AmeriCorps week was an exciting opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, programs, partners and friends to come together to highlight the impact made by corps members in communities throughout our nation, to mark the historic milestone of the 500,000th AmeriCorps member, and to ask Americans to make a commitment to service. Our goals were
to: Frances Strickland, First Lady of Ohio, served as an honorary AmeriCorps Member for the event beside fellow AmeriCorps members. Nearly 150 pre-school children, from five local child development centers were in attendance enjoying safety demonstrations, field events, and craft stations. These children have received ongoing tutoring and mentoring throughout the school year from OSU Kid Corps members. This event also culminated the members' year of service to the children, to our city, and to our state. Click
here to view Click Here to read how Ohio AmeriCorps programs celebrated the week
OCSC
Honors Outstanding Volunteers
The STAR Awards are presented annually in honor of individuals, groups and/or organizations whose efforts have supported, strengthened, and furthered volunteerism throughout the state. “There are many outstanding awards programs that honor the tremendous service and impact of volunteers in their local communities, “ said Alan Penn, OCSC Chair. “The OCSC STAR Award is unique because it recognizes those whose efforts have strengthened, supported, or expanded volunteerism and service statewide.” Richard
and Nancy (Hilliard) Dr.
Forrest Smith, State’s Epidemiologist and Medical Director
for the Division of Prevention
To encourage and recognize outstanding volunteer service and inspire others to volunteer, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President’s Volunteer Service Award. These Awards honor those Americans who have made serving a central part of their lives and show that when you help your neighbor, you are helping your nation.
Owen
J. Wrassman & Hope Taft (Left) Presidential
Call to Service Award Mr. Wrassman
has a mission to promote volunteerism, and he lives by it. Not only
does he volunteer extensively, Owen also promotes service within
the business circles of Greater Cincinnati to get others involved,
both directly and financially. He works on the front line and behind
the scenes for a variety of causes Presidential
Volunteer Service Award When 11 year-old Megan Hunt told her parents she wanted to do something to help in her community, neither she nor they could have imagined just how far she could go. Inspired by reading about the Central Ohio Ronald McDonald House, Megan started saving pop tabs to raise money for it. Next, she asked her principal to let her start a drive at school. Megan originally hoped to raise $100. To date, this incredible 13 year-old young lady has raised more than $10,000 to benefit the Central Ohio Ronald McDonald House!
FIRST
LADY OF OHIO FRANCES STRICKLAND
COLUMBUS (March 13, 2007) Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland and Hope Taft, former First Lady, recognized 10 outstanding Make A Difference Day Ohio (MDDO) projects and one Encore Award Winner at the MDDO Awards Ceremony in Columbus. “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,” said Mrs. Strickland, MDDO honorary co-chair. “Volunteerism makes a community a better place because people help one another with no thought of reward or personal gain. It provides us all with an opportunity to do something greater than ourselves.” MDDO 2007 is Saturday, October 27!
More than 2.69 million Ohio residents volunteered in 2006, providing 338 million hours of service valued at $6.2 billion according to a new federal report released as part of National Volunteer Week. |
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CERT Team Called into Action! DELAWARE - Central Ohio was hit with the worst winter storm in three years February 12, 2007. Delaware County was placed under a level 3 snow emergency with roads that were nearly impassable. Grady Hospital requested the assistance of 4x4 vehicles and volunteers to transport key hospital staff to and from the hospital. Many hospital employees lived in communities untouched by road crews until the main roads had been cleared.
Delaware County CERT Team members responded to the call with 4x4 vehicles and transported staff and Home Health Care nurses. One such case was a chemotherapy patient out in the country and the home care nurse would not had been able to get her small car down the patient's driveway. "We are here to provide whatever services we can and our objective with the CERT program is bridge the gaps in volunteer services throughout the county." said Joseph Bobot, CERT Program Coordinator and Vice-president of the Delaware County Citizen Corps Council.
OMRC
Attends National Conference Ohio state and local MRC coordinators descended on Providence Rhode Island in April to attend the Medical Reserve Corps National Leadership Conference. And what was learned was when it comes to leadership, Ohio is "leading the way."
Ohio's 69 local unites accounts for more than 10 percent of all the nations units. By far the most in the country. Coordinators attended sessions ranging from communications, planning, volunteer management and funding.
United States Congressman Zack Space along with two of his staffers visited the office of the Gallia-Jackson-Vinton RSVP & Volunteer Network Center during a recent trip to the area. The Congressman was very interested in hearing the role of RSVP in the community, as a portion of RSVP's funding is federally funded thru the Corporation for National & Community Service.
Director Susan Rogers met with Space and staff to explain many of the vital programs that RSVP administers in the community and the various other non-profits that are served by these volunteers. In light of diminishing budgets for many other community service programs, the RSVP program becomes even more important by helping non-profit organizations maintain their capacity to serve their clientele thru volunteer support. The Congressman voiced his support for the program and noted that the worth of volunteers, particularly senior citizens with their wealth of life experiences, is hard to place a monetary value on. He pledged his ongoing support and asked to be kept apprised of future events and accomplishments of the project. Did
you know... New Report Shows
Helping Others Volunteers
help themselves to better health while
“Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger,” said
Joining
Forces 2007 Conference Sign up now to attend this unique statewide conference designed to: develop and/or strengthen partnerships between emergency response personnel, behavioral health providers and volunteer leaders to maximize resources engaged in disaster preparation, response and recovery. Two full days…a wide variety of state and national experts…full conference registration is only $80…CMEs and other continuing education credits available…registration deadline is May 19…discounted hotel room rate cut-off is May 4. Information & Registration Materials National
Conference on Philiadelphia, PA: July 16-18, 2007 For
More information: Quote for Spring In
every Community, there is work to be done........In every Heart,
there is Meeting community needs in Ohio. More than 46,000 people are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through 138 national service projects across Ohio.
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, updates on legislation of interest to the field of volunteer service- and much more! A
NEW LOOK...coming
soon!
The
Ohio Community Service Council www.serveohio.org |
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Spring
2007 
CONTACT US Ohio
Community Service Council |