GET TO
THURSDAY, MARCH
14, 2013
THE POINT THE
NEWSLETTER
OF THE
VOLUME
NCCC
XIX, ISSUE
2
ATLANTIC REGION
NOW THAT TEAMS HAVE DEPLOYED TO ROUND 1 PROJECTS
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They? ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: TRAVEL OPENS THE WAY FOR NEW EXPERIENCE & UNDERSTANDING
A LETTER TO THE CORPS: ADVICE FROM THE ATLANTIC REGION DIRECTOR
BURSTING THE AMERIBUBBLE: NEWS TO KEEP YOU PLUGGED IN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
On the Cover: Class XIX Atlantic Region Corps Members and Team Leaders, joined by Team Leaders from the Southwest Region, stand with Wendy Spencer (center), CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, to celebrate the beginning of AmeriCorps Week prior to the Class XIX Induction Ceremony on Friday, March 8. Top Left: A team’s 15-passenger van is loaded for project deployment. Top Right: Victor Alvarado (right), Whitney Wooten (center) and Eddy Lee (left) take the AmeriCorps Pledge at Induction.
IN THIS ISSUE 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Letters from the Region Director & The Editor Alumni Spotlight Staff & Team Leader Bulletin Board Bursting the AmeriBubble AmeriLife Lessons: Recipes, Advice & Tips on Spike Living Team Shout Outs Picturing a New Beginning: Images from Round 1, Week 1
MEMBER STATEMENT
Round 1 Project Map
CONTACT THE ATLANTIC REGION COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 202.528.3755 ● Email: smckenzie@cns.gov 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 Get to the Point is a weekly newsletter edited and designed by Ben Dillon, CRSTL
I’m a 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 prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes, and help the environment. To learn more or apply, visit www.AmeriCorps.gov/NCCC or call 1.800.942-2677
GET TO THE POINT / MARCH 14, 2013
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A Letter From the Region Director Dear Class XIX: You are off on your first project in your AmeriCorps NCCC journey. I am proud that you have made it through trainings, 6 a.m. PTs, living together in 9H, mini-spike, beginnings of ISPs, and to save ink, the rest of the initiation process. Based on the briefs that I have witnessed, the community meetings, the trainings I have sat in on, and an overall observation, I trust that Class XIX will represent the „A‟ with great pride. I hope that you can challenge yourself to uphold the motto for this year: “Commit To Be More.” As you have learned, this is an intense program that lends itself to many positive “ah ha” moments. You can better yourself in more ways than you
even thought possible. You can and will change. If you are shaking your head at that, then be careful! You might change in a negative way. Be open and embrace a positive change. As you begin your first SPIKE, learn how to get involved in the community. Call the library, go to a town hall meeting, visit a local coffee shop, eat the local cuisine, participate
in a local sporting event, walk down the streets (use the buddy system!), and/or learn the history. You may not get another opportunity to do exactly what you are doing right now, so take advantage of it! Commit to service, commit to the community, and commit to be more! The staff here at Perry Point is also striving to commit to be more. If there is any support you need, please do not hesitant to utilize us. Life after AmeriCorps is only 8 short months away. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Work hard, but don‟t forget to have fun! I thank you for your service. Committing to you, LaQuine Roberson
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: SHARE YOUR STORIES OF SERVICE Dear Class XIX, There is a great, climactic scene in the film Magnolia in which the lives of several characters are transformed by an inexplicable event of epic proportions: thousands upon thousands of frogs falling from the sky, plummeting into everything in sight and disturbing the status quo. If you haven‟t seen the movie, don‟t worry, I haven‟t given too much away. But I mention this scene because it evokes the same sort magical, transformative experience that you will very likely have this year; an experience that, at times, will be incomprehensible and stressful, but also awe-inspiring and catalyzing. As Leo Tolstoy wrote, “All great literature is one of two stories; a man [or woman] goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town.” While I certainly won‟t compare this newsletter to great literature, I will without hesitation say
that the journey you have just embarked upon is the stuff of great literature, and (with few exceptions) you will be that stranger who comes to town. You might now be saying, get to the point, what does this all have to do with the newsletter? Well, I‟m of the mindset that stories can bring people together. So I‟m asking every Corps Member, as an extension of their pledge to bring Americans together, to share their stories of service with the rest of the Corps and with the wider world by submitting articles for Get to the Point. There are no strict criteria for articles; I simply ask that you share a genuine (and appropriate!) account of your daily life. Maybe you had an “ah-ha” (frogs-fallingfrom-the-sky) moment, or maybe you just want to share what your team does to unwind after a long workday. Whatever it may be, only you can give voice to your experience. Sincerely, Ben Dillon, Community Relations Support Team Leader
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MARCH 14, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
TRAVEL OPENS THE WAY TO NEW EXPERIENCES & UNDERSTANDING Andrew Kline was a member of Class XIV in Denver. He currently is a customer service representative and warehouse manager, and he is serving on the board of the Philadelphia AmeriCorps Alums Chapter. Why did you join? I heard about AmeriCorps during an Alternative Spring Break in college. Volunteering has always been a big part of my life, and I didn't have much direction after graduating. I had never been west of Ohio, so NCCC seemed like an ideal opportunity to travel and do some good at the same time. What projects did you work on? Our projects were in Pass Christian, Miss.; Lower 9th, New Orleans; Pike's Peak, Colo.; and Omaha, Neb. While New Orleans is a very special place (as I'm sure anyone who has been there would agree), my favorite project was in Colorado doing wetland restoration and wilderness preservation. I love camping, so living in a tent for six weeks was right up my alley. What are some great memories and most difficult challenges? We had a pretty rough time with our first project in Mississippi. We were the host organization's first AmeriCorps team, and they would have probably been better off with a few National corps members than a
whole NCCC team. By contrast, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute knew exactly how to handle us and took us on some amazing hikes to thank us for our hard work. I also had a great time volunteering at Jazz Fest and working on the Jimmy Carter Blitz Build in New Orleans.
“It takes a special kind of person to give up a year of their life to help others, so don't let graduation be the end of it.” What did you gain from your experience? I gained a lot of experience managing groups of volunteers. For several projects, especially the Blitz build, we served as site managers, so, we had a goal, and it was left to us to figure out how best to reach that goal. I was able to use that experience when I worked
at a Philadelphia food bank, and it is a great skill to have when signing up for volunteer events. What are you doing now? I currently work as a customer service rep/warehouse manager, but I am looking to move back into the nonprofit section. I also am co-chair of the Philadelphia Chapter of AmeriCorps Alums and still volunteer as often as my schedule allows. Any advice for members? AmeriCorps, and NCCC in particular, is a truly unique experience. Explore. Talk to people. Listen to their stories and share yours. It takes a special kind of person to give up a year of their life to help others, so don't let graduation be the end of it. Find your local chapter of AmeriCorps Alums. If one doesn't exist, you can start one. And continue volunteering and sharing your story. I know I wouldn't have joined AmeriCorps if someone hadn't told me what a great experience it was. ●●●
GET TO THE POINT / MARCH 14, 2013
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STAFF & TEAM LEADER BULLETIN BOARD
REPLACEMENT PNC BANK CARD
FROM MEMBER SUPPORT SPECIA LIST, AARON ROSALES Corps Members who lose their PNC bank card should call 1-866-304-2818. Members will not be able to get a replacement card in person from the bank; one will be sent to them through the mail. Members should use the following address. PNC cards will not be sent to a P.O. Box.
S
Name / Class XIX / Team AmeriCorps NCCC VA Medical Center Building 15, Room 2 Boiler House Road Perry Point, MD 21902
JUST LIKE THEIR ANTLERS, THE MOOSE HAVE THEIR ISP HOURS UP! COME ON RAVENS AND BUFFALO, DON’T LET THE MOOSE WALK AWAY WITH THE LEAD!
Community Relations Corner (For CAP & Media Reps) CAP Reminders
Media Reminders
Scoreboard as of March 14
The CAP Plan was due prior to deployment. If you have not yet submitted the Plan, do so immediately.
The Media Plan was due prior to deployment. If you have not yet submitted the Plan, do so immediately.
Buffalo 3:
Check the Google Portal for events scheduled by Community Relations Staff.
Use the templates on the Google Portal when formatting all press releases. Get quotes from sponsors!
1 Media Hit
Submit an Event Notification Form (48 hours prior) and Event Report (48 hours post) for each recruitment event.
Upload pictures to Picasa Web Albums throughout the round!
If you cannot locate alumni near your project, you may set up a conference call or phone interview to meet the Alumni Engagement requirement.
Complete a Media Coverage Form for each media hit (within 48 hours of coverage) Project Press Releases must be submitted to the CRSTL by Friday, March 22.
1 Media Hit, 1 CAP Event Moose 3:
Raven 2: 1 CAP Event
Remember: Utilize resources provided by your project sponsor, coordinate with other teams for events, talk to your Project Outreach Liaison about media and recruitment opportunities during your team‟s Day of Service, and always update your Team Leader on what you‟re doing.
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MARCH 14, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
BURSTING THE AMERI-BUBBLE NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Physicists Say They Are Now Confident They Have Discovered the Long-Sought Higgs Boson GENEVA (AP) — In what could go down as one of the great Eureka! moments in physics—and win somebody the Nobel Prize—scientists said Thursday that after a halfcentury quest, they are confident they have found a Higgs boson, the elusive subatomic speck sometimes called the “God particle.” The existence of the particle was theorized in 1964 by the British physicist Peter Higgs to explain why matter has mass. Scientists believe the particle acts like molasses or snow: When other tiny basic building blocks pass through it, they stick together, slow down and form atoms.
53-Year-Old Musher Becomes Oldest Iditarod Champion NOME, Alaska (AP) — A 53year-old former champion has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to become the oldest winner of Alaska's grueling test of endurance. Mitch Seavey and 10 dogs crossed the Nome finish line to cheering crowds at 10:39 p.m. Alaska time Tuesday. “This is for all of the gentlemen of a certain age,” he said on a live stream posted to the Iditarod website after completing the race in temperatures just above zero. His race time in the 1,000-mile race was nine days, 7 hours and 39 minutes.
Mars Rover Shows Planet Could Have Supported Life LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drilling into a rock near its landing spot, the Curiosity rover has answered a key question about Mars: The red planet long ago harbored some of the ingredients needed for primitive life to thrive. Topping the list is evidence of water and basic elements that teeny organisms could feed on, scientists said
Tuesday. “We have found a habitable environment that is so benign and supportive of life that probably if this water was around and you had been on the planet, you would have been able to drink it,” said chief scientist John Grotzinger of the California Institute of Technology.
GET TO THE POINT / MARCH 14, 2013
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR $4.75 Southwestern Corn & Black Bean Salad
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AMERILIFE LESSONS Eat dinner as a team. You may want some time away from your team after a long work day, but
Here's a great make-ahead dinner— and leftovers are welcome for lunch the next day. If you make it ahead, don't add the salt and pepper until just before serving. That way, the salt won't render the vegetables soggy and the pepper won't lose its bite. Make It a Meal: Scoop up this salad with warm corn tortillas. Servings: 4 (2 cups each) Active Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients 3 large ears of corn, husked 1/3 cup pine nuts 1/4 cup lime juice
a “family style” dinner is a great way to bond and unwind. Pack your lunch at night. This may seem like simple advice, but it can be easy to forget or ignore it. With several people
2. Meanwhile, place pine nuts in a small dry skillet over mediumlow heat and cook, stirring, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. 3. Whisk lime juice, oil, cilantro, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the corn, pine nuts, beans, cabbage, tomato and onion; toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
1/2 teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper, to taste 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed 2 cups shredded red cabbage, (see Tip) 1 large tomato, diced 1/2 cup minced red onion
Preparation
and have time for breakfast. Explore. By the time the weekend rolls around, you may only want to lounge around your housing. Try to get out and explore the community at least one day a week. As the old adage goes, “you may never
Nutrition Per serving: 410 calories; 16 g fat ( 2 g sat , 8 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 57 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 16 g protein; 13 g fiber; 477 mg sodium; 537 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (80% daily value), Iron (25% dv), Vitamin A (20% dv), Potassium (15% dv). Carbohydrate Servings: 3
1. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add corn, cover and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut the kernels from the cobs using a sharp knife.
want to avoid the morning rush
pass this way again.”
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
sharing kitchen space, you’ll
Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 very lean meat, 2 fat Have a good, budget-friendly recipe? Email CRSTLatlantic@gmail.com
Keep a journal (as a team or individually). You’ll want to remember your experiences. Take care of your feet (especially if you’re a firefighter)! Use cotton foot padding on sensitive areas, use foot powder to absorb moisture, and wear thick wool socks, if possible.
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MARCH 14, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
TEAM SHOUT OUTS! Ask your Team Leader to share “Shout Out” information in the “Shared” section of the Weekly Progress Report.
“The Raven Bunch sends a warm hello from New York City! Mmmmm, lox and cream cheese on an everything bagel!!!”
“One Moose to rule them all, One Moose to find them, One Moose to bring them all, And in the forest bind them”
Raven 1 “Congrats to everyone for making it through CTI. We hope everyone is enjoying their first spike.”
Raven 3 “We have tons of food and room at our housing! Brock walked on an icy lake! Justin had a great birthday! Fletcher misses all the gals back in 9H! Our house is the Brady bunch house with crazy wallpaper and a zebra print floor! Ross is glad to be part of the Raven family!
Raven 5
“…and as I gazed upward I did behold an Moosicorn, most majestic and brilliant in nature; yea, its glory and wonder did overcome me insomuch that I did lie prostrate upon the earth and bask in the splendor thereof.”
-Sir Phillip, Earle of Schwartz
Moose 1 “There is an actual historical caboose on our project site which was a real inspiration to kick our cabooses into gear and get our service train moving!”
Moose 5
GET TO THE POINT / MARCH 14, 2013
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PICTURING A NEW BEGINNING
Top: Corps Members participating in the wildland firefighting program circle up during Firefighter Type 2 training with the North Carolina Forest Service in Kinston, N.C.
Left: Members of Moose 3 surveyed the lingering damage from Hurricane Sandy on Coney Island, N.Y. while doing disaster recovery work with World Care Centers.
Bottom-Left: Jessica Green of Moose 5 holds a baby carrot while working with the Camden Garden Club in Camden, N.J.
Above: Members of Buffalo 3, joined by Operations Support Team Leader Chandler Ballentine and Moose Unit Support Team Leader Emily Tiffany, stand in a greenhouse at Herring Run Nursery while working with Blue Water Baltimore.
To share your pictures in Get to the Point, email them to CRSTLatlantic@gmail.com or speak with your team’s Media Representative about uploading pictures to Picasa Web Albums.
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They?
Round 1, Week 1
For Round 1, Class XIX teams will complete 21 projects in seven states and the District of Columbia. Four teams are aiding in recovery from Hurricane Sandy in New York, while four more teams are doing long-term disaster recovery work elsewhere in the region. Additionally, three teams are completing projects focused on environmental stewardship, two teams are doing urban and rural development, and one team is doing infrastructure improvement.
RAVEN 1 New York, N.Y. New York Cares Disaster Recovery MOOSE 3
RAVEN 2
New York, N.Y. World Care Centers Disaster Recovery
Newburgh, N.Y. Habitat for Humanity Urban & Rural Development
BUFFALO 1
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 4
RAVEN 3
New Rochelle, N.Y. Habitat for Humanity Disaster Recovery
Denton, Md. Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay Disaster Recovery
Brownsville, Pa. Appalachian Coal Country Team Environmental Stewardship
Dover, Del. Delaware State Parks Environmental Stewardship
BUFFALO 2
MOOSE 1
MOOSE 5
RAVEN 4
Schoharie, N.Y. Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery Disaster Recovery
Baltimore, Md. Allima Institute Urban & Rural Development
Camden, N.J. Camden Garden Club Urban & Rural Development
Brooklyn, N.Y. St. Bernard Project Disaster Recovery
BUFFALO 3
MOOSE 2
PHOENIX 1
RAVEN 5
Baltimore, Md. Blue Water Baltimore Environmental Stewardship
Orefield, Pa. Valley Youth House Disaster Recovery
Suffolk, Va. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Disaster Response/Env. Stewardship
Meadville, Pa. Allegheny College Lake Effects Infrastructure Improvement