Summer Volunteer Opportunities for Virginia's Youth

Summer of Service is a national campaign to engage more young people, particularly those from disadvantaged circumstances, in service during the summer months. Sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with USA Freedom Corps, participating youth-serving organizations recognize the potential of youth to identify issues, develop projects, and provide lasting benefits to their communities through volunteer service. Any organization that deals with youth ages 5 to 21 is encouraged to become part of the initiative. Find out more.

Study Reveals AmeriCorps Has Long-term Impact

A new report has been released by the Corporation for National and Community Service showing that AmeriCorps is an extremely effective tool which engages Americans to become public servants, civic leaders, and social entrepreneurs. The longitudinal study entitled "Still Serving: Measuring the Eight-Year Impact of AmeriCorps on Alumni," is the most rigorous evaluation ever conducted on AmeriCorps' long-term impacts on its members. The report is based on data collected eight years after members completed their year of service. Key findings.

Get to Know Perry Martin

Governor's Commission on National and Community Service

Perry Martin is an active force for community service throughout rural southwestern Virginia. Mr. Martin, who grew up in the small community of Newport in Giles County, became involved with community service while he was a student at Virginia Tech through various service learning projects. While at the university, he organized a number of projects connecting fellow students to revitalization efforts in his rural hometown. Later, Mr. Martin was instrumental in connecting students to projects in southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia through Appal Corps, an effort he founded. Appal Corps was honored with a Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for outstanding Service Group in 2001. He is currently the assistant director of the Service Learning Center at Virginia Tech where he continues to connect hundreds of students to service opportunities. "In my rural area, historically we value work as a shared social activity," explains Mr. Perry. "Through the years, crops couldn't be harvested, barns couldn't be built, and the basic infrastructure of our communities couldn't be maintained without a culture of cooperation. As our way of life has changed, the greatest legacy we need to hold onto is that heritage of cooperation."

Virginia AmeriCorps Member Chosen as 2008 Change Agent

The ServiceNation Movement has chosen Mary Absher, a former AmeriCorps member serving with Mountain Empire Community College, as one of 30 "Change Agents" chosen from 200 applicants throughout the U.S. As a "Change Agent," Ms. Absher attended the Change Agent Academy and the National Conference on Volunteering and Community Service, May 30-June 3. She will continue to serve as an advocate for national service and the U.S. Public Service Academy. ServiceNation is a national grassroots campaign whose focus is to rally Americans behind strengthened democracy and conquered social challenges via citizen service. Find out more about ServiceNation. 

New River Community Recognizes Volunteers and Community Partners

The New River Community Action Volunteers and Community Partners held their annual Appreciation Dinner, May 15, in Blacksburg. More than 20 volunteers and community leaders were recognized for their outstanding efforts. The event also highlighted the advantages of Virginia 2-1-1. New River Community Action is one of Virginia's 26 community action agencies whose mission is to promote and support the well-being and self-reliance of individuals, families, and communities. View the 2008 award winners. 

Tips on Managing Your Budget Process

Managing your organization's budget is an important part of your success. Budgets are required by law and provide a financial blueprint in order to establish realistic goals and objectives for individual programs/grants and your overall organization. Budgets also provide a method to effectively allocate shared costs and resources across individual program or grant budgets. Some key tips for planning your budget include:

• Increasing in-kind match reduces cash that must be raised to meet matching requirements.
• Keep in mind the amount of documentation required to properly support expenditures (some expenses are more labor intensive to track than others).
• Be aware of supporting documentation requirements. Service partners may have good intentions, but may not be able to obtain proper support for in-kind docations.

Find out more valuable ways to manage your organization's budget.

National Conference for Faith-based Community

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will host the "Innovations in Effective Compassion Conference," June 26-27, in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the two-day conference, presentations and discussions will include the latest data, original research, promising innovations, and future opportunities for the "quiet revolution" advanced by the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Breakout sessions, meals, and roundtables will also provide opportunities for attendees to share and learn with other national and regional leaders. The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Get information on conference workshops and register online (register by June 16).

Notes from the Field: Virginia AmeriCorps in Action

• On April 24, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) Volunteer Tutor Training Team won the Fairfax County and Volunteer Fairfax "Volunteer Service Award" in the category of Adult Volunteer Groups.
• Tracey Grimm, a University of Virginia's College Guide serving Louisa County High School, organized a service project to renovate the school's courtyard. Ms. Grimm raised $1,500 in donations for the project which enlisted 60 volunteers to participate in the project.
• Carroll County Schools - Reading for Life member Gena Sifford was able to put her CPR training into action during a 7th grade field trip when she saved a student from choking.