AmeriCorps Identity. In the Spirit of Service Not Self for Veterans, God and Country

Transcription

1 AmeriCorps Identity 1

2 Presentation Outline 1. Introduction to American Legion Auxiliary 2. Introduction to AmeriCorps 3. Member Affiliation with AmeriCorps 4. Project AmeriCorps Identity Policy 5. Promoting AmeriCorps 6. AmeriCorps Identity Support Tools 7. Summary 8. Questions 2

3 Introduction to American Legion Auxiliary Women s patriotic service organization. Affiliated with The American Legion. Nearly 800,000 members. Members are close female relatives of wartime-era veterans or women veterans. Founded in

4 Introduction to American Legion Auxiliary ALA advocates for veterans, educates citizens, mentors youth, and promotes patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security. ALA members volunteer in their communities, including by providing assistance to military families, serving at VA medical centers, joining communitywide service projects, and raising funds for youth education scholarships. ALA marquee programs include ALA Girls State, ALA Girls Nation, the Poppy donation collection program, and the ALA Call to Service Corps AmeriCorps Project. 4

5 American Legion Auxiliary Impact ( ) Veteran/Military Support & Advocacy Hours volunteered in service to veterans: 6,636,277 Veterans served: 2,870,942 Hours volunteered for current servicemembers: 891,187 Servicemembers served: 733,009 Family Support Hours volunteered for military families: 631,505 Number of military families served: 233,206 Youth Development Scholarships awarded: 6,450 Number of ALA Girls State/Girls Nation attendees: 20,000 5

6 American Legion Auxiliary Chapters and Your Service Term ALA has 9,000 local units (chapters) in all states and territories and in 11 foreign countries. Consider reaching out to a local Auxiliary chapter (unit) or state-level Auxiliary office (department) to promote your service activities or coordinate service projects. Each chapter is different, so the possibilities for collaboration are endless! For help finding a chapter near you visit or C2SC@ALAforVeterans.org. 6

7 Introduction to AmeriCorps A network of national civilian service programs. Thousands of Americans serve annually as AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps members address critical community needs in: Disaster Assistance Economic Opportunity Education Environment and Energy Healthy Futures Veterans and Military Families Organization Capacity-Building 7

8 AmeriCorps Fast Facts 820,000 AmeriCorps members have served over 1 billion hours since ,000 nonprofit, faith-based, and community-based organizations have been served by AmeriCorps members. 4 million community volunteers were leveraged by AmeriCorps members in 2012 alone. $7.6 billion of AmeriCorps funds have been invested in nonprofit, educational, and faith-based groups since

9 AmeriCorps Programs AmeriCorps State and National Created in 1994, AmeriCorps State and National engages more than 70,000 members annually in service to address critical community needs through thousands of national and local nonprofits, faith-based institutions, schools and universities, public agencies, and Native American tribes. AmeriCorps VISTA Created in 1964, AmeriCorps VISTA engages more than 7,000 individuals each year in the fight against domestic poverty. VISTA members serve full-time for one year with more than 1,000 project sponsors. Members focus on organization capacity building activities. 9

10 AmeriCorps Programs AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Created in 1993, AmeriCorps NCCC engages more than 1,200 Americans annually in a team-based residential service program on five campuses throughout the country. Members focus on disaster response, the environment, housing, and youth services. The program is loosely based on the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. All AmeriCorps programs are established and funded by Congress and administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). 10

11 Spelling and Pronouncing AmeriCorps Spelled: AmeriCorps AmeriCorps Member AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps VISTA Member Pronounced: Ameri-Core vis-tuh NOT Spelled: Americorp Americorps Americorps Vista AmeriCorps Vista Americore NOT Pronounced: Ameri-Corpse VEE-stah 11

12 Member Affiliation with AmeriCorps and with ALA AmeriCorps American Legion Auxiliary Consortium Member AmeriCorps Member 12

13 AmeriCorps Pledge I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done. 13

14 Project AmeriCorps Identity Policy Member Identity Identify yourself as an AmeriCorps Member and never as a volunteer. Incorporate your assignment title and AmeriCorps Member/ AmeriCorps VISTA Member into your signature block. Program Coordinator (AmeriCorps Member) Program Coordinator, AmeriCorps Member Program Coordinator AmeriCorps Member Wear AmeriCorps gear (such as a pin, button, or attire) during service hours. Project Identity Identify the project in publicity as The American Legion Auxiliary Call to Service Corps AmeriCorps Project. Identify your operating site in publicity as an AmeriCorps grantee through the American Legion Auxiliary Call to Service Corps. 14

15 Why These Requirements? They help you fulfill your responsibility to affiliate yourselves with the public program that makes your service year possible. They introduce AmeriCorps to people who may not know about it. They distinguish you from employees and volunteers. Your effective service and enthusiastic spirit leaves a positive impression about AmeriCorps with people who associate you with the program. 15

16 Why Promote AmeriCorps Identity? Members and alumni are the best ambassadors for AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps members work quietly and without fanfare. This can disguise the tremendous impact of both individual AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps overall. 16

17 Why Promote AmeriCorps Identity? Raising public awareness of AmeriCorps can inspire others to serve, raise awareness of the issues AmeriCorps members work to combat, and assist in the preservation of AmeriCorps programs and funding. You deserve to take pride in your service to country and community. 17

18 Maximize Your Service Experience by Promoting AmeriCorps Your service year can be a time of tremendous personal and professional growth. You will have the opportunity to form connections, develop work experience, and hone your skills all while supporting servicemembers, veterans, and military families. Promote your affiliation with AmeriCorps by reflecting on your service, connecting around your service, and bragging about your service! Be sure to present AmeriCorps, your organization, and yourself in a positive and professional light. 18

19 Promoting AmeriCorps Reflection AmeriCorps service stimulates personal and professional growth. AmeriCorps service can be overwhelming. Structured reflection provides a time and moment to process your AmeriCorps experience. 19

20 Promoting AmeriCorps Reflection Document your AmeriCorps experience with a blog, photo journal, or video. Social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn can provide a platform for sharing, as can blog sites such as Tumblr, Wordpress and Blogspot, photo sites such as Instagram and Flickr, and many others. See examples of AmeriCorps blogs at Write an end-of-term essay or complete a Member Profile Questionnaire. 20

21 Promoting AmeriCorps Reflection Share your reflections with your organization, peers, family members, and community, as well as with AmeriCorps members across the country and with college or university alumni networks. 21

22 Promoting AmeriCorps Connect Participate in online and community-based AmeriCorps groups. These include: The ALA Call to Service Corps Wiggio group. The AmeriCorps Facebook pages and LinkedIn groups. Note that many communities also have individual Facebook and LinkedIn groups for their AmeriCorps members. VISTA Campus at AmeriCorps groups or organizations located in your community. AmeriCorps Alum groups located in your city, state, or community. If you cannot locate any AmeriCorps groups, do not be afraid of starting one yourself! 22

23 Promoting AmeriCorps Present Presenting yourself as an AmeriCorps member can be a conversation starter. Wear AmeriCorps gear while serving. (See project s AmeriCorps Identity policy.) Decorate your workspace or office with AmeriCorps identifiers, such as posters or banners. Have a stock of AmeriCorps literature on hand for distribution to interested individuals. 23

24 Promoting AmeriCorps Present Memorize a quick elevator speech Serves as an introduction and conversation starter. Quickly introduces your audience to your AmeriCorps affiliation, your position, your host organization, and general duties. Hello, my name is (name). I am an AmeriCorps member assigned to (organization). In my capacity as our organization s (position), I support veterans and military families by (brief position description). Be sufficiently knowledgeable about AmeriCorps to answer basic follow-up questions. 24

25 Promote AmeriCorps Present Write an Op-Ed or letter to the editor of your local or hometown newspaper or work with your supervisor to ask a local news station to feature your AmeriCorps program and organization. Discuss your experiences as an AmeriCorps member, the activities of your sponsor organization, and the role service plays in the community. 25

26 Promoting AmeriCorps Present (AmeriCorps Week) AmeriCorps Week is a time to recognize the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alums by highlighting the extraordinary impact AmeriCorps makes across our nation everyday. Free materials are available at Plan or get involved in a service project or promotional event during AmeriCorps week. 26

27 Promoting AmeriCorps Presentation Resources Visit to order general promotional materials, download the AmeriCorps Impact Guide, and find tools designed to support specific events and AmeriCorps programs. AmeriCorps gear is available for purchase at 27

28 AmeriCorps Identity Support Tools AmeriCorps Identity Support Tools AmeriCorps Identity Policy AmeriCorps Identity Procedures AmeriCorps Identity Presentation AmeriCorps Identity Resources Sheet The AmeriCorps Pledge Member Profile Questionnaire AmeriCorps Identity Tools can be found online at: AmeriCorps National Members: AmeriCorps VISTA Members: 28

29 Summary Know a few facts about the American Legion Auxiliary, which sponsors the AmeriCorps project through which you serve. Consider coordinating projects with the ALA in your community. Know enough about AmeriCorps to explain it to others. Identity your affiliation with AmeriCorps verbally and visually. Promote AmeriCorps through reflection, connection, and presentation. 29

30 Questions? Feel free to send any suggestions, ideas, or questions you may have about promoting your affiliation with AmeriCorps or ALA to 30