Get to the Point! AmeriCorps NCCC: Getting Things Done Volume XV, Issue 2
February 2009
Welcome Class XV Corps Members! “NCCC felt like a college course in life experience, the only requirement was an open mind.” - Becca Bacon Eagle 2, Class XIV
Inside this issue:
Staff Bios
2
Counselor Reminder
2
Money Matters
3
You Might Want to Bring
3
Meet the Unit Leaders
3
F.A.Q.s
4
Airport Arrival Info
4
Wildland Fire Info Travel Tips
4 5
NCCC Pledge
5
Info From the MSS
5
Welcome to Perry Point and your second issue of our newsletter, Get To The Point. Rather than bombard you with tons of information onyour first day with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), we decided to devote most of this issue of GTTP “Team to Green” — the Team Leaders (TLs) and Support Team leaders (STLs) who wear the green shirts. Many started their NCCC experience just as you are today, as Corps Members. For others, this is their first NCCC adventure. Either way, Team Green members have lots of stories and will serve as great mentors, coaches and leaders for you as you embark on your service year. Here, in their own words, is a brief introduction to Team Green:
Badger 2: Katie LaMarca is from Long Island, New York. She graduated college in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Art deBadger Support Team Leader: Liz Busch was born an excited gree and then spent the followspark plug. After conquering the ing year as a Corps Member at world in Class XIV, she decided the Western Region campus in to rejoin AmeriCorps as a mem- Sacramento. Some of her favorber of team GREEN CLASS XV! ite things include: Seinfeld, runLiz enjoys a nice cup of Joe and ning and moon pies. could live solely on circus peanuts and jelly beans. In her free Badger 3: Born and raised in Miami, Linda Arenas worked time, Liz enjoys body building, riding her bike across the great her way through college and grad school before coming to state of Iowa and raising fierce badgers. Did she mention that if AmeriCorps NCCC and is very excited about being a Team Jesus had a summer home it Leader with the Premier Camwould either be in Marcus, Iowa, or house 1063 in the Perry pus! She loves traveling to Colombia to visit family in South Point Village? America and also has been lucky enough to travel with friends to Badger 1: Jessie Baldwin is a beautiful Costa Rica, Hawaii, California native who went to school for sociology at the Uni- Puerto Rico and Spain. She is currently teaching herself Italian versity of California in Davis. before making a trip out to EuShe graduated two years ago rope. Linda is very passionate and since graduation has been about the things she does and working for non-profits, most always tries to put a positive recently working for the Avon spin on things. Two of her faWalk for Breast Cancer in San Francisco. She loves the culture vorite Disney movies include and vibrancy of that city where Finding Nemo and Lilo and Stitch. Last but not least, she leaves she hopes to live at the end of you with a message that is near her time in NCCC. She also and dear to her... ''Make today loves soccer, traveling and count... Because tomorrow isn't meeting new people. So come guaranteed!'' introduce yourself!
Badger Unit
Badger 4: Phillip Smith, call AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
him “Tony”, was born in the n in the foothills of Oakland, California. He relocated to the great state of Minnesota and is now entering his second year in AmeriCorps NCCC. Last year he was a Corps Member on Badger 4 and enjoyed it so much he came back to lead Badger 4 through another great year of service. Tony’s theme song is by DJ Khaled — GO HARD!! Badger 5: Tyler Burns, a young, resourceful lad, grew up on the average streets of Cape Coral, Florida where he learned the dangers of boredom and too much sun. After receiving his degree in Business Administration from Florida State University, he worked in an office ensuring pensions for retirees. Realizing that this was not his path, he joined AmeriCorps NCCC, serving at Perry Point as a Corps Member in Class XIV. Tyler enjoys the three Rs: Reading, Running and Reinvigorating Rhetorical Relics. Really. Badger 6: Andrew Ewing. I was born on a Tuesday in sunny, scenic Indianapolis, Indiana into the loving arms of the Ewings. I moved back and forth from Indy
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Get to the Point!
Meet the Team Leaders
“This is a chance to connect with other citizens of our country, to help where many have gone unheard and unnoticed, to provide peace of mind to those with no where else to turn.”
- Arielle Davis Eagle 3, Class XIII
to San Diego and back again for the first decade of my life. I have been heavy into sports for most of my life and played football and lacrosse during high school. I continued to play lacrosse at Kenyon College in Ohio. Go Lords! I graduated from Kenyon in 2007 where I majored in History. I also spent a semester living in Galway, Ireland where I attended NUI, Galway. My resume includes, but is not limited to, working at a summer camp, running my own daycare, working in retail and as a doorman. I eventually found my way to NCCC and was a Corps Member at the Point in Class XIV. I loved my experience so much that I am back again to lead the greatest team in all of NCCC history, Badger 6. In my spare time I love to read, run, travel and watch any movie I can get my hands on. My mind is full of useless trivia, so I can frequently be found at BW3’s eating wings and destroying the “competition” in the buzztime trivia game. I look forward to having another great year and introducing the lucky few to all that is…BADGER 6, rar rar rar.
from the University of Texas at San Antonio and plans to get her Master’s in Environmental Justice somewhere on the East Coast after this year. She served as a Corps Member last year at Perry Point and is super excited to have her own team this year! Some of her passions are: long walks, Junior Mints, music and always having it on (MINUS COUNTRY!), laughing, making inappropriate jokes, reading classic novels, traveling and having new adventures. She is also very passionate about service work and the environment and hopes that you get as much out of this year as she did last year! YEA!
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1112 boys, and loyal servant to the true Raven Unit Leader, Jen Horan. Product of Madison, Wisconsin, graduate of St. Olaf College, track runner, alumni of the murdered Charleston NCCC campus, and, I will have an amazing 10 months, be it in Maryland or the Gulf.
Raven 5: Raven 5: Vivian Newstate is new to NCCC but completed another AmeriCorps program, Public Allies, in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Cincinnati. She is excited to embark on another term of service. Her hope is that as she volunteers in Raven 2: Stanley H. Murzyn is different communities, she can the Team Leader for Raven Two. encourage others to be civically He was born in Taiwan, in the engaged and take care of their Year of the Dragon. He cracked neighbors. his head before he was three Raven 6: Jeremy Exell is older years of age. He put the "pedal to than you. Deal with it. (He may or the metal" in a German tank. He may not have anger management skied the same slopes as the 1994 issues.) When serving in AmeriWinter Olympics. He has lived in Corps, he lives out of his 2001 three countries and visited eight Mazda Protégé….no joke. He more. He can twist his thumbs graduated from THE Michigan backwards. He butters his PopState University with a degree in Tarts. He loves to cook. And History. An Alumni of Perry Point most importantly, he feels very Class XIV, Jeremy is looking forRaven Unit lucky and excited to serve with a ward to working with great peonew group of CMs for his second ple, making great friends, getting Raven Support Leader: Amber year of service in NCCC. great things done and just being Reed is from Coos Bay, Oregon, great. where her entire family still lives. Raven 3: Mo Wieser comes to Wolf Unit She attended Willamette Univer- Perry Point from Portland, Oresity where she studied politics and gon. She graduated from Gonzaga history, argued for scholarship Wolf Support Team Leader: University with a degree in Psymoney, worked at an elementary chology and eventually wants to Wolf Unit STL: Amanda Bashir school, interned in the state sen- return to school. For the past is from Los Alamitos, California. ate, studied abroad and made This is her second year of service three years, Mo has worked for some really great friends. Amber both Northwest Youth Corps and with AmeriCorps NCCC. She loves to play outside, read, travel, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps; served as a Corps Member last file things and drink coffee. She is taking teenagers into the woods year in Sacramento, California. passionate about most domestic Her hobbies are traveling and to build bridges, trails, turnpikes public policy areas and couch and crib structures. When not in discovering new and exciting napping. things. She plans on becoming a the woods, Mo likes to play socgraphic designer after she leaves cer, go camping and go rock Raven 1: Rosanna "Sandy" the program. Her favorite quote climbing. Meenan was born in Oxnard, is, “Life is either a daring advenCalifornia but raised just north of Raven 4: My name is Nathanus ture or nothing at all!”- Helen San Antonio, Texas. She received Campbellus, commander of the Keller. her bachelor’s degree in Biology armies of Raven 4, member of the
AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
Volume XV, Issue 2
Meet the Team Leaders Wolf 1: Mikey Nelson, who sometimes answers to “Tim”, arrived at the Point by way of Boulder, Colorado, a beautiful city placed on the doorstep of heaven beneath the Rocky Mountains. He attended the University of Northern Colorado where he obtained a degree in Criminal Justice. This is his second year in NCCC following a successful Corps Member year in Sacramento Class XIV. He enjoys kittens, an array of sports, traveling and exploring the outdoors. Wolf 2: Peter Czarkowski has many faces, and no past. It's been said that he was born of a virgin in the Maryland room of B15. But I heard it was the Connecticut room. Today he returns as the proud leader of Wolf 2: Kill Squad. But what can be said of Peter, the man? He is a man of many words. Many important words. Organized into sentences, with subjects and predicates. And also nouns, and verbs and adverbs. Well, not always adverbs. Or subjects, I guess. Listen, we're not in Sunday grammar school anymore! This is the NCCC, where boys become men, girls become men, and men become the leaders of tomorrow! Peter thanks you and welcomes you to The Point. Wolf 3: Most would say Joareyn Hill is kind of crazy (in a good way), but she prefers the word "unique". Raised in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin with her three sisters and brother, "Jo" graduated from high school not knowing what to do with her life. She went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for Theatre, but only lasted a semester. Before joining NCCC last year, she earned her dough by starting her own cleaning business. Jo loved her Corps Member experience so much she couldn't not come back as a Team Leader. She loves her cat CoCo and her late kitty Tinky (almost too much), talking in accents, her birthday, would love to be a Vegas Showgirl, and everyday ridiculousness that life offers. Go Packers! Woo...HOO!
her Master's in school counseling and remains an active Girl Scout. When she isn't saving the world, she is either getting lost in the woods or exploring the coast. Amanda also enjoys dollar stores, dancing in the van, Clay Aiken, camping, sunsets, googley-eyes, and shiny things.
Other Support Team Leaders Zach Brooks is the Community Relations Support Team Leader (aka the Guy Who Writes These Newsletters). He is extremely excited to be back at the Atlantic Region for the second straight year. Last year he was on Raven 5 (Raveno Cinco) and had a blast. Zach’s favorite project was working at the Camden Children’s Garden in Camden, New Jersey and still visits Camden on a regular basis. Z. Brooks graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Advertising and Psychology and is a HUGE MSU basketball and football fan. After NCCC, Zach aspires to become the first AmeriCorps alumni on “Survivor”. Projects Support Team Leader: Julia Gerlach was born in Long Beach, California and grew up outside Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Cleveland State University in 2007 with a degree in Communication Management. Julia served as a Corps Member at Perry Point in 2007. She is excited about being a support team leader this year. Julia loves turtles, anything related to food (especially baking!!!), the Cleveland Indians, her dog Surely and Jimmy Buffett. BUT, she hates people who are late. Don’t be late.
Jenna Kreitzer is excited to return to Perry Point for her second year in NCCC. She loves the outdoors and especially enjoys hiking, camping and skiing. Jenna hails from West Bend, Wisconsin where she grew up with her four siblings. Before joining AmeriCorps NCCC, Jenna graduated from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse with a degree in Public Wolf 4: Colleen O’Toole is excited to begin Administration. her Team Leader year after taking a two-and-ahalf-year vacation from Corps life after serving Patrick Sullivan has the heart of a lion and at the Capital Region Campus in Class XII. She the tenacity of a platypus. Patrick served as a hails from Michigan but is a Notre Dame fan field team leader in Class XIV and, despite and does not like the cold. Colleen's favorite severe emotional injury and ego damage, he activities around the Point are PT with Derchose to return for another year. He celenard (especially when he sings) and Sean, hangbrates himself. And sings himself. One day, ing out in the basement of 9-H and GMA with Patrick dreams to become an NBA player, and Team Green. a hip-hop superstar. Wolf 5: Wolf 5: Amanda Atkins comes from Kansas City, Missouri and is back for her second year in NCCC after serving in Sacramento, Class XIV, whoot! She is working on AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
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Get to the Point!
$4.50 a Day, Are You Kidding Me? Q. Are linens and towels provided? A. Linens and towels are NOT provided. You may ship bedding prior to your arrival, but it should not arrive before January 27, 2009. You will also have the opportunity to go shopping at a WalMart or Target when you arrive at The Point Q. I just got my nose pierced… I can wear a stud, right? A. No. The Dress Code prohibits any facial jewelry, including studs, while in NCCC uniform. Any piercing in the ears must be stud piercings or small hoops (dime-size or smaller). Tunnels must conform to the size requirement and must be solid. A complete Uniform Policy will be provided to you upon your arrival to campus. Q. How will I eat every day? A. AmeriCorps NCCC will give you money each week and two people from every house will go shopping. By the end of CTI you will be an expert grocery shopper and cook! Q. Can I live with my friend from home who will be in NCCC? A. No, roommates are assigned randomly. You will find out your housing assignments when you arrive. Q. I’m driving to The Point, will I be able to drive my own car to projects? A. No, each team will take their “govie” van to project, but personal vehicles are not allowed on spike. Q. Can I get on the internet at The Point? A. Yes. There is a computer lab on campus that also has a wireless signal. On a nice day, you can even sit outside and get online.
AmeriCorps NCCC Atlantic Region Janet Boyer Community Relations Specialist P.O. Box 209 Perry Point, MD 21902 Phone: 410-642-2411x6244 Fax: 410-642-1888 E-mail: jboyer@cns.gov Your world. Your chance to make it better.
WWW. AMERICORPS. GOV/ NCCC
Have a question? Send it to zbrooks@cns.gov and the appropriate staff member will answer it in the next issue.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Mission Statement: To strengthen communities and develop leaders through team-based national community service.
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Airport Arrival Information If you arrive by plane to BWI Airport on February 3rd, look for this symbol. It will be plastered all over the person who will direct you to the transport to campus. Seriously, they will have the “A” on their shirt sleeves, their vests, sweat shirts...they may even be holding a sign with the “A” on it! If you miss the “A,” look for the USO Office in the baggage claim area. You should find an NCCC member there!
Wildland Firefighter Information
Are you interested in becoming a Wildland Firefighter? If so, start getting into shape now. The Firefighter Pack Test will be sometime in early February and there will not be time to train once you arrive on campus.
AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
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Volume XV, Issue 2
From the Desk of the Member Support Specialist (MSS)
The following will be your address for your 10 months of service: YOUR NAME, Class XV AmeriCorps NCCC, Team (which you will receive after a few weeks at The Point) P.O. Box 209 Perry Point, MD 21902 This address for packages only is: YOUR NAME, Class XV AmeriCorps NCCC VA Medical Center Building 15, Room 2 Boiler House Road Perry Point, MD 21902
In order to make your in-processing as easy as possible, you need to bring the following paperwork: Document proving citizenship (passport, birth certificate) Copy of driving record (if you plan on being a van driver) Valid photo ID Copy of High School Diploma or College degree, if applicable Social Security Number Documentation of tetanus shot, if you had one Immunization Records Direct Deposit information Student loan information for loan forbearance, if applicable.
Have you received your travel plans? Please make sure your checking your e-mail as all travel arrangements are through e-mail correspondence. If you have not received your flight information by January 23rd please e-mail Member Support Specialist Shawna Vreeke at svreeke@cns.gov. Please make sure you remember your log in and password for the My AmeriCorps web portal. You will need access to the portal for in-processing and it can take up to two weeks to create a new password. Please go to my.americorps.gov and verify your log in information. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Member Support Specialist Shawna Vreeke at svreeke@cns.gov
You can begin forwarding your mail beginning January 27. The addresses for letters and packages are listed to the left.
Travel Light You’re young. You’re strong. You’re able to respond to a call for help at a moment’s notice. You are an NCCC member and you are ready to serve. And what’s great about the NCCC program is that you don’t need to bring a lot of “stuff” with you to enjoy your service year. In fact, we can’t over-emphasize that you should pack light for your NCCC adventure. One suitcase (no more than 50 pounds) and one carry-on size bag is all you’ll need. So, as you are deciding what to bring, keep in mind that storage space at the Perry Point Campus is limited and that you will be required to vacate campus housing during your project rounds. Clearly, then, you won’t want to waste your time between project rounds repeatedly packing and unpacking a bunch of unnecessary “stuff”? If you need help deciding what to bring, read pages 33 and 34 of your Welcome Packet.
Words of Wisdom: One suitcase (no more than 50 pounds) and one carry-on size bag is all you need. Believe me!
AmeriCorps NCCC
I will get things done for America, To make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
Pledge
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps Member, and I will GET THINGS DONE!
AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
AmeriCorps NCCC Atlantic Region Janet Boyer Community Relations Specialist P.O. Box 209 Perry Point, MD 21902 Phone: 410-642-2411x6244 Fax: 410-642-1888 E-mail: jboyer@cns.gov
Your world. Your chance to make it better.
WWW. AMERICORPS. GOV/ NCCC
AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service
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AmeriCorps NCCC—Celebrating 15 Years of Service