GET TO
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013 VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 14
THE POINT THE
Protecting Yourself from The Sun
NEWSLETTER
OF THE
NCCC
ATLANTIC REGION
Life After AmeriCorps Online resources to aid you in your search for the next step. Page 9
Staff Spotlights
Meg Wheeler, Raven 1 Health & Wellness
The Atlantic Region welcomes
Liaison, highlights the importance of sun screen
two new staff members. Page 8
to Corps Members’ health. Page 6.
CONTENTS
IN THIS
ISSUE 03
Gallery Images from Round 3 projects
05
Bulletin Board Update of Independent Service Hours & Team Reminders
I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Program.
↑ Members of the
06
composite team
Meg Wheeler, Raven 1 Health &
Sasquatch 1 stand
Wellness Liaison, highlights the
alongside a
benefits of sunscreen; Also, a
roadside guardrail
recipe for Broccoli Quinoa
near the
N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America
Casserole, Page 7
Appalachian Trail in western Maine.
while developing their own leadership. We
08
two new staff members
for and respond to disasters, build homes, and help the environment.
09
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
Facebook.com/NCCCAtlanticRegion @AmeriCorpsNCCC NationalService.gov
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JULY 4, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
Life After... Online resources for planning
To learn more, visit NationalService.gov or call 1.800.942.2677
CONNECT WITH AMERICORPS NCCC ATLANTIC REGION
Staff Spotlights The Atlantic Region welcomes
serve on teams to help communities prepare
Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 202.528.3755 ● Email: smckenzie@cns.gov
Health & Wellness
your Life After AmeriCorps
10
CAP/Media Reps.
11
Shout Outs
12
Team Project Map
About the cover A Corps Member’s boots are her constant companions. See the blog post AmeriBoots: Made for Serving, by Class XVIII Corps Member Ashley Peoples, for more on the boots’ significance.
G ALLERY
Removal & Restoration ↑
Buffalo 4 member Kaitlyn Liafsha removes drywall from a flooddamaged home while working with Respond and Rebuild in New York City.
→ Raven 2 members, covered in mud, work with the Armstrong Conservation District in western Pennsylvania. ↓
Buffalo 1 Team Leader Rico Hernandez paints a dock post while doing hurricane recovery work with Jersey Cares in Ocean County.
GET TO THE POINT | JULY 4, 2013
3
G ALLERY
Roughin’ It ↑
Members of composite team Sasquatch 1 rest around a boundary monument after a rigorous two-day search on the Appalachian Trail in western Maine.
→ Members of Moose 1 repair a boardwalk while working with the Nature Conservancy in southern Maine. ↓
4
Raven 5 member Brock Barbosa (left) and Raven 5 Team Leader Khaled Ismail (right) roll a log section after cutting it with a chainsaw at Bryant Pond 4H Camp in western Maine.
JULY 4, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
BULLETI N B O ARD
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
Raven Unit Team Leaders, with the assistance of Raven 1 member Meg Wheeler, form a human pyramid to represent each team’s level of ISP completion thus far.
in the service At the mid-way point has taken a year, the Raven unit the race to commanding lead in mber of nu m imu finish the min ject hours. Pro e vic Independent Ser urs Complete Percentage of ISP Ho 95% Raven: 69. Buffalo: 61.89% Moose: 51.53%
Due July 5! Day of Service Snapshots for Project Outreach Liaisons
Moose Unit Support Team Leader Emily Tiffany stands atop the shoulders of Operations Support Team Leader Chandler Ballentine during All Corps Day, June 19, at the Atlantic Region Campus.
Résumés for all Corps Members
GET TO THE POINT | JULY 4, 2013
5
HE ALTH & WELLNE SS
The Miracle Product We Want You to Try! By Meg Wheeler, Raven 1 Health & Wellness Liaison There is an underutilized miracle product out there on the market. Its short-term effects can prevent redness, burning, irritation of skin, and in some cases, blisters. In the long run, this product can help to prevent cancer, permanent skin damage, and with consistent use can decrease the onset of wrinkles. It is hard to fathom that such a product would be relatively cheap or easy to find, yet it falls under both categories. It can be found in nearly any store and costs approximately $12 for a large bottles. With such common availability, low prices, and amazing effects, why is that Corps Members (but also people in general) are not using this product more often? As summer time has arrived for the Corps, the majority of us find ourselves out in the sun just lying out to get a tan, socializing, or playing sports. Many people do not realize that even a short amount of time in the sun unprotected The Term Life Insurance group
can be harmful to your skin. Sunscreen is a simple product
produced this infographic.
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JULY 4, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
Continued on page 7
HE ALTH & WELLNE SS
that can make an amazing difference in your skin’s health. Easy to find, easy to purchase, and easy to apply, it is a shame that Corps Members are returning from their days red with sunburn that could have easily been prevented with the simple application of sunscreen.
Broccoli Quinoa Casserole INGREDIENTS
4. Place a steamer insert into a
1 cup quinoa
saucepan and fill with water to just
2 cups water
below the bottom of the steamer.
1 teaspoon olive oil
Bring water to a boil. Add broccoli,
1 teaspoon salt
cover, and steam until tender, 2 to 4
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 (10 ounce) can low-sodium cream
minutes. 5. Stir broccoli, cream of mushroom
The Top 5 Reasons We Should All Wear Sunscreen 1. The ozone layer is depleting
of mushroom soup
soup, Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup
and your body needs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
French-fried onions, sour cream, and
1/2 cup French fried onions
lemon pepper into cooked quinoa;
shielding from harmful rays.
1/2 cup light sour cream
season with salt and black pepper to
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
taste. Spoon quinoa mixture into the
Salt and black pepper to taste
prepared baking dish.
1/2 cup French fried onions
6. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 10 minutes. Sprinkle
DIRECTIONS
with 1/2 cup French-fried onions and
1. Place quinoa in a bowl; pour in
bake until topping is lightly browned,
enough water to cover. Soak for 30
about 5 more minutes.
minutes. Drain and rinse several
2. Skin cancer rates are on the rise and sunscreen has been proven to decrease the development of skin cancer. 3. It helps to prevent facial brown spots and skin
times.
discolorations.
2. Bring quinoa, water, olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-
4. It also helps to reduce the
low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is
appearance of facial red
tender and the water has been
veins and blotchiness.
absorbed, about 20 minutes. 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175
5. It slows down the
degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
↑ One cup of cooked quinoa contains over 8 grams of protein, 15 percent of your daily iron intake, 21 percent of your daily fiber
development of wrinkled, prematurely-aging skin.
intake, and only 3 grams of fat.
GET TO THE POINT | JULY 4, 2013
7
ST AFF SPOTLI GH TS
ATLANTIC REGION WELCOMES TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS
BETH STEWART FEMA CORPS UNIT LEADER
Hometown: Lanham, Md.
Who do you admire? I really admire Amy Poehler—I know
KALIAH THOMAS CAMPUS COUNSELOR
Nicknames: Beth, Bethanne,
there are better answers to
Liz, Betty, Bethy, Mama B, etc.
this question, like Helen Keller
Any versions of Elizabeth—
or Harriet Tubman, and that’s
nothing too exciting that is
legit—but Amy is hilarious and
worth sharing.
classy. She does a lot of great things for women and young
Education: University of
girls as far as building
Maryland-College Park—Go
confidence and breaking
Terps!
barriers with the kind of humor that’s all heart and no
Hobbies: I enjoy a good Education: Bachelor’s in
Most beautiful place you’ve
Sociology from Morgan State
ever traveled: Oahu, Hawaii. I
University; Master’s in Social
lived there for four years
Work from the University of
during Elementary School. I
Georgia
have very fond childhood memories of tropical weather,
Hobbies: Shopping, going to
beautiful flowers, and the sky-
restaurants, spending quality
blue ocean.
time with my family and friends and watching movies.
Who do you admire? I admire ALL people who are
Craziest thing you’ve ever
not afraid to take the path
done: Participate in a 5K mud
less traveled to reach their
run WITHOUT training first.
goals. I admire anyone who
There were big hills and
does not allow fear to hold
obstacles along the race
them back from
course that my body was not
courageously pursuing their
prepared for! It was a
dreams. I admire all people
challenge, but lots of fun.
who dedicate their lived t making a difference and
What is your favorite quote?
uplifting others.
“You must be the change that you wish to see in the
What’s on your bucket list?
world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Travel the world.
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JULY 4, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
pretention.
game of Ultimate Frisbee, but I have no skills—deal with it! I
What is your favorite quote?
love hiking with my dog,
“Anyone who has never
doing anything that involves
made a mistake has never
food, and sometimes I pick up
tried anything new.”
a guitar. What’s on your bucket list? Most beautiful place you’ve
Perform improv comedy, go
ever traveled: I once drove
to the opera, travel to
from Mexico City to Oaxaca.
Southeast Asia, get a PhD for
It’s a six-hour drive through a
free, open a restaurant, raise
cactus-filled desert with
chickens, live on the beach,
snowcapped mountains—
publish something worthwhile,
very contrasting landscapes.
grow my own food… do
As a lifelong east coaster, I
bucket lists end? I think the
had never seen any of that in
point is that they are infinite.
person before and it took my
There is too much to learn
breath away.
and do!
Craziest thing you’ve ever done: Jumped out of plane or played in a punk rock band.
LI FE AFTE R AME RI CORPS
Online Resources for Life After AmeriCorps My.AmeriCorps.gov Search listings for all AmeriCorps positions. Apply by September 1 for Team Leader positions or by October 1 for Corps Member positions.
AmeriCorpsAlums.org “AmeriCorps Alums is the only national network for the over 800,000 alumni of AmeriCorps national service. We represent the pipeline for 21st Century Leaders who exemplify a Lifetime of Service.” Visit the website to find an alums chapter near your hometown or to browse the listing of “jobs for alums.”
EdAward.org How to use and optimize your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
Idealist.org “Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives. Idealist is independent of any government, political ideology, or religious creed. Our work is guided by the common desire of our members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.”
TheSCA.org “SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.”
WWOOFInternational.org World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) links volunteers with organic farms and growers.
← Infographic produced by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Visit NationalService.gov for more information.
GET TO THE POINT | JULY 4, 2013
9
COMM UNI TY RE LATI ONS
WEEKLY UPDATES FOR MEDIA/CAP REPS In doing your specialty role work for the rest of the year, think about what you want out of your role. How can you use the role to work toward personal and professional goals? What accomplishments can you highlight on your résumé? You are not only representing AmeriCorps NCCC in your role; you are developing skills that can transfer to your work after your service term.
TEAM
MEDIA
BUFFALO 1
179
CAP
ALUMNI
Media Reps.
Include at least three Twitter posts (tweets) in the Media Rep section of the next Weekly Progress Report. Glide path: 3 tweets by July 7, 6 tweets by July 14, 10 tweets by July 21.
Send project press releases to media outlets this week. With many teams changing projects mid-round, immediate follow-up calls are vital. If you leave a project before sending out your press release, revise the release to reflect pasttense accomplishments and send it out.
Upcoming newsletter articles due: Moose 3 on July 7, Raven 3 on July 14, and Phoenix 3 on July 21.
APPS
BUFFALO 3 BUFFALO 4
1
MOOSE 1 MOOSE 2
1
MOOSE 3 MOOSE 4
22
MOOSE 5
2
RAVEN 1
2
RAVEN 2
1
RAVEN 3
2
RAVEN 4
CAP Reps.
2
RAVEN 5 TOTAL
10
208
JULY 4, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
4
0
0
Additional options for events (each count as 1 event and 1 contact): college job postings and request for information emails to potential applicants. Ask Sam or Ben for more information.
If you are going to the West Virginia Initiative, you may be asked to staff the NCCC info table in the summit exhibition hall at some point. Standby for more details next week.
← Events and media hits from composite team reps count for their permanent teams.
SHOUTS OUTS
What Are Shout Outs? Shouts Outs are short messages submitted by teams each week to share with the rest of the Corps. A Shout Out can be a “job well done” to another team, a “we miss you” to members who are away from their teams, an update on a team’s project, a poetic turn on AmeriLife, or an inside joke. Whatever it may be, a Shout Out is one little way to keep the Corps connected throughout the service term.
Spray, spray, spray the mold, gently with the stream, scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, AmeriLife is but a dream!
Buffalo 3
Buffalo Four is having a great time working disaster relief in the
Moose Force is about to greet and teach over 90 kids aged 8–12 this coming week! We admit we are
Trail, please
the beach to get our
return our Jessie
tan on when we can! Hope all the other
to us promptly
teams are enjoying
and free of all
their projects!
wood ticks and other malicious
training was
insects. Dear
thorough and our sponsors are
Buffalo 4
start strong and
please return our
Phoenix 3 has dubbed
promptly and
itself “Clarity 15.” Every
free of all fire
day we put our life on
and other
the line for spontaneous dancing.
incendiary
Our motto so far: “pee
materials.
often, pee often.” Hugs
Interesting fact about Maine this time of
Dismal Swamp, Dimi to us
persevere!
Moose 4
Appalachian
Rockaways and hitting
nervous but our
fantastic, so we will
Dear
and felicitations to our permanent teams.
Sincerely, Raven One.
year: it’s monsoon season. This is not good for Sasquatch. Please send solar powered hairdryers. We’re all wet..
Phoenix 3 Sasquatch 1
Shout out to Jeremy—“Oh nooooo!!! We miss you!!!”
Raven 2
Raven 1 We miss you, Sean and Erin!
Raven 4
GET TO THE POINT | JULY 4, 2013
11
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They?
Round 3, Week 2
For Round 3, Class XIX teams are slated to complete 23 projects across nine states. Four projects will focus on hurricane recovery efforts in New Jersey and New York. Five projects will focus on environmental stewardship in recreational camps and conservation areas in three different states. Seven projects will assist low-income or underdeveloped urban and rural communities through housing and facilities improvements.
MAINE
VERMONT
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW YORK
MASSACHUSETTS
CONN.
R.I.
PENNSYLVANIA
MARYLAND
NEW JERSEY
D.C.
WEST VIRGINIA
DELAWARE RAVEN 1 Toms River, N.J. Jersey Cares Disaster Services
VIRGINIA MOOSE 4
RAVEN 2
Elkton, Md. Project Crossroad Urban & Rural Development
Kittaning, Pa. Armstrong Conservative District Infrastructure Improvement
BUFFALO 1
MOOSE 1
MOOSE 5
RAVEN 3
Toms River, N.J. Jersey Cares Disaster Services
Wells, Me. The Nature Conservancy Environmental Stewardship
Sudbury, Mass. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Stewardship
Kennedyville, Md. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Environmental Stewardship
BUFFALO 3
MOOSE 2
MOOSE 8 (A.K.A. SASQUATCH 1)
RAVEN 4
New York, N.Y. World Care Centers Disaster Services
Bridgeport, Ct. Habitat for Humanity CFC Urban & Rural Development
Andover, Me. Appalachian Trail Conservancy Environmental Stewardship
Lincolnville, Me. University of Maine: Tanglewood Infrastructure Improvement
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 3
PHOENIX 3
RAVEN 5
Queens, N.Y. Respond & Rebuild Disaster Services
Russell, Mass. Appalachian Mountain Club Environmental Stewardship
Suffolk, Va. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Disaster Services
Bryant Pond, Me. University of Maine: Bryant Pond Infrastructure Improvement