youth by serving as teachers, tutors, mentors, and counselors,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

With the national volunteer rate reaching a five-year high, civic engagement is as prominent as ever. As residents become more involved within their neighborhoods it creates a ripple effect that inspires others to do the same. 

CalSERVES VIP is proud that our dedicated AmeriCorps members continue to bridge local organizations with volunteer support. Thank you to our program participants for your hard work and continued contributions! 

Explore more information about volunteering in America here.

6x return on federal investment and other great results from last year

VIP Volunteers Help Improve Santa Ana Students’ Vision

On November 3^rd, Children’s Health Initiative of Orange County partnered with Kids Vision for Life and Santa Ana Unified School District to host a clinic that will provide free eye exams and glasses to two Santa Ana elementary schools, Walker and Roosevelt, whose students have some of the greatest needs in Orange County.  To prepare for the clinic, two screenings were held over two days to screen 1,550 students for vision imparities.  Throughout September the committee met at both schools preparing for the screenings and the major clinic that will be held at Walker Elementary in November.  After weeks of preparation, and with the help of five doctors and 30 volunteers we identified 275 students who will be returning for eye exams and free glasses. 

The screenings were a whirlwind as students from Kindergarten to 6^th grade came in droves to the library to be screened by our volunteers and doctors.  Volunteers from UC Irvine, CSU Fullerton, West Coast School of Nursing, and Children’s Health Initiative of Orange County worked diligently to see that the vision of all students was assessed.  Two volunteers shared their experience:

“The Kids Vision for Life Event opened my eyes up to how necessary community involvement is and how great of an impact it can have on people’s lives. It was such a fun and rewarding experience, yet at the same time devastating seeing all the children struggling with their vision. I am a senior attending Cal State University, Fullerton studying sociology and psychology, so I am glad I finally can be a part of something that embraces what I’ve been so interested in. It felt wonderful to give back the community and allow myself to open my eyes to issues beyond the scope of my world and what I am used to. I would have never known how great of an impact events like these had on the community if I had not been a part of it myself. I look forward to participating in more events like Kids Vision for Life and continue to make a difference within the community.”  – Amy Hollenbeck, long term CHI OC volunteer.

“I have always enjoyed working and being around children. Their personalities and smiles are contagious. The vision screening at Walker Elementary was rewarding because I know I made an impact in a child’s life. Coming across students that had difficulty reading the letters made me sad because I can imagine how they struggle in their classroom and at home. These events are truly amazing because they make a huge difference.”   –Dulce Navarro, Cal State Fullerton senior and long term CHI OC volunteer.

 

Volunteers left the Screenings sharing stories about adorably tiny Kindergarteners and hysterical sassy 5^th graders.  Each volunteer had dedicated their time to make a difference in the lives students who will undoubtedly never forget the enthusiastic kindness of all the wonderful volunteers.

Great Tips on Position Descriptions from the HandsOn Blog

So you know you have a need for volunteers... but where do you go from here?

Position descriptions are a great place to start when building a volunteer program.  Creating unique position descriptions for each available role you can provide is a great exercise not only in getting ready to recruit volunteers, but in making sure you have a clear idea of what your volunteer will be doing.  Position descriptions are a great way to set clear expectations and avoid those awkward "I-don't-know-what-you-should-be-doing-here" moments.

Earlier this month, the HandsOn Blog featured an article on creating volunteer position descriptions: 6 Tips for Awesome Volunteer Position Descriptions.  From an interesting title to evaluation, this article has some great ideas on the elements that make position descriptions effective.  Go check it out!

From a VIP Fellow: a welcome to the new year of service

Alex (second from right) with fellow VIP AmeriCorps members Sabina Ahuja and
Cody Cibart (left), and supervisor Lauren Serpa (far right).

By Alex Rowan, Local VIP Leader at CalSERVES in Rohnert Park, CA

Becoming a VIP has been an exciting, albeit hectic, journey.  A month ago, I was home in Colorado, packing up my car, ready to move to Philadelphia to begin graduate school.  The prospect of grad school excited me, and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in a new city.  However, tucked away somewhere in the recesses of my mind, a thought began to emerge which told me that spending the next year in classes accruing a huge amount of debt would ultimately leave me unfulfilled.  It told me that what I needed was to work in a community, and have opportunities to grow through service that grad school just couldn’t provide.

So I applied to AmeriCorps to see if there was something out there for me.  I didn’t think I would actually give up my ideal education no matter what opportunity presented itself.  I felt more like I was tangentially indulging in a never-to-be-pursued dream of committing a year to service that would quickly be passed by.  That is until I found myself sitting in the dining room fiddling with my webcam so that I could interview with Lauren Serpa via Skype.

Dressed in my nicest polo and my most comfortable pajama pants, I logged into Skype and began the interview.  Lauren told me about CalSERVES.  She asked the standard questions about my strengths and weaknesses, all the while offering an overview of what I might be doing as a VIP.  The opportunity seemed interesting, but what really struck me was that even though we were 1,300 miles away, I could feel Lauren’s enthusiasm for the program radiating from the screen in front of me.  I was sold.

I accepted the position, finished packing my car, and headed west!  After a few days driving, I made it to my new home, Santa Rosa, CA.  I should clarify that I mean home in the broadest sense.  I didn’t know anyone in Santa Rosa, I wasn’t exactly sure what I had gotten myself into, and I didn’t have a place to live, save for the couch of a few generous AmeriCorps alums.  The next day was our first training, and so began my year as a VIP Fellow.

Throughout the following week, I received calls from friends, and even my sister, on the east coast who didn’t get the memo that I had moved to California.  They were still intent on visiting me in Philly before school started.  When I told them the news, they were understandably shocked to discover I had seemingly made a wrong turn back in Colorado and ended up on the wrong coast.  I let them know that plans had changed, and that I followed that tangential dream and made it my new reality.

Although I’m still crashing on a couch, with a very modest income, recently on food stamps, and living a life that is the exact opposite of everything I anticipated my life being at UPenn, I couldn’t be more excited about working as a CalSERVES VIP Fellow for the coming year.  The staff have provided unwavering support, my fellow VIPs are amazing individuals who I am excited to work with, and everyone has the same enthusiasm and excitement for service that Lauren showed when I first spoke with her.

And so I welcome my fellow VIPs at all of our partner organizations.  With continuing support and a passion for service, I know this will be an amazing year of growth for all of us, and for the communities that we are here to serve.

Welcome to the new year!

Congratulations to the 2012-13 VIP Fellow crew for making it to the end of the first week of the service term!

This year, our program includes 140 AmeriCorps members serving across 16 California counties.  VIP Fellows will send the upcoming year of service building sustainable volunteer programs at not-for-profit organizations such as food banks, school, women's shelters, libraries, and others that bring services to California's highest-need children and families.

Throughout the year, it is our goal to connect 16,800 volunteers who will give 84,000 hours of service to those most in need in our state.  We are excited to see all the great things we can get done with all of that effort!

Cheers to an inspiring new year!

AmeriCorps VIP Hits Chicago for National Conference on Volunteering

Bryan, right, with HOIE staff members Denise and Megan at the conference

 By Bryan Nakawaki, AmeriCorps VIP Leader at HandsOn Inland Empire

Between June 17^th and 20^th, I attended the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago, Illinois—an event that proved hugely educational! Over the four-day period I attended sessions discussing service-learning, disaster preparedness, best practices in volunteer management, and a variety of other informative and useful topics. I also had the chance to learn about a number of non-profit organizations doing great work across the country, including the Israel Idonije Foundation, founded by a member of the Chicago Bears.

Especially interesting was a series of discussions on how to engage youth in volunteerism, sponsored by Generation On. Through this series, I was able to learn how to deeply engage youth in service and how to develop projects that tap into the social, emotional, and psychological needs of students so they walk away as powerful agents of change. After attending this series, I was anxious to get back to the Inland Empire to put these valuable strategies to use!  

After each day of the conference, the team from HandsOn Inland Empire and I also tried to immerse ourselves in the city, visiting iconic landmarks (Willis Tower, Soldier Field, the Cloud Gate sculpture), watching some of the local sports teams, and tasting the city’s signature pizza and hot dogs.

Both culturally and practically, the conference offered me a tremendous chance to grow as a person and a volunteer organizer. To say that I simply feel more prepared to lead volunteers and engage citizens in acts of volunteerism would be an understatement. I also feel more knowledgeable about the challenges our nation faces and how we, as a team, can combat them.

This conference was nothing short of an incredible experience, and I look forward to attending future conferences in cities throughout the country! 

Ongoing Training for Volunteers: 6 ideas to get you started

VIP Americorps member Mira Fielding with volunteers from her partner site, Circle of Sisters, at the 8th Annual Power of Know Conference put on by the Women’s and Gender Studies students at Sonoma State University

Ongoing volunteers provide invaluable support to your organization - so do them a favor and help mix up their volunteer experience by providing some ongoing training!  Help them learn more skills, grow personally or professionally, or learn more about your organization's cause.  Go beyond the basic training and orientation to give them a special training experience that shows them that you care and are invested in them.

Having trouble finding training topics to provide to those volunteers who have been around for a while?   Here are 5 quick tips to get you started:

1. Ask your volunteers what they want to learn about.  Volunteers will be more invested in the training and appreciate it more if it is a topic they are interested in.
2. Ask your organization's staff what they would like volunteers to know.  The people who work with volunteers day-to-day will have a good idea of what additional skills could really help your organization.
3. Provide training on leadership.  Your dedicated volunteers are great candidates for volunteer leaders who can help train, orient, or recruit others to get involved in the organization.  Help them get started by boosting their confidence with some leadership skills.
4. Take your volunteers with you to a training you are going to attend.
5. Invite volunteers to the organization's staff trainings.
6. Check out available workshops and trainings at your local volunteer center, chamber of commerce, or university.  You may as well take advantage of trainings that are already offered in your area!

Keep your volunteers happy!

There is some great wisdom in today's Volunteer Match blog article about keeping volunteers happy.  Their three overarching tips for keeping volunteers at their best? Learn what motivates them, engage them in two-way communication, and show your appreciation for them.


How do you keep your volunteers happy?

Inspiration Thursday: Encouraging volunteer story from OC Food Access

"I came to a harvest at a time when I needed a community to reach out to me.  I was struggling with a long term illness, and was feeling very alone.  The prospect of fresh fruit and companionship pulled me out of bed and energized me enough to make some connections.  I was captured by the friendliness and excitement of the other volunteers.  Sampling the produce was also exciting.  I had never had an orange picked directly from the tree before.  The flavor and quality of a freshly picked orange blasted all of my expectations about what citrus should taste like.  It was a small healing moment for me.  I was so happy to be sending something so amazing to people who really needed a boost.  I could relate in that moment.

As time went on, and I had the opportunity to not only pick the fruit, but deliver it, recruit other volunteers, and get deeper into the Harvest Club community, I came to love it more and more.  I was able to talk with growers about their trees, some with long history.  I saw just how many oranges would go to waste if we hadn't picked them.  I witnessed the joy it brought to people who received the produce.  And I got excited about finding new and better ways to serve this community.  I definitely look forward to being involved with this group for years to come.

"

-Sarah Vay Kerns (Volunteer from OC Food Access)

VIP Impact: Mighty Mouth Health Education

Here's a great letter of appreciation we received from partner site supervisor Stacey Stirling of Mighty Mouth Health Education:

VIP Fellow Juan Sosa participating in a team-building activity with his VIP team.

"I would like to highlight my AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Juan Sosa.  Juan has taken on organizing volunteers for our Mighty Mouth Dental Prevention and Education Program.  This program is now able to continue to function with volunteer nurses and our VIP volunteer coordinating the schools and classrooms with the available volunteers. 

Juan has also been able to reach out to additional health fairs this year with his extended use of the volunteers that he has gathered. I am forever grateful to this program and the positive impact that it is having in our community.

Our goal is to decrease decay rates in Sonoma County and all the programs the volunteers are involved in are based around prevention and education. The more we are able to utilize these volunteers the wider our reach of dental prevention and education."

Tips for inclusive service projects

Let's make sure that all with a heart of service can lend a hand through our programs!  To get started, check out this recent blog article from the HandsOn Network that includes great tips on creating inclusive service projects.

Environmental service projects in the City of Duarte

It's spring - the birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, the sun is out - and it's a great time to start those outdoor service days!  It's the perfect season for clearing hiking trails, maintaining community gardens, or sprucing up buildings that need a little extra care.

City of Duarte volunteers working hard to plant new trees.

The City of Duarte kicked off their season of outdoor service with a tree-planting project on Earth Day.  VIP Leader Airika Narcisse tells us that "San Gabriel Valley recently got hit with serious wind storms knocking down some of our cities oldest trees," so she and her team of VIP Fellows organized a group of volunteers to plant new trees.

Will you be taking advantage of the warm weather to accomplish any outdoor service needs this summer?  Tell us about your projects in the comments!

More of the City of Duarte's dedicated volunteers!

Rural Volunteering: a toolkit

Do you work with a rural volunteer program?  Then you know the special challenges that come with working in smaller communities that often have fewer resources, less infrastructure, and yet just as much need for service as other locales.

Thankfully, a VISTA AmeriCorps program with the Office of Surface Mining conducted research on rural volunteering and has shared its insights in a Rural Volunteering Tooklit.  Check out their research and resources here!

What's Next? : Life After AmeriCorps Resources

This is a re-post of our original entry posted on June 1, 2011.  It still encompasses some of our favorite Life After AmeriCorps resources, perfect for VIP Fellows as they start to decide what their next steps are.

As the year is starting to wind 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 some information you might 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!

Inspiration Friday: Senior Tech Day in Santa Cruz

Check out this video about one of the great projects involving volunteers from YouthSERVE, a VIP Partner Site in Santa Cruz.  What a great way to bring the new generation of skilled young volunteers into a valuable service opportunity!

Celebrate Volunteers 55+ and the difference they make: May 7-11 is Senior Corps Week:

This week is the second annual Senior Corps Week, celebrating the service and community contributions of volunteers ages 55 and over.  These Baby Boomer volunteers make up a large and vital part of the service movement in our country.  Did you know that there are over 300,000 senior citizens serving through Senior Corps programs like RSVP, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions? 

See the Huffington Posts's story about Senior Corps Week and post pictures of senior citizens volunteering.  Or, get news from the Senior Corps on Facebook.

And, did you know that President Obama declared May Older Americans Month in this proclamation from last week?  This month is a great time to appreciate the older and wiser citizens around us, especially if they serve around you.

How will you be appreciating older Americans this week and month?

Check out Volunteer Match's Secrets of Volunteer Recruitment

Volunteer Match's free guide, 101 Volunteer Secrets, was gleaned from members for the Volunteer Match community and holds some great gems of wisdom.  Take a look, download it here, and find some great tips!

New programs on the horizon for VIP partners: It's amazing what volunteer programs can do!

All around the state, about 140 VIP Fellows are building infrastructure in our state's essential nonprofit and educational organizations.  In organization after organization, we see new programs starting and new services provided once a steady stream of volunteer effort can be established behind an organization.  It's incredible to hear about the needs that are being met with a dedicated base of people willing to serve their community.


One of the latest program additions comes from VIP partner site Creative Mediation, a non-profit organization that provides mediation and conflict resolution services to the citizens of San Luis Obispo.  Creative Mediation will be starting up a new military mediation program for families of those serving in the armed forces.

AmeriCorps VIP fellow Kelly Donohue (second from left) and the staff at Creative Mediation 

visit Vandenberg Air Force Base in order to begin a new mediation program.

National Service Impact Award nominations due May 1

Do you think you know someone (or are someone) who deserves recognition for the Corporation for National and Community Service?  Then submit a nomination for the National Service Impact Award.

Here are the words straight from the Challenge: "The Corporation for National and Community Service seeks nominations that exemplify the best in national and community service in the key issue areas of the Serve America Act and disaster services."

Award winners will get to attend the national Conference on Volunteering and Service from June 18-20 in Chicago - including airfare, lodging, and registration fees.

Be sure to submit your nominations here by May 1!

Global Youth Service Day 2012: Today through Sunday!

This year's Global Youth Service Day starts TODAY and lasts through Sunday.  Did you know that service projects are happening in 100 different countries on 6 continents in the next 3 days?  And that 128 projects are taking place all over California?  Take part in the world's largest annual service day by getting out into your community and serving this weekend.

Check out the GYSD website for more information and to find local projects.  Or, if you're leading a GYSD service project this weekend, be sure to register your project.

It's National Volunteer Week!

Last week, President Obama released this proclamation of National Volunteer Week from April 15-21, 2012.  An excerpt from his proclamation reads:

"Our Nation has been profoundly shaped by ordinary Americans who have volunteered their time and energy to overcome extraordinary challenges... As we continue to pursue progress, service and social innovation will play an essential role in achieving our highest ambitions -- from a world-class education for every child to an economy built to last. During National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to all who give of themselves to keep America strong, and we renew the spirit of service that has enriched our country for generations."

Find more information on National Volunteer Week at the HandOn Network event page. 

Want to participate in Volunteer Week Online?  Check out the Huffington Post Volunteer Week Challenge and post a picture of a volunteer on the site.  Or, take part in the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #NVW12.

A group of hard-working volunteers from a HandsOn Central Day of Service!

Get better responses from your blast-emails to volunteers

I just read this great article over at Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog: 7 ways to get better response rates to your e-news.  While it's generally focused on e-news, this article is absolutely relevant to those of us who are trying to recruit volunteers via email.

Take a look at her tips, and get some great ideas on getting more response to your emails.

Featuring NCOE VIP Fellows: AmeriCorps luncheon

Last month, VIP Fellows at the Napa County Office of Education held and AmeriCorps luncheon to spread the word about AmeriCorps and the great work that's being done all around Napa County.  Way to represent AmeriCorps and VIP!

"Like" the CalSERVES Facebook page and $1 will be donated to promote child literacy!

CalSERVES is participating in the Sonoma County Human Race on Saturday, May 5.  As a part of our efforts to support child literacy through this event, we're donating $1 to fund our summer programs for children for every new "like" on our Facebook page.

"Like" us today, and help us support summer literacy for our students!

Want to help even more?  Donate to CalSERVES and help children preserve precious academic ground over the summer.

Thanks for the support!

Volunteers in the news: Data scientists are helping nonprofits change the game

Infographics - they're fun, attention-grabbing, and a popular trend in marketing.  A good infographic can help an audience make sense of complicated or long-winded data, or help them focus their attention on what might be considered dull information in another context.

More and more, nonprofits are catching on to these creative information-sharing images (like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has a whole web page dedicated to the things).  They're helping grab the attention of all audiences - from Millenials who are drawn to the popular visuals, to donors and volunteers who want clearer information about the organizations they support.

Infographic on Inforgraphics - by Ivan Cash

The Chronicle of Philanthropy even ran a recent article about infographics and nonprofits.  What is striking about the Chronicle's article is not so much the use of infographics (they've been around for a while now), but the fact that organizations of volunteers are popping up to help nonprofits create these eye-catching materials.  Data without Borders, for instance, matches nonprofits with volunteer data scientists to complete data projects (like presenting information through infographics).

From a volunteer management standpoint, this is great news.  Skilled volunteers (data scientists) are being matched with nonprofits in need (of better marketing and clearer presentation of their data), to provide the highly-specialized help that skilled volunteer is meant to provide.  It's proof that volunteers don't just need to be used on the front lines - they can be utilized at all levels of a nonprofit.

What needs does your organization have?  What do you need to be able to meet your mission?  Maybe if a volunteer came in to update your technology, the organization could communicate more effectively with volunteers, donors, and clients?  Perhaps a volunteer with great organizational skills could help redesign the filing system, or someone with an eye for design and data can create an infographic that connects volunteers to your cause.

Think outside the box with volunteers, and you never know where you can find that you need help.  A little bit of creativity in creating volunteer positions could go a long way in changing the game for your organization.

Technology in Volunteer Programs: Ideas from NTEN

"Running an effective, successful volunteer program can be a game-changer for your nonprofit." -Shari Ilsen, Nonprofit Technology Network

So true, Shari!  Check out the post that great quote originated from here.  This informative article provides great ideas of the different ways you can utilize technology in running an effective volunteer program for your organization.

Presenting: our AmeriCorps Works VIP Video Contest Winner

Our winning video was produced by VIP Fellow Elijah Werlyklein and stars National Service member Andrew Moritz.  Both are serving at Hands On Central California.

Congratulations on such a creative video!

Is your gate open or closed? 5 quick ideas to make your volunteer program more inviting

Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog had a great post last week about a music school that increased their clients by over 50% - just because they opened their front gate and put out a few welcoming signs.  What simple changes to make a big impact!

This got me thinking -how might this apply to our volunteer programs?  What if such small changes could make volunteers flood through your organization's doors, like it made new students flood through the doors of that school?

Here are some small but powerful ways to make your volunteer program more inviting:

1. Get rid of physical barriers.  Simple changes like opening the door to the organization, taking down the cubicle wall that separates the volunteer coordinator from the rest of the office, or removing other physical barriers can make potential volunteers feel more at ease about approaching you.

2.  Make open positions obvious.  Like the welcome signs in Katya's story, sometimes a metaphorical "come on in" can invite a volunteer to step up.  Advertise your specific volunteer position openings.  It's like a "welcome sign" into your volunteer program.


3. Smile.  When anyone comes into your office - client, donor, supporter, community member - smile, say "hello," be friendly, and make sure they feel welcome.  No need to put them on the spot - but a kind acknowledgment of their presence will make the person feel more at ease.  And you never know who might be interested in lending a hand if they just feel comfortable with you!

4. Institute a "smile" policy.  It shouldn't just be you making people feel welcome - get the whole team on board!  Volunteers see your staff as a representation of your volunteer program - so make sure they know the entire staff is welcoming and supportive.

 5. Create a clear chain of communication.  Everyone in your organization needs to know who a potential volunteer should approach if they're interested in giving their time.  Make sure an interested volunteer can approach anyone at the organization and get a clear referral to the volunteer coordinator.  Little can scare off a potential volunteer more than a convoluted or circular chain of contacts who are unsure of how to help them get involved.

How do you make sure that volunteers feel welcome at your organization?  Share your ideas in the comments!

Creative Photo Contest Winner

And our last photo contest winner for the 2012 AmeriCorps Week Photo Contest is (drumroll please!)...

 

This great photo of the KorehLA VIP Fellow team!  It takes the "Most Creative Photo" title.  The photo was inspired by KorehLA's mission to enable volunteers to help foster their student’s love of reading, and was taken at The Last Book Store in Downtown Los Angeles.  Congratulations to Molly Soboroff, the VIP Fellow who submitted this photo!

Check out the blog next week to see our winning "AmeriCorps Works" video!

Volunteer In Action Photo Contest Winner

Our AmeriCorps week photo contest winner for Best Volunteer Action shot goes to:

 

Julianna Whittaker, VIP Fellow at CalSERVES!  This is a photo of a committed volunteer at Bellevue Elementary School, taking part in pumpkin carving with the students she serves.  Congratulations, Julianna!

Day in the Life Photo Contest Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in our VIP AmeriCorps Week Photo Contest!  Over the next 3 days, we'll be announcing our photo contest winners.

Our first winner, for best "Day in the Life" shot, goes to...

 

James Laske, VIP Fellow at CSU Monterey Bay.  Congratulations!  This is a great photo of James working on a service learning project with a student - helping instill the AmeriCorps ethic of service into a new generation of volunteers!

Check out the blog again tomorrow and Wednesday to see our Volunteer in Action and Creative Photo winners!

Win up to $4,000 through Challenge.gov's AmeriCorps Video Contest

Well, our video contest has nearly come to an end (submissions are due today!), but challenge.gov came out with a new contest this week: this time, it's for a 60-second video made around the theme of "AmeriCorps Works."

Submissions are due July 4 (that nearly 4 months from now - giving you plenty of time!), and the first prize winner will receive $4,000! 

For all of you still-enthusiastic, they are also hold a photo contest (for a $2,000 grand prize)!

Keep a lookout for our own photo and video contest winners - announcements will come soon.  Send any last-minute submissions to vip (at) calserves.org by the end of the day today.

Have you SMIZEd for AmeriCorps this week?

AmeriCorps Alums is holding a photo campaign titled "AmeriCorps Works Here."  For this campaign, they are asking that AmeriCorps alums send in pictures for their current career paths to show the diverse fields that can boast the experience of former AmeriCorps members.  Check out their promotional video, all about how to "smize" for this photo campaign:

To find out more information, visit the AmeriCorps Alums website or Facebook page.

Join the AmeriCorps Week Conversation on Twitter

Interested in following the AmeriCorps Week conversation on Twitter?  Follow the AmeriCorps Twitter (@AmeriCorps) or use the hashtag #AmeriCorpsWeek.

Happy Tweeting!

Change your Facebook Profile Picture in Honor of AmeriCorps Week

Looking to help promote AmeriCorps in celebration of service?  Check out the AmeriCorps Week website, which has all kind of banners and even an avatar made just for your Facebook profile picture.  Use it to help promote AmeriCorps this week!

AmeriCorps Alums' Annual AmeriCorps Week Webinar

Happy AmeriCorps Week!

AmeriCorps Alums hosts an annual AmeriCorps Week webinar for current AmeriCorps members and Alumni.  This year's webinar is titled "Inspirational Pathways of Service and Leadership" and will feature five AmeriCorps alumni on a panel discussing their post-AmeriCorps careers.  It takes place tomorrow from 12 pm - 1:30 pm PT.

Interested in learning more or participating?  Check out more information here.

Fast Facts about AmeriCorps Impact

AmeriCorps week starts tomorrow.  This year's theme is "AmeriCorps Works" - but have you ever wondered just how we know that AmeriCorps works?  Well - here are some facts about AmeriCorps Impact from the AmeriCorps Week Impact Guide:

775,000:  Number of people who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.

1 Billion: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members since 1994.

3.5 million: Number of disadvantaged youth tutored, mentored, or served by AmeriCorps
members in fiscal 2011.

3.4 million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps
members in fiscal 2011.

$480 million: Value of cash and in-kind donations leveraged by AmeriCorps members in
fiscal 2010.

15,000: Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations served by
AmeriCorps members.

$2.2 billion: Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps
members since 1994.

$7.6 billion: Amount of AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit, educational, and faithbased
community groups since 1994.

Get the word out about your AmeriCorps Week events

AmeriCorps Week (March 10 - 18) is fast approaching, and AmeriCorps members, alums, and service-lovers all over the country are looking to celebrate service in America by... well, serving!  So get the word out about service opportunities (or any other AmeriCorps Week events) at your organization and help others get involved!  Here are a few places you can list your AmeriCorps Week events:

• AmeriCorps Alums Events website
• Idealist (click on "post a listing" at the top right corner of the page)
• VolunteerMatch (click on "register" to get started)
• Craigslist (put a posting in the volunteer section for your area's page)

Still looking for ideas of events you can hold during AmeriCorps Week?  Find some great resources over at AmeriCorps Alums.

VIP AmeriCorps Week Photo Contest

VIP Fellows: Check out our photo contest for AmeriCorps week (March 10-18)!  Put together a video or submit some photos for a chance to be showcased on VIP websites, help us promote AmeriCorps Week, and win cool prizes!

Good luck!

Nominate a Champion of Change

The White House Champions of Change program is looking for nominations of individuals who exemplify the Life and Legacy of Cesar Chavez by living our Chavez's core values: service to others, sacrifice, helping the most needy, acceptance of all people, celebration of community, non-violence, knowledge, and innovation.

Do you know an exemplary volunteer, VIP Fellow, or staff member at one of our partner sites who exudes the values and service of Cesar Chavez?  Nominate them here by midnight on February 24 (that's tomorrow... so get a move on!).

Tomorrow: Check out this free webcast on social sector innovation

Looking for a little inspiration?  Taproot Foundation, a nonprofit that connects other nonprofits with business expertise, is holding a free webcast tomorrow at 11:30 am PT on innovation in the social sector.

This webcast will feature a strong panel, and should be interesting - check it out if you'd like a thought-provoking activity for your lunch break!

Inspriation Friday - from a KidWorks volunteer

Need a little motivation to volunteer? Here is some inspiration from the experience of Jessi Kraai, volunteer at VIP partner site KidWorks:

"I volunteer with the hope of making a small difference in the life of one of my students.  I understand the many influences that play a role in shaping the characters of each of my students; I hope that I can be a positive influence and role model for them.  Developing and maintaining a relationship with each student is one of the best parts of volunteering.  As the months and years pass I am privileged to see my students grow and mature academically, socially, and spiritually.  I treasure the moments I spend with my students.  For the past few years I have volunteered with KidWorks, I have learned more from my students than I had ever imagined."

Happy Valen... er, Generosity Day!

The 14th of February brings a lot of mixed emotions - we all know people who absolutely love it and people who try to pretend that it doesn't exist.  It's a sweet idea, showing love to the people in your life, but... why not show love to everyone?  Why not show your love through service and generosity?

Let's help reboot Valentine's day.  Let's join in the movement, and make it Generosity Day.

Give of yourself - your heart, your time, and your resources today.  not just to that "special someone" - take the challenge, take the pledge, and be generous with everyone around you today.

Enjoy this great video from the Generosity Day cause to get a little inspiration for a day of giving in love and service:

Tri-City Volunteers

Congratulations to Peter Hooper (pictured on the far right), VIP Fellow with Tri City Volunteers.  Peter organized this great group of holiday volunteers for this Fremont-based food bank and thrift store! 

Practical tips on leading change in your organization - check out the link!

Yesterday's great entry on Katya Andresen's blog lays out some great advice for inspiring change.  The article is inspired by John Kotter's book, A Sense of Urgency, and lays out a summary of some of his powerful tactics for leading change with a true sense of urgency.

Change can be hard at any organization - and can be a blockade to moving new projects or plans forward.  If you're running into any issues changing mindsets or practices that keep you from building the volunteer infrastructure you desire to create, check out the very practical tips that Katya lays out!

VIP Impact: Homeless Garden Project volunteers helped bring in $105,000!

During the month of December, VIP Fellow Kelly Mercer recruited over 50 volunteers to run the Homeless Garden Project’s holiday store. The holiday store, located in middle of downtown Santa Cruz, featured a range of products made by Homeless Garden Project volunteers and trainees from herbs, flowers, and other materials grown on the HGP farm. Some of these items included soaps, lavender bath salts, chocolates, candles, wreaths, jams and more! HGP also enlisted the help of local artists to sell jewelry, paintings & prints, as well as other home and garden items.

Over the span of 5 weeks, volunteers clocked over 1,000 hours and helped the Homeless Garden Project raise over $105,000 in sales! This was Kelly second year working on this project as a VIP member. The staggering success and growth of this multifaceted project is not only a testament to Kelly’s hard work and dedication to HGP, but also shows the significant impact Americorps VIP has on local human services agencies.

Way to go, Kelly and the Homeless Garden Project!

Inside the HGP Holiday Store

Keep that New-Year Motivation Alive!

Nonprofits everywhere see new volunteer faces come through the door every January as individuals reflect and make the decision to serve their community in the hope of the fresh new year.  It's an exciting time, and we all know how great it feel to get caught up in the hope of a fresh start.

The only problem is... that new year's motivation often leads to quick burn out.  With the excitement and hope New Year's Day behind us, all of our well-intentioned resolutions take the fast track to the back burner.

Help your volunteers stay motivated to serve!  Give them the tools to stay excited for the service they give now, and they'll be much more likely to stick around.  Check out Inc.'s article on self-motivation for some tools to give your volunteers, and check out your own motivational skills with this test from Mind Tools.

Do you have any tools for keeping volunteers motivated?  How do you keep their excitement alive year-round?  Let us know in the comments!

Volunteer in Pajamas!

It's January and we all know what that means: it's the coldest month of the year.  We're all bundling up in jackets, coats, and gloves to get out of the house in the morning (or maybe just a light sweater for all of our Los Angeles friends who are enjoying breezy 70-degree weather this week?).

Unfortunately, the cold doesn't exactly invite would-be volunteers out of their homes and into the community to spend their time.  Cozy houses and running heaters just seem all that much more inviting in the winter months!

So what is a volunteer manager to do?  With projects abounding and volunteer motivation at a stand still - the answer is volunteering from home!

For most nonprofits, this isn't the most popular thought.  Projects are easier to manage and quality is easier to control when it happens on-site or at the organization's headquarters.  Many projects do not include pieces that even have the option of completion off-site.  However - offering opportunities to volunteer at home can be a gateway into real commitment and passion about your cause.  It's also a great way to get extra projects done and increase the ability for more diverse community members to participate in your cause.

Opportunities to volunteer off-site allow volunteers to feel comfortable and do the work on their own schedule.  You can engage volunteers who are not available during business hours.  Those who cannot travel or do not wish to leave their homes can still lend a hand.  You can create connections without finding extra space or time to use.

Here are some ideas on creating and managing opportunities to volunteer at home:

• List applicable projects.  Your at-home volunteers won't be constructing any fences or handing out food - but chances are, there is something that can be done at your organization by a commited set of off-site hands.  How about:



  Volunteers can make crafts for clients from home

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• Event promotion: making flyers, calling radio stations and newspapers
• Publicity: writing blog articles, running social media outlets, stuffing envelopes
• Project preparation: making meeting agendas, planning details, requesting donations
• Crafts: knitting hats or scarves, creating thank-you notes for volunteers or staff, assembling care packages for clients, creating something for clients to use or something to be sold at a fundraiser
• Fundraising: contacting family and friends, creating fundraiser promotional materials
• Data entry: creating databases of information or transferring information from paper to computer systems
•  Market your virtual opportunities.  If you have an opportunity that can be done from a computer - why limit it to your community?  Might as well open it up to the world!  There are a number of sites out there that specifically promote virtual volunteering opporunities (like Sparked, which promotes microvolunteering opportunities - short volunteer projects that can be done from a computer).  VolunteerMatch also has a category in their listings for virtual volunteering. 
• Market your from-home opportunities. Some from-home opportunities will require delivery of materials (like returning a physical finished project to your office) - you'll probably want to market these close to your headquarters.  Market these like you would market any other opportunity, but some especially great places to market off-site opportunities are:
• Retirement communities.  Off-site volunteering can be a fun way to get involved for those members of retirement communities who are limited in access to transportation.
• Schools.  Maybe you have a 'service learning' project a whole class can complete together without the hassle of transporting students away from school?  Teachers often welcome this idea!
• Neighborhoods and apartment complexes.   Make sure your marketing emphasizes the ability to do the volunteer from right where the people are - at their home!
• Manage your project.   Off-site volunteering requires your trust of the volunteer to complete their work in a timely, quality manner, without close supervision - so managing these volunteers will look different than for other volunteers.  Here are some ideas on supervising those off-site volunteers:
• Email or talk on the phone regularly.  Schedule a time to check in with the volunteer once a week to check in, answer questions, and ensure projects are being completed.
• Set deadlines and stick to them.  Just because a volunteer can work from a casual place, doesn't mean you should expect them to be undependable.  Make your expectations clear, just as you would with any other volunteer.  If they consistently are unable to turn in projects that you need completed, they probably are not a good fit for volunteering at your organization.
• Check project quality.  Take a good look at the projects you get back, especially for the volunteer's first few projects.  Communicate with them about whether or not they're meeting your organization's needs.
• Send appreciations.  Make a special call just to thank the volunteer, send an e-card, or get their address and send a letter.  You could even publicly appreciate the volunteer on your organization's blog or newsletter.  Let them know that their efforts make a difference!

Do you have any experience leading from-home volunteering projects?  Any good tips to share?  Let everyone know in the comments!

VIP Impact: Encouraging Words from a VIP Partner

Here are some encouraging words we received recently from David Seyms, Safe Routes to School/Ropes Coordinator for the Napa County Office of Education:

"Napa Safe Routes to School has been instructing students how to ride their bikes and walk to school safely for over three successful years. This school year we are participating in the VIP program and have seen amazing results regarding the community impact of our program in only four months time. VIP has recruited parents and community leaders as volunteers to help increase awareness and community participation in our Safe Routes to School programs. As a direct result we are seeing more students walk and bike to and from school, thereby increasing their daily exercise, reducing car emissions around the school and making their communities and safer and healthier place to live."  

Way to go, Napa VIP team! We're so glad to hear about the difference you all are making in your community. 

Be thankful for new volunteers - and show it!

Have you had some new volunteers get themselves involved in your organization in the new year? As school schedules change and new year resolutions have been brewing in the last few weeks, you may ave seen a bit of a surge in response to your recruitment efforts.  If this is the case - congratulations! BUT, don't stop working now.

If you want volunteers to come and stay, make them feel appreciated early on.  There is no one way to make a volunteer feel appreciated.  In fact - many feel most appreciated from individualized acts of recognition.  One volunteer may love your verbal "thank yous," but another might want more formal recognition to truly feel valued.  Maybe you have a volunteer who needs to hear the thanks from a client to feel the difference they are making, or maybe they'd rather hear it from the executive director. Try asking your volunteers how they like to feel appreciated. Or, try having your volunteers fill out a survey that includes their preference for appreciations when they fill out an application or interview.

If you're not sure what to do for appreciations, go with a hand-written thank you note.  Check out the HandsOn Blog for some great tips on writing personal thank yous that your volunteers will love.