Making Volunteerism Smarter!

Building a Warehouse to Help Military Veterans

2011-04-04T11:29:00.004-06:00

By Linda Lidov, Veterans Green Jobs

Many of us know the saying, “If you need something to get done, just ask a working mom.” No matter how busy, working moms always find time to give just a little bit more. But we’ve recently discovered another niche volunteer population: young people.

At ages 18 to 24, the men and women from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) travel around the country and, basically, bump around from cool project to cool project. Whether supporting post-hurricane disaster recovery or maintaining hiking trails in national parks, NCCC members set their sights on having huge impacts on local communities.

Here in Denver, nonprofit Veterans Green Jobs has benefited from three NCCC teams who have helped construct a new retail store. The Go Green Warehouse, slated to open this spring, is a discount home improvement store that will also house an energy efficiency education center. Income will support training and job programs for military veterans.

The NCCC teams have been an invaluable source of help in getting the store ready – from painting walls and putting up racking, to stocking shelves and cleaning up. Angela Young, a

former NCCC team leader herself, coordinates the NCCC program at Veterans Green Jobs. She’s giddy about NCCC’s results.

“Their energy is amazing, and it’s fun to see so many young folks supporting our mission,” says Angela. “Getting volunteers in here is a first step to spreading the word to communities about the importance of this work – which is to help veterans.”

The amount of work one NCCC team completed in just eight weeks is astounding. For the Go Green Warehouse, they cut and installed 382 shelves, inventoried more than 4,000 items among 550 categories in a spreadsheet, and painted 700 feet of wall.

That’s not counting what they did to support Veterans Green Jobs’ home weatherization services department: scheduling 175 audit appointments, helping to weatherize 30 homes and audit 22 homes, and cutting 300 square feet of insulation.

What did the NCCC team think?

Kyla observed the importance of the Veterans Green Jobs mission: “Being here has opened my eyes to the veterans who risked their lives to defend our country, and come home to no support. Having Veterans Green Jobs to help them out is amazing.”

Kelsey discovered a new love: “I loved working with all the power tools in the warehouse. The chop saw and the hammer drill were my favorites.”

Rocky loved the cohesion: “I learned how to be more team-oriented. You need more than one person for each task. We’re all in it together.”

Razilee saw a potential new career path: “I learned how a new business starts – from acquiring donations, to getting permits and winning grants.”

And Anna felt the community impact: “I now understand the importance of Veterans Green Jobs services for people who can’t afford them. Weatherizing and insulating brings bills down dramatically; these clients will feel the benefits the most.”

So, if you want something done, just ask a young person. Learn more at www.veteransgreenjobs.org. To volunteer, contact mare@vgj-denverjeffco.org.

Project Leader Brian Friedrich at Urban Peak

2011-04-04T11:02:00.009-06:00

Written by Jillian Gross, Project Leadership Operations Team

The kitchen was bustling with activity as I stepped in to participate with the first Thursday dinner crew at Urban Peak. Project Leader (PL) Brian Friedrich greeted me warmly as he introduced me to the volunteers filling the room with laughter, camaraderie and the tasty smells of a meal cooked with the most important ingredient, TLC. Metro Volunteers (MV) has two regular meal preparation opportunities at Urban Peak, an organization that assists teens to overcome poverty and homelessness by offering services and support to become self-reliant adults.
The Urban Peak dinner was a high impact, engaging activity full of great people, important work and an environment that left everyone excited about getting more involved. Even better, it is only one of many opportunities available to get involved through the Metro Volunteers’ Project Calendar. All projects are led by certified PLs who have a passion for creating an outstanding volunteer experience while making a difference in the community.

What exactly is Project Leadership? The PL program is a signature course of Metro Volunteers dedicated to making volunteerism smarter through training and leadership development. It is a program designed for volunteers by volunteers and offers opportunities to get involved from one-time events or episodic projects to program governance and training. Volunteers interested in transforming passion into impact attend a six-hour training focused on volunteer engagement, project development and volunteer leadership.

After the initial classroom learning, volunteers who would like to lead projects with Metro Volunteers’ membership agencies pursue two supervised field experiences with an active PL, which leads to the amazing option of developing a project for the MV calendar. Participants leave the training with the tools and skills necessary to successfully develop and implement volunteer events with the expertise and resources of MV supporting their continued learning and growth as community leaders.

Brian Friedrich did exactly that after he became a certified PL over six years ago. “it's not as hard as people might think,” he told me while simultaneously greeting volunteers, opening a bag of lettuce and looking for a mop to clean up a spill. As he juggled all of these supporting tasks he said, “It’s most important to engage volunteers. Anything you can do to make it more enjoyable leads to return volunteers.” And return volunteers are the heart of Metro Volunteers.

It is often through volunteers who enjoy their experience with one or many Metro Volunteers’ projects that the PL Program recruits, trains and supports emerging volunteer leaders in the community. Brian first participated with MV as a volunteer many years ago before pursuing certification and taking on his own project. He has played many roles with MV over the years from project developer to project leader. Although Brian is incredibly humble about his inspiring commitment to making a difference, it is pretty impressive to know that he pushed back his wedding ceremony a few hours to fulfill a volunteer commitment he made before setting the date for his nuptials.

Brian leads a wonderful volunteer team once a month to provide food and fellowship at Urban Peak. His leadership is a powerful example of how MV motivates and cultivates volunteers as a vital force in our community. MV currently has a dozen outstanding Project Leaders fulfilling the high demand for leadership amongst volunteers and yet, there is a need for more leaders. If we are to achieve recognition of volunteers as a critical resource in addressing societal needs in the community, we must create more high-quality opportunities for community volunteers led by enthusiastic Project Leaders. This means we will train additional project leaders who can create exciting new volunteer opportunities.

Does that sound like you? Are you interested in taking the next step in your adventure as a volunteer? Are you interested in improving your skills as a community leader and supporting an essential movement in creating a healthier and more vibrant community? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider joining us on April 23 for our first 2011 Project Leadership Training! Take the first step toward becoming a certified project leader. Click here to learn more or contact Project Leadership at PLP@metrovolunteers.org or 303.282.1234 x315.

Increasing Community Support through New Project Development!

2010-08-06T08:08:00.002-06:00

Everyone likes variety. This applies not only to cinema or dining, but also to choosing activities that help people give back and serve the Denver Metro community. This is why Metro Volunteers works to ensure a wide range of interesting, exciting and fulfilling projects – projects that get real results and show others the value of volunteering. With our Project Leadership program increasing the number of certified Project Leaders, we are working to connect them with agencies that need help developing or facilitating projects. New project development has already begun and we look forward to additional project proposals in the near future!

Among our new projects is Heart of Caring, an event arranged by the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Association. For over a century, the VNA has provided excellent healthcare to people close to where they live and work. Volunteers create hand-made fleece robes and other comfort items for patients, as well as assemble them into bags for distribution. No special skills are required and all materials will be freely available. Metro Volunteers held this event in June and it will be available again within the next couple months. It is one of many fresh new choices for volunteers and Project Leaders!

Bessie’s Hope Group allows volunteers to lift the spirits of senior citizens struggling to adapt to institutionalized living. During the event, volunteers will sing and dance with the elders, holding their hands and swinging their arms to music. Music is an activity nearly everyone can relate to, with many positive physical and emotional effects. Volunteers will also provide a pleasurable experience by engaging in dialogue and listening to their many wonderful stories. A new project as of April 2010, Bessie’s Hope has become a monthly occurrence that unites youth and elderly alike.

Metro Volunteers will be helping lead a canning project for Jewish Family Services of Colorado, as well. JFS provides vital programs, services and resources to people facing serious life challenges, including financial crises, disabilities, illness and poverty. Volunteers can help JFS feed the hungry by signing up to can food at the LDS Cannery — all of which will be given to food pantry clients. This brand new project will begin in July, offering Project Leaders and volunteers concerned with hunger a chance to support others coping with the problem.

These recent projects have a lot to offer the Metro Volunteers community. As our Project Leadership program continues to improve our ability to mobilize and cultivate volunteers, we are still seeking plentiful opportunities for everyone involved. By pursuing new projects on a regular basis we can make sure there is something for everyone, and that there enough options to go around. For our members, watch your mailbox for news about how you can propose a new project. For our volunteers, watch the project calendar for new opportunities.

Be sure to check the project calendar at www.metrovolunteers.org for information on other new and upcoming projects. You can learn more about Project Leadership by calling us at 303-282-1234 or e-mailing us at plp@metrovolunteers.org. As always, the Metro Volunteers blog will continue to bring you the latest news, highlights and stories. Check back often!

Introducing…the Project Leadership Operations Team!

2010-05-03T10:00:00.002-06:00

With our Project Leadership Program already delivering remarkable results, Metro Volunteers has begun assembling a top-notch Operations Team to help us further reach out to the community. Operations Team members are working on areas of the program aimed at recruiting, training and supporting Project Leaders. By combining their leadership skills and love of volunteering, they are helping us succeed in our mission of mobilizing and cultivating volunteers as a vital force in our community. Since our team members are a diverse group with a wide range of talents, experience, interests and expertise, we felt that each deserved their own special introduction.

Marty Sheets is former president of Heritage Security Inc. and has spent a number of years in the healthcare sector where she served as a Senior Manager responsible for leading, coaching and mentoring teams of Project Managers. She holds an MBA from UC Denver and is a certified Project Management Professional. Marty is on the CU Executive MBA Board of Directors and was awarded the Colorado Woman-Owned business of the year in 2007 and 2008. On the light side, she enjoys downhill and water skiing, travelling and spending time with her grandchildren. We are honored to have such a distinguished leader heading up our Operations Team!

Greg James has an outstanding leadership background in outdoor education, with experience in Outward Bound and Adventure Links. During his time in the Peace Corps, he developed a youth training program and helped organize the first-ever leadership center in the Republic of Moldova. Greg’s numerous awards include the 1999 Hero of the Year Award in Cedar Rapids, IA and the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society’s award in 2009. He has also been involved with the Boys and Girls Club of America, a group that focuses on providing care and supervision for neglected young people. Greg will be lending his talents in photography, web design and graphics to help us capture and share the effort, energy and impact our Project Leaders offer to volunteers and the community.

Jillian Gross has contributed to her community as a high school teacher, construction supervisor and Seattle University Teaching Assistant. She is a current member of the board of directors for the Mockingbird Society, an organization that promotes foster care reform, and has been involved in numerous tutor/mentor programs. No less than 15 years of her time have been dedicated to Habitat for Humanity in locations around the world. Lucky for us, her passion for helping others continues to this day! We look forward to utilizing Jillian’s educational expertise in developing and maintaining our training and continuing education program for Project Leaders.

Denver Parks, Denver Botanic Gardens, Rebuilding Together Metro Denver and the Denver Public School Science Fair have all been lucky enough to have Lisa Bishop as a contributing volunteer or co-captain. Currently a program management consultant, Lisa has managed a number of project teams in the corporate sector and has a track record of achieving aggressive goals. We are fortunate to have someone on board with such an extensive experience with project management and passion for volunteerism. We’re excited to have Lisa as she will be an asset to our program in many ways! Her management experience will be of great help as we set the course for the program and aim to reach our goals.

Founding a dance club/troupe (Jump 4 Joy) and coaching novice debate teams at Biola University were just the beginning of Rebecca King’s leadership experience. Her background is one of working diligently to improve the lives of less fortunate children and families. In the past she has taught junior high and elementary school students, operated a phone drive for the Children’s Hospital on Alice 105.9, and advocated for a child at CASA, an organization focused on helping abused and neglected youth. Her experience includes advertising, film production and market research. Rebecca is a manager at the Family Planning Association in Denver, COResearch Center. Her diverse skills and interests make her a great addition to our Operations Team! She will be helping us lay the infrastructure to help keep the program on track.

Reggie Tomac became interested in nonprofits after helping a blood center with marketing and communications projects, and is currently enjoying volunteer work in several organizations. Reggie earned his degree in Advertising from UC Boulder and is lending his writing skill to our monthly newsletter posts to help keep you informed on all there is to tell about Project Leadership. His journalistic skill is a great asset to the team!

Our Operations Team is off to a great start! We look forward to adding additional members to our team and welcome the chance to speak with anyone interested in getting involved. In addition to the Project Leadership Operations Team, Metro Volunteers is also supported by the School Service Operations Team and the VIP Operations Team. To learn more about the School Service Program and VIP, check out the Operations Team opportunities on our website at www.metrovolunteers.org under the “Serve” heading on our homepage. For more information about Project Leadership, call us at 303-282-1234 or e-mail us at plp@metrovolunteers.org. Remember to keep checking back for announcements, success stories and other important information!

Leading the way: Project Leaders really do make a difference!

2010-04-01T14:59:00.003-06:00

Metro Volunteers has always been focused on finding talented, dedicated individuals eager to give a helping hand where it’s needed the most. We take pride in the fact that Project Leaders’ commitment is making a real difference in the Denver Metro area. In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 18^th-24^th, we would like to recognize the success of these volunteers in serving their community over the years.

Since 2005, we have had the loyal support of more than 15 volunteers who attended Project Coordinator Training and committed to leading volunteer projects in the community. Some of them have moved on, but many remain active in our Project Leader community today. We want to recognize these individuals for the time, effort, loyalty and leadership which has laid the foundation for Project Leadership to support the community.

James Clegg and Wendy Bui (World Vision), Jeff Wilson (Food Share America), Mary Therese Anstey (Animal Rescue and Adoption Society) and Becky Simon (Delores Project) have each given up to 100 hours to help over 10,000 women and families attain affordable food and clothing, and nearly 2,000 animals to find homes.

Shelley Shepherd (House of Hope), Christina Charbonneau (Project Angel Heart), Sydney Bianchi and Kathy Jelinek (Ronald McDonald House), Mary Salsich and Brian Friedrich (Urban Peak), and Karissa Childs (Denver Rescue Mission) have all devoted upwards of 100 hours tending to the needs of adults and children suffering from serious challenges and life threatening illnesses by providing nutritious meals, engaging activities and caring hearts to the clients of their respective organizations. Their efforts have touched over 4,000 in the community.

Sandie Thomas, Michelle Ratcliff and Lindsay Packer have all contributed over 200 hours of volunteer work with demonstrable results. Together with the volunteers they lead, they have assisted countless children and families struggling with serious illness and lack of resources.

Since 2006, Sandie Thomas has been leading volunteers serving hot nutritious meals to the needy. In 2009, she led over 600 volunteers providing over 400 homeless and runaway youth with food at Urban Peak. She now serves as Project Leader for the Ronald McDonald House dinner, providing meals for families of children with serious illnesses and improving their quality of life while they undergo sometimes difficult and lengthy treatment.

Michelle Ratcliff has attended to the needs of numerous children and families at Warren Village, a group focused on aiding struggling single-parent families trying to move from poverty to self sufficiency. Having started with the organization in 2005, Ratcliff has served as a Project Leader for five years and offered a wide variety of projects—from yard sales to Valentine’s Day parties to benefit the children and families’ social, emotional, educational and financial needs.

Food Bank of the Rockies, an organization devoted to alleviating hunger in the Denver area, has been able to aid more than 3,000 people struggling to meet their basic food needs—thanks to Lindsay Packer, their Project Leader since 2008. In addition, his two years (2005-2007) of leadership at Food Share America helped countless families’ access affordable groceries.

Since 2005, all of these outstanding PLs invested more than 2,000 total hours, led 12,100 volunteers and have dramatically improved the lives of more than 21,000 in the Denver Metro area. We are extremely impressed with the impact their efforts have had on the less fortunate as well as their role in helping address critical needs in the community. Metro Volunteers applauds their support, positive attitudes and determination.

Progress continues to be made each and every day by those willing to lead. Our pool of PLs is growing and we welcome anyone looking to better their community. Learn more about Project Leadership by calling us at 303.282.1234 or e-mailing plp@metrovolunteers.org. Remember to keep checking back for announcements, success stories and other important information.

Some Personal Notes from our Project Leaders:

"It is extremely important to me to have the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of the residents at Family Tree House of Hope. Although we have such limited time with the residents, every child's smile or every mother's thank you makes you feel that your commitment as a volunteer is giving the residents an increased sense of pride and knowledge that people in their community care about them. I have been working with House of Hope for almost seven years now and the continued dedication, enthusiasm and excitement of the residents, staff and volunteers is truly inspiring!

-Shelley Shepherd, Family Tree House of Hope Project Leader

“I really enjoy my monthly work with the Metro Volunteers. I have met some amazing people from all walks of life-- groups of returning Peace Corp members, college students, Girl Scouts, families looking for a free and meaningful way to spend time together, and so many more. It is my pleasure to introduce them to the important work Animal Rescue and Adoption Society (ARAS), a no-kill cat shelter in South Denver, does for the 160+ cats and kittens in their care. It is always rewarding to hear the volunteers say, "I didn't know this place even existed, but I will definitely send my friends and family here to adopt a cat."

-Mary Therese Anstey, Animal Rescue and Adoption Society Project Leader

Why do I do what I do?

“My first experience with Metro Volunteers was with the Denver Day of Impact in October 2005. I really enjoyed the experience and thought that if I could find a regular event that worked with my schedule, I would commit to volunteering as often as I could. I looked into SHARE as a volunteering opportunity because it was food related and there seemed to be a lot of need. My older sister Sue was actually homeless at the time, living somewhere in Montana and I thought: "if I can make difference here in my community, maybe someone near my sister will do the same thing and help her." I convinced my daughter to start with me at SHARE that December and we have been regulars ever since. After 4 years helping at SHARE, they lost their second Project Leader. I called the PL after several months of not seeing anything on the Project Calendar. She said she was just too busy to do it anymore and then she asks, "why, do you want to lead the project?" I thought, okay why not! I enjoy it, it's for a good cause and they need my help. Well, for the last year I've been the Project leader and I don't regret a thing. Good people, good cause, and a good time. As far as my sister, I lost her to suicide almost 2 years ago and I still think of her when I'm there.”

-Jeff Wilson, Food Share America Project Leader

Spring Blooms Early for Project Leadership

2010-02-28T18:59:00.002-07:00

As the winter marches steadily on, we are experiencing buds of growth within the Project Leadership Program. Since the program launched in May of 2009, we have trained 29 Project Leaders. Just this year we have certified five of those 29, and have another five actively working toward their certification.

This onset of new leaders pursuing certification has begun to push our overall program capacity in a positive direction. To meet our training and community needs we are expanding in all directions. Our newly certified leaders are working on revamping existing projects, developing new projects and will serve as Field Instructors for new leaders. Together, these efforts will provide additional training and leadership opportunities for the next wave of Project Leaders, in addition to more opportunities for volunteers.

Just as we are developing emerging leaders for the community through our training program, we are also developing new trainers of our curriculum. Our program could not exist without skilled leaders who serve as trainers. We are pleased to have three more trainers gearing up to lead Project Leadership Training in the coming months. In addition, we are happily speaking with other interested volunteers who have a desire to train and develop community leaders.

Looking to another level of leadership, we have begun seeking skilled volunteer candidates for our Operations Team, which will be responsible for sustaining Project Leadership in the long-term. The response to join the Team has been quite steady and exciting because we are hearing from some really talented people. Soon the Team will be working on developing and tracking various aspects of the program to better connect our community of Project Leaders to each other and to organizations who are seeking their leadership.

To top off our efforts thus far, we have been pursuing a new and quite exciting direction of customizing training for organizations that wish to train their own group of volunteers to be Project Leaders. To launch this model, we have developed a leadership module that we will deliver for The Park People, Denver Urban Forestry and the Mile High Tree Initiative as part of their Community Forester curriculum. The leadership module will be offered for the first time in the summer.

We look forward to the momentum and energy that blooms with the spring and will keep you updated on all our happenings. Look for Project Leadership updates on the Metro Volunteers blog. To find out how you can get involved with Project Leadership, call 303.282.1234.

Yours in service,
Brenda

Meet Metro Volunteers' New Board Members

2010-02-01T12:45:00.004-07:00

Metro Volunteers would like to welcome and introduce the four new members of our Board of Directors. Welcome Bill Albrecht, Lori Call, Karen Kruse and Cindy Orenstein! If you are interested in joining Metro Volunteers' Board of Directors, please call 303.282.1234.

Bill Albrecht is a Senior Consultant at Pathways Non-Profit Solutions, a firm specializing in Major and Planned Gift consulting. He has spent the past 19 years in the nonprofit community. Before founding Pathways, he worked for Regis University, the Children’s Hospital Foundation and National Jewish Hospital. In 1997, he became a Certified Financial Planner, choosing this path to best position philanthropy within a donor’s overall financial plan. He is also a graduate from Indiana University, holding a B.S. in Finance. Bill has served on numerous non-profit boards and committees and is a frequent local presenter. Outside of work, Bill attends for too many hockey and soccer games, plays (sometimes) passable acoustic guitar, and enjoys reading, listening to music and as much family time as possible.

Lori Call is Senior Manager of Community Relations at Kaiser Permanente, a nonprofit health organization caring for 500,000 Coloradans. She manages the organization's volunteer efforts, in-kind giving, sponsorships, and community benefit/foundation communications. She has worked at Kaiser Permanente for five years, previously serving as Brand and External Communications Manager. Prior to that she was Director of Communications at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business, where she led the rebranding campaign after the school received a $35 million gift from the Leeds family.

She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Journalism and her MBA from University of Colorado Denver. She is on the board of Metro Volunteers and Social Ventures Partners, a fund of the Denver Foundation. In her spare time she crams for book club, skis, hikes, travels, plays Ultimate frisbee, and enjoys time at the park with her husband and daughter.

Karen Kruse is a seasoned operational executive and entrepreneur with a unique blend of operations, business, technology, and customer service expertise. Karen is currently the Director of Operations for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. She is responsible for helping to guide the strategic vision for the Leadership Foundation, as well as for managing the tactical execution and support around fiscal management, operations, and infrastructure for the organization.

Most recently Karen provided strategic consulting services to Denver Public Schools and The Gill Foundation, emphasizing capacity-building, process re-engineering, operational efficiencies and performance management. She has also served as a Chief Operating Officer at PositiveWare, LLC, a start-up offering online strategic planning and project management solutions. She also successfully led technical operations of SafeRent, Inc., a First American Corporation, the largest on-line credit scoring application for the apartment industry. Additionally, Karen has experience developing products for the Japanese financial trading marketplace.

Karen’s community involvement includes serving as a Board Member for Metro Volunteers and participating on the Steering Committee for National Philanthropy in Colorado. Karen received a dual B.S. degree from the University of Colorado, in Marketing/Finance and Electrical Engineering/Computer Science. Karen is also a Boettcher Foundation scholar.

Cindy Orenstein is a staff advocate at Qwest, the premier provider for High Speed Internet, Home phone and long distance phone, cell phones, VoIP and many other products, where she has worked for 13 years. Prior to her work at Qwest, she spent 20 years as a litigation paralegal in various law firms and companies.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a graduate of the Denver Paralegal Institute. She currently serves as a board member for Metro Volunteers in Denver, as well as serving as the Vice President of Education and incoming President for the Auraria chapter of the Telecom Pioneers. Cindy has one grown daughter and 2 crazy dogs. When not at work she spends time with her husband and loves to golf, travel, read and workout.

AmeriCorps MLK Day 2010

2010-02-01T10:13:00.010-07:00

As promised, here are the reflections from other Metro Volunteers AmeriCorps members about their MLK Day experiences. Thanks, guys!:

"On Martin Luther King Day I was facilitating a project that brought together three organizations. I Have a Dream teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to educate young Dreamers about Habitat’s work and help make new Habitat houses more welcoming. Kaiser Permanente volunteered to work with the Dreamers throughout the day. This was a powerful day of service because Kaiser Volunteers were given the opportunity to perform direct service along side Dreamers, and were also able to talk with Dreamers about the importance of Martin Luther King Day. Adults and students worked together to build flower boxes for new homes and create signs to welcome new homeowners. Afterward, students had time to think more deliberately about Martine Luther King and the service they did that day. Adult volunteers were surprised by the degree of knowledge young Dreamers had about MLK. Overall, it was an inspiring learning experience for all participants."

- Denise Deutschlander, AmeriCorps National, HandsOn Corps

"On January 18^th, over 40 Kaiser Permanente employees volunteered at Project Cure to help with regular operations and support the emergent need brought on by the earthquake in Haiti. Following a tour of the facility and an orientation to Project Cure, most of the volunteers spent an entire 8 hour day sorting and packing boxes of medical supplies to be sent to Haiti in addition to other locations around the world. Smaller groups of the volunteers helped clean, label and package equipment that would be sent in shipments around the world. Still other volunteers sorted supplies to make emergency kits that would be sent to Haiti.

The group of 40 volunteers included highly skilled nurses and doctors as well as human resources and administrative staff from five Kaiser facilities in the Denver Metro area. They helped fill a critical need by sorting medical supplies that are received from all over Colorado and packaged to be sent to over 120 countries around the world.

Kaiser employees made a big impact at Project Cure on January 18^th, packing 350 boxes, about 18 pallets of medical supplies. Yet the impact touched them equally. Volunteers expressed a great deal of gratitude for the work they completed that day, and took home a great sense of connection to the recipients of their labor.

As one volunteer said at the end of the day, “seeing what a group effort can accomplish is inspiring.” Another summed up the day quite well when she said, “the number of items we touched = the number of lives we touched!” Even more powerful than the sense of satisfaction the volunteers left with was the transforming thought expressed by one volunteer “Kaiser should support (Project Cure) on a more regular basis, other than annually.” Before the volunteers left, many of them were inquiring how they could get involved more often. This is a huge success for Project Cure and the people around the world that they serve. It feels good to have facilitated this new relationship!"

-Brenda Whetstone, AmeriCorps VISTA

"I spent the morning of MLK Day working with volunteers on making Valentine’s Day cards and fleece blankets for the Visiting Nurse Association patients. The volunteers made 39 fleece blankets and over 100 cards that will bring happiness, warmth, and joy into people’s lives. The group was enthused about the project and excited to be making a difference. It was inspiring to see a group of people put so much of their heart and soul into creating something so simple that will have a positive effect on a patient’s quality of life. Volunteering can be a very powerful thing."

-Rachel Dolgin, AmeriCorps National, HandsOn Corps

MLK Day of Service 2010

2010-01-29T13:31:00.011-07:00

On Monday, January 18^th, Metro Volunteers and Kaiser Permanente teamed up to make Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a day on---not a day off.

I wanted to express my excitement and pride in Metro Volunteers, and my deep gratitude to Kaiser, for putting on this day of service. As an AmeriCorps member, this is my first experience with Metro Volunteers working in such a large capacity of service projects. Metro Volunteers organized 12 of the 15 projects that occurred that day; an incredible feat.

With this blog post, I’m hoping to convey my amazing experience at MLK Day. As well, I’ve collected narratives from other AmeriCorps and VISTA members about their experiences. I’ll post those, as well as pictures, from this event.

We are also very lucky at Metro Volunteers to have utilized our staff and Project Leaders so effectively. Kaiser also provided each project with one or several Team Leads, who helped to facilitate the volunteer experience.

I worked at a project at MLK Early College, a high school in Green Valley Ranch. Several projects were happening that day: Cari, our

VISTA COOP planning coordinator, led

a project in which volunteers organized a book room, where thousands of books were categorized, alphabetized, and re-shelved. Josh, our most recently certified Project Leader, led a door-cleaning and polishing project, in which volunteers washed all of the wooden doors in the building with a wood protective-coating. We had several Denver Public Schools Facilities crew members building and installing bulletin boards, which volunteers then decorated. These bulletin boards will eventually display college information to students.

The project that I led involved painting pillars in the school's atrium. MLK EC faculty desired to see the interior of the school be transformed into a place that reflected the amount of school spirit that the students have. These students are so passionate about their education and futures, as well as their school. So, we all agreed to paint the 30 pillars black and silver—the school colors.

This project was immensely successful. With help from DPS Protective Coatings, as well as a spunky, big-hearted Kaiser Team Lead, the project was completed with time to spare. My group of 30 volunteers did a marvelous, precise job of painting and encouraging one another to do the best job they could.

From evaluations, we gained a great amount of helpful feedback. As well, we asked participants about their favourite moments. We received feed back such as:

“This is such an enlightening project! Well-worth being tired!” – Chekita Thompson

“The best part was watching everyone painting and wanting it to be perfect for the children that attend the school.”

“[A memorable moment was] Spending time with my daughters and getting them in the spirit of volunteering.” – Tonience Thomas

We believe that all 55 volunteers from Kaiser, along with the five project leads at MLK Early College, had truly meaningful experiences. Kaiser employees expressed such delight in getting to know their co-workers from other departments that they would have otherwise never met. Though all worked in different areas, they were all united under a commonality: Their dedication to the improvement of their communities.

Once again, a hearty thanks to everyone who made this day possible. Through volunteerism, we are reminded to act purposefully in honor, remembrance, and celebration of the great Dr. King.

Cheers,

Anjulie Rao

School Engagement Coordinator

Metro Volunteers

Visa Employees Volunteer at Food Bank of the Rockies

2010-01-04T15:39:00.001-07:00

VIP Launches in 2010

2010-01-04T12:06:00.003-07:00

Article contributed by Steve Norris

Beginning in 2010, Metro Volunteers will offer nonprofit organizations an opportunity to boost their program capacity by learning how to engage Boomer volunteers in new and strategic ways. The VIP Program (Volunteers with Impact and Purpose) will help nonprofits develop the knowledge and skills needed to tap into the growing population of retired, talented Boomers who want to contribute in areas important to them. By harnessing this emerging volunteer resource, nonprofits can increase their ability to deliver programs, even as the economy struggles to recover.

VIP provides an array of materials, training sessions, exercises, coaching and support that can be tailored to the circumstances and needs of each participating nonprofit. One option is for an experienced volunteer facilitator to work with an organization throughout the program. Another option is for an interested nonprofit to take training courses from Metro Volunteers, then work on its own to achieve its volunteer engagement goals.

Regardless of the approach taken, nonprofits that participate in VIP should benefit in two significant ways:

•Experience the value of engaging a Boomer volunteer to accomplish an important short-term project, and

•Apply this experience, along with other knowledge gained, to expand organizational capacity over the long term by redefining the purpose and nature of volunteer engagement.

Metro Volunteers and VIP practice what they preach. VIP is managed by an Operations Team comprised of Boomer volunteers. The Team recruits and trains volunteers to become facilitators. It develops materials, conducts training sessions and evaluates the program. It ensures communication among facilitators and participants, and offers ongoing support as desired. All of this gets done with just modest impact on staff and other resources of Metro Volunteers. In a very real way, the VIP Operations Team demonstrates how an organization’s capacity to accomplish its mission can be expanded by the wise use of Boomer volunteers.

Harnessing Boomer volunteers in new and strategic ways is not rocket science, but it does require most nonprofit managers to take a hard look at their relationship with volunteers and open themselves to changing that relationship.

Look for VIP to launch mid-January 2010. Visit www.metrovolunteers.org for VIP Program information coming soon. For immediate questions, please contact Metro Volunteers at 303.282.1234.

Metro Volunteers developed VIP in partnership with JFFixler & Associates, with support from Rose Community Foundation, Volunteer Match and the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation.

Meet Brenda Whetstone, Project Leadership Coordinator

2009-12-28T11:28:00.005-07:00

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share some news about the Project Leadership Program! I am excited to be serving as the Program Coordinator for the Project Leadership Program. Since my start in September, I have been getting familiar with the impact our Project Leaders are making in the community and working on developing our training program. In the upcoming year, I will be working to recruit, train and support new Project Leaders and Field Instructors. In addition, I aim to initiate new projects and develop an Operations Team of skilled professionals that will sustain the program beyond my year of service. There is a lot to be done, but I am excited about the opportunity to build on the foundation that has been started!

Recently, I have begun attending the Community Calendar projects to gain a broad understanding of the role our current leaders are playing in the community. I have enjoyed meeting our Project Leaders and seeing the impact that is being created. I look forward to getting out and visiting with our members to talk about new projects, partnerships and how we can work together to build capacity!

A little about me: I’m a mid-western/ west coast transplant to Colorado that came for the mountains and has stayed for the sunshine! In my free time you can find me tending to the gardens of a CSA I belong to, cooking up the local organic fare I help grow, snuggling with my two cats and often, planting trees. I have degrees in Music Therapy and Landscape Architecture, but now I aspire to be a Professional Volunteer…if I can just figure out how to make it pay… As an Americorps VISTA, I’m as close as I may ever get and I’m loving it!

I look forward to getting to know and working with our members to develop projects and build capacity with Project Leadership!

Consider Giving 10 in 2010!

2009-11-23T11:15:00.007-07:00

Our world has changed. In early 2009, the President called our citizens to service and Congress passed the Kennedy Serve America Act. Americans, many between jobs, are answering the call in greater numbers, offering their time and skills in service to their communities. As Denver’s leading voice in volunteerism, Metro Volunteers decided to ask if our nonprofit agencies and schools were taking advantage of this burgeoning volunteer resource, given their limited financial resources. In August, we hosted the Summit on Service to find the answer.

At the Summit, we listened intently. We discovered that nonprofit organizations (including our faith based organizations and schools) are seeking new ways to engage volunteers more effectively. They expressed a need for training and support for their infrastructure. They want to charge their volunteers with impactful work, but need help defining the right work and managing volunteers effectively.

Metro Volunteers is responding with a vision for 2010 that focuses on building volunteer capacity within these organizations. Metro Volunteers is training Project Leaders, Board Leaders and senior staff at nonprofit agencies to become high impact volunteers, joining an ever growing resource bank of community experts. Ready for deployment, these leaders will build staff capacity to serve more students, deliver more services, develop and implement volunteer service projects, and lend their expertise through board service. Agency staff will be trained to work with Volunteer Directors to define new roles for volunteers within their programs.

To accomplish these goals, we need your help. We ask that you consider Giving 10 in 2010. We ask that you:
Contribute $10 (multiples of 10 are appreciated),
Commit 10 hours of service, and
Connect 10 friends into service.

We are especially seeking your friends who are ready for a leadership role in our community. Please invite them to visit our website at www.MetroVolunteers.org to learn more about our Board Leadership, Project Leadership, School Leader and Boomer: VIP programs. The result will be a sustainable volunteer infrastructure that can withstand the pressures when financial resources fluctuate.

You can print and send a form to us at 444 Sherman Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80203 or visit our website and click on the Donate Now link.

Thank you. Our volunteer community remains strong because of your support.

McKenna Long & Aldridge Donate to Starlight Children's Foundation

2009-11-23T11:10:00.001-07:00

The Denver office of McKenna Long & Aldridge (MLA) was opened in 1988 and provides legal services in all major practice areas, with a primary focus on representing clients in government contracts, litigation, and employment law. Clients of the Denver office range in size from individual entrepreneurs to national corporations, including many of the Fortune 500 companies.

On Saturday, November 7, 2009, 22 volunteers, including employees and family members as young as two years old, volunteered at the Starlight Children’s Foundation Colorado. This is the second year that MLA has volunteered with Starlight. MLA has deemed Starlight as a very worthy local cause and appreciates a volunteer option that includes adults and children. MLA donated supplies for fun packs and volunteers assembled 20 wagons, wrapped 50 presents, labeled 150 fun packs, and packed and labeled 350 backpacks for delivery to seriously ill children.

According to Carol Neubauer, Legal Secretary, “This project not only instills the volunteer ethic in our employees, but also introduces that same ethic to younger family members. This is also a wonderful opportunity to bring MLA employees together in a positive, team-building atmosphere.”

Community service is an important element of McKenna Long & Aldridge on a national level. MLA is keenly aware of the positive impact volunteering has to both our community and our firm. Volunteer activities help unite employees on a personal level, while improving the lives of less fortunate individuals. The Denver office of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP will once again participate in Starlight’s Joy Drive and the Rebuilding Together Home Improvement event in Spring 2010.

For more information on McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, visit their website at www.mckennalong.com

Trevista at Horace Mann

2009-11-17T10:37:00.001-07:00

Photos of McKenna Long & Aldridge at Starlight Children's Foundation

2009-11-13T11:03:00.004-07:00

Make A Difference Day - October 24, 2009

2009-11-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Force Elementary Community Resource Room

2009-11-03T09:57:00.003-07:00

Lisa Mahannah, Principal of Force Elementary School, has a vision. Education does not stop at the door and parents have a role in important decisions and activities. A school is the place for crucial decisions, connecting parents and the community accessible trainings, and education doesn’t end at 3:30. Principal Mahannah envisions Force Elementary School as a safe, comfortable, and a “home away from home” that welcomes all who wish to get involved.

In order to create this environment, the dedicated faculty and administration agreed that the school needed a physical place within the school that embodied this philosophy. The solution was to create a Community Resource Room. Denise Deutschlander and Anjulie Rao, Metro Volunteers’ School Engagement Coordinators, listened to an excited teaching staff create a Resource Room wish list. As a partner to Force Elementary, Metro Volunteers worked with Parent Liaison, Luisa Candeleria, to plan and design the Community Resource Room.

Using funding provided by HandsOn, Acer Netbooks, a laser printer, and a state-of-the-art digital projector were purchased. Toys were also needed to create a Kids Play Area to allow the room to be engaging for all family members.

On October 17, Metro Volunteers and Force strategically recruited 25 volunteers from the school and outlying communities to paint walls, assemble furniture, and clean the room. Children also participated by decorating a pillar in the front of the school with colorful handprints, with the hope that it will become a touchstone for Force students in the future.

Building the Community Resource Room was an opportunity to help Force meet a critical need for the community. Currently the room is used for the LEAP After School Program. Soon it will become the site for Collaborative School Committees, parent CSAP trainings, anti-bullying campaigns.

Metro Volunteers School Service Program is thankful for the passion and support shown by the teachers, administration, and volunteers.

Meet Metro Volunteers' AmeriCorps/VISTA

2009-10-01T15:33:00.001-06:00

Metro Volunteers is excited to welcome five new AmeriCorps/VISTA volunteers who answered the call to National Service, bringing this team to a total of eight. These volunteers supplement our 4 ½ member staff and increase our capacity to continue to cultivate volunteers as a vital resource and offer expertise and support to the Denver community.

Denise Deutschlander, HandOn Corps. As a School Engagement Coordinator and part of the School Service Team, Denise has a background in education. Her first passion is teaching. While teaching in an Oregon prison she found her enthusiasm for education as tangible as her passion for helping the underprivileged. In the future, Denise plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology, as well as spending some time abroad helping communities through her experience in education. With a graduate degree in sociology from the University of Vienna, Denise thoroughly enjoys both speaking German and filling out surveys.

Rachel Dolgin, HandsOn Corps. Rachel left the east coast to spend a year of service as the Environmental Engagement Coordinator, a position new to Metro Volunteers. Rachel will train and place volunteer leaders in nonprofit organizations to complete environmental projects including tree planting and energy-efficiency improvements in under-served neighborhoods. Originally from New Jersey, Rachel recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Anthropology and Biology minor. During her third year of college, Rachel studied abroad for a semester in Samoa and Fiji with the School for International Studies, specializing in ecotourism and sustainable development. She has a passion for working with teens; for five years Rachel has volunteered for the YMCA Teen Leadership Development School working as a Teen Advisor and Staff Advisor. While living in Burlington, Vermont, Rachel played competitive college Ultimate Frisbee and worked at the original Ben & Jerry's scoop shop. Although she misses the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, she is excited about exploring everything Colorado has to offer.

Monyett Ellington, AmeriCorps/VISTA. Assigned under the Governor's Commission on Community Service/CVCN Project 2, Monyett's focus is Disaster Planning. As the Disaster Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Monyett is assisting the Colorado Volunteer Center Network to create a Volunteer Reception System to manage unaffiliated volunteers during emergencies. With a Multi-Major BA in Communications and experience in video production and broadcast operations support, technical training, community volunteerism, project office administration and support, and working on the Y2K project at DIA and emergency management courses. Prior to Metro Volunteers, Monyett was the LEAP Outreach Coordinator for the City and County of Denver. Looking forward to a career change, Monyett is honored to be a VISTA and pleased to be working on Disaster Planning.

Anjulie Rao, HandsOn Corps. School Engagement Coordinators on the School Service Team, came to Metro Volunteers after completing an undergraduate degree in Art History from University of Colorado, Boulder. Beyond her love of art, she also has a background in nonprofit project management, youth community cultivation, and community garden development. She hopes to pursue her PhD in Visual Studies, and to one day teach Critical Thinking and Visual Studies in the secondary level. In her spare time she enjoys frolicking, mostly, but also riding bikes, listening to music, rock climbing, volunteering, running dogs, and being gluten-free.

Shannon Waid, AmeriCorps/VISTA. As the Board Leadership Coordinator Shannon will be working on the Board Leadership Training and the VIP Boomer program. She has just received a Master's degree in public administration from the School of Public Affairs at University of Colorado Denver. Her hobbies include cooking, traveling, and spa activities.

Cari Wheat, AmeriCorps/VISTA. Focusing on Disaster Planning and Preparedness; Cari will develop and deliver a state-wide Continuity of Operations training program for Colorado nonprofits. She comes to Metro Volunteers from Manhattan with a professional background in public relations and large-scale event production. Before that, she worked with March of Dimes, Macy's, and Boys and Girls Clubs in San Francisco producing their annual fundraising events. Cari is an American Red Cross Disaster Response volunteer and enjoys every single minute of it. Her newest love is the Colorado Front Range and she's thrilled to be living in a place where camping and hiking are minutes away, although she does admit to missing the sights, sounds and smells of the New York City subway system from time to time.

Brenda Whetstone, AmeriCorps/VISTA. A Project Leadership Coordinator, Brenda will recruit, train, and support the mobilization of volunteers and the management of volunteer projects that meet specific community needs of low-income communities and schools. With a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, Brenda served clients with mental illness and Alzheimer's disease for nine years and developed and delivered staff training related to caring for patients. Brenda also has a Masters of Landscape Architecture and worked in cemetery planning and design with a focus on Master Planning. She assisted with the 2009 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Aurora. She is also an active volunteer with Denver Digs Trees, a branch of The Park People, and Friends of Red Rocks.

What Would Dean Prina Do?

2009-10-01T15:28:00.001-06:00

You could ask any one of the 30 nonprofit organizations, friends or family, and even Governor Bill Ritter and his wife Jeannie; they would all tell you, 'volunteer your time, make a gift and encourage others to do the same.'

On September 14, Metro Volunteers honored Dr. Dean Prina for a life-time of volunteer service. The event was filled with laughing children, loud shirts, balloon hats and warm, genuine appreciation for a member of our community who represents the person we'd all like to be.

So, what would Dean do? Recognize his gifts and share them with others. At Metro Volunteers, we hope you'll consider doing the same. Our community has never faced greater challenges. The demand for services is at an all time high, resources are diminished and even the ability to volunteer has its obstacles. Nonprofit organizations, schools, churches and synagogues need you.

We ask you to GIVE 10: Give 10 hours of service, Contribute $10, and Connect 10 friends.
How? Find a passion area or a need and make a connection. Don't give up! Remember, the nonprofit agency you're trying to reach could be significantly under resourced. They may be having trouble answering the phone. When they do, ask what they need and how you can help. The goal is a meaningful, impactful experience for you; however, you may need to be flexible as the organizations work to meet all their current demands. Your patience, persistence and skills will make a difference.

Would you like to contribute even more? Train to be a Project Leader or Board Leader. Our community needs volunteers organized for effective service - that means leaders of volunteers are much needed. Visit www.metrovolunteers.org for more information.

Heart of Volunteerism Event honors Dr. Dean Prina

2009-09-30T09:32:00.002-06:00

Click image to view the full video honoring Dr. Dean Prina. (quicktime)

Metro Volunteers Hosts Obama Inaugural Bash

2009-01-21T13:02:00.003-07:00

Article written by: Bryan Giovannetti

The red, white and blue balloons hovered high in the sky, and the music filled the air of Denver’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood. On Jan. 20, Metro Volunteers hosted the Barack Obama Inaugural Bash at the Church Nightclub.

Over 100 local residents came for the celebration, many dressed in Obama t-shirts, hats and flashing buttons. Live music added to the atmosphere, featuring performances from local bands such as Wendy Woo, Kristina Ingham and the Demon Funkies.

Barack Obama became officially sworn in as the 44^th president of the United States at 12 noon eastern standard time on Jan. 20. Guests at this event said that they feel optimistic about Obama’s promises and the future of the country.

“I could not be more elated,” said Lindsay, who moved to the United States from Germany 12 years ago, “He’s youthful and he represents my ideals.”

As part of his plan for revitalizing America, Obama is encouraging citizens to commit to serving their communities this year. Metro Volunteers helped to facilitate this process by asking guests at this event to pledge to complete 10 hours of community service by the end of 2009.

“I think it’s always good to give back,” said Janet Kiyota from Ft. Lupton, Co., “I think there’s always a few places that need just a little bit of help.” Several guests responded to the pledge to serve, as well as Metro Volunteers Staff.

“We are living in a world where we need to be less selfish, and more selfless,” said Kellie Reddick from Texas. Michael Charbonneau, from Denver, volunteers at a homeless shelter where he helps students attain their GED.

“It makes my week when someone gets their GED,” said Charbonneau. Metro Volunteers will now help those who have pledged to volunteer find a location that fits their interests.

“I find it rewarding to volunteer, not to be a spectator, but to be a part of it,” said Lindsay. Overall, the guests at the event left feeling a sense of excitement and enthusiasm over seeing Obama’s inauguration.

Reddick said, “I think we made history today. We celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
yesterday, and his dream is coming into affect today.”

MLK Day Health Fair a Roaring Success!

2009-01-21T11:49:00.002-07:00

On MLK Day, hundreds of Kaiser Permanente physicians, nurses, security guards, and other staff volunteered their time to provide health services to the uninsured. As the numbers below illustrate, the Health Fair was a huge success!

Service in Numbers*:
• Over 300 volunteers
• Over 600 families attended the health fair
• Over 1,200 individuals received health services; by the end of the fair it may be as many as 1,500
• 275 women received screening services including pap tests and pelvic exams
• Over 180 children received a physical check-up and health screening
• 100 vision screenings performed
• 470 immunizations administered
• 500 diabetes and cholesterol tests performed
• Over 340 dental screenings and services provided for children and adults
• 30 mammography screenings were completed; 50 additional mammography exams were scheduled
*(approximate estimates as of 3 pm Monday, January 19, 2009)

Obama Makes Call to Serve On MLK Day

2009-01-14T17:29:00.002-07:00

President-Elect Barack Obama released a video today highlighting the many ways to get involved with the Inauguration events, one of the ways is to serve your community this coming weekend in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy.

A Service Stimulus Package

2008-12-10T08:52:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, Stephen Goldsmith, chairman of the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and former Mayor of Indianapolis, and Harris Wofford, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service from 1995 to 2001, contributed an op-ed calling for a "Service Stimulus Package." This article appeared in the Miami Herald (FL), Fort Worth Star Telegram (TX), The Record (NJ) and other newspapers.

This article includes a ton of pertinent information about how service should, and will be, a part of the solution to the current economic recession.

Here are some of the highlights:

"As the government seeks to deal with the economic crisis and relieve the distress felt by millions of families, we should not overlook the great American tradition of service."

"Lawmakers who will soon consider a financial stimulus package should also consider a 'service stimulus.' Repairing the roads and bridges of our physical infrastructure is urgently needed, but we also need to expand our civic infrastructure dramatically."

"Here are a few examples of what 'We the People' can do right now and in the year ahead:

We can help children in danger of dropping out of school by volunteering as tutors and mentors.
Skilled professionals (lawyers, accountants, et al.) can go door to door in distressed communities to assist families facing mortgage foreclosure.
Volunteers can support displaced families and children by helping them transition from homeless shelters to more permanent housing.
Since financial stress and unemployment can lead to substance abuse, psychological despair and homelessness, community assistance centers and shelters will need many new volunteers and basic supplies."

Click here to read the full article.

AmeriCorps Funding May Be in Jeopardy - Contact Your Representatives Today

2008-12-04T09:25:00.002-07:00

I just received a message from Voices of Service last night with the following message; essentially saying that we must all act now to ensure that funding for AmeriCorps programs is not cut in 2009:

Voices for National Service has learned that funding for AmeriCorps programs for 2009 is in jeopardy, and it is imperative that national service supporters contact their Members of Congress TODAY to intercede with Appropriators.

Action Item - Call Your Member of Congress:
Please call your Members of Congress immediately and ask them to protect AmeriCorps funding so that programs can deliver much needed services to communities across the country. Below is information on how to contact your Members of Congress and talking points for your use. We have also listed the Appropriators in the House and Senate. We especially need individuals residing or serving in Appropriators’ districts to reach out directly to them. If you do not reside or serve in an Appropriators district, please call your Members of Congress and ask them to weigh in with Appropriators.

To connect to your legislators in the Senate dial the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to connect you. To connect to your legislators in the House dial the switchboard at (202) 225-3121 ask them to connect you.

Background Information: At this very moment, congressional appropriators are in final negotiations on an comprehensive FY2009 funding bill. They expect to finish negotiating the details this week. It has recently been brought to our attention that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust require a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain the same level of service communities have relied upon in 2008. This figure is $41 million above last year’s appropriations and $14.1 million above the Administration’s original request submitted to Congress in February.

We understand this is a significant increase over last year’s appropriation, but due to a perfect storm of conditions, that includes a significant administrative change at the Corporation, this increase is necessary to sustain the present field of programs and members. Level funding for AmeriCorps will not allow the same number of Americans to serve in 2009 as participated in 2008 due to a number of programmatic factors including: changes in AmeriCorps grant-making from two year to one year funding, the need to transfer funds from programs to the National Service Trust to cover AmeriCorps education awards, and increased support for disaster response and recovery in the Gulf region.

The next 24 hours are critical, as the Appropriations Committee is making decisions on the fiscal 2009 funding bills right now. We need our legislators to weigh in and ask that the appropriation be increased to avoid devastating program cuts. The brunt of the impact would likely fall on programs that are recompeting for funds. Under the present funding assumptions (i.e. 2008 funding levels), the pool of funds available to state competitive programs could be $20 million, 50% less than what is needed.

Talking Points:
1. Right now Congressional appropriators are negotiating fiscal year 2009 funding levels for AmeriCorps.
2. We’ve been told that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust need a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain AmeriCorps programs that are delivering much needed service to communities. This is $41 million above the fiscal year 2008 appropriation.
3. We understand that this is a significant increase, but due to congressionally-mandated administrative changes at the Corporation for National and Community Service, the additional funds are needed to simply sustain the same level of service in 2009. This additional funding would not grow the program, just sustain it.
4. AmeriCorps grantees engage 75,000 Americans in providing important services through thousands of nonprofit community-based organizations, schools, land management agencies, and other groups that are meeting critical needs. Many of these organizations are already struggling with the recent economic downturn, and a cut in AmeriCorps would further reduce their ability to serve people in need.
5. A significant reduction in the federal appropriation will force groups to cut back or eliminate services to communities, and deprive thousands of young people the opportunity to serve their country and earn education awards to pursue their dreams of higher education. This is not the time to cut services to those in need and limit opportunities for young people to earn stipends and educational opportunities for their service.
6. An increased appropriation for AmeriCorps is urgently needed to prevent the collapse of our programs.
7. Your Congressperson should instruct the Appropriations Committee to increase the FY09 allocation for AmeriCorps.

Denver Families Changed the World

2008-11-24T08:21:00.003-07:00

This past Saturday, November 22, over 100 community members and their families came together to participate in National Family Volunteer Day. These families contributed their time, and in many cases food donations, to four nonprofits in metropolitan Denver.

At Have a Heart, 25 family volunteers came together to help serve 3,000 people who were picking up food boxes and donated clothing items. At Project Angel Heart, 25 family volunteers decorated bags that will e used to deliver food to terminally ill and homebound individuals throughout metropolitan Denver. At Starlight Children’s Foundation, 40 volunteers from McKenna, Long and Aldridge LLP assembled backpacks filled with fun activities for hospitalized children in Denver. At Family Tree, Miller Coors employees and their families donated food items and volunteered to help over 40 families receive food boxes.

Family Volunteer Day is a hands-on experience that teaches children the values of kindness, compassion, community responsibility and good citizenship. Family volunteering strengthens family communication and bonds, allows family members to be role models, builds shared memories, increases commitment to volunteering and community, and provides for quality time together as a family.

Nicola Goren to Run Corporation for National Community Service through Transition

2008-11-19T09:15:00.003-07:00

Washington DC – Nicola O. Goren, an 11-year veteran of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will lead the agency through a transition that will include laying a foundation for the incoming Administration’s service plans.

Goren, who served as the agency’s Chief of Staff for the past two years, begins her tenure as Acting CEO at a time of strong momentum and opportunity for the agency and the larger service and volunteer movement. Goren will lead the agency that administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America until a new CEO is appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate.

“Service and volunteering make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day,” said Goren. “I am deeply honored and excited to work with our extraordinary board, staff, and grantees to support our programs, prepare for the transition, and seize the growing momentum for service in America.”

Goren said two forces are converging to make this an opportune time for national service and volunteering. First, the economic downturn has threatened our civic infrastructure and put more Americans in need of services that the voluntary sector can provide. Second, this increasing demand comes at the same time as service is gaining unprecedented levels of support across government, business, nonprofit, and education sectors.

From the expansion of corporate social responsibility programs and the embrace of service-learning on college campuses to the introduction of several bipartisan national service bills in Congress and the comprehensive service agenda of President-elect Obama, service is increasingly being seen as a solution to social challenges. “The Corporation has never been stronger, more efficient, and better positioned than it is today, and we are ready to work with the incoming Administration to take national service to the next level of success and impact,” said Goren. In a message to grantees, Goren said her priorities will be to focus on the core work of the agency, ensure a smooth transition, and strengthen the service infrastructure.

The agency has been preparing for the transition for several months. The Corporation’s bipartisan board of directors will also play a key role in the transition. “We are incredibly fortunate to have such as strong board and their leadership and insights will be especially valuable in the transition. Our board is a model of how people from different parties can work together to get things done.”

Board Chairman and former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith also noted the convergence of need and support for national service in welcoming Goren to her new role. “The Corporation is well-respected, high performing and it enjoys bipartisan support. The national service and volunteering agenda also benefit from strong momentum and increasing public awareness. Nicky has the experience, judgment, and ability to ensure that we extend the gains we’ve made and bridge the organization as it prepares for a new CEO to be appointed in the next administration.”

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Goren worked in the Corporation’s Office of General Counsel for eight-and-a-half years as Associate General Counsel, where she led the AmeriCorps rulemaking effort and other major projects. Before coming to the Corporation in 1998, Goren spent five years in the legislative branch, working first with the Congressional Budget Office and then with the Office of Compliance. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School and Brandeis University. Goren resides in the District of Columbia with her husband and two sons.

The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year the Corporation engages more than four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

ServiceNation Day of Action - September 27

2008-09-16T14:17:00.003-06:00

Metro Volunteers is working with many other community organizations to coordinate the first-ever ServiceNation Day of Action. This event was developed as part of a national effort to promote national service and volunteerism. As of today, there 2,317 Day of Action events planned throughout the country and we are very excited to take part in this critical movement.

ServiceNation’s goal is to unite leaders from every sector of American society with hundreds of thousands of citizens in a national campaign to call on the next President and Congress, leaders from all sectors of society, and our fellow Americans to create a new era of service and civic engagement in America, an era in which all Americans will work together to try and solve our greatest and most persistent societal challenges.

To take part in our upcoming ServiceNation Day of Action project, planting trees at Cook Park in Denver as part of this historic event, go to www.metrovolunteers.org for more information and to register.

Below, we have included video of Senators Obama and McCain, who showed their support of volunteerism at the ServiceNation Summit in New York City on 9/11.

Community Volunteers are Invited to Register for Delegate Service Day Projects

2008-08-22T15:58:00.005-06:00

Building on its ongoing commitment to service and active participation in the community, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced today that more than one thousand Convention delegates from across the country will volunteer at dozens of community service sites in and around Denver on Delegate Service Day, Wednesday, August 27, from 10:00am-12:00pm.

Projects ranging from serving meals for the homeless and park cleanup, to reading to children and aiding military families are being coordinated by Metro Volunteers, Democrats Work and Volunteers of America. Through this effort, and in conjunction with ServiceNation, a national campaign to increase community and national service opportunities and promote service as a core ideal of civic engagement, the DNCC aims to inspire hundreds of thousands of Americans in a renewed commitment to service.

Michelle Obama and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter are co-chairing Delegate Service Day, the capstone to a year-long DNCC community service effort, in which leadership and staff have contributed more than 850 hours to a variety of local projects. Both Michelle Obama and Ritter will participate in Delegate Service Day activities with their children.

Community members are invited to serve alongside delegates at the following projects:

1. Open Space Revitalization at Cherry Creek State Park
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to motivate and enable citizens to be active stewards of Colorado’s public lands, thereby creating enthusiastic and beneficial stewardship of Colorado’s natural and cultural resources. Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado will lead a volunteer project for delegates to participate in an effort to revitalize and restore areas of Cherry Creek State Park.

2. Graffiti Abatement and Neighborhood Cleanup in Stapleton
Delegate volunteers will have the opportunity to improve the aesthetic appeal and health of the Denver suburb of Stapleton by removing graffiti and litter in the area.

3. Write Letters to Incredible Kids
Each year Camp Fire USA hosts Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, a national, annual letter-writing campaign urging adults to write letters of support to the children in their lives. This year, the Central Rockies Council of Camp Fire USA is extending this campaign to include delegates attending the Democratic National Convention. Delegates are invited to write letters to incredible kids in their lives and in their delegations during the Delegate Service Day. Delegates are encouraged to bring the names and mailing addresses of 8-10 children from their delegation that are making a positive impact in their communities.

4. Moving Party at YouthBiz Offices
YouthBiz's mission is to advance the social and economic empowerment of youth through a focus on business, academics, and leadership. At YouthBiz, through after-school and summer programs that incorporate hands-on activities, real-world experience, and peer-to-peer facilitation, youth become active participants in their learning and success. Delegates will volunteer at YouthBiz by assisting the staff in moving the organization into their new 6,500 square foot facility.

5. Science Experiments with Students at Cole K-8 School
Cole K-8 school, a Denver Public School, is reopening for the 2008-2009 school year after shutting its doors four years ago. Delegates are invited to join Cole students in their classrooms for two hours of reading and other activities.

6. Play with Children at Warren Village
Warren Village helps motivated low-income, single parents move from public assistance to self-sufficiency through subsidized housing, on-site childcare, counseling, and education or job training. One of Warren Village's programs, The Greta Horwitz Learning Center, provides quality childcare and early childhood education for 130 children, ages six weeks to twelve years. The Learning Center uses a multi-cultural and gender-fair curriculum developed for at-risk urban kids. Delegates will volunteer at Warren Village by playing and interacting with the Learning Center's children.

7. Make Blankets with the Visiting Nurse Association
The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), in its second century of service, improves quality of life by providing excellent health care to people where they live and work. The VNA is Denver’s oldest non-profit home health agency, providing home care, hospice services and community wellness programs. Delegates will volunteer with the Visiting Nurse Association by making fleece lap robes for patients in the VNA's hospice, palliative care and other programs.

8. Read to Children at the Blair-Caldwell Library
The mission of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library is to serve as an educational and cultural resource for the people of Denver, Colorado, and the world, focusing on the history, literature, art, music, religion, and politics of African Americans. Delegates will host a reading event for children and distribute books at the library.

9. Sort Food and Clothing and Serve a Meal at the Volunteers of America Mission
Volunteers of America (VOA) seeks to identify and serve the basic needs of the most vulnerable individuals and families in the Denver community. With nutrition, residential, youth, and volunteer programs, VOA assists citizens of all ages and levels of need in the Denver metro area. Delegates from the District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Virginia will have the opportunity to sort food and clothing, to give to local families in need. In addition, volunteers will serve a lunch time meal to downtown Denver citizens in need.

10. Block Party and Park Cleanup in the Curtis Park Neighborhood
Delegates will have the opportunity to volunteer alongside residents of the Curtis Park neighborhood, located near Downtown Denver. Volunteers will be participating in a park clean-up and tree-planting project, as well as interacting with area citizens during a block party.

Click here to register for a Delegate Service Day volunteer opportunity today.

Volunteering in America Report Released: Retention is a Major Issue

2008-07-28T09:30:00.003-06:00

According to the Volunteering in America report released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), last year, 60.8 million Americans or 26.2 percent of the adult population gave 8.1. billion hours of volunteer service worth $157 billion.

These numbers are astounding, clearly we leave in a country where volunteering is a way of life for many people. But, this report also highlighted a problem plaguing volunteerism - it is a leaky bucket. In 2007, 21.5 million new volunteers served with organizations across the country. However, more than one out of every three volunteers (about 22 million) who served in 2006 did not volunteer in 2007. (Volunteering In America)

It's clear that the causes most important to our communities would be better addressed if the length of a volunteer's life-span increased. So, why do people stop volunteering?

The Volunteering in America Report found that people cited the following reasons for leaving volunteering:

Volunteer opportunities aren’t challenging or meaningful enough.
Volunteer management is inadequate. Most nonprofits don’t have volunteer managers or follow best practices. Volunteers aren’t free; it takes an investment and infrastructure to get the most out of volunteers.
Volunteering is too rigid and needs to be more flexible to meet the demands of today’s volunteers. New models need to be weekends, nights, virtual, family, employee-supported, and voluntourism.

Do you agree with the causes cited above for a lack of volunteer retention? What practical recommendations do you have for nonprofits to stop the leaky bucket effect?

Hands On Schools Kicks-off at Force Elementary

2008-07-15T18:34:00.004-06:00

Last Friday, July 11, The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce employees helped kick-off a series of Hands On Schools projects at Force Elementary. 43 individuals volunteered as part of a staff retreat to begin work on a new playground and learning landscape for the school. This playground will not only replace very outdated metal play structures, it will honor the memory of former student Auralia Cisneros who was shot and killed in her home in November 2007. (CBS 4 News)

Metro Volunteers will be hosting a community volunteer day, on August 2, to finish the playground and unveil it to the community. Click here for more information or to register as a volunteer.

Apocalypse Now?

2008-06-16T11:12:00.006-06:00

When I was driving home from work on Friday afternoon, I felt myself gripped with anxiety, thinking: My god. There have been a ton of natural disasters recently, is it the apocalypse? Then, as I fought my way through traffic and thought about it a bit more, I realized: No. This won't be the apocalypse - we have volunteers who are responding to the disasters and those in need! What was I thinking? Thanks to volunteer efforts, I am sure that our world will be safe.

Here are a few stories illustrating the enormous impact volunteers are making throughout the world in response to recent disasters:

1. Burma Cyclone: The UN is launching a massive program to combat dengue fever amongst cyclone victims. Up to 1,700 volunteers from the Burma Red Cross and other organizations are going to help. (The Guardian UK)

2. China Earthquake: There has been an outpouring of volunteer support amongst youth in China following the devastating earthquake in Sichauan Province. In the city of Mianyang nearly 10,000 volunteers have joined the "Red Ribbon" volunteer action. And throughout the disaster area 200,000 young volunteers are working feverishly on the frontline with local Communist League offices acting as coordinators. (中国日报网)

3. Windsor, CO Tornado: On May 28, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter toured the town of Windsor, CO and could find only one word to describe the progress: amazing. "If you had relied upon government to do this, it wouldn't have been done; it couldn't have been done," Ritter said. "I am truly impressed by the volunteerism of this community." (Denver Post)

4. Midwest Flooding: In Iowa City, IA, several hundred people turned out to help protect the University of Iowa campus by sandbagging. "The volunteers have just been incredible," Sullivan said. "Some of these people, they've lost their homes, they've lost their businesses, but they're still down there helping." (CBS News)

Barack Obama visited Cedar Rapids, IA, and stressed the importance of volunteers for disaster recovery.

Inspired to help in times of disaster? Register as a disaster volunteer.

- Al

Why AmeriCorps? Why Not!

2008-06-10T12:47:00.004-06:00

The Corporation for National Service announced the winners of the AmeriCorps Video Contest last week. After watching the video winners, you should certainly be able to answer the question: why AmeriCorps?
First Place Video

Second Place Video

Be a patriot. Take action to change the world.

2008-05-27T10:13:00.001-06:00

Recently, it seems there has been an increased level of public discourse about national service, and how service relates to patriotism for our country. To be a true patriot, according to some, you need to contribute to community health through civic action.

E.J. Dionne, in a recent article “Progressive Patriotism”on truthdig.com, eloquently defined what patriotism is in today’s world. “Patriotism has to involve definitions, commitments and actions.”

Patriotism does not come down to whether or not you have an American flag hanging outside your front door, it comes down to what you do to make our country a better place. And, this country is made a better place everyday because of those who choose to participate in national service.

AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America, including:

Tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth
Fight illiteracy
Improve health services
Build affordable housing
Clean parks and streams
Manage or operate after-school programs
Help communities respond to disasters

Not only do AmeriCorps members make an impact while they are serving, they continue to make a positive impact in our country as AmeriCorps Alumni. A longitudinal study of AmeriCorps members, Serving Country and Community: A Longitudinal Study of Service in AmeriCorps, demonstrates the impacts of national service on members’ civic engagement. Findings of the study reveal that AmeriCorps alumni are:

More connected to their communities;
More knowledgeable about problems facing their communities;
More likely to participate in community activities; and
More likely to choose public service careers.

All three presidential candidates appreciate the important positive outcomes derived from national service programs for our country’s health. I am happy to report that John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama have clearly stated their support for national service, acknowledging the importance of civic action in being a patriot.

Obama will expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 slots today to 250,000 and he will focus this expansion on addressing the great challenges facing the nation.

Hillary will double the education award – now called the Segal Education Award – to $10,000 to get it back on pace to covering a meaningful portion of the cost of going to college for people who devote a year or two of full-time public service to our country.

John McCain stated: “We should support, not oppose, efforts to encourage more Americans to enter public service. We should do everything in our power to reward the American men and women who have chosen to serve the country and their communities in the hope of meeting the nation's critical education, safety, health, and homeland security needs.”

The Millenials Are Coming. Sweet!

2008-05-05T16:01:00.005-06:00

The Case Foundation recently released a study, "Social Citizens", which examines the Millenial generation and their manifestation as social citizens. As a proud Millenial, I was very pleased to read about all that my fellow generation members are doing to change the world.

Who are these Millenials, you ask? Millenials are defined as people born between 1978 and 1993. They are the largest living generation, outnumbering Baby Boomers 77.6 million to 74.1 million.

As, Sean Stannard-Stockton, put it in a recent blog pos t, "Millennials have been derided as having “helicopter parents” being “boomerang kids,” having an excessive snese of self-worth and generally being a pain in the butt in the corporate world."

Last fall, Thomas Friedman further developed this negative sentiment in The New York Times, by describing young people as being members of Generation Q. He meant “Q” for quiet, inactive, on the important social questions of the day.

I am happy to report that, in light of the "Social Citizens" study, the previously held stereotypes of Millenials have been proven wrong. In a nutshell, my generation rules.

Here's how:

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, teenage volunteerism more than doubled between 1989 and 2005 (from 13.4 percent to 28.4 percent).
"Millenials are set apart from other generations by their cause lifestyle-a youth that is infused with giving and volunteering, eventually complemented by careers dedicated to causes. They are a generation defined by the fervent belief they can change the world one donation, one voluntary activity, or one purchase at a time. They are less interested in and adept at interacting with government agencies and more interested in hands-on ways of improving the lives of people domestically and internationally." ("Social Citizens," The Case Foundation, 2008)
Social Citizens are “individuals who are energetic and passionate about social causes; brimming with new approaches and ideas for problem-solving; disposed toward sharing of responsibilities and rewards of affecting change in the world; and equipped with the digital tools and people power to make it happen." (“Social Citizens,” The Case Foundation, 2008)

Now that we know that Millenials are seeking out ways to create to positive community change, the question becomes, how do we best engage them in volunteer service? Is it taking better advantage of web 2.o? Offering cause-based volunteer activities?

-Al

President Bush Celebrates National Volunteer Week

2008-05-02T10:16:00.002-06:00

On Tuesday, April 29, President Bush honored "America's Armies of Compassion." The president hosted Peace Corps volunteers, USA Freedom Corps Director Henry Lozano, and members of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. This reception was developed to recognize the millions of Americans who volunteer to create positive change in their communities and around the globe.

This year's National Volunteer Week theme is "Volunteer to Change the World" and the information presented in the White House's 2008 National Volunteer Week Fact Sheet shows how volunteers have, and will continue to, change the world:

Peace Corps has mobilized more than 190,000 volunteers since its creation.
AmeriCorps has deployed more than 540,000 members since 1994. Members serve in various capacities, such as mentoring and tutoring youth, responding to disasters, building homes, preserving the environment, and mobilizing other volunteers.
Last year, more than 60 million volunteers from across the United States provided critical social services in communities at home and abroad.

Click here to watch President Bush's speech on National Volunteer Week.

On behalf of Metro Volunteers, I would also like to recognize the critical work that volunteers do everyday to change the world - thank you for volunteering!

-Al

Community Service Prevents Student Disengagement

2008-04-17T09:20:00.004-06:00

This morning, I came across the article, “A Different Way to Fight Student Disengagement” by Donald Harward, and was struck by the argument that community service results in increased student engagement and academic achievement.

What is student disengagement? Student disengagement is an increasingly apparent problem in higher education. Patterns of disengagement include avoidance of rigorous study, defining education by degree attainment only, and bouts of depression that adversely affect academic achievement. One of the most alarming indicators of student disengagement is the increase of binge drinking among current students. “Over 35 percent of current students engage in binging with alcohol or other drugs with the intent of passing out — emotionally and physically disengaging.” (Source: Harward).

So, how do we combat this epidemic of student disengagement? Harward posits that: “signature practices that reverse student patterns of disengagement include service learning, residence-based learning communities, joint student and faculty research, and institutional initiatives that model and value active and reciprocal engagement with the community — near and beyond.”

This argument is affirmed by the findings in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This study looks at different forms of student engagement resulting from the implementation of community-based learning pedagogies at many colleges and universities. In 2007, the key findings, from a volunteerism lens, were:

More than half (54%) of all seniors never participated in a community-based project as part of their regular coursework. (Source: 2007 NSSE Study)
It can be life changing to participate in service learning. Such an undergraduate experience deepens learning and brings one’s values and beliefs into awareness; it helps students develop the ability to take the measure of events and actions and put them in perspective. As a result, students better understand themselves in relation to others and the larger world, and acquire the intellectual tools and ethical grounding to act with confidence for the betterment of the human condition. (Source: 2007 NSSE Study)

I feel that nonprofits need to consider their place in this recent trend of engaging students in the community as a way to decrease student disengagement. As more educational institutions move towards the inclusion of community engagement activities, we (the nonprofit community) need to be prepared to engage students in meaningful service-learning experiences. And, in doing so, we will be able to not only prevent a further increase in student disengagement, but more effectively meet the needs of our organizations. What do you think?

-Al

CBeyond Service Day

2008-04-04T15:29:00.003-06:00

On April 1st, over 50 CBeyond employees volunteered at Manual High School.

Volunteers painted Manual High Logo murals.

They also painted walls!

Call For Stories of Change!!!

2008-03-31T10:05:00.001-06:00

Send us your personal change story! Points of Light & Hands On Network is looking for the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their world. Your stories may be highlighted and celebrated during National Volunteer Week, at the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering, for national recognition programs and with media.

Tell us your story and include the following:
- Inspiration: What motivated you to get involved?
- Action: What did you do?
- Results: What's different now?

Stories can be submitted in one of two ways: video or narratives with photos.
1. Video:
Please upload a video (two minute maximum) that illustrates the change that occurred. Finished, edited video with opening and closing titles and music (Do not use copyrighted music, including samples).
Mail raw footage (beta), not to exceed three minutes, with accompanying paragraph describing: Inspiration: What motivated you to get involved? Action: What did you do? Results: What's different now?

2. Narrative and photos:
Upload a 500 words or less description that answers the three questions above. Narratives must be submitted with hi-res photos (300 dpi) that illustrate the change that occurred (no headshots please).

Important Note: All individuals featured in photos or video must sign release forms. You can find release forms at the Call for Stories page located at www.nvwstories.org.

Entries will be judged based on the following:
a. Social change impact (metrics of success)
b. Innovativeness of solution to community problems
c. Originality and creativity of storytelling approach
d. Emotional impact

When you submit your stories online at www.nvwstories.org, you will be asked to include the following:
- Name, organization (if applicable) personal or organization's address, e-mail, phone number and signed releases (attached pdf). If you are unable to submit your story online, please mail directly to Jennifer Geckler at Points of Light & Hands On Network, 600 Means Street, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30318.

Deadlines:
Stories received by April 12, 2008 will be considered for use as features stories for National Volunteer Week.
Stories received by May 12, 2008 will be considered for use as features stories at our 2008 National Conference on Volunteering.
Any stories submitted after May 12, 2008 will be considered for use as feature stories in ongoing media, web site features and other marketing collateral.

If your story is selected as a feature, you will be contacted for further information.

State Farm and Manual Team Up!

2008-03-25T12:54:00.007-06:00

The State Farm Catastrophe Team has been at it again -- out there changing the world!

On March 19, State Farm partnered with Metro Volunteers, Manual High School and Colorado Youth at Risk for some spring cleaning. More than 80 volunteers spent the afternoon on a variety of projects. Their energy was FABULOUS! In just a few hours they accomplished the following:

Removed 500 square feet of wallpaper
Painted 3000 square fee of wall space
Created four murals with the Manual thunderbolt logo
Painted three stories of stairwell railing
Repaired badly damaged stage curtains
Trimmed and mulched
Donated over 250 hours of service!

Check out the murals!

A highlight of the afternoon was hearing Reggie White, an intern with Colorado Youth at Risk, share his story. Reggie reminded all of us that we are a community – and it is vital that we take care of each other.

State Farm agents distributed gifts to the volunteers to thank them for their efforts. “Be the Change” is a collection of quotes and anecdotes from people who have found meaning and transformed their lives by helping others.

Winston Churchill said “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” The State Farm Catastrophe Team is a shining example!

Say "YES" to the gift of life!

2008-03-21T14:30:00.006-06:00

Did you know that eighteen people die each day waiting for a life-saving organ?

Please, please consider registering as an organ donor.

One organ and tissue donor can save eight people, and give up to fifty people an increased quality of life.
Nine out of ten people support the concept of organ and tissue donation, yet organs are donated less than one-half of the time.
Acceptable donors can range in age from newborn to senior citizens.

The top myths that keep people from registering as donors:

People think they are too old or sick or unhealthy to be eligible. The truth is, even people with serious diseases or a history of cancer can join the donor registry.
There is distrust of the medical system and of the donation process. In fact, the law prohibits donation from being considered until death has occurred. The first priority is ALWAYS to save lives. And the doctors and nurses involved in a person’s care before death are never involved in the recovery of organs, eyes or tissues.
The idea that donating will prevent one from having a regular funeral. In reality, donations do not usually delay or change funeral arrangements and an open viewing is still possible.
Many people believe that donation is forbidden by their religion. Actually, the vast majority of religions support donation and transplants. Most organized religions in the US consider donation and act of altruism and actively encourage it.

Many who don’t sign up as donors have just not thought about it – or intend to register but assume their relatives know their wishes.

I lost my best friend waiting for a heart transplant. She was 36 and the mother of a three-year old daughter. Less than a year later, my godson was killed in a car accident. Fortunately, by the age of twelve he was educated about donation and was registered. His tissue and bone were able to help several others live a healthier life. More people than one may realize have connections to donation – either a donor or a recipient a hope-to-be recipient. It’s up to us to talk about donation and do all we can to increase awareness.

To learn more about organ and tissue donation:

Check out www.donor-awareness.org, including the recently published 2007 State of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation: Colorado and Wyoming report.
You can also read the stories of transplant recipients: The Faces of Donation which bring to life the gift of donation.
Join us for breakfast on May 6 to learn all about the Donor Awareness Council. Please let me know if you're interested, paulah@metrovolunteers.org.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for considering donation. And if you’re already registered, thank you for the promise of the gift of life.

Paula

Young Volunteers 'Digg' Community Service.

2008-03-13T16:14:00.004-06:00

This morning, USA Today reported that youth volunteers are using the internet to become engaged in volunteerism. "More than 22,000 non-profit groups have signed up to rally supporters on the teen-and-young-adult site MySpace since it began in 2004, says Jeff Berman, the site's executive vice president for marketing. He says more young people are engaged in activism online and their creativity in using the Internet to do good works is 'off the charts.'"

Luckily, at Metro Volunteers this is not new news. From Facebook, to MySpace, to this blog Metro Volunteers has made the move to engaging volunteers in an online community. That being said, there are many other online venues for youth volunteers to take advantage of. Here are just a few that I like:

Be Hands On

Youth volunteerism has experienced a significant increase in recent years; contrary to the USA Today article, I would venture to say this increase is not strictly due to online recruiting and community building efforts. "A growing number of college freshmen volunteer in their last year of high school, says John Pryor of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. He found in a survey that 83.3% did so last year, up from 66% in 1989. Some high schools make community service a graduation requirement, but 70% of those who volunteered were not required to do so." (USA Today)

So, why are youth more interested in volunteering today versus 20 years ago? According to the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy the motives for youth volunteering has changed over time, resulting in an increased motivation to volunteer. "Four fundamental motives for volunteering with youth-oriented programs emerged. The motives identified were: Involvement of children or family members; Interest in the activity itself; Creating something better; and Sense of obligation."

Regardless of the many theories behind the recent surge in youth volunteerism, it is very exciting news! We, in the volunteer world, are ready to welcome youth volunteers and activists with wide-open arms.

Will Superdelegates Jeopordize Renewed Civic Engagement?

2008-03-03T14:34:00.005-07:00

Yesterday, Robert Putnam of "Bowling Alone" fame, published a fabulous article in The Boston Globe -"The rebirth of American civic life." Putnam takes a dynamic look into the renewed civic engagement of young Americans. Putnam posits that "the sharpest increase in civic engagement among American youth in at least a half-century" is largely due to their shared experience of the 9/11 attacks occurring during their formative years. As Putnam writes, "the effects of the attacks on their civic consciousness were more enduring."

Putnam continues: "The 18-year-olds first eligible to vote in 2008 were in sixth grade when the twin towers fell, and their older sisters and brothers who were college seniors in September 2001 are now 28 or 29. It is precisely this group, above all others in America, that has pushed participation rates in this spring's caucuses and primaries to record levels."

Nonetheless, this renewed civic engagement among young Americans could be threatened by superdelegate system. "If the results of the caucuses and primaries are, despite record-breaking rates of popular participation, overturned by unelected (though officially legitimate) superdelegates, the lesson for young civic stalwarts would be unmistakable - democratic politics is a sham...Civic engagement is for suckers."

The chosen superdelegates could very well leave the young, civic minded Coloradans disenchanted, threatening the recent Renaissance of civic engagement in our state and the country.

According to CBS-4 News: "In Colorado, Obama received about two thirds of the precinct caucus vote and Clinton about a third. Most of the regular delegates who will go to the national convention in Denver to represent Colorado will be chosen to follow that vote. They will go either pledged to Obama or Clinton along the same percentages. Not the super delegates. Of the 14 chosen so far, four are backing Obama, four are backing Clinton. Six are still undecided. Those six are: Ritter, Salazar, Congressman Rep. John Salazar, Congressman Rep. Mark Udall, party chair Pat Waak and former Gov. Roy Romer. "

For more information on the chosen superdelegates, click here to visit HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation.

So, will superdelegates jeopardize renewed civic engagement? Tell us what you think!

Volunteers Have Proven Their Importance: CA Adds a Cabinet Post for Volunteer Management

2008-02-27T10:58:00.003-07:00

Yesterday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the incredible response amongst Northern Californians to the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay demonstrated that “volunteerism can be moved a notch” (NY Times). In moving volunteerism up a notch, the Governator is creating a cabinet post to manage volunteers; this decision will make California the first state to do so.

Click here to see Karen Baker, Secretary at the Governor's Office of Service and Volunteering, share her comments on how volunteers are "California's Greatest Resource."

Here is some additional proof of why "volunteerism can be moved up a notch":

10,000 California residents registered to volunteer during the San Diego wildfires last fall

Across the nation, volunteers provide adequate blood supply for 4.5 million patients every year

Over 90 volunteers are helping rebuild Gassville, Arkansas; a town destroyed by a band of tornadoes on February 5

Since Hurricanes Rita & Katrina hit, Hands On New Orleans has mobilized over 5,000 volunteers in order to provide over 400,000 hours of service

Hundreds of volunteers are continuing to rebuild the town of Holly, CO, as the one-year anniversary of the tornado approaches

Should Colorado be the next state to create a cabinet post for volunteerism? If your answer is yes, then contact Governor Bill Ritter today and let him know that you feel Colorado volunteers deserve to "be moved up a notch."

Corporate Hearts @ Work!

2008-02-15T08:47:00.008-07:00

This week, volunteers from the State Farm Catastrophe Team made a big impact on our local community. By giving an afternoon of their time at Share Colorado, these volunteers helped feed people in need in the metro Denver area. Imagine your colleagues lifting, sorting and packing 834 boxes along an assembly line. For the State Farm crew, this led to a little sweat, a lot of laughter, and big feelings of satisfaction knowing they made a difference.

In addition to time, State Farm gave arrived armed with two full grocery carts of donations for the food bank. Inventory is typically low at food banks following the holiday season. It’s especially tight this year due to the current economic climate as the number of those in need has risen and the amount that folks can give has dropped. State Farm’s donation filled many formerly bare shelves!

If you’d like to offer your time to Share Colorado, check out their site: http://www.sharecolorado.com/. Volunteering is always big fun with a group, so bring some coworkers along with you! And please contact me if you’d like to discuss opportunities for corporate volunteering, paulah@metrovolunteers.org.

You truly can change yourself and change the world!

- Paula Henry

Don't Be Sad. Volunteer & Be Happy!

2008-02-14T11:28:00.002-07:00

Blogger Britt Bravo, of Have Fun - Do Good, did a fascinating blog post this morning about the health benefits of volunteering. Here are a couple of the highlights:

Volunteers are 42% more likely to be very happy than non-volunteers. (New York Sun)

Volunteering can improve self-esteem, reduce heart rates and blood pressure, increase endorphin production, enhance immune systems, buffer the impact of stress, and combat social isolation. (Corporation for National and Community Service)

Please pass this information along to any volunteerism skeptics you may know out there. I mean, their health and happiness could be on the line!

Click here to Britt Bravo's full post.

What is the Economic Impact of Volunteers?

2008-02-06T15:51:00.001-07:00

This past Friday, Colorado Nonprofit Association released Return on Investment: The Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Sector in Colorado. The study shows the enormous impact of nonprofits on our state's economy. "Colorado gets a huge economic boost from its growing nonprofit sector, which generates more than $13 billion in annual revenue and has created jobs at almost twice the pace of the private sector in recent years." (Rocky Mountain News)

The study highlights volunteers for making great contributions to Colorado's nonprofit sector. According to the study, there are 83,000 full-time equivalent volunteers. This got me to wondering...if these volunteers were paid for their full-time efforts, how much are their efforts worth, monetarily speaking?

83,000 volunteers
X 40 hours/week
X 52 weeks/year
X $18.77 (hourly volunteer rate according to Independent Sector)
= $3,240,452,800!!!

And that is just the monetary value of full-time volunteers; imagine what the economic impact of volunteers would be if we were able to calculate every volunteer effort, no matter how big or small.

Two other findings in the Colorado Nonprofit Association report were of special interest, when examining the economic impact of volunteers: 1. Nonprofit expenditures in Colorado are 32% lower than the average for the nation; 2. Of the 25,201 registered 501(c)3 organizations in Colorado, only 3,163 have 4+ employees. It may be reasonable to say that nonprofit expenditures are lower in Colorado because of the power of volunteers to get the job done and really make an impact. In addition, one can also conclude that there are thousands of nonprofit organizations in our state powered strictly through the work of volunteers.

So, what is the economic impact of volunteers? I would venture to say the impact is HUGE.

-Alexandra

What are the essential VALUES that we look for in Volunteers?

2008-02-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

As the focal point for volunteer activities in the metro Denver area, our work at Metro Volunteers is guided by six core values that are integrated into our culture, governance, programs operations and organizational identity.

We value civic engagement, collaboration, respect, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation.

Our success is evident through such efforts as: addressing the root causes of hunger and homelessness through our TeamWorks program; placing volunteer mentors with several hundred at-risk youth; and supporting the nonprofit sector through our exemplary training, board placement and consultation services.

Knowing that as an agency, Metro Volunteers values civic engagement, collaboration, respect, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation - I'm wondering what folks think about in terms of how that matches with the essential values we look for in volunteers. Are they the same? Should we add others? Do you agree/disagree with those we have identified as organization? I'm curious :)

Gary Renville, Deputy Executive Director, Metro Volunteers

Accent Colors

2008-01-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to come alongside an amazing group of volunteers at West High School on Dr. Martin Luther King day. Our project was designed to eliminate graffiti and freshen up the paint in many of the main thoroughfares. The project started off with a whirlwind of paint brushes, blue tape, plastic, and highly caffeinated volunteers anxious to be the change. Early on in the project, I was asked by a volunteer if we could do accent colors on the pillars. A wonderful idea, but homogeny has a tendency to win out in the public school arena. I had to say no, yet the idea of accent colors stuck with me well after the final brush had been rinsed of vanilla bean paint.

Accent colors are used throughout architecture, art, fashion, and a myriad of other projects. They are designed to bring to life unremarkable colors that would have otherwise blended into a sea of stock imagery. Every time we decide to make the world a better place, we become the accent color for the marginalized. People that would have been relegated to the static walls, are brought to the forefront, freed from the doldrums, and engaged in transformational ways. Volunteers are the accent colors for each other. It was just a brush and a single shade of paint, yet in the hands of the volunteers, it became so much more. Every shade of the ability, gender, orientation, and racial rainbow brought this single shade to life, as we served alongside each other, painting a brighter future into existence for the students of West. We came together to honor Dr. King and each other. We never may get the chance to paint accent colors in the schools, but if we continue to unite under the flag of service, we will forever paint accent lives for the world.

A Celebration of MLK Day 2008

2008-01-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

In recognition of MLK Day as "a day on, not off," Metro Volunteers teamed up with Kaiser Permanente to facilitate a day of service for over 200 KP employees. Kaiser Permanente employees served the community at seven different project locations throughout metro Denver. The project sites were: West High School; Montbello High School; the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club; Inner City Health Center; Aurora Centre Point Medical Offices; Volunteers of America; and the MLK Day Marade at City Park.

When asked about the project at the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club, Cheryl Clark, of Metro Volunteers responded, "All the things that the dream represents were honored in the club that day. We had people from all walks of life interacting and sharing their gifts with no regard to color. It was very powerful to witness that part of Dr. King's dream has been realized and that we still have much to do, and our efforts are not in vain."

The project at the Boys and Girls culminated with students sharing their poetry and reflections of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy. To read Yazmin Atmore's (age:13) poem, "My Generation" click here.

The community impact that Kaiser Permanente left at the end of MLK Day is indisputable. Mary Van Milligen, a Metro Volunteers AmeriCorps member, reflected, "Every Kaiser Permanente volunteer that came to Montbello had the appropriate go-getter attitude for "a day on, not a day off." Our partnership with Kaiser that day affected a neighborhood greatly in need of assistance and care in a positive way. I believe Dr. Martin Luther King would have been proud."

The need for medical care in our community is immense - more than double the amount of people expected came to the two medical sites for treatments and routine check-ups. For true equality to be realized in our country, all Americans must have access to the health care they need. Kaiser Permanente has begun to set the bar for equality in our society by providing health services to uninsured and under insured individuals in our community.

Check out some of the staggering statistics of medical care provided:

Kaiser Permanente Aurora Centrepoint Medical Offices

Total individuals served: 398; 99 children
Pediatric immunizations: 44
Pap screenings: 59
Flu shots: 51
Adult immunizations: 27

Inner City Health Center

Total individuals served: 250; 99 children
Administered prostate cancer screening
Administered sexually transmitted disease screening

Recognizing MLK Day as a national day of service is a national movement. Click here for information on other MLK Day activities that occurred across the country.

Many of our nation's top politicos came out to celebrate MLK Day.

TeamWorks 2008 Kicks Off

2008-01-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday night TeamWorks 2008 began! After weeks of brainstorming, and planning I was ecstatic when Wednesday finally arrived. Our group gathered together to meet one another and discuss our future volunteer events. We were also graced with the presence of Cheryl Clark from the Youth Mentoring Collaborative who taught us how we (and the youth we are serving) can get the most out of our time when we only have a few hours at each of our volunteer opportunities. Her words certainly gave me a lot to think about and I'm sure she touched many of the other Team Members as well.

In the coming weeks TeamWorks Session 1: Children and Youth, will be volunteering at Bridge Project, Warren Village, The Spot, and Excelsior Youth Center.

It is my hope that in the coming weeks we will share different ideas and perspectives, and through this move to a new level of understanding and active citizenship. As Dr. Seuss would say "Oh, the places you'll go!"

-Nancy

Act Now.

2007-10-19T14:51:00.000-06:00

As I arrived at work this morning, I decided to do a little research into how we could increase the amount of people who open & read our monthly e-newsletter. I came across "The Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say in Email Subject Lines (Plus 100 Others You Shouldn't Use, Either)" and was a little miffed at first to see that "Act Now" was one of the subject lines listed.

I initially thought that "Act Now" would be a motivating subject line that would encourage our readers (and non-readers) to open the email and take action in our community by volunteering. There are so many ways to "Act Now" that it is difficult not to use it in our (please, please take action and volunteer) e-newsletters but, I must find a way. Our readers will not be more motviated to "Act Now" if they don't open the e-newsletter in the first place.

Here are some ways you can "Act Now":

Gather 3 of your friends together to participate in this year's Bowl-A-Thon - Dec. 7.

Volunteer at Denver Day of Impact - Oct. 27.

Attend the next Project Coordinator's meeting - Nov. 15.

Invite us to do a Mentoring 101 presentation at your business or church.

Submit a comment to this blog with your ideas on how to "Act Now."