Get to the Point May 2, 2012
An NCCC Atlantic Region Publication
Get to the Point GET TO THE POINT ATLANTIC REGION, PERRY POINT, MD VOL. XVIII, ISSUE 6
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
The rugged folks of Phoenix 1 give their most intense face before they deploy on their first round of fire.
COVER: CENTER: M2 SHOWS OFF AFTER HELPING BUILD A PLAYGROUND
3 SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
TOP; LEFT, R3 ,AT AND ISHMEAL REMOVE A ROTTEN POST RIGHT, PHOENIX 1 ON THE MARSH MASTER
5 PACE AWARD WINNERS
BOTTOM; LEFT, B3 MIGNON SHOWS OFF HER LEAF BLOWER MIDDLE, R1, SHOW THEY REALLY ARE “DIRTY BIRDS” RIGHT, M4 CLEARNING A HEADGEROW
by Phoenix 1
5 CHELSEA PENNUCCI TAKES ON REG. COORD. 6 WALK THE LINE THE EVAN “BLUEBERRY” STORY BY JARED KARP
7 FIND US ON FACEBOOK
ALUNMI SPOTLIGHT
“CHANGE COMES FROM THOSE WHO ACT” by Joey Michels
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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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
QUICKIES SHOUT OUTS
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NEWS
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AMERIMAP
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Get to the Point TEAM SPOTLIGHT—PHOENIX 1
Set the World on Fire
Phoenix 1 “burns” brighter than the sun. by Thomas De Masters Warm Springs, VA- Phoenix 1 awoke at 5 AM ready to be a part of history. The burn was called "Big Wilson" and big was an understatement. If everything went as planned the team would be part of the largest prescribed burn in North East history. In one day, with collaboration of three different federal agencies, they would burn over 3,000 acres. The day before started out just like any other. Everyone gathered at the fire compound without any idea of what was to come. By noon, everything changed. They packed their bags and everything that they would need for the next week in an hour and by 2 pm they were underway to Warm Springs, VA. Nine hours and five pit stops later they arrived at Trapper's Lodge and settled into their tents for what proved to be a sleepless night of anticipation and shivers, the temperature barely above 30 degrees.
Jared Karp, from Moose 3, uses a drip torch for interior ignition during a prescribed burn. 3
Phoenix 1 secures blackline during a prescribed burn. The eight-member crew of Phoenix 1 worked on seven prescribed burns for a total of 3,490 acres burned. The next morning, the team spilled out of their tents into the darkness of 5 am and prepared their line gear and lunches for the long day ahead of them. After a 40 minute drive down a long dirt road they arrived at the briefing site, a dusty gravel parking lot, perched on the top of a ridge, ringed in tall pines and sheer drops on either side. As the sun rose the team began to thaw and the excitement began to grow. The lot filled quickly with the best crews from around the area. There were the sea foam green engines of the U.S. Forrest Service (USFS), the deep green of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the white and red of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and countless other insignias such as the PatRick Hotshots, and the Cold Springs Inmate Crew. All in all roughly 70 fire professionals had gathered around an old white school bus with a map of the burn unit taped to the side. The briefing was thorough and concise and the team was lucky to have their sponsor Steve Hubner of the USFWS to translate. AmeriCorps would be a part of Division B and responsible for holding and igniting a
section of line roughly four miles in length, closely partnered with the Cold Springs Inmate Crew. Apprehensive about being the best they could, Phoenix 1, pulled their boots tight, strapped their gear to their backs and began the half-mile hike to Drop Point 12 (DP 12), the anchor point for their section of line. Their 2way radios crackled, "Fire is on the ground". This was it. The test fire had begun and history was in the making. Phoenix and Cold Springs began ignition at DP 12, working slowly and carefully to ensure that fire didn't spread across their line and into the "green" behind them. Holding, being one of the most important operations of the day didn't save it from being one of the most trying. Focus can wander and attention can drift as patience is tested. The teams kept their hands and minds busy, listening to radio traffic and improving line as they went. By lunch time the team had already been awake and on their feet for more than seven hours and it was easy to forget the importance of their job. A mile into the line they reached Continued on page 4
Get to the Point the end of a runway for the highest elevation airport east of the Mississippi. The fire raced up the banks along the runway and snapped everyone back to attention. Quick work and a few frantic moments later the fire was under control again and the line had held. A collective sigh washed over the group. The airport staff had been very supportive of the operation that day, but a single spot in to the runway area and they could have shut everything down in a second. From there the team hiked more than a mile to the far side of the runway and onto a narrow section of line that traversed steep rocky forest riddled with snags (dead trees) and fallen logs that could roll at any moment dragging fire with them across the line and into the green they were trying to protect. Patrolling a mile long section of line stretched over a 400 ft. near vertical descent was no easy task, just ask the Phoenix team members' aching feet. Water bottles and Cliff Bars became their best friends; line gear and hand tools their worst enemies. Finally they reached the bottom of the line where it tied into a crystal blue stream running down the ravine with a grace the team didn't think possible.
The team settled in along the bank for the crescendo of a day filled with focus, sore feet and patience. Looking out into the valley below them they could see a helicopter circling low to the trees. This was it, the big moment that 11 hours of work had been leading to. The interior of the unit was to be ignited using aerial tactics. The helicopter would pass over the unit dropping explosive white balls with the appearance and size of ping pong balls, which earned them the same nickname among the hand crews. Peeking through the trees Phoenix one watched as the trees beneath the helicopter began to glow and suddenly erupt into hundred foot flames. The fire spread quickly rushing out in all directions from the ignition point and flying to the top of the mountains on the far side of the valley. Struck dumb in awe of the power and majesty of the flames the team watched in silent reverence. The weight lifted from their shoulders and all exhaustion was abated, if only for a moment, as they saw their ultimate goal achieved in a "blaze of glory". The mo-
Driving to Warm Springs, VA, Phoenix 1, wearing their Dismal Swamp shirts, hit mountain country. Phoenix sponsor Steve Hubner, lower left, doesn’t believe in GPS. 4
Mickey McGlasson, from Raven 3, ignites with a drip touch. ment passed too quickly as the thought of the hike back to their trucks set in. They rose and hefted their packs back onto their shoulders one last time for the day. Every joint and muscle groaned and popped in protest, but to no avail. The team pushed through and patrolled their line back to the airport. Carefully watching for anything that could threaten the containment of the remaining fire. By the time they reached their trucks again, the team had been on their feet for 13 hours and over six miles. A quick debrief and they loaded up their trucks to head back to Trapper's Lodge with only one more fire to manage: the campfire around which they spent the evening before falling into a deep and much needed sleep. The team basked in the warmth of the fire and their success. Now more than just "an AmeriCorps Phoenix team", they had earned the respect of experienced fire teams and proved that AmeriCorps "will get things done." Knowing all this, they held their heads high no matter how tired they were. The Big Wilson prescribed burn is currently the largest in North East history and propelled Phoenix 1's acreage burned to just under 3,500 as of April 7, 2012. This makes them the only team in the history of the Perry Point campus to accomplish such a feat.
Get to the Point
CAP Reg. Coordi- PACE AWARDS nator returns for Units Honor another round The Buffalo Unit Chelsea Pennucci will continue her role as the Corps Ambassador Program Regional Coordinator for a second round, after she successfully coordinated seven events and made numerous calls to CAP reps, recruitment partners and the CRS and CRSTL.
Class 18 honored 15 members with the PACE award (Positive Attitude, Consistent Effort). Next week: Member of the round. Begins in upper left. Buffalo 1: Kelly Marshall. Buffalo 2: Chris Moore Buffalo 3: Sarah Repasky Buffalo 4: Daniel McEachin
The Moose Unit
Her role this round will be to continue to assist the Community Relations Office in coordinating and setting up large CAP events with our recruitment partners. But this round, her area will be focused on Philadelphia, Camden and northern Delaware, where eight teams are deployed. She will be contacting these teams with upcoming CAP events. Her role will be very similar to how your Project Outreach Liaison, or POL, works for the team. CAP Reps should continue to search for their own events with community colleges, high schools, and faith-based organizations.
Outstanding CMs
Moose 1: Ally Ramirez Moose 2: Kayla Scherr Moose 3: Lindy Long Moose 4: Steven Thomas Moose 5: Jessica Reichmuth Phoenix 1: Alex Gutierrez
The Raven Unit Raven 1: Henry Bausman
Chelsea is the main con- Raven 2: Kateri tact for recruitment partners Gruber in this areas. Before you conRaven 3: Abigail Wilson tact them, contact her. Sam Mckenzie and Tristan Fowler are excited to have Chelsea return to the position after a successful round.. You may her contact at americorpsnccc.raven5 @gmail.com
Raven 4: Emily Tiffany Raven 5: Oliver Jacobs Dougherty
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Get to the Point Composite TL spotlight
Walk the Line: An Evan “Blueberry” Berry Story by Jared Karp
Suffolk, VAThis begins like any other on a bright and sunny morning in the seaside city of San Diego, California. This morning a beaming 8 lb 3 oz baby with bright blue eyes was born to a mother, Patricia, and a father, Joe. There is nothing exceptionally strange about this, astonishing, or perplexing. All seems like a typical event. A baby being born is no unusual occurrence. It was, however, a very significant and historic moment. This is actually quite a unique story, which should be remembered, taken to heart and apply it to your own personal circumstance. Evan Berry was born February 13, 1988 to a loving mother and father. The crazy thing is that his father is, in fact, not a human but a “black” Berry. Evan, by chance, was born the first successful human-plant hybrid. How his mother fell in love with a fruit will be left for another story. As the story continues Evan gets older, perhaps a little wiser, and realizes
that he is different. He has never felt the same as the other kids at school and has always wondered why. One day this feeling begins to overwhelm him and he is forced into asking his mother. He has sensed that it has something to do with his nickname “Blueberry” and queries about it. His mother is hesitant, but after a moment to collect herself, she goes on to explain that his father is a “black” Berry. The reason that his nickname is Blueberry is that when he was born they saw his blue eyes and thought it to be appropriate under the circumstances. Shocked as he was, the explanation made complete sense. He always felt like he was walking the line between being Evan, a normal human boy, and a berry. He then realized why he feels strange about eating berries and does not like them. To him eating berries would be a cannibalistic act and does not coincide with his sense of humanity. Evan Berry, since he was born, has had to deal with a situation that no one has ever faced. To exemplify the spirit of humanity or to be something else is that decision. In AmeriCorps NCCC he faces such a dilemma. At the same time he is a team leader for Phoenix 1 as well as a Corps member for Buffalo 4. He has to tiptoe across the tightrope, making sure to act as a capable team leader while not going overboard because the
Corps member turned Team Leader, Evan Berry (here at an ISP) has had to balance two identities all his life. If you think it isn’t easy being green, try also being grey and blue. 6
Team Leader Evan Berry flashes that “blue-ribbon” smile while on Phoenix 1.
truth is, Evan quotes, “I am just as fresh off the boat as you are.” He is a Corps member that wanted to take on an additional challenge of leading a strong group of individuals. Evan took on the added challenge of being a TL for a Round 1 fire team, embracing the danger inherit in the fire world along with the unknown of being the first Phoenix TL this year. No doubt, the pressure might have made this berry burst, but as Unit Leader Jason Cangelosi says of this “ferocious leader,” “Choosing a first round Fire Composite Team Leader is always a challenge. With the caliber of members on the Fire Crew being so high, it was obvious as Evan began to stand out as a leader among peers that he was a natural choice. He lived up to all expectations.” Evan wishes to absorb everything possible and become a better, stronger person while embracing his perennial side. This knowledge and experience that he‟s obtained has helped him synthesize these traits into becoming an ever fuller, sweeter and more delicious blueberry. Evan Berry walks the line everyday between human and fruit, green shirt and grey shirt, scruffy firefighter and clean-cut government worker. He will continue to walk the line forever, thus furthering the understanding of how, at one time, a woman fell in love with a fruit.
Get to the Point Alumni spotlight
“Change comes to those who act.”
Joey Michels was a Corps member for Class XVI Badger 5 here at Perry Point. He is originally from Wisconsin. Growing up with Systemic Juvenile Rhuematoid Arthritis, I've always been a part of a community where people give what they can for the others around them. AmeriCorps just made me realize how integral those people are too their communities. The people who lose 60 collectors cars in a flood then realize that those were just material objects, and then go on to invest everything in their life to an after school program for kids in a bad neighborhood. Without those people where would we, as a human race, be? It just hit me that these people are everywhere, in every community, and there's always something I can do to help their
Joey Michels served on the Phoenix team and other composite teams, including this disaster composite in Mississippi.
Joey Michels, center, fifth from the right, sits with his team Badger 5 and sponsor Steve Bates from the Trailblazers camp in Montague, NJ. TL Beth Stewart sits center. cause, to give back. AmeriCorps was an opportunity for me to travel from my home state of Wisconsin and be able to meet likeminded individuals who share a passion of helping others and the communities around them! Along with free travel and room and board, how could you go wrong? I was so excited to try out everything in AmeriCorps. I learned everything from chainsaws and firefighting, to being able to run a disaster response shelter. Most importantly flexibility and that good things come to those who wait, and change comes from those who act. I have always known that I'm an optimist and I try to wear rose colored glasses as much as possible. While being in AmeriCorps I was just my usual self; seeing the light in the dark; cracking jokes to lighten the mood. My TL Beth was a source of light when the darkness was there. She was always talking to people and being a friend to everyone. It made me realize that I have a natural love for everything around me and that without real-
izing it I sort of make a room of people cheerier I guess. In 2010, after NCCC, I joined another AmeriCorps program. The Montana Conservation Corps where I learned a lot about public lands. Now whenever I see trash on a hike I always pick it up. I always point out the “Leave No Trace” signs to people. Stewarding to friends and family why National Parks and Forests are one of the best things to happen to our country. Also trying to involve the others around me, pushing them to find out how they can help. And this summer (June1 to Sept.2) I am biking across the country and raising money and awareness for the one in five adults, and about 300,000 kids, with arthritis! My goal is to reach $20,000 dollars by the end of the trip! It starts in San Diego, California and ends around 4,200 miles later in Portland, Maine! All the proceeds go the Arthritis Foundation, a non profit that without them, I would not be who I am today! So, I try to carry the commitment of service with me, even across the county. 7
Get to the Point Raven 2: would like to extend a Happy Easter to Edgar and Lark. Raven Two would also like to extend a congrats to Buffalo 4 and their massive ISP completions! And a special thank you to Mama Bird, Jen Horan, for allowing us to spend a day at Acadia National Park. We climbed mountains! Raven 2 thanks Jen for her visit and is excited to welcome Lark back to our team after her round with Phoenix 1. Philadelphia here we come! Moose 2: Moose 2 did a ropes course with the Outward Bound organization. Moose 2 assisted with the unloading of 700 tree truck for TreeBaltimore at their nursery!! 700 TREES!!!!!
Raven 1: Raven one had an incredible final week at Winterthur! The team will genuinely miss serving there. One fun impromptu team builder was loading the van to leave, as we of course needed to make room for our R1 crafted magical Wizard wand, Edgar, and our harvested clay. We are stoked to be reunited we our wonderful Madawg and fellow Corps members... and to frolic with the deer again. Moose 3: “Family is a group of people you can be weird with, Moose 3 = Family” – Jason Babcock Moose 4: It was great to catch up with Moose 4 here in beautiful Wilmington to play kickball and have some good ol‟ fashioned inter-unit rivalry! Fire Fox 1: Fire Fox 1 is really „digging‟ Albany. We have come to the Capitol as tributes from our respective units and believe the odds will ever be in our favor…. Buffalo 2: Buffalo 2 successfully carried on the legacy of Moose 4, Class 17 by completing a boardwalk at Raccoon Creek State Park! Buffalo 2 is ready to rack up some „sweat equity‟ with Habitat for Humanity Metro Camden! Neighboring teams: lets rack in some ISP hours together! Buffalo 4: B IV helped out in NEW JERSEY at the Special Olympics for bowling. It was truly an amazing experience that touched all of our hearts! We also established a great relationship with the YMCA after volunteering at an event. We were able to use their facility for PT, and also helped them with some outside projects. B IV wants to shout out to the people of Pennsylvania! They are so welcoming and appreciative of our commitment to serve, and we are so grateful to have met them.
“Classic” Raven 1: “This week was jam packed for Raven one. Not only did we have a great week working with the amazing garden staff getting to know them all a little better, but we also had a meeting with a former AmeriCorps member (who now works for Winterthur Museum) a Corps member birthday celebration complete with silly straws and birthday hats, an evening enjoying the mushroom capital of the world, and finally beautiful family fun Easter day complete with brunch, Easter baskets, bundles of candy, an Easter egg hunt in the “Enchanted woods”, and a delicious dinner. All in all it was a terrific week for Raven one! We send hugs out to our fearless Maddie” - Skylar Wodke 8
Get to the Point
NFL SAINTS' VILMA SUSPENDED ONE YEAR FOR ROLE IN BOUNTY PROGRAM By Nate Davis, USA TODAY The NFL issued long-anticipated penalties to current and former Saints players for their participation in the team's pay-for-pain bounty program Wednesday. New Orleans MLB Jonathan Vilma, who put a $10,000 price on the head of Vikings QB Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game following the 2009 season, has been suspended for the entire 2012 season. Saints DE Will Smith will miss four games. Two ex-Saints were also disciplined with Browns OLB Scott Fujita receiving a three-game ban while Packers DE Anthony Hargrove is out for eight games. Per the NFL's official findings, the quartet was "suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the NFL as a result of their leadership roles in the New Orleans Saints' pay-for-performance/bounty program that endangered player safety over three seasons from 2009-2011. Participation by players in any such program is prohibited by the NFL Constitution and Bylaws, the standard NFL Player Contract, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement."
Suicide bombers kill 7 after Obama leaves Afghan capital
KABUL (Reuters) - Suicide bombers attacked a compound housing Westerners in Kabul on Wednesday hours after U.S. President Barack Obama signed a security pact during a short visit to a city that remains vulnerable to a resilient insurgency. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which involved a car bomb and insurgents disguised as women on the eastern outskirts of the capital, killing seven people, a Gurkha guard and six passers-by, and wounding 17. The Taliban said it was in response to Obama's visit and to the strategic partnership deal he signed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a pact that sets out a long-term U.S. role after most foreign combat troops leave by the end of 2014. The insurgency also claimed their spring offensive, which began two weeks ago with attacks in Kabul, would be renewed on Thursday, despite a security clamp-down in the capital. Obama's visit came a year after U.S. special forces troops killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11, 2001, attacks, in a raid in neighboring Pakistan. In a televised address to the American people from a base north of Kabul, he said the war in Afghanistan was winding down. "As we emerge from a decade of conflict abroad and economic crisis at home, it's time to renew America," Obama said, speaking against a backdrop of armored vehicles and a U.S. flag.
Australian billionaire to build Titanic II
By Martin Parry | AFP One of Australia's richest men, Clive Palmer, on Monday unveiled plans to build a 21st century version of the doomed Titanic in China, with its first voyage from England to New York set for 2016. Palmer, a self-made mining billionaire, said he had commissioned state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard to construct Titanic II with the same dimensions as its predecessor. "It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems," Palmer said in a statement. "Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016." He added that he had invited the Chinese navy to escort the Titanic II to New York. The announcement comes just weeks after the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, which went down on April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg on its first voyage, from Southampton to New York.
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