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