GET TO
THURSDAY, MAY
9, 2013
THE POINT THE
NEWSLETTER
VOLUME
OF THE
NCCC
XIX, ISSUE
9
ATLANTIC REGION
Alumni Spotlight Laura Rosenthal, Corps Member Western Region, Class III
Photo Gallery Week One of Round Two Projects
Team Leader Spotlight What Does a Support Team Leader Actually Do?
CONTENTS
IN THIS
ISSUE 03
Gallery Images from the first week of Round 2 projects
05
Bulletin Board A Reminder for Project Outreach Liaisons
I’m a member of the National
↑
& An Update of ISP Hours
Raven 3 member Kris Hall
Civilian Community Corps,
displays the
an AmeriCorps Program.
his uniform.
day’s work on
N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America
06
Laura Rosenthal, Corps Member Class III, Western Region
08
while developing their own leadership. We serve on teams to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes,
AmeriStars Get to know Class XIX members
09
and help the environment. To learn more, visit AmeriCorps.gov/NCCC or call 1.800.942.2677
Alumni Spotlight
Team Green What does an STL do?
10
Corps Contests Class XIX Photo Contest A Crossword Team Builder
CONNECT WITH AMERICORPS NCCC ATLANTIC REGION
11
Shout Outs
Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 202.528.3755 ● Email: smckenzie@cns.gov
12
Project Map
Mona Hillstrand, Assistant Community Relations Specialist (ACRS) Phone: 202.815.4259 ● Email: rhillstrand@cns.gov Ben Dillon, Community Relations Support Team Leader (CRSTL) Phone: 443.995.7940 ● Email: bedillon.guest@cns.gov
About the cover Moose 4 Team Leader Ryan Abdelnour places a
facebook.com/ncccatlanticregion
fence post at Franklin Square’s
twitter.com/americorpsnccc americorps.gov/nccc
2
MAY 9, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
Sunflower Village in Baltimore during the Mayor’s Day of Service on April 26.
GALLERY
↑
Raven 2 members Lewis Cuthair and Jeremy Flores construct a green house for The FARM Institute in Edgartown, Mass.
→ A Phoenix 2 member patrols the fire line during a prescribed burn in Virginia. ↓
Buffalo 4 member Courtney Amburg replaces insulation under a trailer home in Moonachie, N.J., that was damaged by floodwaters during Hurricane Sandy.
GET TO THE POINT / MAY 9, 2013
3
GALLERY
↑
Moose 3 members set up scaffolding at a Habitat for Humanity work site in York, Pa.
→ James Hubbard and Gaby Gardose of Raven 4 pause for a picture while spackling a home near Tom’s River, N.J. The team is working with Jersey Cares to renovate homes that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. → Corps Members joined hundreds of volunteers for Rebuilding Day, a day of service hosted by Rebuilding Together Baltimore. → Laura Mahoney of Moose 5 serves on Vermont Green Up Day near Brattleboro. ↓
4
The Raven 3 team meets family members of Wiz Khalifa, hip-hop artist and Pittsburgh native, while working with Rebuilding Together.
MAY 9, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
BULLETIN BOARD
“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.� -Ralph Nader
Members of composite team Patriot 1 pause for a group picture while touring Boston. The team is serving with Cardinal Cushing Centers in Braintree, Mass., to improve recreation areas for people with intellectual disabilities.
d 2, the Two weeks into Roun d of the ea ah s ain rem Buffalo Unit n one tha re mo h wit Raven Unit endent ep Ind d uire third of the req d. lete mp co Service Hours ISP Hours Complete Buffalo: 36% Raven: 34% Moose: 29%
Attention: Project Outreach Liaisons! Day of Service Snap Shots are due Friday, May 10
Alex Slater, a member of composite team Peter Pan 1, constructs a primitive bridge at a Girl Scout Camp in Northeastern New York. The team is led by Raven Unit Support Team Leader Stephanie Ferguson.
GET TO THE POINT / MAY 9, 2013
5
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Laura Rosenthal Class III Corps Member, Western Region
How did NCCC impact your life? NCCC provided me with direction. I knew that I wanted to do something to give back, but I wasn't sure what. After graduation from college, NCCC gave me an opportunity to try on some different volunteer opportunities (with police setting up a neighborhood watch, with veteran's groups in LA, with environmental kids camps in San Diego, with community organizations in Alaska), and see what fit best with my skills and interests. NCCC also got me up to Alaska, which was a hugely formative place for me. After two months up there, I knew that I wanted more time to experience such a raw, natural beauty and work with a unique community. What was your most interesting project in NCCC? We worked with a number of NFPs in Fairbanks, including a Boys and Girls Club, and other community organizations. We built a playground, ripped out a gym floor, and were so welcomed in the community—we were invited to be in a parade, we were invited to go camping with an Athabascan gentleman and clear their summer fish
6
MAY 9, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
Interview by Ian Slingsby Raven 3 Member
camp, we went camping in Denali, and we went white water rafting. It was an experience that has never been equaled in my life and led to my staying in Fairbanks as a VISTA the next year. Can you tell us a story in which you learned something about yourself through service? I gained confidence in myself, and learned to be a bigger risk-taker in life. I was always interested in service and giving back, but the experience in NCCC showed me that I was stronger and more capable than I'd realized. I could be responsible for a full team traveling from San Diego to Alaska. I could learn construction skills. I could safely supervise a group of young kids, even when a rattlesnake showed up on the trail. I had confidence to tell our sponsoring director that I wanted to stay in Alaska, and I could start up a Boys and Girls' Club, and then, I did it. That confidence has followed me through life, and I'm grateful to my time in NCCC for helping me develop it. Continued on page 7
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT What was the best part of NCCC? I loved my team. It was an amazing group of diverse people, committed to service and joy. How have you continued your commitment to service? After founding and running a Boys and Girls' Club in North Pole Alaska (immediately after NCCC), I went back to graduate school to get a Master in Public Administration. I've since been working at New York State, managing the budgeting and financing for community programs (child welfare and mental health programs, specifically). What advice would you give to current Corps Members? Embrace the challenges, stay flexible, and have fun! You are doing things that can dramatically impact peoples' lives, and that's a gift that gives to both you and those that you help.
There is no question that my experiences with NCCC led me to my career. My areas of expertise and interest are all based on community service, and I have brought my passion for helping people to my role in budgeting for social programs.
← Laura Rosenthal was a Corps Member with Class III in the Western Region (now called the Pacific Region) between 1996 and 1997. During her service term, she served on projects in Alaska and had the opportunity to
How did your experience as an NCCC member affect your reaction to Hurricane Irene? I believe that I was probably more prepared, as I'd been trained in disaster preparedness while in NCCC. After the emotional punch of losing the first floor of our house, I knew how to reach out to state, federal, and community resources for help.
go white water rafting with her team.
Are there any other fun facts or "words of wisdom" you would like to share with Class XIX? I'm still in touch with people from Class III. I still think about the experiences of my NCCC
“Embrace your experiences and live them fully. Giving back to others will give to you.”
Where are you now in life and how did AmeriCorps affect your life path? I'm an upper-level manager for New York State's Budget Division, and I have budgeted child welfare and mental health programs.
year. I am who I am today because of those people and experiences. Embrace your experiences and live them fully. Giving back to others will give to you. Thank you all for your service to our communities.
GET TO THE POINT / MAY 9, 2013
7
AMERISTARS To allow Corps Members to better know their peers, Get to the Point will periodically feature three members of Class XIX. Each team’s Health and Wellness Liaison has been provided with AmeriStar questionnaires, which should be completed by each team member and returned to Laura Tuck. Selected answers from these questionnaires are used for the AmeriStar spotlights.
SIERRA TAYLOR
DENASIA AVERY
CARSON SCHERER
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. BUFFALO 1
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. MOOSE 4
RICHMOND, TEX. RAVEN 2
How old are you?
What is one thing you miss?
What is your most prized possession?
19 years old
My family.
My most prized possession is the road
What is one thing you miss?
What is your favorite quote?
studying abroad in the United Kingdom.
I miss being a regional gymnast.
“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take
It took me wherever I needed to go
stop you from doing it, because the
and I have a lot of memories tied to it,
time will still pass.”
both in the U.K. and the U.S.
What is your biggest fear?
If you could travel anywhere for free,
Going bald.
where would you go and why?
bicycle that I bought while I was
What is your favorite food? Tacos. What is your biggest fear? Death.
If I could travel anywhere for free, I Who is one person who changed your
would go back to the United Kingdom
Why did you join AmeriCorps NCCC?
life for the better?
so I could visit my friends again and visit
To give back to the community.
Ms. Thompson, who believed in me
Wales and Northern Ireland.
when I didn’t have the strength to believe in myself.
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
What is favorite AmeriMemory thus far?
If I were an animal, I would be a fox.
Mini-spike, when we almost completed
Foxes are cunning, resourceful, nimble,
our task.
and individualistic—qualities that I find useful in life.
8
MAY 9, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
TEAM GREEN
What Does A Support Team Leader Do?
STEPHANIE FERGUSON RAVEN UNIT SUPPORT TEAM LEADER
Amidst many discussion items in meetings with the Region Director over Round 2 transition, Community Council Representatives expressed the Corps’ general bewilderment about one thing: What does a Support Team Leader actually do at the Perry Point campus? The answer: A lot of things. To diffuse some of the mystery, the next few issues of Get to the Point will feature profiles on Support Team Leaders that explain how and why they do what they do.
Why did you want to be a Unit Support Team Leader (USTL)? Last year, I served as a Field Team Leader (FTL) for the North Central Region. Although it was a challenging experience, I knew I wanted to serve as a Team Leader again. I wanted something different out of this year, however. With the STL position, I am able to utilize things I learned
General Duties of Unit Support Team Leaders (USTLs):
last year to really be a solid support for the FTLs. I also am able to see
Meet with Unit Leaders (ULs) and STLs to ensure
this organization from a different point of view, which will be beneficial
communication and collaboration across Units
for my career, since I want to work with NCCC after my term of service.
Assist the UL in maintaining TL/CM accountability by tracking member absences and Independent Service Project forms
Support the ULs in gathering, tracking, and routing weekly reports from the field
Assist ULs in trainings, team meetings, and
What is your favorite part your position? I love that I get to be part of everything in a way and I feel that I can really support my fellow TLs. I also enjoy working closely with the staff in other departments, which is something I didn't get as much experience with last year. And although I don't get to live in a new city every five weeks, I get to travel around visiting teams, so I get to see a lot.
overall unit readiness for service
Assist ULs in coordinating transition week
Why are STLs important?
schedules with TLs and teams to include all
There is always so much going on within the Corps that it is difficult for
Corps activities
staff members to handle everything on their own. STLs act as liaisons
Provide support for CM team specialty roles, as
between staff and FTLs. For the USTL position, I am able to help clarify
assigned
details about a particular team or project. I also assist with planning
When possible, join the Unit Leader on site visits Work alongside local teams at least twice a month.
meetings and staying connected with Raven Unit teams. What is one of your responsibilities that Corps Members may not know about? As the Raven USTL, I coordinate the disaster availability list that is sent to the American Red Cross every week. I basically assist with all aspects of ARC since Jen Horan (Raven Unit Leader) is the main point of contact from our campus. If a disaster happens this year, you will hear from me a lot!
GET TO THE POINT / MAY 9, 2013
9
CORPS CONTESTS
CLASS XIX
PHOTO CONTEST
Teams can email their best photos to Ben at crstlatlantic@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in Get to the Point and win a prize. Staff members and Support Team Leaders will select one photo from each category at the end of every project round.
CATEGORIES: Van vs. Mini Team Meetup “CAPture the Moment” (Best CAP Event Photo)
Alumni Engagement (Working with alumni)
On the Job (Action/Working Photo)
Unit Pride Team Meals
c c r o s s wo r d n t e s t
Directions: All members of the team must participate to create a crossword with answers to the following questions. First team to create*, complete, and send back to campus— attention to Megan, either by mail or email attached with a picture—wins a laminated certificate that can be proudly displayed on the dashboard of their 15P a.k.a. bragging rights. Good Luck!
*Statements and numbers can be switched around as needed, but each question must be addressed.
ACROSS
DOWN
1. TL: Positive characteristic of the Sponsor
1. HaWL: Favorite Team Builder
2. SLI: New term learned, related to work
2. FT: Team’s Favorite PT activity
3. Media: Name of newspaper in area
3. ATL: Newly learned responsibility
4. CAP: Recruitment Tool
4. CCR: Activity to do in the area
5. POL: Need fulfilled of team’s last ISP
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MAY 9, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
SHOUT OUTS
The Buffalo Unit warmly welcomes the new Buffalo 1 Team Leader, Rico!
Buffalo Unit B3 would like everyone to know how classy we are.
Buffalo 3 Shout out to all the other teams out there working hard these past few weeks. Keep up the great work and keep “Getting Things Done!” Still looking forward to meeting up soon with Moose 1 and Raven 5 in the big city!
Buffalo 4 Moose Force received a crashcourse in trail skills training by professionals associated with the SCA that have worked all over the country. Shout out to Jessie, Rob, and Jed for their detailed and tactful instruction, easygoing personalities, and for having a great time with us this past week! We highly appreciate the techniques, insight, finishing details, and laughter.
Moose 4
Moose up in this Rockaway See them rock that work each day “Thanks so much!” the people say To Moose up in this Rockaway. Moose go running on the beach Run so fast they’re out of reach Ain’t no buff could ever teach Us Moose how to run on the beach. Moose be reppin’ A the best Flyin’ high above the rest Winning every challenge and test ‘Cause it’s Moosicorns that be the best!
Moose 1 Moose Deuce is having a blast learning about the species of animals here on Martha’s Vineyard and hanging out with Raven 2!
Moose 2 To the other composite team, Patriot 1: Keep working hard and we hope you are having as much fun as we are! From Peter Pan 1 ATL to Patriot 1 ATL: Hope you are succeeding as an ATL, because I know I am!
Peter Pan 1
We are AmeriCorps Strong to help keep Boston Strong.
Patriot 1 Everyday we put our lives on the line... for the Woodpecker.
Phoenix 2 Get ready for an amazing recipe book! We have been testing out some of your entries and we are VERY impressed!
Raven 1 We miss you guys, Carson and Brad! Heck ya! Having a blast catching chickens, cows and building a green house on Martha’s Vineyard!
Raven 2
May the Force be with all of you, especially Amir, Sean, and Jared on your composites and fire.
Raven 4 GET TO THE POINT / MAY 9, 2013
11
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They?
Round 2, Week 2
For Round 2, Class XIX teams are slated to complete 21 projects across 10 states. Seven teams will continue hurricane recovery efforts in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Five teams will focus on environmental stewardship in recreational camps and conservation areas in five different states. Four teams NEW YORK will help better develop low -income urban communities through housing and facilities improvements. Lastly, one team will improve energy PENNSYLVANIA efficiency of homes and another will improve facilities for youth NEW programs. MARYLAND JERSEY
MAINE
VERMONT
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MASSACHUSETTS CONN.
R.I.
D.C.
WEST VIRGINIA
DELAWARE
VIRGINIA
MOOSE 4
RAVEN 1
Claryville, N.Y. Frost Valley YMCA Environmental Stewardship
Middletown, De. Boys & Girls Club of Delaware Infrastructure Improvement
MOOSE 5
RAVEN 2
Brattleboro, Vt. SerVermont Disaster Recovery
Edgartown, Mass. The Farm Institute Environmental Stewardship
BUFFALO 1
MOOSE 1
PATRIOT 1 (BUFFALO 5)
RAVEN 3
Bath, Me. Habitat for Humanity – 7 Rivers Energy Efficiency
New York, N.Y. St. Bernard Project Disaster Recovery
Braintree, Mass. Cardinal Cushing Centers Urban & Rural Development
Pittsburgh, Pa. Rebuilding Together – Pittsburgh Urban & Rural Development
BUFFALO 3
MOOSE 2
PETER PAN 1 (RAVEN 6)
RAVEN 4
Wells, Me. Wells NERR Environmental Stewardship
Edgartown, Mass. MA Audubon Society – Felix Neck Environmental Stewardship
Galway, N.Y. Girl Scouts of Northeastern N.Y. Environmental Stewardship
Tabernacle, N.J. Jersey Cares Disaster Recovery
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 3
PHOENIX 2
RAVEN 5
Hackensack, N.J. Volunteer Center of Bergen County Disaster Recovery
York, Pa. Habitat for Humanity – York Urban & Rural Development
Suffolk, Va. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Disaster Response
New York, N.Y. New York Cares Disaster Recovery