State of Service: The next chapter of service

The AmeriCorps Alum Boston Chapter, along with the MassINC Associate Board present the third in a series of discussions about the state of service and volunteerism in Massachusetts and nationally. To Register for the event, click here

After a months-long battle in Congress over the future of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and service programs across the nation, the goal of the event is to build upon the strengths of the sector through dialogue around creating pipelines of human capital; effective advocacy for government funding; and communicating the impact of service.

Discussion groups will be led by community leaders from every sector, and participants will have the chance to join working groups to discuss ways to strengthen and promote service in Massachusetts over the coming months. Attendance is limited, to register, click here.

This event is made possible with generous support of The Highland Street Foundation and the support of the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA), who serves as the fiscal agent of the AmeriCorps Alums Boston Chapter.

THANK YOU and keep calling!

Boston Alums -our voices were heard! Thanks to you, and thousands of other Alums and supporters across the country, over 10,000 calls were made to Senators this past Tuesday. We made a loud statement that AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service matters and needs to be funded for this year.

If you were unable to call your Senators Tuesday, it is not too late! The toll-free line remains open: 1-855-US-SERVE (1-855-877-3783). Please continue to spread the word and remind your Senators that we are here and actively engaged. Please also continue to visit www.saveservice.org for updates and informatio

SAVE SERVICE -Tuesday, March 15th 2011

Hi AmeriCorps Alums and Supporters,

The next step in the fight to save service is coming up this Tuesday, March 15th. It is coming down to the wire for the Senate to vote on the proposed cuts to eliminate AmeriCorps entirely. It is up to US to let our Senators hear how important AmeriCorps is to us, our communities and our country. There are many groups that are mobilizing to save important causes, and we need to make sure our voice is heard among those groups.

We've made the process as easy as possible. You will call 1-855-US-SERVE and be asked to enter your zip code. Then, you will hear some talking points and be connected to your senator -it only takes 10 minutes.

We are asking everyone to take the pledge to call at www.saveservice.org -by registering, you will receive a reminder email Tuesday AM with the instructions above. Please take the time to call and help us SAVE SERVICE.

-The Boston AmeriCorps Alums Board

Call you Reps & Stand For AmeriCorps!

The most effective way you can help us Stand For AmeriCorps is to c Your Member of Congress. Voicing your support to your member of congress is one of the easiest and most effective ways to demonstrate your concern for the proposed AmeriCorps budget cuts. If you need help determining the members of your congressional delegation, visit www.congress.org. This database will provide you with contact information for your elected officials. Once connected, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the Legislative Director or the Legislative Assistant in charge of national service. If calling the House, be sure to voice your thanks or displeasure over how your representative voted (votes recorded here). Talking points for your call are noted below.

Talking points for Calling members of Congress:

• (Senate only) I am calling to urge you to vote NO on any proposal to eliminate funding for AmeriCorps or the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
• Communities are counting on AmeriCorps members, national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
• Provide an example of your local impact and what will be lost if your program is eliminated. Example: My organization has 140 AmeriCorps members serving in 10 Boston Public Schools. They are providing targeted and school-wide interventions in literacy, match, attendance and classroom behavior. If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, nearly 2,000 high-risk 3rd-9th graders will no longer receive this additional support in the classroom.
• The CR will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers -- particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
• For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
• The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources. If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.

Bad Press For AmeriCorps

Gregory Korte of USA TODAY has written a rather scathing piece about the "pattern" of AmeriCorps fraud going on across the country. In a time where funding for National Service is on the table with the new Congressional session and word that the Segal AmeriCorps Educational Award reform bill has been wiped off the table, this is scary stuff.

You be the judge. Do you think this accurately depicts AmeriCorps?

The top watchdog over AmeriCorps has told Congress that he has found several cases of fraud in the national service program — but that prosecutors won't pursue them.

In some cases, the alleged fraud involves the misuse of more than $900,000. The acting inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service also says there's a "pattern" of volunteer fraud — grant recipients misusing their time, often for personal gain.

Investigators "continue to face challenges in having our investigations accepted" for prosecution, Kenneth Bach said in a December report. Federal prosecutors told him the cases "lack jury appeal" or don't meet a "dollar threshold."

The Justice Department would not discuss individual cases, but spokeswoman Jessica Smith said each case is evaluated on a number of standards, including the weight of the evidence.

"Procurement fraud and theft of government funds are taken very seriously," Smith said.

AmeriCorps is the largest and best-known program run by the $1.1 billion Corporation for National Service, spending $698 million to support 88,530 members who serve in poor communities.

Bach declined to speak to USA TODAY. In an internal newsletter last year, he called a recent spate of cases "serious offenses against volunteers and the public's trust." Such scams cost not only taxpayers and communities, but also take "unfair advantage of the highly motivated volunteers."

Bach's report and agency records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show:

•Annie Burton-Byrd, the program director of the Martin Luther King After-School Program in Baltimore, used five AmeriCorps members to work at her rental management and tree-trimming businesses. Cost to taxpayers: $30,634. She did not return a call seeking comment.

(Read more)

Lead a Project, Win a Volunteer Vacation

Hey Alums!

Now that MLK, Jr. Day is a success AmeriCorps Alums is turning its attention to Follow The Leader!(And if you have not already, please take a quick moment to complete the MLK, Jr. Day meriCorps Alums survey)

In the footsteps of our TAG! challenge, Follow the Leader encourages people to turn their service into an ongoing commitment to community change by offering step-by-step playbooks that recreate some of t h e most successful volunteer projects we’ve seen delivered across the nation.

To play Follow the Leader, simply pick a project to replicate (find them here) and then recruit others to join you. Follow the Leader is partnering with Crowdrise, which will give you an opportunity to raise funds with your social networks to make your project incredibly successful.

Completing and reporting back on a project will earn you a shot at winning the Grand Prize: an all expense paid trip for two to the Philippines for a one week "Volunteer Vacation” coordinated by HandsOn Manila, that includes airfare, fees and six night’s lodging! You could also win these monthly prizes...

January:iPad for you and $2,500 grant for your cause

February: All expense paid trip for two and two tickets to the Tribute event in Washington DC in March 2011

March:All expense paid trip for 2 to the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New Orleans - June 6-8, 2011

April:iPad for you and $2,500 grant for your cause

May:All expense paid trip for two for taping of Curb Appeal: The Block with John Gidding

So what are you waiting for? Let's Play!

<>In service,

The AmeriCorps Alums Team

We Need You -Join a committee this week!

Step up to lead in service!

With MLK day just a few days behind us, we imagine many of you are thinking about how you can continue the commitment to serve and lead in your community. Lucky for you, the AmeriCorps Alums Board is thinking about it too! We have two great opportunities for you to SERVE and LEAD. We are looking for Alums who want to serve on short-term committees for two exciting upcoming events. Please read below and email us if you are interested in joining us. Because these events are coming up soon, please email us at americorpsalumsboston@gmail.com by JANUARY 30th if you are interested!


Mass Service Alliance Annual Conference: Alumni Track –MSA is looking to create a track specifically for AmeriCorps Alums at their annual conference this May. MSA has recently shown their support for AmeriCorps Alums by signing on to be our fiscal agent! Now, we want to show our support to them by partnering to create a conference track that is meaningful and beneficial to Alums. Are you interested in helping? Email us!


State of Service Part 3: Put yourself on the map- This year, AmeriCorps Alums partnered with MassInc to host a series of conversations on the state of service in Massachusetts. We have held successful events in Boston and Worcester, and are in the planning phases of our third and final event. We have an AWESOME idea that we are really excited about, but are looking for more input and feedback. Are you interested in helping? Email us!

VISTA Alums event

Calling all Boston area VISTA alumni! VISTA alum, Maureen O'Connor will read from her new book, Knocking on Doors: VISTA Volunteers Remember 1965-71 this Thursday, January 13th at 7pm. VISTAs featured in the book will also be present at the reading including Monique and Ray Magliozzi (of NPR’s Car Talk), Sue Devins, John Dempsey, Paul Casilli, Kate Novak, Sally Waldron and Jay Critchley. Jamaica Plain Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St., Jamaica Plain, http://www.bpl.org.

Beyond Your Year of Service: AC Alums-Heller Event Recap

On December 8th, nearly 100 Americorps Alums, current members and students, faculty and friends of Heller School gathered at WorkBar in downtown Boston for "Beyond Your Service Year: AmeriCorps Alums Networking Social Featuring the Heller School".

The goals of the event were to build the AmeriCorps Alums community in Boston and showcase the unique partnership with the Heller School at Brandeis who has invested $1M in exclusive scholarships through the National Service Scholarship Program.

This one-of-a-kind National Service Scholarship Program is designed to honor national and community service by recognizing those who have served in AmeriCorps. Click here to learn more about our partnership with the Heller School.

After being welcomed and inspired by Mary Bruce, Co-Chair of Boston AmeriCorps Alums Board, and Tom Broussard, Associate Dean of Admissions & Career Services for the Heller School, attendees had the opportunity to participate in either an MBA / International Development or MPP panel to learn more about each program. Current Heller faculty and students, who are also AmeriCorps Alums, spoke about how their service experience influenced their decision to apply for business or policy school, and how their service background makes for a good match with Heller.

WorkBar, with brand new offices at 711 Atlantic Avenue, hosted the event for the second year in a row and provided an ideal venue for networking and convening service-minded idealists.

Click here to see great photos from the event shot by Melissa Blackall (AmeriCorps Alum). Like her photos? Visit her web site.

If you are you interested in applying to the Heller School for Fall 2011 and being considered for one of the AmeriCorps Alums scholarships (up to full tuition), click here for more information about the application process.

The Boston AmeriCorps Alums Board would like to thank everyone who supported the event including Tom Broussard, Denise Riebman and Shana Mongan of the Heller School, Co-Event Organizers Andrea Shaye and Molly Preston from the Heller School (and AmeriCorps Alums), Melissa for shooting the event, Evona from WorkBar for being an ideal host and the many, many Harpoon bottles who brought holiday cheer to all.

AmeriCorps Alums Store - Holiday Special

AmeriCorps Alums - Holiday Special

$10 Savings on AmeriCorps Alums gear that includes:

- Black heavy cotton hooded sweatshirt
- Heavy weight maroon cap
- Window cling
- Lapel Pin

Regular price: $52.76
Sale Price: $42.00

Beyond Your Service Year: AmeriCorps Alums Networking Social with the Heller School at Brandeis

Come out for a fun night of socializing and networking with fellow AmeriCorps Alums in the Boston area. Join us downtown at WorkBar – a cool venue that supports entrepreneurs during the day, and connects like-minded professionals in the evening.

This event is also a great opportunity to learn more about our amazing partnership with the Heller School who has invested $1M in exclusive scholarships for AmeriCorps Alums. Through theNational Service Scholarship Program, the Heller School seeks to recognize the contributions AmeriCorps Alums have made to civic engagement and the greater good through service to communities across the country.

Wednesday, December 8
6:30-8:30 PM

Hosted by WorkBar
711 Atlantic Avenue (across from South Station)

Space is Limited! Reserve your spot today by clicking the link below...

Online Ticketing for Beyond Your Service Year: AmeriCorps Alums Networking Social with the Heller School at Brandeis powered by Eventbrite

See you there!
- The AmeriCorps Alums Boston Board

FREE BEER

Do we have your attention now?

Thought so. On Wednesday, September 29^th from 5:30-7 PM, join your fellow AmeriCorps Alums for a FREE BEER tasting at the Harpoon Brewery at 306 Northern Ave in Boston, courtesy of the good folks at Harpoon. We’ll get beer tasting tips from the Harpoon beer experts and get to sample FREE BEER like Harpoon IPA and UFO, as well as the latest offering from Harpoon’s famous 100 Barrel Series, the Glacier Harvest 2010 Wet Hop Ale. You gave a year of service, now let us give you some FREE BEER!

For more information, email Chris Bentson at chris@cradlestocrayons.org

SAVE THE DATE: Harpoon Brewery Social Event

Fellow Alums,

It is my distinct pleasure to present to you a ray of sunshine to cut through the grey skies of this dreary evening.

Our first social event of the year is officially on the books for Wednesday, September 29^th at the Harpoon Brewery Tap Room at 306 Northern Ave in Boston. We’ll have the room from 5:30-7 PM with some of freshest beer this side of Belgium.

As the day gets closer we’ll have plenty of details to nail down, but I wanted to make sure everyone got the date on their calendar!

Stay tuned for more details!

Looking for a job? AC Alums Can Help!

When it comes to careers AmeriCorps Alums is TOP DOG!

They've invested time and resources in understanding careers that are specific to you, and that’s why, through the AmeriCorps Alums website, they are able to offer you the best jobs and best exposure for your resume!

Employers come to AmeriCorps Alums <http://www.jobtarget.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=797> to search our resumes and post their openings for jobs specifically in our industry!

Post your resume, <http://www.jobtarget.com/c/resumes/index.cfm?site_id=797>
search our job listings, <http://www.jobtarget.com/c/search.cfm?site_id=797>
or set up a job alert on our site <http://www.jobtarget.com/c/agents/index.cfm?site_id=797>
and let the Top Dog career site work for you!

State of Service - Policy Platform

By April 2011 we aim to establish Massachusetts as the nation’s first State of Service.

Based on the insights and recommendations of thought leaders from across the state at June 8’s State of Service discussion, (sponsored by MassINC and AmeriCorps Alums Boston and made possible with the generous support of the Highland Street Foundation, ZipCar and State Street), we have outlined a draft State of Service Policy Platform. The full policy platform is below.

As a next step, we would like your feedback on this policy platform. What do you like? What have we left out? How could it be improved? And, if you are an organizational leader, would you like to add your organization to the growing list of those that have endorsed this platform?

To provide feedback to this policy platfrom, to get involved with the State of Service initiative, or to add your organization to the list of endorsing organizations, please email Boston AmeriCorps Alums at americorpsalumsboston@gmail.com or post to this blog!

Also, two additional State of Service events are planned in the fall/winter of 2010. More details coming soon!
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Massachusetts: The Nation’s First State of Service
Background and Policy Platform, July 2010

OVERVIEW:The MassINC Associate Board and AmeriCorps Alums Boston Chapter are working to make Massachusetts the nation’s first official “State of Service.” The initiative, which began as a series of state-wide events in the summer and fall of 2010 to engage a broad set of stakeholders, is particularly timely as the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was signed into law just over one year ago. This legislation authorized the largest expansion of national service in America since Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps. The idea of a State of Service builds off the hugely successful Cities of Service program, a bipartisan coalition of 101 mayors around the country who are working to develop comprehensive city-wide service plans and engage their citizens in solving local problems. States of Service will develop service plans and engage citizens state-wide. Given the rich history of service in Massachusetts communities, our goal is to lead the country in becoming the first official State of Service.

PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS:
The first in the series of state-wide discussions took place on June 8, 2010 with the generous support of the Highland Street Foundation, ZipCar and State Street. Over 100 individuals from across the state attended, representing stakeholders from higher education, program evaluation, government, international service, local service providers and area coalitions. We gathered feedback from attendees and used it to inform the draft policy platform that follows below. Two additional events are planned in the fall/winter of 2010. By April 2011 we aim to establish Massachusetts as the nation’s first State of Service. Over the coming months we will:
• Solicit feedback on the policy platform from a diverse group of stakeholders
• Refine the policy platform
• Form a State of Service coalition comprised of all interested organizations in Massachusetts
• Formalize coalition members’ commitment by having them sign on to the policy platform
• Get each of the three gubernatorial candidates to endorse the policy platform
• Turn the platform into state-level legislation, and have it passed in the first 100 days of the new governor’s term

POLICY PLATFORM:
As the nation’s first State of Service, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pledges to:
Strengthen existing service-related policy:
• Create a cabinet-level Chief State Service Officer
• Identify clear areas for collaboration with the Social Innovation Compact
• Leverage service as a tool for community impact within government agencies
• Create financial incentives for organizations to support employee service initiatives
• Strengthen discussion among state-level policy makers, between states and cities, and among cities across the state
Promote stakeholder engagement:
• Create an online inventory of service providers, partners, and opportunities as well as forums for best practices, collaboration, and content expertise
• Encourage stakeholders–especially service providers and funders–to form partnerships and align priorities by issue area and across geographic locations
• Hold quarterly forums to engage stakeholders from across the service sector
• Engage small businesses as well as corporations in the service discussion, for example by encouraging them to offer incentives for employees to volunteer
• Build university partnerships to reward service with scholarships (e.g. “Give a Year Schools”)
• Host a national State of Service Conference, with Massachusetts as the leading model
Conduct research:
• Find and support areas of alignment between international and domestic service
• Identify causes of silos within the service community and define strategies to break them down
• Measure the effects of service on participants as well as community/issue area

I serve, you serve... WE SERVE

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, there are over 600,000 national service alumni... and we've only been able to reach about 1/5.

Most AmeriCorps members don't know that they have to register with AmeriCorps Alums. Most believe that like after college you are automatically in the alumni group. But because AmeriCorps is a government-managed program, we don't have access to invite all alumni to become a part of our community.

Just fill out the form below, even if you are already registered with americorpsalums.org, to join the WE SERVE campaign! (subject to verification of your service)

Once verified, you will be emailed a coupon code for 15% off the AmeriCorps Alums store and entered to win one of ten gift cards to Target worth $100 a piece.

To be entered into the Grand Prize drawing we need you to tell people! Simply copy/paste the sample email here and send to your alum friends! At the conclusion of the contest, the top 25 referrals will be put in a drawing for the CELEBRITY GRAND PRIZE! The WE SERVE contest kicks off June 7th and will end at 5pm EST, June 30th. You only need to fill out the form once, as duplicate entries will be discarded. Contest rules are here.

GET SAMPLE EMAILS, FACEBOOK STUFF, AND TWEETS TO SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS HERE!

State of Service event draws big crowd to build up community service in the Bay State

courtesy of MassINC.org

Making connections was the theme of the day as approximately 100 people gathered this morning at the sold out MassINC Associate Board and AmeriCorps Alums Boston event, “State of Service: Massachusetts Leading the Nation’s Call to Serve” at the UMass Club.

The event, the first in a series about improving service programming in Massachusetts, brought together key service organizations to build on the state’s active and deep-rooted service community. Organizers hope to leverage this event series to create a blueprint of best-practices and turn Massachusetts into a model of service for the nation. MassINC Director of Finance and Operations and founder of the Associate Board, Aimee Ward, said today’s discussion was an excellent start.

“We had a room full of energetic stakeholders generating new ideas and sharing their successes today. We hope this discussion and our upcoming State of Service events will guide developing leaders in the local and national service community,” said Ward.

The breakfast event was kicked off with a keynote address by Joseph Porcelli, Chief Executive Neighbor of Neighbors for Neighbors, and was followed by discussion among participants with topics ranging from best practices for volunteer recruitment to what can be done to improve collaboration among organizations and individuals.

The use of technology to facilitate collaboration among organizations was a recurring point as attendees shared their thoughts with event moderators. In particular, improved online networks and a web portal that includes all sectors and organizations were cited as lacking in Massachusetts.

Known nationally as a hotbed for service enlistment and innovation, with examples such as City Year and Citizen Schools, Massachusetts has much to offer other states hoping to step up their service efforts. With the landmark Edward M Kennedy Serve America Act fueling new organizations around the country, event organizers said now is the time to turn discussion into action.

“Ultimately, this is about improving the communities in which we live. These discussions are a great way to establish the connections that provide these individuals and organizations the resources they need to make a difference,” said Ward.

The State Of Service!

The MassINC Associate Board and the AmeriCorps Alums Boston Chapter, are hosting a State of Service discussion on June 8th, 2010 from 8 to 10 am at the UMass Club in Boston. The event will feature a keynote and facilitated discussions led by community leaders in the private sector, nonprofit sector, government, and philanthropy.

The State of Service event will be the first in an ongoing series through the summer and fall of 2010 which will bring together leaders from across the service community to discuss their experiences and develop a blueprint of best practices with a goal of improving service in Massachusetts and establishing a state service model for the nation.

To Register, Click here:

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WHAT:
The State Of Service

WHEN:
June 8th, 8:00am-10:00am

WHERE:
The UMass Club
225 Franklin Street, 33rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110

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Only A few spots left! Register Today!

Make sure to note that you are an AmeriCorps Alum and will be given special preference!

Check out AmeriCorps Alums in Ted Kennedy Tribute Video

Last month, Be The Change and Service Nation put out a video response request to a Tribute Video of the Late Senator Edward Kennedy and several AmeriCorps Alum, Staff, and current members submitted their own stories (including Boston AmeriCorps Alums Board member, Sean mcDevitt). To view the original video, check out their YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/bethechangeinc

Let's keep the momentum going!

Today is day 6 of voting for AmeriCorps Alums in the Pepsi Refresh Project. We're currently ranked #24, but need to be in the top 10 by the end of the month to earn the $50K so don’t forget to vote and remind your friends to vote. We really appreciate your efforts in helping us to build healthy communities through your leadership!



Here's how you can help:

- Vote once a day here: www.refresheverything.com/americorpsalums

- Pledge your daily vote and sign up for reminders here: www.americorpsalums.org/?PepsiVote

- Share with your friends! Here’s a nice quick link to use: http://pep.si/bPDkTF

- Not sure what to say to encourage your friends? Check out our handy pre-made reminders for Facebook, Twitter, and Email here:


Remember, there are lots of winners and you get 10 votes a day so don’t forget to also vote for our partner, City Year!



Thank you for all you do and for supporting us and service!