Get to the Point March 28, 2012
An NCCC Atlantic Region Publication
Get to the Point GET TO THE POINT ATLANTIC REGION, PERRY POINT, MD VOL. XVIII, ISSUE 4
I’m an member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program. N-triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America while developing their own leadership. We serve on teams to help communities to prepare for and respond to disaster, build homes and help the environment. To learn more, or apply, visit americorps.gov/nccc
Moose 1 gets it done, son. They are working in multiple cities in Pennsylvania and Ohio to help with long term disaster recovery.
COVER: CENTER: P1 JES-
SICA JOHNSON IGNITES A PRESCRIBED BURN AT PINEY GROVE PRESERVE. TOP; LEFT, R5 OX THANE USES A NIBBLER, RIGHT, B3 MERCEDES ABRAMS MEETS FOLKS AT SPONSOR’S OPEN HOUSE.
3 WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDE by Moose 1
4 RAVEN 4 RECEIVES A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT
BOTTOM; LEFT, B2 ON THE JOB, MIDDLE, B4, JUST AFTER PROJECT REVEAL, RIGHT, M1 CLEARING TRAIL ALONG IN PENNSLYVINIA. FIND US ON FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ NCCCATLANTICREGION Community Relations Office Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist, SMcKenzie@cns.gov Tristan Fowler, Community Relations Support Team Leader, TFowler.Guest@cns.gov
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4 BE AWARE OF TAX EXEMPT FORMS 5
QUICKIES LOOKING FOR COLUMNISTS
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SHOUT OUTS
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NEWS
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ALUNMI SPOTLIGHT
LEADING FROM THE FRONT by Kevin Jones
6 MOOSE UNIT LEADS HOUSE CUP
AMERIMAP
6 REMINDERS FOR CAPRs 8 REMINDERS FOR MEDIA REPs 8 DISASTER SERVICE UPDATE AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full time team–based residential program for men and women ages 18 to 24. The mission of NCCC is to strength communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national & community service. For more information about NCCC Visit www.americorps.gov/nccc or call 1 800 942 2677
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Get to the Point Berwick, PA- SO FAR, MOOSE 1 HAS BEEN IN THREE DIFFERENT CITIES, making significant changes everywhere they go. They first went to Shickshinny, PA, working on the Susquehanna Warrior Trail removing flood mud and widening the 11 mile trail. Split up into two groups, the Moose team removed close to 1000 ft. of dried mud off the top layer of trail. The Susquehanna Warrior Trail was owned and maintained by a group of seven men. Only having slightly more than a handful of men, they were grateful to have the help. Especially since they were preparing for the annual Susquehanna 5k Warrior Trail race. Members of Moose 1, such as Cassandra Lewis, and Cody Hanke, both commented on how gratifying the work on the trail was. Being long, hot days, shoveling mud for hours, it was made worth it by the site supervisors, as they provided ample amounts of snacks and water, which to a Corps member is always a great surprise at the start of a day.
Team spotlight— Moose 1
When the flood waters recede, AmeriCorps is there to get it done
Cody Hanke of Moose 1, works to remove debris beside a destroyed structure along the Susquehanna river. Moose 1 is doing long-term recovery from the fall floods.
Although doing such tedious work on the team to be excited and anxious to start a daily basis, like sweeping sidewalks and working. Although the work load was simipicking trash, it can become both physicallar, it was still familiar to the team continuly and mentally draining. Moose 1 stood strong and enthusiastic with upbeat spirits “It felt like everybody throughout the days. They know that it is not about what type of work they are doknew who we are… ing, but why they are doing it. ―I find it teEverywhere we went, dious, yet fulfilling and rewarding, espepeople began to recognize cially when I think of the impact we’re havthe “A” in AmeriCorps.” ing on the community,‖ Tracey Tran says about our first weeks in Pennsylvania. After the first week in Shickshinny, Moose 1 moved to Berwick, PA. The site supervisors changed and the location was new, but when you bring change to this team, it automatically lights a fire igniting
Before
logs from along the banks of the river, also cleaning debris in and along railroad tracks that ran parallel with the Susquehanna. The team spent about a week in Berwick, working side by side with City Works, and volunteers from all over the area.
While working one day in Berwick, Moose 1 was greeted by two media outlets who were interested in the work that our AmeriCorps NCCC team was doing. After all the conversations and interviews were done, reporters were inspired by our hard ing to work along the Susquehanna River. work to help with the overwhelming and Moose 1 joined forces with the intimidating task of trash clean-up. Along a Berwick City Works Department cleaning large embankment, Moose 1 and friends and removing trash, debris, tree limbs, and worked hard to do their best in removing the debris.
After
Moved and full of gratitude, everybody shook hands and embraced each other with thankfulness for such incredible teamwork. From the radio stations and TV stations that were there that day, both aired there coverage the following days. Victoria Mosher states, ―It felt like everybody knew who we are…Everywhere we went, people began to recognize the ―A‖ in AmeriCorps.‖
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Get to the Point CONGRATULATIONS TO RAVEN 4
PROUD SPONSOR THANKS TEAM FOR WORK Raven 4 has been working for the Delaware State park this round and for the last two weeks, the team has been preparing the Delaware Fort for the summer tourist season. Some of their work has included rebuilding the dock to the island, cleaning the fort, and building a porch on a house. Their sponsor sent this letter of gratitude for their strong work ethic, positive attitudes, and ability to get so much done. Dear Raven 4: On behalf of the Division of Parks and Recreation and the Fort Delaware State Park Staff, I would like to thank you for all of the hard work and effort you put into assisting staff with getting Fort Delaware State Park ready for the season. Not only did you complete all of the essential jobs on the list but you went beyond my expectations and completed more than I had anticipated. Your efforts will now allow the park staff and other volunteers to focus on completing some smaller detailed projects that have been pending for a few years. Each of you has played a key role in making sure that Fort Delaware State Park is clean and safe for our park visitors. Please take time this summer to come back and visit Fort Delaware State Park as my guest. You are welcome to come anytime we are open. Call me when you would like to visit and I will make sure you get to the island. Thanks again and best wishes for the future. Sincerely, Becky Webb Park Superintendent Fort Delaware/Fort DuPont State Park RESOURCE CORNER
Team leaders: take care of tax exempt forms before you shop There has been concern about certain vendors not accepting NCCC AmeriCorps tax exempt status. It is advantageous if you present the tax exempt letter or certificate card to Customer Service prior to shopping. Most cashiers may be hesitant to accept the tax exempt letter or card. The tax exempt letter generally addresses sales and use taxes and donations; the tax exempt certificate is honored in the state listed on the card. Only present the ―Sales and Tax Exempt‖ certificate card to the state that is presented on the card. For example, do not present the Maryland exemption certificate to a store in Pennsylvania. Tidbit for the Week: The proper way for a Team Leader to request approval for additional funds: The Team Leader should contact the Unit Leader in writing (via email) the reason for additional funds and carbon copy the Regional Director and Resource Manager. The approval or disapproval of the request will be communicated via email.
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Get to the Point Alumni spotlight
Lead from the front: two inspiring years as a team leader Kevin Jones was a Team Leader for Class XVII Raven 7 and Class XVIII Raven 1 here at Perry Point.
I first heard about NCCC after serving with Hands on Mississippi. Five of my co-workers were Perry Point alums and one in particular pretty much peer pressured me into applying to be a Team Leader. I originally applied for the Fall term so I continued on with my life until one day in December 2009, I received a phone call from Chris Quaka (former Wolf UL) asking me if I was interested in interviewing. I said yes and two days later, I interviewed with all three Unit Leaders. An hour and fifteen minutes later, Chris called back and offered me the position. With only three weeks until the start of TLT, I got all of my bearings in order, hopped on a plane to BWI and then made the trip to Perry Point. My life as a Team Leader has officially began. I knew absolutely nothing about NCCC when I started but after two years as Team Leader, I'm learned so much about the world, teamwork, diversity and most importantly - myself. I've had 11 regular projects and four disaster projects during my two years of service with NCCC. I've been everywhere from New Hampshire to New Orleans to Tennessee to Martha's Vineyard and other places in between. My most memorable service moment from Class XVI would be working at City Neighbors Charter School in Baltimore, MD. The work that my team and I initially started is still continuing to this day. Six months after we started working there, we were given the opportunity to return and see the progress that was made. In those moments that I spent in the newly remodeled school, I realized what NCCC was all about and how a small group of diverse individuals from all across the
(Left) Team Leader Kevin Jones, or KJ, works with his Class XVII team Raven 1 in Tennessee to remove downed trees from resident’s property after a tornado struck. country could work together to effect change. My most memorable service moment from Class XVII was our disaster project in Tennessee. We received chainsaw training and then spent four weeks near the East Tennessee mountain area removing debris from the tornado-ravaged area. After returning, we gave our director's brief in front of the NCCC National Director, Kate Raftery. Being able to talk about our accomplishments and watching my team give a superb presentation brought me immense joy. I currently work for NCCC HQ at the Corporation for National & Commu-
nity Service in DC as a Selection and Placement Assistant. Some of you might have receive a phone call from me back in late January/early February. I conduct applicant assessments, interviews, manage the NCCC inbox and many other tasks that help to further NCCC's mission. Although I'm no longer a Team Leader, I still get things done every day and wouldn't have it any other way. Have a great year of service and live it up. You only come this way once (and in some instances twice). Take the good, the bad and the plain ridiculous and make it a year that you will never forget.
Jones, lower right corner, with his Class XVI team, Raven 7. 5
Get to the Point COLUMNIST
HOUSE CUP
Want to see your name & face here?
Moose Unit takes the early lead Congratulations to the Mighty Morphin Moose Unit, which is charging ahead early in Round 1. All three of the top teams are in the Moose Unit. Of the 14 teams, the scores range from a high of 35 points to a low of zero. The average is 23 points.
If you’ve got opinions, we want to hear ’em! If you have a fantastic personality, we want you to show it! If you want to strengthen How are points awarded? your writing Points for the House Cup are awarded skills and find for timely submissions of WPRs, weekly your voice, we hours, the PCR and all specialty work. Three want to help points will be awarded for WPRs and hours you. submitted on time; five points for the PCR; The Commu- and two points for any specialty role work. nity Relations Staff office is An equivalent amount will be subtracted for looking for writers, collate work, and an additional point will be umnists and media repre- subtracted for each day it’s late. You can also The top three teams sentatives to publish artiearn special points for special actions, such cles in ―Get to the Point.‖ as running community meetings, beautifica- 1. Moose 2 with 35 points The CRS office loves using tion of 9H, or helping little old ladies with 2. Moose 1 with 34 points Corps member stories their groceries (insert staff joke here). about ―AmeriLife.‖ We 3. Moose 4 with 33 points want to hear how you got those rips in your khaki pants. What’s on your team’s iPod? What’s the Reminders: There are less than 20 days until best meal your team ever you return. With only 20 days left, you should be made on $4.75 a day? The close to completing three CAP events, 200 contacts and interacting with at least one NCCC alumni. It’s stories you share over the not too late for your team to do a CAP Event and next 10 months will be critcomplete an alumni spotlight. Remember to coorical in forming lasting dinate and communicate with Chelsea from Raven memories and moments. 5 if your team is located in Maryland, Delaware or Philadelphia. This is a fantastic opBe sure to log your CAP event reports within 48 hours of your CAP Event and portunity to find your voice, strengthen your writ- let us know what CAP Events you have planned. You can use the CAP Event Submission form to share what upcoming CAP events you are planning and/or ask your Team ing skills and build up your Leader to add your events to the Team Leader weekly progress report. resume. To apply, send a writing sample and any ide- Don’t Forget: if your team interacts with a celebrity or an elected official there’s a form for that! It’s on the CAP & Media Google site and it’s called the Celebrity and Elected Offias you have for your column. The Community Rela- cials form.
MUST READ FOR CAPRs!
tions Support Team Leader Tristan Fowler will work along side the columnist to develop their ideas and voice. If you are interested in becoming a ―Get to the Point‖ columnist, please contact the CRSTL Tristan at tfowler.guest@cns.gov. 6
End of Round Paperwork for most teams is due on Monday, April 16 by 4:30 p.m. End of Round Paperwork includes the following: a NCCC alumni spotlight and one CAP evaluation for your team. The alumni spotlight and the CAP evaluation can be submitted on the CAP & Media Google. Next week in spike mail, all CAP Reps will receive our performance evaluation on your specialty role work during first round. Tip: Try to set up more than one CAP event at a large organization. When speaking with Job Corps centers ask for the Career Transition Specialist or the Business Community Liaison. CAP Shout Out: Moose 3 for doing a CAP event in DC, Raven 1 has spoken to 230 people so far this round and a major CAP event is planned for Job Corps Wilmington! Way to go.
Get to the Point Raven 2: Raven 2 wishes Edgar the Raven a safe journey in spike mail to Raven 1. They are sad to see him go as they enjoyed his energy and positive attitude on the work site. Raven 2 would also like to give a shout out to Lark and Phoenix 1's first burn this past week! Raven 5: After being awesome we decided to try and be wicked cool too; so far we like what we see. Buffalo 3: THOMAS!!! Hope you are working hard and having fun on P1. B3 misses you and can't wait to have you back for round 2. Raven 1: ―This week we had the honor of helping Connecticut Mission of Mercy. There were many long days, sore feet and very early mornings but all in all it has been the most rewarding and inspiring project that I believe we will do all term. Not only were the staff appreciative of us being there to help but the people who have been waiting in line for hours were so happy and thankful for the service they were being given. It was absolutely amazing to see what M.O.M does from start to finish, I have so much respect for the people who work and volunteer for the mission because they are some of the most hard working people I know. In only two days of the clinic being open they did over one million dollars worth of dental work and served over two thousand people, it has been a whirlwind of a experience, but I can not wait to do it again.‖ - Skylar Wodke
Moose 1: Spent All Day Sunday Sleeping and Having A Harry Potter Movie Marathon! Moose 3: Our CAPRs have developed a new program to increase recruitment: Wife After Americorps. Moose 5: We played kickball and it was an amazing throwback time! We also got Ritas Italian Ice! Shout out to all the other teams and everyone’s hard work! Buffalo 1: Buffalo One is Getting it Done! Buffalo 2: Result of Buffalo 2 vs. Wasps, stinkbugs, & ticks 2:0 Still going strong. P.S. To Greg from B1, got gold fishes? Buffalo 4: B IV is extremely excited for our service-learning program we are developing. We are starting to gather all of the pieces together and we cannot wait to see how we progress. Tulip and Peach have been busy meeting new friends in the woods like Winston, the salamander, Bruce Leroy, the frog, and Herman, the snake. Shout out to Andie and Phoenix 1’s Evan & Jess, WE MISS YOU!!
Phoenix 1: Moose 5!!! Hope your not having too much fun with out me, and congrats to Cecelia for the 5K run. Buffalo 2 I miss you all and hope you are having a blast. Talk to you all soon, be good. GRACE I miss you. Love Alex. Brooke! Thank you so much for all of your help as well as the stickers and the letters! You are the best and Phoenix 1 couldn’t be happier with their STL. Hope you’re doing well. 7
Get to the Point
Disaster service update
ONGOING DEPLOYMENTS MI SS OURI TORNADOES, February 28 A series of tornadoes struck the state of Missouri, including an EF-2 that hit Kimberling City and Branson. Damages were reported to over 167 homes. Three confirmed fatalities and over 50 injuries have been reported statewide.
STONE AND TANEY COUNTIES, MO
Denver, Ky., March 13, 2012 -- Volunteers from the Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. help gut a destroyed home.
NEW DEPLOYMENTS INDIANA TORNADOES, March 2
AmeriCorps NCCC- Southwestern Region, March 2 AmeriCorps NCCC has sent Sun 3, a team of ten members to assist AmeriCorps St. Louis in Branson, MO in the tornado disaster response and assist with the current Red Flag Warning in Lebanon, MO. Seven members are helping AmeriCorps St. Louis in administering the Volunteer Reception Center and assisting and supervising volunteers. Three members are assisting with wildfire operations. Sun 3 will redeploy to the Southwestern Campus on March 16.
The National Weather Service received 16 reports of possible tornadoes on Friday, March 2. There were 13 confirmed fatalities in Clark County and five injuries. Media reported the near AmeriCorps St. Louis – 12 Members Deployed Feb. 29 total destruction of the town of Maryville in Clark County. Sev- AmeriCorps St. Louis began staging Volunteer Reception Centers late Wednesday, splitting 12 members between eral road closures have been reported due to debris. each VRC. These members will be led by a veteran AmeriJEFFERSONVILLE, IN Corps member who was active during the Joplin Tornado AmeriCorps NCCC - North Central Region, March 22 response. These VRCs will focus on volunteer coordination NCCC North Central Region will be deploying Cedar 4, a team of 11 and debris removal. AmeriCorps St. Louis will also be conmembers to Clarksville, IN to support the United Way in operating tributing assistance for tarping and sheltering. Two memthe Volunteer Reception Center. Cedar 4 will be working to coordi- bers have been placed to support the state’s 211 call center. nate the volunteers working in Henryville and surrounding areas. A team of five are also being utilized to fight a wildfire that Cedar 4 is expected to be deployed until April 27th. was present but exacerbated by the severe weather.
Must read for Media Reps! Reminders: Media Reps it’s not too late for your team to get more media coverage! We expect EVERY team will be able to get at least two media hits during Round One. All press releases must be submitted to the CAP & Media Google site and approved before sending to the local media. Press releases will be approved within 48 hours of submission. Be sure to log your media hits in the Media Coverage Form within 48 hours of getting coverage. Don’t Forget: Your project sponsor can be a big help to get media hits. Ask your Team Leader to see if the project sponsor can put some information about your team in any of their newsletters or social media. This is one of easiest ways to get a media hit. Also social media counts as a social media hit. The YouTube question for the round is ―What do you do in your free time?‖ Using your team Gmail account, upload your video to your team YouTube account. End of Round Paperwork for most teams is due on Monday, April 16 by 4:30 p.m. End of Round Paperwork includes the following: all media coverage forms, one media evaluation per team, one YouTube video, eight yearbook photos and a yearbook write up. All the forms are on the Google site. Be sure to send out your project press releases on Friday, March 30. Next week, you should follow up with the media outlets by making phone calls. Next week in spike mail, all Media Reps will receive our performance evaluation on your specialty role work during first round. Tip: If you don’t have a media hit , keep sending out press releases. During the last week of the round, you can create and send out a press release which includes the accomplishments of your team. Hometown releases are another easy way to get a media hit. Media Shout Out: Moose 1 has close to 15 media hits this round! Way to go. 8
Get to the Point
Obama’s signature Health care law may fall WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court opened its final day weighing the fate of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul, considering on Wednesday whether the entire law can stand should the court rule against its centerpiece mandate that most people buy insurance. On this, the third and last day of historic arguments, the nine justices were due to hear whether the rest of the law, Obama's signature domestic accomplishment, can survive should the court decide that Congress exceeded its powers by requiring that most Americans obtain insurance by 2014 or face a penalty. The Obama administration faced skeptical questioning on Tuesday from the court's five-member conservative majority on the insurance requirement, known as the individual mandate. But it was unclear whether it would strike it down or let it stand. A ruling on the insurance mandate appeared likely to come down to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, two conservatives who pummeled the administration's lawyer with questions on Tuesday. If even one of the five conservative Republican appointees joined the four liberal Democratic appointees on the court, the law would be upheld. If the five conservatives stay united, the law would fall.
Global warming linked to deadly, costly weather disasters
WASHINGTON (AP)– Global warming is leading to such severe storms, droughts and heat waves that nations should prepare for an unprecedented onslaught of deadly and costly weather disasters, an international panel of climate scientists says in a report issued Wednesday.
The greatest danger from extreme weather is in highly populated, poor regions of the world, the report warns, but no corner of the globe — from Mumbai to Miami — is immune. The document by a Nobel Prize-winning panel of climate scientists forecasts stronger tropical cyclones and more frequent heat waves, deluges and droughts. The 594-page report blames the scale of recent and future disasters on a combination of man-made climate change, population shifts and poverty. This report by the panel is the first to look at the less common but far more noticeable extreme weather changes, which recently have been costing on average about $80 billion a year in damage. "Extreme weather is where we have the losses ... the insurance payments. That's where things have the potential to fall apart,‖ said Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field, who is one of the report's top editors.
More cowbell! Vermonters planning world’s largest cowbell ensemble Taking Christopher's Walken's classic "Saturday Night Live" demands literally, residents of northern Vermont are planning to form the "World's Largest Cowbell Ensemble" next month. The gathering, slated for April 14 in Burlington, Vt., will be hosted by Ben & Jerry's and the Waterwheel Foundation, a nonprofit organization launched by local Vermont rock group Phish. The band's drummer, Jon Fishman, will lead the cowbell ensemble, and all proceeds from the event—which coincides with the 15th anniversary of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food ice cream—will benefit the group's ongoing Vermont flood relief efforts stemming from Hurricane Irene. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest simultaneous cowbell ringing occurred in 2003 Glarus, Switzerland, where "1,306 participants rang a total of 2,055 cowbells." 9
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Phoenix 1 Evan— Suffolk, VA
Raven 5 Dan— Northeast, MD
Raven 4 Millena— Washington, Dc
Raven 3 A.T.— Montague, NJ
Raven 2 Davey— Bath, ME
Raven 1 Keiper— Wilmington, DE
Moose 5 Toby— Wilmington, DE
Moose 4 Casey— Dover, DE
Moose 3 Jami— Baltimore, MD
Moose 2 Megan— Baltimore, MD
Moose 1 Patrick— Falls, PA
Buffalo 4 Tiffany — Orefield, PA
Buffalo 3 Tony— Denton, DE
Buffalo 2 Tomoyo— Hookstown, PA
Buffalo 1 Taft— Edgemoor, DE
Get to the Point