Tune In: National Conference on Volunteering and Service

by Katie Dantsin

categories: AmeriCorps in the News, AmeriCorps State & National, AmeriCorpsNCCC, AmeriCorpsVISTA, Program Overview, Stories of Service, Tips for Alum, Tips for Applicants

Published June 25, 2009 @ 04:56PM PT

If you didn't make it out to this year's National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, here's your chance to check it out from your own computer. This conference is the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. AmeriCorps members and alums are abundant at this event.

The Conference has plugged into several web resources, so everyone can find out what's going on.  Check it out:

Streaming of some conference proceedings and Blog are at [Business Boomer]

Videos from the opening session and located on YouTube

Recording from the conference session will be posted on the conference webpage

Stories of Service: Becoming Part of the Story

by Katie Dantsin

categories: AmeriCorps State & National, Stories of Service, Tips for Alum, Tips for Applicants

Published July 05, 2009 @ 09:01AM PT

As you've seen with the AmeriCorps alums stories and other posts here, participating in national service leads individuals in many directions. It can open doors, affirm passions, increases commitment to service, help you find your partner for life and more.  Here's a story that starts differently--how one typical day on the job leads to national service.

The story is really a story for Gail Franklin, a current AmeriCorps member in central Pennsylvania.  You see, Gail got the idea to try AmeriCorps while preparing a story as a freelance reporter. Her job led her to a story  about an after-school program. And it is from this story that her AmeriCorps story at the Centre County Youth Services Bureau (PA) begins.  Read her story.

I like Gail's story because it's not the typical path to AmeriCorps.  It may be easier for a recent high school or college grad to delay a career to participate in AmeriCorps.  It's not as easy for someone already on a career path to do the same.  My point is, it may not be easy, but it can be done. Gail demonstrates this and communicates her story and its current outcomes aptly and in doing so, give us all the courage to take the path that we didn't expect to open for us.

Become a part of your own story.  That's the great thing about life, we each get to write our very own book.

Major League Baseball Meets United We Serve

by Katie Dantsin

categories: AmeriCorps in the News, Stories of Service

Published July 15, 2009 @ 05:45AM PT

Two great American ways combined in one--baseball and service.  As you may have heard, President Obama threw the ceremonial first pitch in last night's Major League Baseball All-Star game.  And I'd like to argue that it was not the highlight of the game. The grand slam actually came before the first pitch when a seven minute video featuring Obama and former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush played. Guess what they talked about in this video? You got it--service! You can check out the video that highlights 30 American heroes for their service work.

And AmeriCorps members also supported this linkage between baseball and service. On Tuesday, AmeriCorps members teamed with Major League Baseball and Magical Builders to refurbish a baseball field in the inner-city of St. Louis. AmeriCorps members also painted a multi-purpose room inside the supporting facility.

Thanks to Major League Baseball for taking leadership in supporting national service with the f

ocus during the All-Star game last night.  A grand slam, if I ever saw one.  I'm psyched that four former Presidents participated in this video alongside President Obama.

Baseball and service--a great double play.