In
this issue:
Spring 2009 |
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STAR Awards |
2009
STAR Award Winners!
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Senator Joy Padgett |
Dave Knapp |
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Nationwide On Your Side Volunteer Network (L to R): Jeff Ramsey (2008 Nationwide Volunteer of the Year),
Julie VanDeLinder (Manager, Corporate Citizenship),
Chad Jester (President of the Nationwide Foundation) |
Kitty Burcsu |
The
Ohio Community Service Council presented Star Awards to
four outstanding volunteers at the annual Forging New Links,
statewide volunteer conference – Senator Joy
Padgett, Dave Knapp (former Council Chair), Nationwide On
Your Side Volunteer Network, and Kitty Burcsu (OCSC Executive
Director).
The Council’s STAR Award, established
in 2006, honors individuals, groups and/or organizations
whose efforts have impacted volunteerism and service across
the state.
Read about our STAR Award Winners!
NEW
LICENSE PLATE TO HELP
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
Plate
will Support Volunteerism and Service throughout the State
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Inmates
at the Lebanon Correctional Institute demonstrate
the License Plate production process from the beginning
to the final printing phase. Did you know ...there are currently 3,093,933 driver's licenses in Ohio.
Please pass the word about our new plate!
Click here for more information |
A new specialty license plate recognizing Ohio’s
millions of VOLUNTEERS is now
available at all Bureau
of Motor Vehicles (BMV throughout Ohio!
House Bill 293 gave the BMV the authority to issue the
Ohio Volunteer license plate through the Special Plates
program. The plates cost $25 annually, in addition to
the usual registration fees.
A portion of the plate fees, $15, will go to benefit the
Ohio Volunteer Support Fund. The Ohio Community Service
Council will disperse the collected funds throughout the
state to support volunteer initiatives and to assist local
volunteer organizations.
According
to OCSC, this is a great way citizens can display their
volunteer pride while showing support of volunteer programs
throughout the state. Ohio has a rich history of volunteerism.
According to a recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau, more
than 30 percent of Ohioans volunteer. "Many Ohioans have
made volunteering a lifelong practice of fulfilling their
civic responsibility to their community," said Kitty Burcsu,
Executive Director, Ohio Community Service Council. "Seeing
these plates everywhere will encourage even more people
to give back to their communities through volunteer service."
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National Service Programs |
Congress
Passes
Historic Expansion
of National Service
Following action by the U.S. House of Representatives,
the Senate voted last week to pass the most sweeping
expansion and reform of national service programs in
a generation.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will update
and strengthen national service programs administered
federally by the Corporation for National and Community
Service. The bill contains a wide range of provisions,
including:
- puts
AmeriCorps on a growth path from its current level
of 75,000 to 250,000 annual members, with focus on
priority needs including advancing achievement and
graduation, providing economic opportunity, increasing
energy efficiency, improving health care access and
enhancing service opportunities for veterans.
- increases
the amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
that full-time AmeriCorps members receive after completing
their term of service from $4,725 to the Pell Grant
amount of $5,350.
- strengthens
the nation's civic infrastructure through the creation
of a Social Innovation Fund to provide seed money
and scale up innovative and evidence-based initiatives
and a Volunteer Generation Fund to award grants to
nonprofits and states to recruit, manage and support
volunteers.
- provides
incentives for middle and high school students to
engage in service through a Summer of Service program
and authorizes higher education institutions to be
eligible for grants to encourage students to engage
in service during school and in their future careers.
- expands
service opportunities for older Americans by expanding
eligibility for the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent
programs, introducing competition into the Retired
Senior Volunteer Program to better position the program
for expansion, and creating other opportunities for
Baby Boomers and other older Americans to transition
into post-career service opportunities.
In
a statement, President Obama said of the legislation,
"Our work is not finished when I sign this bill into
law -- it has just begun. While our government can provide
every opportunity imaginable for us to serve our communities,
it is up to each of us to seize those opportunities. I
call on all Americans to stand up and do what they can
to serve their communities, shape our history and enrich
both their own lives and the lives of others across this
country." |
AmeriCorps
Week 2009 ... May 9-16
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME!
Ohio AmeriCorps will kickoff the 2009 National
AmeriCorps Week in grand style ...in Cincinnati
on Saturday, May 9.
The
day will begin as hundreds of Ohio AmeriCorps members
converge on the Queen City to participate in various
service projects. Area programs are coordinating service
projects at local schools for the afternoon. Festivities
will conclude later in the day at the Great
American Ball Park ...home of the
Cincinnati Reds!
Thanks
to Council member Owen Wrassman, President
of the Reds Community Fund, plans are underway
to honor both - Ohio AmeriCorps' efforts and the Council's
15th Anniversary - during a pre-game ceremony. Eight
members will participate in an "on field"
salute which will include throwing out and catching
the first pitch of the game! Special arrangements have
also been made to allow programs to display information
about their programs at the Great American Insurance Company Community Kiosk.
Currently there are over 700 AmeriCorps members serving in 22 AmeriCorps programs in Ohio – together they will provide our state with over 700,000 hours of service during their year of service. Since its inception in 1994, over 20,000 AmeriCorps members have served in Ohio, providing over 31,875,000 hours of service and earning over $56 million in education awards.
The third annual AmeriCorps Week, which takes place May 9-16, 2009, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members to shine a spotlight on the work done by members—and to motivate more Americans to serve their communities. Our event on May 9th with the Cincinnati Reds will allow us to recognize the service of AmeriCorps members throughout Ohio as well as provide a platform to illustrate the power of service in local communities.
Click
here for a summary chart of the Ohio AmeriCorps Portfolio
for PY 2008-2009!
National
AmeriCorps Week Information: http://www.americorpsweek.gov/
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The
serveohio.org
Web site provides a calendar of events, best practices on
screening volunteers, tips on finding the right volunteer
opportunity, homeland security updates, Ohio's National Service
Programs, Ohio Citizen Corps, Ohio's Volunteer License Plate, updates on legislation of interest to the field of national and
community service- and much more! |
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National
Volunteer Week 2009:
The
theme for National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, is "Celebrating
People in Action." The theme captures the meaning behind
this signature week honoring the individuals who dedicate
themselves to taking action and solving problems in their
communities.
Points
of Light Institute and HandsOn Network are orchestrating
several milestone events to focus attention on celebrating
those who have strived for renewal of the national commitment
and culture of service that has shaped America. The 2009
National Volunteer Week will include several significant
recognition events celebrating leaders in the field of service,
including a reception on Capitol Hill honoring Senators
Kennedy and Hatch for their efforts behind the Serve America
Act and also an induction ceremony for the Extra Mile.
National
Volunteer Week 2009 "Celebrating People in Action," presents
an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations
and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary
people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.
Click
here to read Governor Strickland's national Volunteer Week
Resolution
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Ohio
Citizen Corps |
Regional
Conferences |
Ohio
Citizen Corps Regional Conferences are scheduled for
May and June. All conferences are open to the
public. Examples of topics include Best
Practices, Volunteer Liability Protection, presentations
on Acute Care Centers and Blue Med and Disaster Services
for Special Needs Populations.
Click here for further information.
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Ohio
Medical
Reserve Corps |
National Conference
Ohio Medical Reserve Corps Coordinators recently attended the 2009 Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit in Dallas from April 4-8. More than 35 people from Ohio participated - including state and local coordinators and volunteers. |
Photo by: Stu Kerr, MRC Coordinator
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Local MRC Coordinators (L-R): Stu Kerr (Lucas Co.), Karen Pennington (Fulton Co.), Ruth Gerding (Putnam Co.), Cpt. Rob Tosatto (National MRC Program Director), Cheryl Kehnast (Defiance Co.), Linda Earle (Williams Co.), Gloria Arps (Henry Co.)
Volunteer
Reception Center Training
Clark
County held a VRC training on March 18. This training
was the collaborative effort of the Clark County Combined
Health District (CCCHD), The Clark County Emergency
Management Agency, The Elderly United RSVP, The Volunteer
Managers Association and The United Way of Clark,
Champaign and Madison Counties. The United Way is
the Coordinating Agency for the VRC.
We
obtained a pool of 42 volunteers from the Clark County
Volunteer Managers Association and provided them with
a presentation and workshop in how to run a VRC. We
had volunteers from various professions with a wide
variety of skills. The volunteers who had a medical
license were also recruited for the MRC. Overall the
event was very successful.
There
will be a refresher workshop in August and the volunteers
will have an opportunity to set up and run the VRC
in October when the CCCHD has their POD Flu exercise.
Submitted
by: Sandy Miller, MRC Coordinator |
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Make
A Difference Day Ohio |
Ohioans
Made A Difference
and Still Remain #1!
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Ohio
Governor Ted Strickland and Ellen Tressel, the wife
of The OSU Head Football Coach, Jim Tressel - honored
outstanding Make A Difference Day Ohio (MDDO) projects
at the annual Awards Ceremony in Columbus, Tuesday,
March 31.
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Ohio
Celebrates MDDO Award Winners
Citizens
across the country spent Saturday, October 25 - the
18th Make A Difference Day - doing volunteer projects
to improve their communities and help neighbors in
need. Make A Difference Day, the largest national
day of volunteering (always held the last Saturday
in October), is a catalyst that brings people together
for projects that often extend beyond one day a year.
In
2008, for the ninth consecutive year, USA WEEKEND
Magazine reports that Ohio led the nation with over
1,000 projects implemented throughout the state involving
40,000+ volunteers.
Click here to read list of Award Recipients!
"Ohioans have always been committed to volunteerism
and serving others, said Governor Strickland. In times
like these, when many of our friends and neighbors
are struggling to make ends meet, community service
is especially important. Congratulations to the Make
A Difference Day Ohio award winners, and thanks
to all who volunteer their time to serve others."
Way
to go OHIO!
Save The Date
MDDO
2009
Saturday, October 24
"It Starts ...with
You!"
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"If
each of us makes time to serve our community, we
will combine to not only strengthen the fabric of
our country, but also serve to bolster the very
idea of America - that each of us has the ability
to shape a better future for ourselves, our communities,
and our country."
First
Lady
Michelle Obama
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