Nevada Volunteers News and Press

Nevada Volunteers Works to Improve Volunteer Rate in NevadaNevadans Who Volunteer Dedicate More Hours Than National Average

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

National Study Finds Nevada Rate Steady but Needing Improvement

Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, is working to inspire more Nevadans to volunteer in 2010. Despite the severe effects of the recession in the state, Nevada’s volunteering rate has remained relatively stable for the past two years. According to a survey by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in 2009 approximately 416,000 Nevadans volunteered, or 20.6%*. These volunteers contributed 62.3 million hours of service. “Nevada’s volunteer rate has increased since the baseline percentage of 16.5% was established in 1989,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “Together with our higher amount of hours per volunteer, 38.2% compared to the national average of 34.2%, this is a sign of improvement in the sector. With the help of national service and our partner organizations, Nevada Volunteers is strengthening the volunteer infrastructure in Nevada.” There is still work for Nevada to do, though, because the state is ranked 50th among all the states and Washington D.C.

Nevada Volunteers launched a new website, www.nevadavolunteers.org, in 2009, which allows people across Nevada to search for volunteer opportunities posted by nonprofits in their area. Nonprofits post their volunteer needs at no cost, and the public can then browse through the list online for opportunities that might interest them. This summer, the website will be updated to make the search tool even more convenient.

In 2009, 229 AmeriCorps members, funded with grants awarded by Nevada Volunteers, recruited and managed 5,251 volunteers throughout Nevada. These volunteers donated more than 69,883 hours of community service valued at $1,415,130.70. In 2010, Nevada AmeriCorps programs have been expanded to fund 341 members across the state, which will increase this volunteer recruitment effort.

The Nevada Volunteers’ Higher-Education Initiative has been working to create a stronger bridge between campuses and the nonprofit community. In the fall of 2009, Nevada Volunteers set up student work groups on Nevada campuses to inspire more students to serve. Work group participants surveyed over 800 of their peers to gauge the interest, as well as the challenges, in volunteering for students. This year, work will continue on campus to integrate ideas generated from the survey and the work group students into the campuses.

Through these efforts, plus their nonprofit outreach, training workshops, and public presentations, Nevada Volunteers will continue to make it easier for Nevadans to find quality experiences through which to serve their communities.

*To see the complete set of data from the Volunteering in America study, go to www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/NV. Please note: some data is found through the customize button.

Nevada AmeriCorps Member selected for National ConferenceNevada Outdoor School Naturalist to Attend Outdoor Nation

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) is excited to announce the selection of Megan Allen, one of our AmeriCorps members, to attend Outdoor Nation, a national conference in New York City June 19-20. Megan serves with NOS as a Naturalist, teaching lessons in the classroom and the field to students in Humboldt County as well as other parts of rural Nevada.

Outdoor Nation is a conference created through a diverse partnership lead by The Outdoor Foundation of more than 50 organizations that range from the YMCA to The North Face. The goal of the conference is to launch a youth-led movement, which will harness the passion, energy and ideas of young people, empowering them to champion the outdoors on campuses and in their communities. Through entertainment, education, engagement and action, Outdoor Nation and its community of ‘Outsiders’ will work to dramatically increase and expand youth participation and engagement with the outdoors – resulting in a healthier, more active generation.

Megan’s attendance at the conference is made possible through Nevada Outdoor School’s partnership with the USDA Forest Service who selected Megan to represent them as a delegate. Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat and dedication to community. AmeriCorps is a national service program similar to Peace Corps. Opportunities to serve through AmeriCorps in Rural Nevada are coordinated by Nevada Outdoor School and made possible through a generous grant from Nevada Volunteers.

Links:

Nevada Outdoor School - http://www.nevadaoutdoorschool.org
Nevada Volunteers - http://www.nevadavolunteers.org
Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/
Outdoor Nation- http://www.outdoornation.org/

Questions can be directed to Jimmy Fox at Nevada Outdoor School (775) 623-5656 or james.fox@nevadaoutdoorschool.org

NEVADA VOLUNTEERS SALUTES 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF VISTASponsors Nevada VISTA Alum at National Service Conference in New York

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Since 1965, 175,000 Americans have dedicated a year of their lives to serve as VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America), working to eradicate poverty in the United States through this 45 year old National Service program. A key goal of this year’s anniversary activities is to reconnect with VISTA alumni to highlight their stories of service. Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, is honoring this goal by sponsoring Alex Cherup, a Nevada VISTA alum, to travel to the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New York, June 28th to 30th.

Cherup’s experience as a VISTA illustrates the promise the VISTA program holds for those who want to serve, especially for our nation’s young people. Fresh out of college, at 21, Cherup had a strong desire to work in the disability community—inspired by a close friend with an intellectual disability who overcame many challenges to succeed in college—but he wasn’t sure how to follow that dream until he discovered the VISTA program.

Cherup found a VISTA position in Las Vegas with the Family Ties Youth in Transition Project, which assists youth with disabilities from ages 16 to 22, giving them the tools and support to make a transition from high school to the real world. According to Cherup, “Disability and poverty are unfortunately very connected.” Employment rates for disabled people are very low, and for those who are employed, their jobs may not pay well. The Youth in Transition Project gives young people with disabilities both soft and hard tools, such as self-determination, job-seeking, and interviewing skills, as well as assistance with customized employment searches with the aim of carving out a job to match their specific skills and abilities.

VISTA enabled Cherup to succeed in ways that challenged him to grow while nurturing his instinct to serve others. He is sometimes amazed, when he is at a conference or putting together a networking session, that he is actually doing this wonderful, fulfilling work at a young age. He is also gratified for the community-minded perspective that VISTA has built in him. “When you have only a limited living stipend and are basically devoting all of your time to service, it is hard to look at your success as personal because the monetary rewards are so much removed from the picture,” Cherup explained. “As a VISTA, my success is inseparable from the community’s success.”

His experience as a VISTA has left a mark on him that will influence him the rest of his life. Indeed, Cherup is now a VISTA supervisor with Family Ties, overseeing the Youth in Transition Project in Las Vegas as well as the People First project, a self-advocacy organization for the disabled that has 7 chapters in Las Vegas. Though not originally from Las Vegas, he also has become a very active member in the community beyond his VISTA responsibilities. “Because of VISTA,” Cherup said, “I have been able to contribute to a community that initially wasn’t mine, but now definitely is.” This illustrates the benefit of VISTA, not just for the service member or the population they serve, but for the people of Nevada. VISTA, and other national service programs such as AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America, help to generate the community leaders of tomorrow by giving people the skills and the inclination to become involved in making their communities a better place to live.

“Nevada Volunteers is proud to be a collaborative partner with all the National Service programs in Nevada,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “Alex Cherup is an impressive young man, and we are happy to support his professional development by sponsoring this trip to the national conference, especially in recognition of the 45th anniversary of VISTA.”

NEVADA VOLUNTEERS LAUNCHES AMERICORPS SUMMER OF SERVICE33 Youth Serve Statewide

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO/LAS VEGAS, Nevada— Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, has launched its AmeriCorps Summer of Service initiative. This new program provides AmeriCorps service opportunities for 17-24 year old, college bound young adults who want to participate in national service programs in their local communities. Benefits include a modest living allowance and a higher education award.

• Great Basin Institute’s Nevada Conservation Corps has 6 Summer of Service members serving with conservation crews in the Mount Rose Wilderness.
• Luz Community Development Coalition’s AmeriCorps program has placed 16 youth at 6 community agencies in Las Vegas and Henderson including Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, City of Las Vegas - Neighborhood Services’ Hope Center, College of Southern Nevada, The Embracing Project and the 17th annual Latino Youth Leadership Conference.
• Nevada Outdoor School has two rural Summer of Service members. One member is serving at Nevada Outdoor School in Winnemucca. The second youth is serving in Battle Mountain with the Lander County School District.
• Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has one member serving at Incline Village General Improvement District’s Waste Not program and a second member serving at Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe.
• United Way of Southern Nevada’s AmeriCorps program has 7 members serving at 4 nonprofit agencies in Las Vegas and Pahrump: Three Square Food Bank, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, Nye Counties Coalition and Community Services of Nevada.

About Nevada Volunteers
Nevada Volunteers, formerly known as Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, creates opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to engage in volunteering and shape a culture of service and citizenship. Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide, sponsors the annual Points of Light Awards and promotes volunteerism. Since 1998, over 2,028 AmeriCorps members have served through Nevada Volunteers, providing 1,499,563 hours of service to northern, southern and rural communities. Those members were awarded approximately $4 million in higher education awards, recruited 30,720 additional volunteers who donated 242,008 hours of volunteer service valued at $4,773,289.
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AmeriCorps volunteers begin summer of service in Lake Tahoe Basin

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff report,

This summer, Nevada Conservation Corps volunteers from across the country will contribute thousands of hours of service to Lake Tahoe Basin communities. Living in tents, these volunteers endure heat, dust, cold, snow, and rain to build and maintain recreational trails, thin forest fuels, remove invasive weeds and restore degraded landscapes for the benefit of all.

In and around South Lake Tahoe, NCC saw crews will be a strong presence, reducing fuels in Tahoe forests. NCC trail crews will provide muscle and expertise in the construction of three-miles of connector trail from the Tahoe Rim Trail at Daggett Summit, down through the Van Sickle Unit of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park to Stateline.

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100526/NEWS/100529882/1003&parentprofile=1056&template=printart

VOLUNTEERING AND YOUR HEALTH: HOW GIVING BACK BENEFITS EVERYONENew Study Reaffirms Health Benefits of Volunteering

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A survey released by UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, and VolunteerMatch identifies some of the key health benefits of volunteering. The UnitedHealthcare/VolunteerMatch Do Good. Live Well. Survey queried more than 4,500 American adults about the physical benefits of volunteering.

Among the key findings:

More than 68% of those who volunteered in the past year report that volunteering made them feel physically healthier.

29% of volunteers who suffer from a chronic condition say that volunteering has helped them manage their chronic illness.

89% of volunteers agree that volunteering improved their sense of well-being.

73% of volunteers feel that volunteering lowered their stress levels.

92% of volunteers agree that volunteering enriches their sense of purpose in life.

Read the 2 page Fact Sheet on the survey at:

http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/news/rel2010/UHC-VolunteerMatch-Survey-Fact-Sheet.pdf

LOCAL NATIONAL SERVICE MEMBERS ARE HONORED BY NEVADA VOLUNTEERSEighth Annual National Service Award Recipients are Selected

Mon, 3 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Every year, Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, honors outstanding National Service volunteers in Nevada. These awards are given in observance of National AmeriCorps Week, which runs May 8th to 15th this year. All of these award winners are great examples of the promise of National Service programs. “We are very proud of them all,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “Their service makes Nevada a better place for all of us.”

Nevada Volunteers is pleased to announce the following winners and share a little of their story:

1) 2010 AmeriCorps Member of the Year: Dannyn Smith , Nevada Conservation Corps, from Sparks, Nevada

Dannyn Smith is the youngest person to be given a Crew Leader position in the Nevada Conservation Corps. He joined eighteen months ago at 19, when he was just out of high school, and was promoted to Crew Leader during his first year-long term because of his natural leadership skills. Despite his age, he has the ability to mentor crew members who may be older—as well as command their respect. He has a knack for turning crew morale around, mediating serious conflicts, and motivating his crews to perform difficult, sometimes thankless, but important work. Another week of eradicating thistle? Another mile of trail to complete? Dannyn’s crews say, “No problem.” Dannyn’s crews have built and maintained over 30 miles of trail, removed invasive species from 1,000 acres of public land, and reduced hazardous fuels on 30 of them. This summer, Dannyn will turn his talents toward a crew of high school AmeriCorps members who will use pulaskis, rock bars, and grip hoists to build sustainable trails for the Truckee Meadows Community. Like all of Dannyn’s crews, they will learn to exemplify the AmeriCorps motto: Getting things done!

2) 2010 AmeriCorps Program Director of the Year: Michelle Redmond, United Way of Southern Nevada AmeriCorps Program, from Las Vegas, Nevada

Michelle Redmond has managed the United Way’s AmeriCorps program for the past two years. She is in charge of 22 AmeriCorps members positioned with United Way’s partner nonprofit agencies throughout the Las Vegas valley and Pahrump. Michelle works to ensure her AmeriCorps members succeed and they certainly are busy. They are responsible for organizing 2,527 volunteers to pack 54,109 backpacks with ready-to-eat meals; training 71 volunteer attorneys to provide assistance with issues such bankruptcy and family law, including representing domestic violence and child abuse victims; transporting 60 homeless people weekly to get showers, clothing and a meal; providing direct interpretation service for 433 Hispanic individuals; and that is only one quarter of the list. Other members set up immunization clinics, prepare tax returns for the poor, promote literacy, distribute food to the hungry, and mentor or tutor youth. Michelle coordinates it all and she does it with patience and dedication. “Michelle is a nurturing supervisor and is always available to the members to offer suggestions whether their questions are of a professional or personal nature,” said Robin Kelley, Director of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada. “Saying that she goes above and beyond the call really doesn’t come close to describing her work ethic. She is simply ‘there’ for each and every one of her members.”

3) 2010 AmeriCorps VISTA of the Year: Natalie Minev, Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada, from Las Vegas, Nevada

Natalie Minev has been in the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) Program since last June. She is a dynamo of event coordination and nonprofit outreach. Natalie organized the Volunteer Center’s September 11th Day of Service, which collected a whopping 3.5 tons of donated personal items, 400 banners, and 1,476 hand-written cards for the troops. The very next month, she coordinated a Make a Difference Day Project at two local elementary schools, and is tackling the National Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 8th, which will be her biggest project yet. On top of all that, during her VISTA year, Natalie found time to reach out to 97 new nonprofits to understand their volunteer needs and make them partners of the Volunteer Center which recruits volunteers for them. When she found a few minutes to spare, she busied herself preparing taxes for low-income individuals and staffing health and resource fairs. Natalie exemplifies the AmeriCorps spirit of getting things done!

4) 2010 Learn and Serve Participant of the Year: Marilou Tognarelli, Teacher, Elko County School District, from Carlin, Nevada.

Before becoming a teacher, Marilou Tognarelli worked for both the Carlin Police Department and the Volunteer Fire Department. Because of her background as a certified Emergency Medical Technician and an Emergency Medical Services instructor, she was well aware of the need for First Responders in Carlin, which is a full hour away from emergency services in Elko. She also recognized the natural fit between that need and the energy and inquisitiveness of her students. They were a resource that had not been tapped for this purpose before. This insight inspired her to partner with local organizations to train and certify six students, 16 or older, to become First Responders. The training even reached down to younger ages. Twenty 5th graders were certified in CPR. As a result, not only are there more community members trained to respond to emergency situations—from vehicles accidents to hazmat spills to structure fires—but some of these young people are strongly considering health/emergency preparedness fields as a career option.

5) 2010 Senior Corps Participant of the Year: Linda Haigh, RSVP, Sanford Center for Aging, University of Nevada, Reno, from Reno, Nevada

When Linda Haigh was matched with a couple of low-income veterans through the Senior Outreach Services Program, she committed to helping them with errands and appointments. Soon, though, those two veterans turned into a long-term commitment to sixty veterans because she recognized a tremendous need that she couldn’t turn away from. All the veterans live in the same subsidized housing unit and they have no family nearby to assist them. The majority have no cars or phones either, and several vets are mentally and/or physically disabled. She helps them all—with VA appointments, prescriptions, paperwork, shopping, banking, and even burial arrangements. She organized a Veteran’s Outreach Program at her church to help with clothing needs plus celebration dinners for the 4th of July and Veteran’s Day. She considers serving these veterans to be an honor. Linda feels that the many hours a week she spends helping them can never compare to the sacrifices they have made to serve their country.

RSVP Executive Director Janice Ayers Receives �Living the Legacy' Award From the University of Reno's Sanford Center for Aging

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO, NEVADA--Over 200 people gave a standing ovation to Janice Ayres, Executive Director of the Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program (RSVP), Carson City, as she was presented with the prestigious ‘Living the Legacy Award’ by the University of Nevada Reno’s (UNR) Sanford Center for Aging, which recognizes long-time commitment to improving the lives of Nevada elders. The award was presented on Monday evening, April 26th at the ‘Celebration of Scholars in Aging’ event in the Joseph Crowley Student Union on the campus of UNR.
In his presentation remarks, Dr. John McDonald, Director of the Sanford Center noted that ‘Living the Legacy’ is not an annual award, and that this was only the fifth time that it has been presented since being instituted in 1993. He recognized Ayres for her over 50 years of dedicated service, including 31 years as Executive Director of RSVP. He noted that her half century of commitment to numerous non-profit charitable organizations included service with the Nevada Association for Retarded Citizens, American Heart Association, and the Nevada Association for Mental Health among many others. He also noted that she was voted “Outstanding Older Nevada Worker” in 2002 and honored by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for her outstanding contributions to Nevada. She was also appointed by then Governor Kenny Guinn to attend and represent him at the White House Conference on Aging which only convenes every 10 years.

Among her many public service appointments are the Governor’s Commission on Aging, the Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, and many others. She is the founder and President of the Nevada Senior Corps Association and Past President of the National Association of RSVP Directors. Staff representing Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign and Congressman Dean Heller were in attendance to also present Ayres with Congressional awards recognizing her for being chosen for the Sanford award.
The mission of UNR’s Sanford Center for Aging is to develop innovative ideas, educational and research opportunities, and community partnerships that add life to years. After the death of her husband Graham, Carson City pioneer Jean Sanford, who had initially gifted the University for a program to establish a Geriatric and Gerontology center, dedicated much of her estate to establish an endowment for the center. In 1993, in honor of her benefaction, the state Board of Regents renamed the existing University program The Graham and Jean Sanford Center for Aging.

For more information, please call (775) 784-4774 or visit them on the web: www.unr.edu/sanford

The mission of RSVP is to help strengthen the fabric of the communities in which they serve by fostering greater civic engagement for citizens through volunteering, in partnership with their communities, and by providing independent living programs to assist low-income seniors in remaining independent and in their own homes as long as possible. RSVP has been serving the seniors in rural Nevada since 1973.

For more information, please call (775) 687-4680 or visit them on the web: www.nevadaruralrsvp.org

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Independent Sector Announces New Estimate for Value of Volunteer Time

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C., April 13, 2010)-Independent Sector announces that the 2009 estimate for the value of a volunteer hour has reached $20.85, an increase from $20.25 per hour in 2008.

The release of this important figure comes just before National Volunteer Week, which takes place April 18 - 24, 2010. This year Independent Sector and Points of Light Institute are partnering to celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve communities across the nation.

"America's heritage of giving back is unique and distinctive. Whether we help a single individual or ignite change that benefits millions, people in this country have come together through voluntary organizations for over 230 years. Children who grow up learning to give back not only strengthen their communities but enrich their own lives in countless ways. We celebrate that spirit of selfless service," said Diana Aviv, President and CEO of Independent Sector.

"We are also celebrating and commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the Volunteer Generation Fund and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day," said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute and Co-Founder HandsOn Network. "At a time when polarization too often paralyses Washington, it is important to remember that significant change in our nation has always been sparked and fueled by citizens, grassroots movements and our independent sector," she adds.

The valuation of volunteer time provides one way to measure the impact millions of individuals make with each hour they dedicate to make a difference. More than a third of nonprofit organizations surveyed reported increasing their use of volunteers between September 2008 and March 2009 and almost half expect to use more volunteers in the coming year.

Nonprofits employ approximately 12.9 million workers - almost 10 percent of the American work force - and account for about 5 percent of GDP. In 2008, volunteer labor produced an estimated 6.8 million full-time equivalent employees, increasing total charitable impact by more than 50 percent. About 61.8 million Americans, or 26.4 percent of the adult population gave 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion in 2008; estimates for 2009 will be released this summer.

Every other year, IS also calculates a value for each volunteer hour state by state and that information has just been updated as well. To access the numbers for every state and learn more about the hourly value of volunteer time, visit www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time.

### Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 550 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community. To learn more about Independent Sector, please visit: www.independentsector.org.

Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator. For more information, visit PointsofLight.org.

FEDERAL WAIVER GIVES NEVADA VOLUNTEERS A GREEN LIGHT FOR 2010Nevada Volunteers Celebrates Funding Breakthrough

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO/LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Nevada Volunteers, the state commission that administers Nevada’s AmeriCorps programs, has been approved for the alternative match schedule for state service commissions experiencing a funding hardship. The Corporation for National and Community Service will fund Nevada Volunteers at the level of $250,000, instead of the usual $180,000, and the state administrative match requirement has been reduced to $75,000.

Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers, is pleased to announce that this match has already been secured for 2010 through prior fundraising and the generous donations of many community stakeholders. She says, “Nevada Volunteers has officially turned the corner. We can now award nearly 1.4 million dollars to Nevada organizations for AmeriCorps programs with a sense of certainty for our future. We can also continue with our mission to strengthen volunteerism in Nevada through our Volunteer and Higher-Education initiatives.”

Nevada Volunteers has received a record amount of applications for AmeriCorps funding this year from Nevada organizations. With a doubling of federal dollars available for Nevada AmeriCorps programs, it is fortunate that the Serve America Act allowed for this waiver. Now communities throughout Nevada can benefit from this increase in AmeriCorps funding, and Nevada Volunteers can continue to support Nevada’s nonprofits by helping them find and retain the volunteers they need.

About Nevada Volunteers
Nevada Volunteers, formerly known as Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, creates countless opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to engage in volunteering and shape a culture of service and citizenship. Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide, sponsors the annual Points of Light Awards, and promotes volunteerism. Since 1998, over 2,028 AmeriCorps members have served through Nevada Volunteers, providing 1,499,563 hours of service to northern, southern and rural communities. Those members were awarded approximately $4 million in higher education awards, recruited 30,720 additional volunteers who donated 242,008 hours of volunteer service valued at $4,773,289.
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GOVERNOR GIBBONS APPOINTS NEW COMMISSIONERNevada Volunteers Welcomes Beth Fleisher to Their Commission

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO/LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Governor Jim Gibbons has named Beth Fleisher as a Commissioner with Nevada Volunteers, the state’s commission for national and community service. Her appointment is for a three year term.

Ms. Fleisher is a Human Resources Generalist for Valley Hospital in Las Vegas where she combines duties in Human Resources with management of their volunteer program which currently has 150 active volunteers. She received her Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) certification in January 2008 and has been active in the Las Vegas chapter of the Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) since 2002. She is currently serving as DOVIA’s President.

“Ms. Fleisher will be a wonderful resource for the Commission,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “We welcome her extensive experience in volunteer management and we look forward to tapping her expertise.”

Ms. Fleisher has been involved as a church and community volunteer since junior high school. Her dedication to service is evident. Nevada Volunteers is pleased to have her as member of the board as they move forward with their mission to enhance volunteerism and service through their AmeriCorps programs and their volunteer initiative.

AMERICORPS FUNDING FOR NEVADA HAS MORE THAN DOUBLEDNevada Organizations and Agencies Must Attend Training Session to Apply

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO/LAS VEGAS—Thanks to increased funding in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, Nevada has received an additional $778,000 in AmeriCorps funding for the 2010-2011 program year, which begins September, 2010. “This more than doubles the amount of national service resources available to Nevada,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers, the state commission that develops and administers AmeriCorps*State programs in Nevada. The state stands poised to receive $1,452,654, a record amount for Nevada.

“We urge any nonprofit, faith-based organization, government entity, or Indian tribe that is weighing the option of developing an AmeriCorps program to take advantage of this opportunity by attending one of our mandatory application trainings,” said Lecker-Pomaville. “Organizations must join one of these videoconference sessions in order to apply.”
There will be two trainings offered. Videoconference sessions will be available in both Carson City and Las Vegas on either date. Potential grantees may attend either February 2, 2010 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, or February 3, 2010 from 1pm – 4pm. In Carson City, the videoconferences will be conducted at the Capitol in the Governor’s Conference Room at 101 North Carson Street. In Las Vegas, the sessions will be located at the Grant Sawyer Building in the Governor’s Conference Room, 5th floor, at 585 E. Washington Avenue. To attend a videoconference, please email bryan@nevadavolunteers.org to make a reservation and receive additional information.

In order to apply, applicants must be able to demonstrate the capacity to administer federal funds; implement a detailed plan of action to address a local unmet need; present strong connections to the community it serves, and have the ability to raise the required cash match, which averages $30,000. All applications must be submitted electronically by March 26, 2010.

“All these newly-announced funds will flow through the commission directly to any new AmeriCorps grantees, so they will not alleviate our state funding challenge,” said Lecker-Pomaville. “This makes it even more urgent for the state to find a permanent place in the budget for the commission that administers AmeriCorps.”

About Nevada Volunteers
Nevada Volunteers, formerly known as Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, creates countless opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to engage in volunteering and shape a culture of service and citizenship. Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide, sponsors the annual Governor's Points of Light Awards, and promotes volunteerism. Since 1998, over 2,028 AmeriCorps members have served through Nevada Volunteers, providing 1,499,563 hours of service to northern, southern and rural communities. Those members were awarded approximately $4 million in higher education awards, recruited 30,720 additional volunteers who donated 242,008 hours of volunteer service valued at $4,773,289.

AmeriCorps Could Be Saved In NevadaEmergency Provision in Serve America Act Could Save Nevada Volunteers

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Reno, Nev./LAS VEGAS — Nevada Volunteers, which administers AmeriCorps programs in Nevada, will be applying for a last minute reprieve related to the inclusion of an emergency provision in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed into law by the President on Dec. 16.

Nevada continues to be in jeopardy of losing its federal AmeriCorps programs since state funding for the administrative match was not included in executive or legislative budgets. A minimum match of $182,500 per year is needed to receive approximately $3.25 million per year in federal and private funding.

Nevada is the only state to have its AmeriCorps match zeroed out during the state budget process.

If the application for emergency provision is denied or the state does not find an alternative solution, it will cost 21,500 Nevadans food and clothing, 439 at risk students after-school educational aid, and approximately 195,000 hours of coordinated volunteer services ranging from first aid/CPR training to environmental restoration such as clearing fire breaks, planting trees, and resorting rivers and streams.

“We have been extremely fortunate and grateful that private citizens and corporations that were willing to make $32,500 in donations so far. It allowed the organization to continue operations between October and December,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers.

Private funding allowed the organization to work with various state departments to find additional funding. To date, The Department of Health and Human Services awarded $32,000 of the $182,500 needed to preserve AmeriCorps in Nevada.

“If we can overcome the next hurdle, either by the state taking action or federal government approving our hardship application, we will be able to keep 249 AmeriCorps members in Nevada, where they deliver critical services to 53 organizations,” said Lecker-Pomaville. “If the hardship designation saves AmeriCorps, it would cover the losses for 2010 and provide the state an opportunity to permanently place Nevada Volunteers and AmeriCorps in the state budget.”

Lecker-Pomaville said that Nevada Volunteers considers the private donations last year as a clear indication that Nevada citizens want to save AmeriCorps in Nevada. Its programs delivers nearly $19 in funding for every $1 invested by the state.

Nevada Volunteers, a qualifying nonprofit organization, welcomes private donations. Interested donors can contact the Nevada Volunteers office at (775) 825-1900, by mail at 639 Isbell Road, Suite 220, Reno, Nevada 89509, or online at www.nevadavolunteers.org.

About Nevada Volunteers
Nevada Volunteers, formerly known as Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, creates countless opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to engage in volunteering and shape a culture of service and citizenship. Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide, sponsors the Points of Light Awards, and promotes volunteerism. Since 1998, over 2,028 AmeriCorps members have served through Nevada Volunteers, providing 1,499,563 hours of service to northern, southern and rural communities. Those members were awarded approximately $4 million in higher education awards and recruited 30,720 additional volunteers who donated 242,008 hours of volunteer service valued at $4,773,289.

”EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT, BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN SERVE.”Nevada AmeriCorps Participates in Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

RENO/LAS VEGAS—January 18, 2010 will mark the 15th year that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday has been a National Day of Service. Nevada Volunteers urges everyone to make it “A Day On, Not a Day Off” by participating in a community service project as a way to commemorate, not only the man, but his ideals.

Dr. King often spoke of service as integral to his definition of greatness, saying, “Everyone has the power for greatness—not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.” He understood the wisdom of being our brother’s keeper. “For some strange reason,” he said, “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.” In giving of our time and energy, therefore, we lift up ourselves as well as others. It is a simple way to enhance our well-being, because service requires, as Dr. King said, only “a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

AmeriCorps members who serve under Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on service that administers the AmeriCorps program for Nevada, are honoring the vision of Dr. King by giving a full year of service to their communities. On the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, they will be participating in community events across the state. In Incline Village, they will be painting a community “I Have a Dream” mural. In Winnemucca, they will organize a Community Cultural Fair. In Las Vegas, a hundred National Service members will march in the Las Vegas MLK Day parade and then participate in a Habitat for Humanity clean-up project. We encourage the public to participate, as well, by searching for volunteer opportunities on our website, www.nevadavolunteers.org or going to www.mlkday.gov to learn how to create a simple project of their own. Dr. King said, “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve,” so at this time of growing need, we hope Nevadans will use his holiday to come together to build a greater Nevada.

About Nevada Volunteers
Nevada Volunteers, formerly known as Nevada Commission for National and Community Service, creates countless opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to engage in volunteering and shape a culture of service and citizenship. Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide, sponsors the annual Governor's Points of Light Awards, and promotes volunteerism. Since 1998, over 1,799 AmeriCorps members have served through Nevada Volunteers, providing 1,304,605 hours of service to northern, southern and rural communities. Those members were awarded $3,455,747 in higher education awards, recruited 25,469 additional volunteers who donated 172,125 hours of volunteer service valued at $3,358,159.

National Service Agency Announces New Funding Opportunity for Higher Education Service-Learning

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC - The Corporation for National and Community Service announces a funding opportunity of an anticipated $7.3 million for new Learn and Serve America Higher Education grants. The funding will support institutions of higher education that use innovative service-learning programming to meet the needs of local communities, and programs that foster lifelong civic engagement among students.

“These grants will be instrumental as colleges and universities help to prepare today's students to address tomorrow's national challenges,” said Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation. “Service-learning sets students on the path to a lifetime of service and civic engagement, while enabling them to use their degrees to contribute back to our local communities.”

The Corporation anticipates that grants will be awarded to an estimated seven to nine individual institutions ranging from approximately $85,000 to $200,000 annually for a project period of up to three years, and an estimated seven to eleven consortia ranging from approximately $200,000 to $500,000 for a project period of up to three years. Consortia can consist of two or more institutions of higher education, or one or more public or private non-profit entities working in partnership with two or more institutions of higher education.

The grants will specifically fund programs that focus on one of the following priorities:

Embedding Service-Learning in Pre-Service and In-Service Teacher Training – programs will include service-learning as a key component of pre-service teacher curricula and/or professional development provided to in-service teachers.
Service-Learning in STEM-focused disciplines – programs will integrate high-quality service-learning into the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Funding for this grant competition is contingent on the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget for the Corporation. Click here for more information about this funding opportunity and instructions on how to apply. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, March 9, 2010.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages 5.5 million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.

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