History of Community Organizing

There are two major schools of community organizing:

1. Saul Alinsky: This focuses organizing on existing organizations. His book "Reveille for Radicals" (1946, updated 1969) describes how to build coalitions of groups within communities. Over the past ten years, the Industrial Areas Foundation has built organizations around churches. His last book, "Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals," was published in 1971.
2. Fred Ross: Ross is not known nearly as well as Alinsky (a point which his partisans say is important in itself. A "real" organizer is not a leader. He/she stays in the background.) Ross is the guru of organizations that believe in building membership organizations one at a time. Ross himself had a great influence on Cesar Chavez (a point I make on a piece I did on Chavez years ago that appears on the Institute for the Study of Civic Values site). The National Welfare Rights Organization (a group active from 1966 to 1975) again, built on chapters of welfare recipients--is out of the Fred Ross tradition. And today, the leading group inspired by Fred Ross is Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

What are some other styles of community organizing you've learned about?

Organizing LOCALLY Online

When I became aware of the Internet in the early 1990's, after more than 30 years of involvement in social movements and politics-- it was clear to me that this new technology would have a profound impact on community and political organizing at every level of this society. The combination of listservs that enabled large groups of people to communicate with one another simultaneously on matters of concern; search engines that offered easy access to information about issues of concern; and web sites that would enable individual activists and small groups to gain widespread attention for causes simply by promoting them online clearly had the potential to turn the entire political process on its head. We have not come quite that far yet. Yet the Internet has already had an even greater impact on democratic politics that we would have dared to predict ten years ago.

Of course, at this moment, it is the bloggers of America who captivate our attention. Many of them write quite well. They speak clearly and forcefully about the critical issues of the day: Iraq, health care, civil liberties, the electoral process itself. They promote one another. In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote the anonymous pamphlet called "Common Sense" that sparked the American Revolution. Bloggers are carrying this tradition forward.

Yet the Internet has done far more for activists than simply providing an online soapbox for their causes. It has made it possible for just a handful of activists to mobilize to recruit literally thousands of people into movements of common concern.

The best known example, of course, is MoveOn.org. Here just two software developers in the Bay Area, Joan Blades and Wes Boy, launched a well written online petition opposing Bill Clinton's impeachment that wins support all over the United States. The petition likely contributed to the Senate's ultimate decision not to convict the President at their trial. Three months later, MoveOn.org emerged as a fund-raising network, collecting thousands of dollars online to support candidates who voted for impeachment. Today, MoveOn.org has emerged as a national organization with 3.3 million members who are now mobilizing voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives all over the United States.

Unfortunately, the phenomenal success of MoveOn.org and activist groups on the Right like the Christian Coalition may intimate people working entirely at the local level that they cannot compete in this process.They're wrong.

In February, 2006, a single activist opposed to legal immigration, an Orange County retiree named Jim Gilchrist, decided to take matters into his own hands and organize a citizens patrol of his own between the Arizona and Mexican Border which he called, The Minuteman Project. He set up a web site, expecting to recruit another four or five people to help him. Instead, he was deluged with emails from hundreds of people pledging their support. By April, more than 1,000 people had joined Jim Gilcrist's Mexican Border Patrol. For better or worse, Jim Gilchrist made this happen, but the Internet made it possible.

Although MoveOn.org and Gilchrist's efforts are impressive, they are only early examples of how groups can use the Internet in politics. The greatest online organizing opportunities right now are not national, but local. Both major parties are now struggling to build grassroots organizations that help get voters to the polls on election day. They have recognized that the most persuasive mobilizer is the one who lives down the street.

The power of local mobilization creates a tremendous opportunity for people to wield real genuine political power right where they live. If they create an email list for just ten to twenty voting neighbors and use this list to build solidarity and recruit new members, then every politician running for office in their District will be soliciting their support. Close elections can be decided by people who make this commitment. In the hotly contested elections of 2006, it is likely that one or more stories like this will be told. That's when the battle to use the Internet achieve enduring political power in the America will begin.

Organizing Using New Technologies/Media

What are some ways to organize or advocate for your non-profit organization or cause by using new media and/or technologies?

1. MySpace [to manage volunteers/fundraise.] - see Tech Soup article "How to Use MySpace to Raise Awareness"

2. Mobile Phones - see MobileActive Strategy Guides

Check out more links on this subject at:
http://del.icio.us/CTCVISTA/communityorganizing

5 Tips For Connecting With Fellow AmeriCorps CTC VISTAs Online

You've probably just gotten back from your VISTA Pre-service Orientation and are still reflecting on the inspiring, passionate and awesome people you just met - not to mention the conversations and connections you made. In spite of the great discussions and thoughts that were shared during the sessions and beyond, you may be feeling a mixture of inspiration and sadness that the people you met are most likely now spread far across the country - perhaps thousands of miles apart. What's a VISTA to do to keep in touch?

There are many ways. This entry will go over 5 of them. If you have any more, don't hesitate to add them in the comments below.

The CTC VISTA Directory:
This directory lists the current CTC VISTA Project Members. It has the name, email, latest Field Reports, organization, city and state that each VISTA is serving in. This Directory is the top source to get in to contact with current VISTAs. There is also a link to CTC VISTA Alumni, should you want to get in to contact with previous VISTAs.

Hot tip: these emails can be entered into many social networking sites' "friend find" features to find and connect with other VISTAs online.

The CTC VISTA Listserv:
this is the official Mailing list of the CTC VISTA Project . For those of you who have never used a listserv, it is essentially: "An e-mail list of e-mail addresses of people with common interests. Software enables people who belong to a list to send messages to the group without typing a series of addresses into the message header. Usually members of the group in the listserv have to subscribe to the mailing list."

It is one of the quickest ways to communicate with ALL current CTC VISTAs at the SAME TIME. Feel free to post questions or comments about anything CTC VISTA related to the list. Hot tip: if you answer a question, be sure to 'REPLY ALL' so that your answer goes to the list as well for others to see - this ensures that if someone ELSE has the question, they can see the answer there too.

Hot tip: It also boosts your credibility as a 'go to' person for particular topics - think of it as gaining 'social capital' for sharing your knowledge with the list;) This technique also works on LinkedIn (see # 5)

The CTC VISTA Webinars and Conference Calls:
These will be regular opportunities for you to not only become a more effective VISTA and professional, but also, a time to reconnect and hear the voices of your fellow VISTAs. Regardless of diversity, each PSO/'class' of VISTAs brings a very unique amalgamation and collection of individuals together - many of whom are sharing the same hopes and frustrations throughout their VISTA year as you are. These webinars give you an opportunity to regularly reconnect with your new friends and colleagues in context based on professional and personal development.

Hot tip: read (and comment on) some of your fellow VISTAs Field Reports BEFORE the webinar, this way, if you're a bit shy initially, you'll have something to connect on when you 'meet' on the conference call. These Field Reports can often be the base for amazing discussions during the calls - kinda like the things shared during some of the PSO sessions;)



The CTC VISTA Facebook Group:
Well shoot. This just had to go in as a way to connect. While it is 'outside' the main communications used for the Project, it DOES provide an informal way for you to connect with and learn more about your fellow VISTAs. While CTC VISTA Headquarters will be experimenting and playing with the features of this group throughout the year, it will provide a quick way to browse personal profiles of fellow VISTAs who are on Facebook. NOTE: not all CTC VISTAs are on Facebook. For a complete list, see the CTC VISTA Directory.

Hot tip: some VISTAs have personal blogs, websites or other social media that offer additional ways for you to connect with your peers - these are often listed in their profiles. Check these out. Comment on them. Communicating in this way is an important part of establishing yourself as a presence, resource and advocate throughout the CTC network.

LinkedIn:
LinkedIn is THE networking site for professionals. Think of it as your online resumé + professional network. Creating a profile on LinkedIn allows you to not only connect with other CTC VISTAs past and present, it also allows you to see who THOSE VISTAs are connected to professionally. By understanding the professional context of who's connected to who, you can strategize your communications and meetings with people online and off.

For instance, if a former VISTA is connected to an awesome grantwriter and you want to know how to write grants, you might start off an email communication like: 'Hi, I noticed you worked with [said VISTA] on [said project]. I am also a VISTA and would like to know more about grantwriting. Might you or anyone you know have some resources for me?' In the example above, you are already connected to them by virtue of being a VISTA;) but you are also able to articulate your relationship to ask for what you need and it's not quite a 'cold call' - all because you were able to see 'who's connected to who'.

Here's a link to the CTC VISTA Project Group on LinkedIn: CTC VISTA Project on LinkedIn

Hot tip: fill out your profile as completely as possible using relevant keywords. This not only improves your connectability (giving OTHER people more topics to connect to you on), but it also increases your visibility AND Google page rank.

Conferences

NYC Grassroots Media: We these connections and strategies and work together to demand a media system that will link our diverse communities, connect local and international struggles, and fight for social justice across boundaries and beyond borders. Feb 24, NYC

Beyond Broadcast: For 50 years broadcast media have played a powerful role in shaping political culture and mediating citizen engagement in the democratic process. Now a participatory culture is putting the tools of media creation and critique in the hands of citizens themselves. Feb 24, Boston
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Freedom to Connect: F2C is a meeting of people engaged with Internet connectivity and all that it enables, including vendors, customers, regulators, legislators, analysts, financiers, citizens and co-creators. This year, the theme of F2C is how universal connectivity and the plunging capital requirements of information production are changing our fundamental economic and social assumptions. March 5 & 6, 2007, Washington DC

International Computer Refurbisher Summit : This is a great conference for anyone interested in computer repair, receiving equipment for your CTC or students, and meeting refurbishers from around the world who provide equipment to NPOs, NGOs, and underserved communities.March 9, Washington DC

Women, Action & the Media: the Center for New Words is hosting the fourth annual Women, Action & the Media (WAM!) conference, more than 400 participants for a weekend of exchanging our observations, ideas, experiences, opinions, and tools for change—and planning together for action. March 30-April 1st, Cambridge MA (MIT)

Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTEN), April 4-6, Washington DC

Intel Computer Clubhouse International Conference, April 23-25, Chicago

Allied Media Conference The Allied Media Conference is an annual, weekend-long gathering of influential alternative media-makers and committed social justice activists, a unique cross-section of media workers, community organizers, daring filmmakers, ambitious radio producers, serious publishers, skilled web designers, and artists whose work makes revolution irresistible. This year's theme focuses on participatory media that transforms the producer and receiver, "Breaking Silence, Building Movements." June 22-24, 2007, Detroit

Communities and Technology: The Communities and Technologies biennial international conference serves as a forum for stimulating and disseminating research on the complex connections between communities - both physical and virtual - and information and communication technologies. June 28-30, 2007, Michigan State University

Alliance for Community Media A nonprofit, national membership organization founded in 1976, the Alliance represents over 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access organizations and community media centers throughout the country. It also represents the interests of millions of people who, through their local religious, community and charitable groups, use PEG access to communicate with their memberships and the community as a whole. July 25-28, 2007, Minneapolis, MN

NAMAC: brings together creators, thinkers, policy makers, administrators and funders to hear the most current thinking about the field’s future opportunities, to create a national platform for the media arts, and to strengthen our networks.Oct 17-20, 2007, Austin, TX

National Conference on Media Reform

CTCNET

External Lists

http://www.omidyar.net/group/compumentor/ws/conferences_and_events/

Tech Soup: http://www.techsoup.org/community/events/index.cfm

CTC VISTA Blog hints

Our biggest source of information for what VISTAs are working on are the Field Reports, but they're also sometimes a source of guilt and frustration.

Here's some hints on blogging in general:

• Hints from the PSO, Fall 2006
• Nine Lessons for Would-Be Bloggers [from TechSoup.org]
• Nine More Lessons for Would-Be Bloggers [from TechSoup.org]

What techniques might you use for keeping up on your blogging?

Other Listservs and Groups

Media & Technology

• NTEN Community - NTEN is a professional community that connects people involved in nonprofit technology and strives to help them effectively use technology in their work. Groups are free for anyone to join and contains a large number of topical and regional discussions to join.
• CTCnet - CTCnet has a private listserv for its members to discuss Community Technology Center related topics. CTC VISTAs can also gain free access to the list: contact your VISTA Leader or Paul Hansen.

Nonprofit & Social Change

Omidyar Network - We believe every individual has the power to make a difference. We exist for one single purpose: So that more and more people discover their own power to make good things happen.

AmeriCorps*VISTA

• VISTAnet: - VISTAnet is an on-going discussion group for VISTAs, former VISTAs, AmeriCorps folks, and anyone interested in national service and social issues.
• meetamericorps.com: Create a profile, tag your interests and skills, view a map of current and former VISTAs, MEET other VISTAs. This website is a free and easy-to-use tool for current AmeriCorps and VISTA service-members, alumni and prospective volunteers to find and meet one another for fun, success and profit...er, um good.

Creating your own

• Google Groups - Google offers a very nice free listserv service.

Conferences and their Value

The CTC VISTA Project requires that host organization's send their VISTA member to a national conference during their year of service. Attending a conference provides a number of important training, development and future-plan opportunities for VISTAs with numerous benefits for host organizations as well.

Understanding the Conference Experience

Many VISTA members are initially reluctant to attend conferences. Often they have never attended a conference before and do not understand what they gain to benefit from attending. Additionally, VISTAs sometimes equate the Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) with a conference, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Conferences provide a number of benefits, but it probably is the best, and sometimes the only, opportunity for VISTA members to meet a broad and diverse representation of people working within or related to their field of work. Serving deeply within their own organization, conferences offer the opportunity for VISTAs to acquire much greater width and depth in their understanding of their field of work.

These opportunities take many different forms and allow VISTA members a wide diversity of interaction. Most conferences are built upon standard presentations in which an individual or small group of people present to an audience. This, while educational, often is one of the least interesting and productive parts of a conference. Instead, there are many possibilities for meeting face to face, individually with leading practitioners or individuals working on interesting or applicable projects. Between sessions, at meals, at bars, clubs or parties, conference offer a great opportunities to make fun and personal connections with other people in the field. Conferences often take the form of "blowing off steam".

Meeting People at Conferences

VISTA members often do not realize it, but the work they are doing is usually cutting edge or intensely applicable to other people in the field. Introducing yourself as an AmeriCorps*VISTA will often times elicit recognition and special treatment. Many VISTAs have met people who have found them grants, resources, career advice, future employment or free drinks.

Bring business cards, promotional materials and be willing to talk to strangers.

Making Presentations

We highly, enthusiastically recommend that VISTA members take every opportunity to present at conferences.

Financing a Conference

As part of the application process, the CTC VISTA Project encourages host organizations to budget for their VISTA to attend a conference. Often times VISTA member will attend with their supervisor.

This should include:

• Airfare- Booking at least three weeks before (or earlier) provides the best prices. Also, please schedule flights so that VISTAs can attend the entire conference, even allowing for "book ends" in which the VISTA can attend pre- or post-conference events.

• Hotel - We highly recommend that VISTAs stay in the conference hotel. This is most convenient as this is where conference activities are taking place, or departing from. Additionally this avoids placing the VISTA in a dangerous neighborhood or requiring additional transportation expense. VISTAs usually can find a roommate with another VISTA in order to split costs, though hotel rooms should be booked very early in order to receive a reduced conference rate.

• Reimbursements or Per-Diem - VISTA members are already living at a low fixed-income and so effort should be taken to not make conferences a financial liability. We recommend VISTAs are either reimbursed for meals not covered by the conference and transportation (shuttle or taxi from airport to hotel) or receive a per diem (usually about $40 per day). Receipt retention procedures should be discussed prior to the conference.

Recommended Conferences

N-TEN

NAMAC

CTCNet

Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference

???

Dangerous Book

• How to Maximize your Use of Assistive Technology - Rayna, Kevin, Kevin’s mom
• How to make a Teleprompter - Kevin
• How to Create a Great Citizen Journalism - Julie
• How to Get ‘Buy-in’ from the Community - Kelli Williams, Victoria
• How to Download Web 2.0 - Everyone
• 10 Things You Don’t Know (but probably should) about VISTA Health Benefits - Cecille/Meegan
• What To Do When Stuff Gets Stolen - Leena
• Digital Storytelling - Danielle
• 10 Things You Should Know About Writing Federal Grants - Meegan
• How to Rock A Pre-Service Orientation (for Planners) - Kevin
• How to Rock A Pre-Service Orientation (for Attendees) - Kevin
• 5 Instances of Community Mapping Projects and How YOU Can Start One - Ben
• How To Choose a Content Management System (Introduction & Comparisons) - Morgan
• Getting Help - Leena
• 10 Tips for Staying On Task While Telecommuting - Karl (VISTAs shouldn't be Telecommuting)
• On Being an Older VISTA - Pat
• 10 Resources for VISTAs Who Hate Writing Manuals - Morgan

Nonprofit and VISTA Context

• Non-Profits - Kevin, Ben
• CTC VISTA Historical Benchmarks - Paul
• 5 Approaches to Organizing your Organization - AJ

Skills 101

• On Starting Out as a VISTA - Wes
• How to Write Great Field Reports - Kevin
• How to Develop a Strategic Plan - Anna
• How to Create Curriculum - Derek
• Impact (using regressive analysis) - Kevin
• How to Work with Youth and Still Be Hip - AJ
• How to Resolve Conflicts at Work - Rian
• 10 Tips for Managing Volunteers -
• How to Develop a Youth Media Program - Sarah
• How to Project Management Without Going Crazy - Kevin
• 10 Tips for Building Web Communities - Morgan
• 10 Reasons Why Community Wireless Networks Are Important - Josh, Gabe
• How to Build A Media Lab - AJ
• 10 Tips for Event Planning - Victoria, Ashley
• 5 Reasons You Should Car About Communications & Public Policy - Cecille
• Project Planning Tools (SWOT, Stakeholder, Forcefield, etc)

Being a better person

• On the Importance of Commitment - Kevin
• Learning to say no - Ben
• Being a Self-Advocate - Ben
• Your Head – Where Everything Always Works (softening the blows of reality) - Saul
• "Working from Home" - Karl Otto

Networking with People

• Interfacing with People (techies take heed) - John Miller
• How to Maximize Your Ed Award/End-of-Service Stipend -
• How to Network at a Conferences - Ben
• How To Sell Yourself After VISTA - Danielle

Making Do with your VISTA Stipend

• Food Stamps: You Gotta Eat - Morgan
• Lunches: Free and Otherwise - Kevin

Online Tools and Resources

Our Email Listserv

All CTC VISTAs will be automatically signed up for this listserv. By sending a single email to this address, it will go out to all other VISTAs and Leaders. This is a safe space to ask anything and is moderated by VISTA Leaders. Feel free to ask anything.

Value to you:

• Immediacy – make contact IMMEDIATELY with any of your fellow VISTAs and Leaders
• Discussion – discuss issues relevant to your work plan, professional development or life as a VISTA
• Q&A – get your question answered immediately as well as see how other VISTAs resolve questions at their respective sites

Listserv address: ctcvista@lists.ctcvista.org

Our Field Reports

These are mandatory, bi-monthly reports submitted by you for the CTC VISTA Project. These help the Project keep in touch with the needs and challenges of VISTAs while allowing you and your fellow VISTAs to familiarize yourselves with the work of each other. Feel free to comment on the reports of others.

Value to you is:

• Self-assessment – reports track the progress you’ve made

• Support – reports help VISTA Leaders strategize resources to assist you in accomplishing your tasks

• Resume builder – reports reference what you’ve done throughout your year to future employers

http://www.ctcvista.org/vista-workspace

Our CTC VISTA WIKI

This is an ongoing ‘encyclopedia’ of knowledge and resources generated and contributed by you and VISTAs who came before you. There is already an enormous amount of information on there. Feel free to contribute any tips, ideas or resource you come across.

Value to you:

• Awareness – provides a brief overview of the priority areas in which CTC VISTAs are working

• Collaboration – provides a space to share content created, posted, and bookmarked by CTC VISTAs and supervisors, both on the CTC VISTA blogs and elsewhere

• Education – provides the foundation for ongoing collaboration among CTC VISTAs on new projects, such as how-to's, curricula, and lessons learned

www.ctcvista.org/wiki

Our Project Partners

These are the CTC VISTA Project’s national partners. These organizations are ‘super connectors’ and are networked with many other organizations working within your priority area. Many hold conferences, symposiums, meetings and other events throughout the year.

Value to you:

• Know the most important players in your field – by informing yourself with organizations tied to the project you can target networking opportunities

• Be informed about whom you meet – by familiarizing yourself with the work of others you can maximize knowledge exchange at conferences and meetings

• Career opportunities – many of these organizations regularly look for qualified job candidates working in their respective fields – this means you!

Partners

Alliance for Community Media (ACM)

http://www.alliancecm.org/blog.php

Association for Community Networking (AFCN)

http://www.afcn.org/

CTCNet

http://www.ctcnet.org/

National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture (NAMAC)

http://www.namac.org/

Non-profit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN)

http://www.nten.org/

University of Massachusetts Boston - College of Public & Community Service, Community Media & Technology Program

http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/cmt/index.html

Other Resources

Do you use any online social networks like Flickr or del.icio.us? Check out our bookmarks and photos below. Be sure to tag any content that you contribute to the web with “ctcvista”

Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctcvista/

del.icio.us:

http://del.icio.us/ctcvista

Of course, if any of you are still in need of more whether it's work plan related, supervisor related, or you simply need a fellow VISTA to talk to - don't hesitate to contact your VISTA Leaders - that's one of the many things that we are here for. We are your first line of advocacy and support.

VISTA Leader Guidelines and Information

Check out the attachment for info on being a VISTA Leader.

VISTA Recruitment Resources

Top 10 Ways to Get Your Very Own CTC VISTA
In no particular order...

1. Print Recruiting Pamphlet - Put them everywhere!
The pamphlet (available for download via link below) explains what the CTC VISTA Project is, gives links for potential VISTAs to find even more information (and apply!), and outlines the benefits of becoming a VISTA. This overview gives your potential volunteer a good idea of what VISTA service could give them.

2. Print CTC VISTA Profiles - Inspire potential volunteers!
These profiles (available for download via link below) highlight the service of two current VISTAs and two host organizations. Using the profiles can help explain to potential volunteers what they can get out of volunteering at your organization. They can also see how others have used their commitment as a VISTA to further their career goals and learn things they wouldn't have learned otherwise.

3. Print CTC VISTA Posters - Robots, Del.icio.us, and Godzilla, oh my!
Putting these posters (available for download via link below) up in your organization's office or anywhere your organization is involved will definitely capture a potential volunteer's attention. Staple your business card or attach your organizational info to the poster and there you go - a fast advertisement.

4. Use Job Description Template - Add your info and VOILA!
Download the attachment at the bottom of this page. Open the document. Copy and paste the Job Description you submitted with your CTC VISTA application. Easy way to spread the word!

5. Print CTC VISTA Project Digests - Show them they won't be alone!
The CTC VISTA Project Digests (available for download via link below) have articles written by current and former VISTAs, organizational leaders, and industry experts. The Digest serves as a compilation of the work that the CTC VISTA Project is involved with throughout the country and can show your potential volunteer the vast network they would be connected to should they choose to become your VISTA.

6. Post with local university/college career centers - easy!
Most universities and colleges have career centers on campus that their graduating students and alumni can visit to learn of career opportunities and options. Some career centers have online job search systems, some send out emails with current job opportunities, some simply have a notebook with open jobs throughout the area. Research your area's schools and use the Job Description Template to post to career centers in programs related to your volunteer opening.

7. Idealist - Make it easy for them to find you!
Idealist is a well-known website that is often used to find volunteer opportunities and jobs with nonprofits and philanthropic companies. You can post your job description at: http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/Post/default?sid=
Posting a job is $50, but posting a volunteer opportunity is FREE!! Make sure you classify your posting as such.

8. Craigslist - More than a place to pawn off your stuff!
Craigslist can help you target your local community job-seekers. Just go to http://craigslist.org/ , and click on your area's link. You can post your opportunity through the Craigslist job postings. Some area's sites charge $25.00. You can also post through the Community -> Volunteer section, but you probably will not get as many views.

9. Other community centers - You'll find the volunteer-minded!
Post your job description, posters, or leave pamphlets at community centers throughout your area. A good place to start is large centers like the YMCA/YWCA - there is a lot of traffic through these types of community centers and chances are your ad will be seen by just the right person.

10. Recruit from within - Rewards for work they're already doing!
Are you fortunate enough to have that golden volunteer? A great way to get a great full-time person is to offer the VISTA position to someone who has already helped you in the past. Not only do they get a little return for work they obviously love to do, you get someone who already is trained.




CTC VISTA Recruiting Materials

Job Description Template
http://flyers.ctcvista.org/program_info/Job_Description_Template.doc

Recruiting Pamphlet
http://flyers.ctcvista.org/program_info/for_VISTAs.pdf

CTC VISTA Profiles
http://flyers.ctcvista.org/profiles/spring2007.pdf

CTC VISTA Posters
Robot Army: http://flyers.ctcvista.org/posters/CTCVISTA_robot_army.pdf
Del.icio.us Tagcloud: http://flyers.ctcvista.org/posters/CTCVISTA_tagcloud_sm.pdf
Godzilla: http://flyers.ctcvista.org/posters/CTCVISTA_vs_godzilla3.pdf

CTC VISTA Project Digests
Fall 2006: http://flyers.ctcvista.org/digest/fall2006.pdf
Spring 2007: http://flyers.ctcvista.org/digest/spring2007.pdf
Also available online at: http://www.ctcvista.org/digest/spring07

VISTA Training Guidelines

In-Service Training Request
Massachusetts State Office AmeriCorps*VISTA
(Formerly Continuous Development Training/CDT - Policy revised 9/07)

In-Service Training (IST) Funds are to be used for AmeriCorps*VISTA members to attend workshops, conferences, and/or classes pertaining to their AmeriCorps*VISTA assignment. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests must be for a minimum of $100, with a maximum of $500 available to each member. Several training request may be submitted at once. You must receive written approval of your request before registering for training. All training must be completed by the end of the 5th month of service.

Guidelines:

• VISTA Supervisors must approve training prior to request. Please state in your request that your Supervisor has approved the training, and cc them in the email request or ask them to sign your faxed request.

• Requests must be submitted at least 14 full days (two weeks) prior to the date of the event via fax at (617) 565-8607 or email at MA@cns.gov

• Request must include:
  1. Course events/description and cost, preferably a website link to the course;
  2. Place, date and time;
  3. Brief description of how this course will support the AmeriCorps*VISTA Member in their assignment.
• Reimbursement will be for class cost only – course materials and/or travel costs will not be covered. You must submit an original receipt for the course, or the training organization must provide a letter on letterhead with the course title, cost of the course or seminar, the date it was paid, and the VISTA’s name with confirmation of registration. The amount on the receipt must match the amount on the voucher. If your receipt does not match the amount listed on your voucher, you must contact the state office before submitting your paperwork for reimbursement.

The Corporation State Office will notify the AmeriCorps*VISTA member via email as to approval / disapproval of the request, prior to the course. If you receive no response to your request seven days prior to the date of training, please call Christine Robles at (617) 565-7017 or email crobles@cns.gov. If you do not receive a written approval prior to the training, you will not be reimbursed.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Members or their Sponsors must pay for the course, then submit original receipts and a completed reimbursement voucher (provided by CNCS). Reimbursement checks will only be made out to the VISTA member; it will be your responsibility to reimburse your Sponsor.

Website Improvement

Use Cases

vistas and supervisors:
do you know what is expected of you at any one point in the year?
have you gotten forms off the website?
have you gotten manuals or guidelines off of the website?
do you read blogs or the newsletter (the Digest) off of the website?

vistas:
do you read the vista blog?
do you use the wiki?
do you check the website for news and events? (probably just wait for
the emails)
do you keep in touch with any other vistas?
have you used another vista as a resource?
do you
have you used the website to show others what your work is about?

questions people are trying to answer with the website

uninvolved people:
what is this place?
where is this place?

random web surfer/visitor through a link
why is this relevant?

prospective vista
where is it located?
would I want to do it?
would I be qualified to do it?
where can I do it?
*who can I contact about it?
*how do I apply?
*when is each piece of the process happening?
(a lot of this is in the "supervisor resources" section)

prospective org
where is it located?
do we need this?
what do we need to do to get it?
who can we contact about it?
how do we apply?
what other orgs are involved?
when is each piece of the process happening?

current vista
*where are those forms?
*what is the next thing I have to do with the project?
*who do I contact about ___?
how do I contact other vistas?
what are other vistas doing?

current org
*where are those forms?
*what is the next thing I have to do with the project?
*who do I contact about ___?
what about after my vista leaves?

prospective employer of current visitor

Post-application VISTAs and organizations
**what is my application status?
**what stage is the project at? (project news)
**when is each piece of the process happening?

Specific Comments

-- about section:
the contents of what the about section should be are on the front
page, so do we even need the about section itself? project news
should be more visible. during the application process, people rely
on knowing what is going on, and having it buried here doesn't help
people find it or feel that it's credible. also, do you need the
"contact" link in the secondary menu there? it's right next to
"about" in the primary menu.

-- contact us page:
needs to have info about who is responsible for different things. for
people who are already involved in the project, it's great; for
people with questions who didn't RTFM, there aren't clues on who to
email except the titles. I solve this problem at our organization
with a contact form where you select a subject rather than
individuals to contact. You could follow that with the staff list.

-- the ctc vista project guidelines:
need to be more prominent. they're the first link on the supervisor
resources page, but they're what enable a supervisor to use the other
documents on that page.

-- organization summaries:
it would make sense to have a link to the organization's vista (and
the vista's blog) on those pages.

secondary menu items that link to non-secondary hiearchy pages = bad.
ie, flickr photos, contact us links, "project hq" link in "directory"
section

it might make sense to have an starting page for all applicants
(vistas and orgs) that lays out the process, basically who does what
in what order. I realize that specific dates are basically
impossible, but having an idea of the workflow of the applications
process would be good.

also, possibly the "directory" menu item should be either before or
after the two "resources" items.

Citizen Journalism

This is the space to develop and submit citizen journalism materials.

NeighborMedia orientation materials - Cambridge Community Television

Curricula (Digital Media)

Here's some curricula and/or handouts created by CTC VISTAs:

• Shot Composition Packet (Media Bridges - Lauren)
• MOSAIC, Digital video bootcamp (english high school) (HOME Inc - Kevin/AJ)
• Digital Photography Course Packet (Media Bridges - Lauren Bratslavsky)
• Media Literacy (Project Think Different - Colleen)
• Basic Computer Skills (Shaneka)
• PhotoBooth (Media Bridges - Lauren)
• Digital Storytelling (Center for Digital Storytelling - Jessica)
• ?? (Computers 4 Kids - Ray)
• Video (Reelworks - Will)
• After school Curriculum with a Radio Station (Lashanda)
• Creating a Youth Online Radio Station (Pink House - Renae)
• tips/forms for student project management

Also, here's some curricula used/recommented by CTC VISTAs from other sources:

• Adobe webstie
• Youth Learn (EDC)
• CTCNet Resource Center
• Danielle's Curriculum links on Delicious

Need basic curricula templates/guides?

• YouthLearn Curriculum Development Worksheet
• From Apple website (by teacher)

Digital Media Working Group

This is the wiki page for the web Digital Media working group. In this group, we will:

• share tips with each other about what kinds of technology work well for specific digital media projects
• ask questions about better tools and practices
• repost interesting information we come across related to working with digital media

*Morgan will also be posting interesting content and tips he comes across to this wiki - including any pertinent tips that get posted to the listserv.*


As of the June 2007 PSO, these are the VISTAs currently engaged in the Digital Media working group:

Angela Saylor (Venice Arts): Mentoring youth, photography/digital media

Jim Mora (Help of the Ojai): Digital storytelling w/ seniors (intergenerational)

Julie Adler (CCTV): 6th grade school news casts

Jack Waugh (Generation Five): Digital storytelling assembly into theme, organize existing media content, collecting meta-data

Sarah Pierantoni (GRCMC): Documentaries with youth involving community issues, GLBA digital storytelling

Dianne Curtain (Heads on Fire): Documentaries with youth about homelessness

The working group also did a basic skills inventory. Here are the results of that assessment:

Technical:
- Final Cut Pro
- DVD Studio Pro
- Camera
- Lighting
- Sound
- Mac
- Avid
- Adobe Premiere
- Flash
- Digital Photography
- Photo Chemical Science
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Graphic Design
- Protools/Acid
- Video Editing
- Music Production

Organization/Distribution of Media:
- Library Science
- Flash Websites
- DVD Production
File Sharing/Networking
- Internet Distribution (of films)

Youth/Adult Facilitation:
- Train-the-Trainer
- Small/Large Group Facilitation
- One-on-one Mentoring
- Motivation (No Boredom)
- Producing/Directing (Roles, Management)
- Teaching
- Curriculum
- Translating the Jargon

Journalism/Writing/Storytelling:
- Photojournalism
- Writing Scripts
- Documentary Script Writing
- Art Education
- Media Literacy (objectivity, theory behinds, ethics)
- Copyright

Between the various members, there seems to be a VERY strong skill set.

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling originates in Berkeley, California at the Center for Digital Storytelling (http://www.storycenter.org). Influenced by popular education, third world cinema, and the community documentary movement, digital storytelling values the power of story as a tool for self-discovery and reflection, community building and education, organizing, and advocacy. These workshops guide participants through a process combining storytelling with modern-day technology and digital media. All participants create a three to four minute video through an intensive workshop format. Digital stories are based on participants’ own experiences and told through their own perspectives. Participants’ voices are recorded and integrated with photographs, letters, home videos, and other artifacts. These pieces can be viewed on DVD, VHS, CD, or uploaded to the web. [from Creative Narrations / massIMPACT Spreading the Stories curriculum].

Why Use Stories for Community Building and/or Organizing?

• Stories can gather knowledge and coax out leadership
• Stories connect individuals based on common experiences
• Stories can create the conditions for change
• Storytelling fosters participation, dialogue, and voice

CTC VISTAs have used digital storytelling in various ways in their work. Morgan Sully, developed an open source toolkit on CD to bring to sessions he did at The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Community Center. Roxanne Johnson, at, built upon this toolkit to train her AmeriCorps volunteers and youth at the Twin Cities C-CAN/CTEP Project in MN. Former VISTA Dean Gransar and current VISTAs Kevin Palmer and AJ McGuire at HOME Inc are using digital storytelling to teach media literacy in schools. Danielle Martin (massIMPACT) and Jessica McCoy (CDS) are currently developing an online resource for community digital storytelling facilitators at StoriesForChange.net.

Here's an example of a story, made by a teen at the BGCB Cyber Summit in Spring 2006.

 

 

Distribution

So far, digital distribution (or digital delivery) discussions among CTC VISTAs have been focused on video sharing, mostly among cable access stations (such as the NYMAP or Digital Bicycle projects). With the explosion of video sharing sites such as YouTube, Google Video, and Blip.tv, the ability to share video content has become almost second-hand to young web users. Factor in the ease of peer-to-peer network technology and we have an environment where youth could certainly be sharing all sorts of their own digital content.

Inherent in this area too are stumbling blocks such as copyright (see Creative Commons), digital rights management, and loss of video quality.

How can CTC VISTAs tap into these trends and resources to support their efforts?

Here's some topics identified around this area:

-outreach to local community organizations to share content
-Podcasting
-Videoblogging
-issues around distribution of youth content

DIY Tech

Area to submit instructions/ideas on making/hacking your own hardware & software.

Forms/Assessments

area to upload forms and assessment tools (i.e. storyboards, script prompts, shoot checklists, individual student project grading/assessing, etc. and so forth)

Grant Writing for Digital Media

Area to submit tools and advice for writing grants for media labs and digital media programs.

Media Lab Coordination

Tips, rules, procedures and all around adivice on how to set-up, run and maintain media labs.

Media Reform and Policy

Copyright: Its Still About the Content, Stupid.
By Reebee Garofalo
Original article can be found at: http://acmboston.org/node/340

Reebee Garofalo is an internationally known scholar of popular music studies, professor at UMass/Boston, and founder of the Community Media and Technology Program at UMB's College of Public and Community Service, where he has taught since 1978.

For the last 30 or so years, I have been a popular music activist and educator. I have been asked to comment on the relevance of copyright law to community media. This fits with my own agenda for a couple of reasons: first, that music tends to get underrepresented in discussions of communication policy and media transformation (except when we want to censor it), and second, most of the copyright battles that will eventually plague all media have already happened in the music industry. We can learn a lot about the future by looking at the history of these struggles.

Read attachment for more.

Participatory Media Tools

Examples of user-generated participatory media (after which you can pattern campaigns for your nonprofit):
1. http://moveon.org/
MoveOn had a contest to devise an advertisement for their campaign which would then be used by MoveOn as promotional materials

2. http://hornymanatee.com/
Fan Art - connected Conan O'Brian with his audience in a way nothing else could.

3. Pearl Harbor Memorial Foundation - http://www.pearlharbormemorial.com/
Created an online oral/living history with Drupal. Survivors could scroll over parts of the boat and mark where they were on the ship. Created an 800 number for non-tech folks to call and record their oral histories which would then be uploaded as podcasts and associated with that particular location on the ship. A user-generated oral history.

4. http://www.sinceslicedbread.com/
Getting policy ideas into the mainstream. Users post their ideas and the Top 21 are deemed "a slice above the rest"... Users can also go through various posted policy ideas and mark the ones they would like to see become a reality. CITIZEN-GENERATED IDEAS. Allows lots of feedback from your constituents.

5. NPR: This I Believe
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138

See Attachment for more participatory media tools and information.

Radio/Podcasting

Podcasting: Nonprofit Applications and Practical How-To's
Production and Content Tips - very useful! Check out the attached presentation!

Giving Voice: Nonprofits on the Radio

These notes were taken on a presentation at the NTEN ’07 Conference by:
* Jake Shapiro – Executive Director of Public Radio Exchange
* Jenny Toomey – Executive Director of Future of Music Coalition
* Chris Guerre – Director of Media Relations at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
* Vince Stehle – Surdna Foundation

There was an FCC announcement that FREE (non-commercial) RADIO LICENCES (for the first time in 15 years) are being given to nonprofits for locally-programmed radio. This is necessary to promote localism and local artists. Anyone who is a nonprofit and is in an area where spectrum space is available is invited to apply. You can get more information at: www.getradio.org and http://www.prometheusradio.org/ and see attachment from the Future of Music Coalition for a good breakdown.
FCC IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FROM OCTOBER 12 to OCTOBER 19, 2007

Irrational Public Radio
www.irrationalpublicradio.com
New option for NPR-esque listening

Public Radio Exchange
www.prx.org
Digital audio archive and online marketplace – anyone can upload sound pieces – GET YOUR PODCASTS/AUDIO STORIES OUT THERE!!!
- Generation PRX and “YouthCast” – a program of PRX for youth programming
- www.publicradioquest.com – Public Radio Talent Quest (a la “American Idol” but for public radio)– starting to take submissions APRIL 16, 2007

Future of Music Coalition
http://www.futureofmusic.org/
The Future of Music Coalition is a not-for-profit collaboration between members of the music, technology, public policy and intellectual property law communities. The FMC seeks to educate the media, policymakers, and the public about music / technology issues, while also bringing together diverse voices in an effort to come up with creative solutions to some of the challenges in this space. The FMC also aims to identify and promote innovative business models that will help musicians and citizens to benefit from new technologies.

Regional Opportunities for Youth

Jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, festivals, screenings, youth media channels, venues, other youth programs categorized by region.

Youth Development

Tips for Teaching

There are many methods and approaches but the ones that work best are youth-centered and hands-on. On subsequent pages are several methods and approaches for planning and getting started with your DAY program, including project-based learning, portfolios, after school and in-school activities. Also, creating the space (DAY studio) is important, as well as developing the actual activities for your program. Upon request are some great lessons for teaching digital art (on CD).

Digital Art Youth Program (DAY)

In 2000, three community-based technology centers across the country launched "ArtTech", a five-week summer program that introduced youth to multimedia. Soon after the project was renamed the Digital Art Youth Program or DAY. Nettrice Gaskins created a resource guide for practitioners that was made available upon request. She also ran a local DAY program at the Boston Neighborhood Network from 2001-2004, with the help of an AmeriCorps VISTA (Derek Hixon). The Boston program served nearly a hundred local youth between the ages of 13 and 18. Additionally, Nettrice worked with a public high school in Dorchester to create school-based curriculum for teachers and students.

Creating the DAY resource guide has been a labor of love for Nettrice (she did not profit from it). For more information about the guide visit the DAY web site.

Computer Animation

In 2005, Nettrice taught three computer animation classes at the Massachusetts College of Art. Two of the classes were for 12-18 year olds and the other was for high school students. For these classes Nettrice developed a web site and curriculum. The activities culminated in a CD/DVD and screening of youth work. The work can also be seen on the web here: Digital Media Channel.

Youth Entrepreneurship

Wikipedia defines entrepreneurship as "the practice of starting new organizations, particularly new businesses generally in response to identified opportunities."

Organizations such as National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship have the mission "to teach entrepreneurship to young people from low-income communities to enhance their economic productivity by improving their business, academic and life skills."

One of CTC VISTA Project's participants, The Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES), has a mission of "North Quabbin/Franklin County youth unlocking their potential through entrepreneurship, job readiness, financial and technology education and action" and does so with programs such as a buisness center, cyber cafe, and social service marketing projects.

What other projects or ideas are floating around about entrepreneurship? Here's a place to start!

2007 Grant Opportunities

For more information on the following grant opportunities, visit http://www.grantstation.com/index.asp#seventeen.

Hooray for Affordable Housing!
The 2007 MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing program, administered by Enterprise , is accepting applications. The awards recognize outstanding community-based or regional nonprofit organizations and Tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities that excel in property and asset management or that provide housing to people with special needs. Awards range from $10,000 to $35,000. Applications for both the Supportive Housing and Property and Asset Management awards are due May 4, 2007 . Learn more about this opportunity by clicking on the link provided above.

Opportunities for Independent Film and Video Artists
Film Arts Foundation is accepting applications for support through the Fund for Independent Cinema. Through small grants and in-kind contributions, the Foundation encourages the development of new and diverse works by film and video artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2007, film and video artists in San Francisco County can apply for the following awards: Personal Works grants, which provide support for the completion of a film or video projects that challenge and expand the art form; and Development grants, which provide support for projects in the development and fundraising stages. In addition, the STAND (Support, Training, and Access for New Directors) initiative provides in-kind production/post-production support to six first-time directors throughout the Bay Area. Applications for all Film Arts Foundation programs are due May 4, 2007 . Visit the Foundation's website for specific guidelines for each program.

Awards Recognize Outstanding Young Activists
Earth Island Institute is accepting applications for the Brower Youth Awards. The awards recognize the activism and achievements of six outstanding youth leaders (ages 13 to 22) in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy. Each winner receives a $3,000 award, a trip to San Francisco for the award ceremony and wilderness camping trip, and ongoing access to the Institute's resources. Applications are due May 15, 2007 . Additional information is available on the Institute's website, provided above.

Donation request letter idea

Just something I have been using to gain donations and thought I would share. I found a lot of companies want an explanation of who you are representing, what they are doing, and why they want a donation. Many also require you to fill out a request form as well. I took some time and wrote a simple letter that explains all of that. A master letter that we can change the statement about what we want to suit our needs. I attach a business card and proof that we are a non - profit organization to it with a paper clip. Paper clip comes in handy to attach their request forms if they have one right to the information they require. I have had great success with this so far:

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Rayna Ramirez. I am the AmeriCorps CTC Vista project coordinator for the YES (Young Entrepreneurs Society) program located in Orange. We are a non – profit organization 501(c) (3). We fund ourselves through our FedEx and UPS shipping store. We are working to improve the accessibility of our facility, for anyone who has any type of disability through a grant from C4ALL for TechACCESS. For more information about YES and TechACCESS please see our website at:
http://yes-inc.org/

We are seeking a donation of a gift certificate(s). This gift certificate will be used to assist in raising funds for our efforts. We would like to request the value to be no less than $25.00. If you would like to donate a value greater than that amount we would be grateful.

The goal of TechACCESS is to help residents with disabilities in our 9-town rural region expand their social, academic, and livelihood horizons by making local programs, services and opportunities more accessible by removing physical barriers to facilities; equipping computers with accessible hardware and software; and helping organizations and businesses make their materials, websites, programs, products and services more accessible. It will also work to increase accessibility awareness in the community as a whole. The project will be guided and implemented by a voluntary committee of people with disabilities, staff from public and non-profit agencies that serve them, and community volunteers. The committee will be supported by Rayna Ramirez an AmeriCorp*VISTA volunteer coordinator and Alan Paige YES member liaison. It will develop its capacity through the process of making YES' facility, programs, cyber cafe and retail business accessible (May-September 2007) before putting its skills, resources and experience at the service of other area organizations and businesses.

Thank you,

Rayna Ramirez

Please feel free to contact me
Rayna Ramirez
Phone (978) 544 – 1869
Fax (978) 544 – 1809
Email: rayna@yes-inc.org

I sign with my signature then have my typed name below to make it look a bit more professional.

Writing a Federal Grant: What to Expect

WARNING! Federal grant applications are, by far, the most difficult and the most competitive type of proposal to write, even for veteran grant writers. They require more than 100 hours of work reading/understanding application requirements, researching and writing. On the other hand, if awarded, they are extremely beneficial to your organization, offering substantial, multi-year funding and credibility in future fund-seeking endeavors. The following is my advice after completing my first federal grant.

Step 1: Carefully read the announcements and rules in the Federal Register and application guidelines.

After reviewing the RFP, make sure that your organization's purpose, priorities and geographic region are compatible with the gov'ts announcement. Also, make sure you and your staff will have enough time to meet the deadline. Usually, the funder won't allow much time to complete these "bears" or "whales" or whatever gigantic and unforgiving animal you'd like to compare these grants to.

As far as completing the actual application, the guidelines are extremely specific and the reviewers will first examine your ability to comply with their technical requirements. Trust me, they will really make you jump through hoops. If you fail here...your application will not progress to the next level of review.

Step 2: Outline the process / time line you intend to follow for the project and share it with staff.

First, make a checklist with everything that needs to be done and which staff member is responsible for accomplishing it. This will give you a good idea of who you will be working closely with, and how much work you're personally responsible for.

Then, make a calendar for just the time you have until the deadline. It's also good to share this with staff. Pad your personal deadline to account for your reliance on "briskness" of your coworkers.

Also, plan to finish several work days before the deadline.

Step 3: Begin the information gathering process.

You will be expected to gather much of the same kinds of information for this grant, just like any other (organization history, mission, staff, accomplishments, goals of your project, etc). On the contrary, you will be asked to provide "documentation" for most of the arguments you make in your narrative. For instance, you may be asked to document the project's planning/development, or perhaps show evidence of the support of local residents.

Showing documentation and attempting to quantify benefits of the project/number of people affected by project is time consuming. I accomplished this task by sending out a survey to people in the community that would benefit from this grant. Once participants completed the survey and clicked "submit," the information was sent to my email box. I entered the data into a spreadsheet, and drew statistical information to support my project from it. I suggest this as a simple/quick solution. Below is a link to the survey I used, although I don't know how long my organization will keep it posted. Other ways to accomplishing this request include community meeting minutes and public forums.
http://main.nc.us/bbsurvey/

The rest of the information gathering process should be spent digging up buried information that you know you'll need. It involves contacting various departments within your org (finance, admin, etc) and stockpiling information you'll need for reference.

Note: Letters of support take a long time to coordinate and receive. They are necessary when applying for a federal grant. It is beneficial to solicit a letter of support from a state representative.

4. Seek a peer reviewer and don't be afraid to contact the Program Officer with your questions.

Peer review is an excellent opportunity to check over your work. If you know a fundraising professional who has written a grant before, make a copy of the application guidelines and your application. Give them a day or two to make some recommendations. I guarantee you'll sleep better after the grant is submitted if haven't relied solely on your own faculties.

Here are some links:
Catalog of Federal and Domestic Assistance - this site lists the federal gov'ts standard proposal review criteria. Click on "winning grant proposals" on the left side of the homepage.
E-Grants - the master directory for Federal grant information.
FirstGov - a federal site that is the gateway for all federal and state agencies that make grant awards.

.+Morgan’s Manual Round-up: 10 Resources for VISTAs Who Hate Writing Manuals+.

Greeting VISTAs,
I don’t know about you but I HATE writing manuals – especially from scratch. If it has to do with showing someone how to use a computer using endless screenshots, reworked/inaccurate text instructions (that always seem to miss that TINY crucial step required to make the program ‘do-the-thing-that-you-want-it-to’) or a bloated MS Word ‘train-the-trainer’ manual - forget it. I just say DO A VIDEO TUTORIAL (plenty of them out there: http://www.socialsourcecommons.org/search/query?q=screen&submit=Search), host ‘em online and have your volunteers, tutors, managers and computer technology users watch them – much easier, always accurate and no typing – urg!

Of course, for those of you ARE crazy enough to undertake the devilish details of ‘computer lab manual creation’ - or a hardcover would simply be more fitting with your org and workplan - I present ‘Morgan’s Manual Round-up: 10 Resources for VISTAs Who Hate Writing Manuals’. Hopefully you don’t despise writing them THAT much - and it can be kinda satisfying to finish one, well, actually REALLY satisfying;)

After scouring the web - CTCnet, CTC VISTA, Stories For Change.net, The AmeriCorps National Resource Library and even our own CTCVISTA website - I handpicked these manuals based on a mix of reviews, personal use and relevance to our work as VISTAs – a hardworking VISTA in Washington inspired me (thanks Julia!). My personal fave is the YouthLearn Guide – great worksheets andwell written. Many of these guides can be found in the oft overlooked AmeriCorps VISTA National Lending Library. As VISTAs you have access to this SPECIAL COLLECTION of library resource materials to help you do what you do best as a VISTA (whether training volunteers, partnering with community orgs, or developing systems for the operation of your sites).

CTC Center Start-Up Manual
http://www.ctcnet.org/what/resources/startup_manual.htm
First published in 1997, the CTC Center Start-Up Manual is widely recognized as a principal guide for establishing CTCs and serves as an organized patchwork of CTC experiences. Toni Stone, founder of CTCNet, was principal author of previous editions of the Manual. With support from the Surdna Foundation, the manual was updated in January 2003 to reflect developing CTC experiences and needs.

Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems, 21st Century Edition
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Coordinate volunteers and develop computerized reports using this step-by step guide. Includes sample application forms, volunteer data files, assignment records, and time and activitiy reports. Ideas are offered for documenting hard-to-track activities. Information is provided for people doing manual file keeping as well as how to make the most out of computer software.

50 One-Minute Tips for Trainers
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Examines the purpose and importance of training and development programs, and discusses tips to consider before training an audience. Includes determining needs, preparing a training manual, understanding how adults learn, and organizing a presentation.

The Community Collaboration Manual
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Explores the options for building and sustaining collaborations. Discusses how to maintain the momentum of a collaboration, how to involve youth and business, and the role of the media in contemporary collaboration.

Generic Volunteer Orientation Manual: Your Guide to Developing an Orientation Manual for Volunteers
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Guide for developing a new orientation manual for volunteers or updating an agency's volunteer policies or procedures. Contains samples of components of a volunteer orientation manual, such as a mission statement, organizational chart, lists of volunteer rights and responsibilities, record-keeping and scheduling instructions, and descriptions of policies and standards that volunteers must follow. Includes disk with text of the manual in Microsoft Word and ASCII.

National Service Stress Survival Guide: Facilitator Guide and Training Manual
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Provides facilitator guide and training materials to help national service programs combat stress. Group and individual exercises provide opportunities for self-assessment, reflection, and educational interaction. Includes handouts, self-tests, stress-reducing exercises, a resource list for participants, and a brief section called "Getting Things Done Without Burning Out."

Training the Trainer
http://nationalserviceresources.org/wgnsrclibrary/advancedsearch?action=...
Manual for use in workshops by trainers of tutors. Includes the training components of presentation, demonstration, practice, and follow up.

The YouthLearn Guide: A Creative Approach to Working With Youth and Technology
http://youthlearn.org/guide/index.html
an easy-to-use, hands-on manual with more than 160 pages of lessons, worksheets, and sample activities on how to set up a new learning program or enhance an existing one. The guide helps practitioners combine new technologies and proven teaching techniques in ways that will make your work even more rewarding for you and the children you serve. Visit the site for downloadable sample sheets!

Creative Narrations Digital Storytelling Curriculum: Instructor Guide
http://storiesforchange.net/resource/creative_narrations_digital_storyte...
A guide to running digital storytelling workshops

Working with Technical Volunteers: A Manual for NPOs
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/volunteers/page5095.cfm?cg=search...
CompuMentor has developed an effective methodology for recruiting, matching, and managing technical volunteers. You can use this downloadable guide to assess your technical needs and identify areas where volunteers can help; recruit technical volunteers and assess their skills; manage technical volunteers; document their work; and find resources that will help your volunteers throughout the process.

AND REMEMBER:

“Never doubt the importance and relevance of your efforts. The benefits to the community you are serving are perhaps only outweighed by the benefits this service will bring to you in turn.” - Brandon Rogers, former VISTA and author of “The Effective Education Award”, a guide for helping AmeriCorps members make the most of their ed award.

AJ's Big Page of Barely Sorted Tutorials and How Tos

For Teaching Teachers/Students About the Web

http://lifehacker.com/software/education/technophilia-get-a-free-college...
---Educational resources available online. A great thing to show to teachers as something that can be integrated into their lesson plans.

http://www.googleguide.com/
---How to use Google. Its more than just finding out stuff about Paris Hilton. A good place to start to understand how to use Google better in preparation for explaining to teachers or students how to do so.

Cutting Operational Costs

Quick and easy ways to lessen costs associated with managing an organization. These are some immediate ways to increase a non-profits capacity through saving money.

Carpool
Perhaps some of your co-workers live near you?

Telecommute
This is particularly great if most of your work is computer oriented. No bus/transport costs, all your food is at home, time usually spent in commuting is can be spent working. Be wary of getting lonely and unstimulated however - chatting can help with that if you're connected with your fellow employees.

Online File Sharing
I use Google docs to cut back on a lot of sending paper work back and forth between email. For a small time investment of acclimating staff to the (easy to use and familiar) interface, less time is spent on tracking changes, saving stuff, resending, and commenting.

Marketing/Branding Strategies For Your Website

Check out the attached powerpoint presentation featured at the NTEN '07 Conference - "Building Your Brand from the First Click" - really helpful how-to's on creating a successful branding image for your non-profit (or not) organization.

From Kevin Bulger:

Link back to the original thread

Marketing Strategies For Your WebsiteI have been given the task to increase the viewership and participation in www.sflregionalequity.org (a website dedicated to achieving greater equity in the Southeast Florida region through promoting and enabling affordable housing, transit-oriented development, stronger neighborhoods, and equal access to education and health)...

I believe in the cause and I think demand for the website is out there. However, I did not know how to best get the word out. At first I spent approximately 60 hours identifying 1800 possible organizations and local activists who would possibly be interested in the purpose of the site. I then went ahead and emailed and snail mailed invitations to the website with very little response. I believe that of the 1800 pieces of mailings I received 2 phone calls and 7 emails. So that tactic did not get the results I was hoping for.
...
If anyone else has the assignment of increasing participation in a website or project and would like to share your experience let me know! I think working on similar projects and having others share their input really helps, and it makes the whole process more enjoyable.
-------

Some outside the box ideas

Perhaps prominent local media - TV, Radio, Newspaper interviews.

Almost everyone likes a good human interest story.

Your NP is certainly a good fit.

That would also be high profile.

Use low / no cost outlets.

- if you haven't already, consider adding your web page link to your email signature and having co-workers add it to theirs

- Register with www.goodsearch.com and add that to your signature. (As an alternative to my previous suggestion). Not only publicity but fundraising as well.

- Indirect visibility - Flickr, Yahoo Answers, Yahoo, or Google Groups (on relevant topics / subjects) Find (or start) relevant groups, post relevant pictures etc.

- Post info at local public locations - Post Offices, Libraries, Churches, etc.

- Sponsorships, get others to advertise, advocate your
cause - force multipliers - local events

- Get a silly suit, stand on a busy corner with a sign and broadcast your website to rush hour traffic

- Get kids to volunteer, they've got time and energy and maybe some good ideas

- Give people a daily, weekly, monthly (periodic) reason to come back to your website (and to tell others about it) - it's all about content

- What are other local, regional, national orgs doing to promote their websites - what ideas can you cost effectively (legally) copy?

Just a few off the top of my head...

Good luck.

-------

Here's a relevant reference:

"Nonprofit Internet Strategies - Best Practices for Marketing, Communications and Fundraising"

It's available in print as well as an e-book, and you might be able to get it
from your local library.

Here's a link that might help you find it:

OCLC WorldCat - Find in a Library Search

Nonprofit Management

• The Personal MBA: The Personal MBA is an experiment in educational entrepreneurism created by Josh Kaufman. Instead of dropping $100,000 on a traditional MBA program, PMBA members believe it’s possible to get a great education by reading good business books and discussing them with each other.

Other Blogs

Nonprofit Technology

• Beth Kanter: One of the most prodigious nonprofit technologists around.
• Confessions of a Nonprofit IT Director: NPtech information and commentary.
• : The Personal and Professional Insights of a Struggling College Grad
• NTEN Connect: News and information from the Nonprofit Technology Network

Social Media & Cyberculture

• Many-to-Many: A group weblog on social software
• Media Shift: tracks the way the Internet and technology are reshaping the mediasphere
• Allison Fine: the ways that digital tools, particularly social media, are enhancing our connectedness to one another and our ability and willingness to work for the collective social good
• Apophenia:how American youth engage in networked publics like MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Xanga, etc.
• Mind Mob: emerging trends in science, collaboration, the online world and elsewhere.

Nonprofits & Society

• The World We Want

Skills and tools

Presentations

• Presentation Zen: Information on creating effective presentations

Blogging

• Copyblogger: How to blog effectively

Program Evaluation

Collecting data for performance measurement: general guidelines http://nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep_act...
Data serve as the raw materials for assessing program results. Data collection requires performance measures to be defined, and for methods and instruments to be identified. (Project STAR)

Project Managment

Project Management for All: How to plan for your next web project
See attached PowerPoint presentation for a pretty great example on how to manage a new website launch.

Tools

.

Event Planning/Management

Admit One: Online Event Registration Tools & Tips
Best practices for managing ticketing and registration online (see attached presentation)

Event Management Tools
(see attached presentation)

Remixable Video Collaboration (working title)

VISION
Throughout the summer and fall of 2007, the CTC VISTA Project is looking to begin a new video documentation initiative focused on getting not only the stories of VISTAs on tape, but also how they do their jobs, what skills and tools they've found, how they make it through the year on the VISTA stipend and more.

VALUE
This project seeks to develop:
- More effective VISTA recruitment tools
- Higher quality VISTA training
- Media integration with the web site
- Host organization orientation
- A more comprehensive and gut-level view of what the CTC VISTA Project accomplishes
- A general marketing piece for the project

APPEAL
The CTC VISTA Project wants to get as many voices as willing to contribute to this, hopefully, annual process of directly documenting the work of CTC VISTAs. Additionally the Project is looking for a few VISTAs willing to possibly take point on taping VISTAs at their host locations (Digital Media VISTAs TAKE NOTICE!).

VISTA Leaders and Project HQ staff will be organizing this project. If any VISTAs are interested in participating contact VISTA Leader Kevin (kpalmer23@gmail.com).

If VISTAs are as interested and excited about the scope and reach of the Project, what VISTAs are doing and how they're doing it, then participate! (be sure to check out the downloadable documents at the bottom of this page for a more in-depth layout.)


General Outline
Here are a few sketches of what we hope to achieve:









Possible Partners
This is a list of possible partners for this project as well as a list of VISTAs interested in developing the project. We will eventually take off the 'Possible' when we have gotten confirmation of interest and participation.

• Morgan Sully, VISTA Leader

Check out the documents attached below for a more in-depth layout.

Content Management

An OS content management system (CMS) allows you to manage website text and images through a database. This typically means:
Quicker website setup
Completely flexible graphic design
Tools to easily update pages and navigation
Support for rule-based content (like events or news)
Community support and plug-ins

Comparing Open Source Content Management Systems:
- Joomla
- Drupal
- Plone
(see attached presentation)

Data Management / API

How Open APIs Can Change How Nonprofits Manage Data
See attached presentation.

Using Open APIs for a Virtual March
See attached presentation.

Evaluations and benchmarks

• Benton Technology Literacy Benchmarks for Nonprofit Organizations from the Benton Foundation Library: Like many tools of its kind, these benchmarks are not the product of one person or organization. Instead, they are the result of the knowledge and experience of many working in the nonprofit technology assistance field.

Online Meeting and Seminar Software/Services

For non-profits and agencies, communicating over long distances might be necessary for projects and to stay on the same track in program development and fund-raising. From project reviews to board meetings to fundraising pitches, the human resources needed to achieve goals might be spread over multiple areas.

Online meeting and seminar software (sometimes called webinar software/services) can allow groups to meet across geographical boundaries. In most instances, a webinar is a live meeting/conference with one person as speaker/presenter with others as the audience. The speaker/presenter will either share their desktop/screen with the audience or lead the way through a slideshow. There is some audience interaction either through phone (which might be the main audio conductor) or polling/Q&A/chat.

When reviewing webinar software or services for your non-profit or agency, keep a few ideas in mind.

• What is your budget?: Prices can range from free to hundred of dollars a month.

• How many people will be part of the meeting?: Some “free” software/services have a # of participants restriction, so keep that in mind.

• Audio?: Some software/services use Skype or other VoIP solutions to transmit audio. Others will use phone conferencing solutions. In phone conference solutions, there is a toll-free option, where the participants call in for free, but the host of the webinar will pay a per person/per minute price. Others will have a toll number option where participants pay a long-distance charge, with the fixed cost for the host rolled into the subscription price.

• Polling/Q&A/Chat?: Does the software/services have these features? You might decide that you don’t need these features; review the types of meetings/webinars you might conduct and decide if any of these features would enhance the presentation.

• Download/Install Software?: To use the services, will participants have to download or install software? Remember: some offices do not allow users to install software on their own, so there must be enough time for an IT department to review and install the software.

• Mac/Linux Compatible?: Will the software/services work on platforms other than Windows/IE? If it does work, what features might be turned off for these platforms? Keep in mind your audience and the chance that a presenter might not be in your physical office.

• Share Presenter Role?: Will the role of presenter be shared with more than one person? Does the software/service allow this? Can multiple people control one desktop/screen? Can the screen/desktop shared be changed?

• Recording?: Can the webinar be recorded for later playback? Can both audio and video be recorded? Are they recorded separate? What format will the webinar be recorded in? Is this a platform-specific feature? Can you actually download the recording or is it only hosted?

• Whiteboard/Annotation?: Are there tools to create or modify content on the fly? Can anyone use these tools or only the presenter?

• Filesharing?: Is there a place to have files that have to be reviewed by participants? Can they download these files or would you rather just attach them when you send out the invite to the webinar?

Here are some of the services/software CTC VISTA has been reviewing for its own On-Going Professional Development (OGPD) webinar series.

http://www.readytalk.com/

https://www2.gotowebinar.com/en_US/webinar/entry/entry.tmpl

http://www.dimdim.com/

http://www.yugma.com/

Here is a site with listing of screen sharing tools that could be combined with a telephone conferencing option:

http://www.kolabora.com/news/2006/10/05/screen_sharing_tools_and_technol...

Resources

See attachment for Presentation Info and Links from Jan '07 Boston PSO and Essential Contact Links and Info from Terms and Services Intro.

These might help when you are looking for answers to common non-profit and technology issues. Sign up for newsletters or just browse when you have a question:

http://nationalserviceresources.org/
"The Resource Center is your one-stop shop for online tools and training resources to strengthen your volunteer or service program...contains online training tools, event calendars, and effective practices, as well as a catalogue of printed publications and videos available on loan."

http://www.techsoup.org/
"TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support. In addition to online information and resources, we offer a product philanthropy service called TechSoup Stock. Here, nonprofits can access donated and discounted technology products, generously provided by corporate and nonprofit technology partners."

http://ctcnet.org/
"The Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) is a national membership network of community technology centers (CTCs) and other non-profits, united in their commitment to provide technology access and education to underserved communities."

http://nten.org/
"NTEN is a professional community that connects people involved in nonprofit technology and strives to help them effectively use technology in their work."

http://npower.org/
"NPower is a national network of local nonprofit organizations that provide high-quality, unbiased, affordable and appropriate technology assistance to other organizations."

Ever start an Access database and wonder how it knows to open a specific form? Other than using the Developer's Edition of Access which does a nice neat job of compiling Database information (Forms, Code, Tables, etc) and shutting all but the developer out from the database, this is a way to give a user a comparable appearance and performance while still giving them access to the underlying database. See the attachment.

Resources by Felicia M. Sullivan
Felicia M. Sullivan is executive director of Organizers’ Collaborative (http://organizerscollaborative.org) a Boston-based NPO dedicated to advancing social change through technology. Prior to joining OC, she worked at Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, a community media center in Lowell, MA. She speaks and writes frequently on issues of community communication in a connected age and the preservation of civic space in telecommunications.
See attached document (Resources - Felicia Sullivan) for links and information on both Free and Open Source Software.

http://www.unixguide.net/linux/linuxshortcuts.shtml
Excellent linux administrator commands guide for newbies. Also rather useful when printed out.

http://www.openaddict.com/documents/
A collection of in depth resources on major nix concepts.

http://www.networkforgood.org/npo/holiday/marketing/default.aspx
Network for Good - Website Design with Marketing in Mind
Tips and tools for effective marketing (See document below for recent Seminar info. They offer free seminars. Signup for their newsletter to be informed of upcoming free seminars. They also offer seminar audio/transcripts and Powerpoints. Some seminars are web based, others, like the one I attended are teleconferences.)

See the attachment below for some interesting Search Engines from
a 2005 article in Scientific American. For info on Search Engine
comparisons, studies, and basics, try: http://www.searchenginewatch.com

NTEN is currently hosting a Leadership Webinar on a variety of
Non-Profit Technology related subjects. The direct link to the links
(library) on NTEN is: http://groups.nten.org/library.htm?igid=64558.

Resources for Open Source Software

Tips

• Six Steps to Adopting Open-Source Software at Your Org (Aug 2006)
• How To: Put Technology to Use (May 2008)

Software Links

• "The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy -- and Their Open Source Alternatives"
• Social Source Commons: http://socialsourcecommons.org/

User Friendly

• Free Software Foundation: http://directory.fsf.org/

(Comprehensive)

• Sourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/

General Purpose / Utilitarian

• Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com

Technical Assistance to Non-Profits Working Group

Our Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 14:00 CDT
For more information, click here.

The Technology Assistance to Non-Profits Working Group assists VISTAs in sharing knowledge between the members of the group and in developing the knowledge-base for the CTC*VISTA project. The workgroup is open to all CTC*VISTAs. The group will also be meeting occasionally with the Assisted Technology group, as the potential for useful cross-pollination seemed apparent to all.

The first meeting of the group was held in person in Lowell, Massachusetts, on 22 June 2007. The initial members of the group included Rob Heck, Jack Doherty, Tony Brown, Josh King, and Ross Musselman. We began by recognizing the groups strengths and resources, as well as establishing the challenges that each of us face in our VISTA positions. An avahi failure prevented a more detailed list of those strengths and weaknesses.

We agreed that the following resources would be useful for the group to develop:

• Resource Links: citations and links that are useful in solving various problems;
• Tips and Tricks: shortcuts and discoveries for addressing needs and solving IT problems;
• Accessibility Opportunities: this will be developed in conjunction with the Assisted Technologies group; and
• The VISTA Network: a guide to best practices for IT networking.

Our Next Meeting

Our next meeting is Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 14:00 CDT. You can join us for that meeting by joining the CTC*VISTA IRC channel at irc.freenode.net #ctcvista. To start using the CTC*VISTA IRC, visit http://ircatwork.com/cgi-bin/irc/irc.cgi.

Technology Planning

Developing an IT Budget for your Nonprofit
Since technology began to find its way into nonprofits in the 1980’s, budgeting for IT has been a problem. Many nonprofits still have no distinct IT budget or budgeting process, let alone separate capital, operations, and support budgets. This presentation argues that preparation of an IT budget is a critical step both toward controlling IT costs and increasing the usefulness of IT systems. Through the use of standards, templates, and industry experience, nonprofits can develop IT budgets with relative ease, and should.
Check out the attached PowerPoint Presentation on IT Budgeting

Selecting the Right Technology Vendor
1 ASSESS FEASIBILITY – Is this viable for my organization?
2 GATHER REQUIREMENTS – What does my organization need?
3 RESEARCH & REFINE OPTIONS – What solutions/vendors might fit my needs?
4 EVALUATE VENDORS – What is the best fit for my organization’s needs?
5 SELECT & ENGAGE VENDOR – Is this a reasonable price and contract?
6 MANAGE IMPLEMENTATION – Has the vendor delivered on its promises?
7 SUPPORT & MAINTENANCE – How will we maintain the solution and support it?
(See attached presentation for more information on these steps...)

Website Planning/Expansion

Nonprofit Communications 2.0 – Seven Steps to Transform Your Organization
This presentation (attached) has a WEALTH of information on the following:
I. Network Centric Communities
II. Strategic Communications
1. Planning for Integration
2. Viral Marketing
3. Building Blocks of Nonprofit Communications
ii. MEANS OF PRODUCTION
a. email
b. blogging
c. online media
d. wikis
e. mashups
ii. MEANS OF DISTRIBUTION
f. Syndication
g.Tagging
h.Content Management Systems
III. Web 2.0 Applied
a. E-Democracy: from Political & Activist Campaigns
b. Friend Raising to Fundraising: “Resource Development

3 Ways to make your nonprofit more effective with RSS aggregation
(see attached presentation)

Education Award & Stipend

Education Award / Stipend Election Form

VISTAs can switch from the Education Award to the Stipend up prior to the 10th month of service. VISTAs cannot go from the Stipend to the Education Award.

Download the Form

Please be aware that changing from the Education Award to the Stipend may negate any forbearance requests you may have in effect on existing student loans (if applicable), and would eliminate any interest payments now scheduled to be made by the National Service Trust on your behalf at the end of your service year.

Exiting / Life after VISTA

Following is a list of administrative details and procedures you’ll need to work through before leaving:

1. Change of address (log into CTCVISTA.org, update in your profile)
2. Education award (see My.AmeriCorps.gov)
3. Interested Accrual form (see My.AmeriCorps.gov)
4. End-of-Term-of-Service form (see http://www.ctcvista.org/files/exitform.pdf)
5. Future Plans or Early Termination Form (http://www.ctcvista.org/files/futureplans.doc)
6. Return Travel Home Form (http://www.ctcvista.org/files/returntravel.doc)
7. End of CTC VISTA Service Survey (You'll get an email with a link to this.)
8. References from program director, site supervisor, fellow AmeriCorps members, team leaders, VISTA leaders, and/or other community members
9. Addresses and other contact information for fellow VISTAs finishing with CTC VISTA (see http://ctcvista.org/directory/vista_alumni or MyAmeriCorps.com)

Other Helpful Exiting Info to know:

Travel Home and Reimbursements:

VISTAs who originally relocated in order to serve a submit
close-of-service paperwork, including a form that tells us about their
travel plans. Based on this info, the Corporation sends out vouchers
for mileage funds and reimbursable costs, and make travel arrangements
as necessary.

The funds allocated for close of service are the same as their
original relocation costs, without the $550 allowance. So, VISTAs who
are finishing up get shipping allowances of $25/100 miles up to $500,
and 48.5 cents per mile if they were approved to have use a personal
vehicle as part of their service and brought their vehicle with them
at the beginning of the year (i.e., no mileage reimbursement for
anyone who may have bought a car during the service year). The
Corporation also makes flight/Amtrak arrangements in accordance with
the original method of travel.

***VISTAs must return to the home of record the Corporation has on
file (on your original AmeriCorps application)*** for them in order to
be eligible for relocation funds – for example, we can't send someone
to their campus location if they are going on to grad school.
However, if someone wants to go to another location, or if they have
decided to stay in their service location instead of returning home,
they can request the cash equivalent of their airfare, which we would
then add to their reimbursement voucher."

E-version of Life After AmeriCorps book: http://nationalserviceresources.org/resources/online_pubs/americorps/nex...

If you serve in AmeriCorps*VISTA, your experience can help you get hired by the federal government.
When you satisfactorily complete one full year of AmeriCorps*VISTA service, you earn non-competitive eligibility for federal government jobs. This means that a federal government hiring official may hire you without having to compete with the general public provided that you meet the minimum qualifications for the job. Non-Competitive eligibility does not mean that you are guaranteed a federal civil service job. You must locate an agency with a vacancy and interest that agency in hiring you. This benefit does not apply for other AmeriCorps programs.
*To establish your non-competitive status, you'll need proof of eligibility. Once you've completed service, contact the AmeriCorps*VISTA Certifying Officer giving your full name (including names you may have used during service), Social Security Number, and dates of service. A letter will then be sent to you. Duplicate the letter and submit copies with your federal job applications. Please contact: AmeriCorps*VISTA Certifying Officer at alumni@americorps.org.

To look for federal government jobs in your area: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/

Ways to stay connected post-service:

http://www.americorpsalums.org/
Among other services, this website maintains a current list of colleges / universities who match the education award.

http://www.globalservicecorps.org/
Use your AmeriCorps ed award to travel abroad. This organization made arrangements with SUNY Albany to allow participants to use their AmeriCorps education award to finance their GSC program fees.

http://www.meetamericorps.com
This website is a free and easy-to-use tool for current AmeriCorps and VISTA service-members, alumni and prospective volunteers to find and meet one another for fun, success and good.

Foodstamps and Social Services

Food Stamps

As a VISTA, you should be eligible for food stamps. Food stamps and many other social services (especially child care) cannot be taken away from you if you obtain them before becoming a VISTA. All prior federal assistance is unaffected upon becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA

Upon starting the program, you will qualify under the income requirement, as your living allowance is well under the monthly income limit.

Food Stamp programs, along with many other social assistance programs, have an asset limit. This usually is savings, but may also include retirement plans and investments as well. The average amount is $2,000 but check your local requirements.

A Directory of Food Stamp Application Offices

CTC VISTA Project Assistance

The CTC VISTA Project can provide certification that you are serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA, your living allowance payments and supporting material as to your eligibility for food stamps or other social services. Contact us!

Common Issues and Solutions

There is an enormous amount of discretion given to each individual caseworker, and it seems that each interprets the guidelines very differently. In most cases, VISTAs are eligible and you should contact the VISTA Project should you run into difficulties.

• AmeriCorps living allowance should not be included in income calculations! This applies to any Federal or Federally-assisted program based on need. Download a letter from the US Department of Agriculture confirming this.

• In extreme cases the locality may view your signing the AmeriCorps VISTA as voluntary poverty, which could be a hindrance in furthering your case.

Links

• While made specifically for those in Massachusetts, http://gettingfoodstamps.org has valuable, general information for anyone looking to receive food assistance.

• The offical Food and Nutrition Service site (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/) can be a little difficult to navigate, but houses helpful FAQs (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/faqs.htm) and your state's hotline number (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/contact_info/hotlines.htm).

Other Resources

Free Stuff This is a great website for resources from local food banks to free housing. Very anarchist-ist and sounds negative, but I found some great stuff here. www.ihatemylife.us

Finding Housing Housingmaps.com plots listings from Craig's List on Google Maps.

Health Benefits

AmeriCorps VISTAs are covered for our health benefits (not insurance!) by Seven Corners ( (866) 699-4186 or www.americorps.sevencorners.com). Many questions can be answered on their FAQs page or in the Members Healthcare Guide (pdf).

To find a doctor (which you should do in the first couple weeks of your service) go to http://www.choicecarenetwork.com/global/Home.asp#.

If you're trying to find out more about your local state run health programs, try starting with your state's official website...all of which are listed on http://www.firstgov.gov/. Look for links to Health.

Individual Leadership

An important aspect of leadership development is getting quality feedback. This may come from others, a coaching conversation, performance evaluation, 360-degree feedback, or it may come from self-assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Learning Styles Inventory, or Insights Discovery Learning System.

You can go online and gain insight into your character strengths by taking the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire developed by Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Christopher Peterson (it's free to take the survey and get your results, and you do have to register first).

What can you do with the information once you've completed the questionnaire? The Values In Action Institute on Character has dozens of exercises for each of the 24 characters strengths in the survey. It's easy to focus exclusively on weaknesses when designing developmental goals. If you balance that with a focus on your strengths and you use those strengths in new ways you will experience a greater sense of satisfaction and well-being.

- Dewey Schott, NAMAC Senior Manager of Leadership Services

Living Resources By Region

This is information related to geographic area.

My.Americorps.gov

http://my.americorps.gov is the official online paperwork and form submittal tool from Americorps.

Setting up an account is simple. Just go to http://my.americorps.gov and click on "Register to create a new Member/Alum account" at the bottom of the page. Drop your SS numbers and a little info and they'll send you an email that will link you back to your account. Set your password from that link and you should be alright. Once you log in click on "My in-service benefits", "My Education Award" or "My Service Letter" on the left sidebar to start accessing your info and forms. As of now the "My Living Allowance" and "My Tax Statements" information is not relevant for CTC VISTA's since we handle this in-house.

Pre-Service Information

From an email from Paul Hansen, May 29, 2007:

Shipping Expenses

The Corporation for National and Community Service (which administers AmeriCorps programs) will reimburse you for shipping boxes when you are relocating per the following formula which is taken from the AmeriCorps*VISTA Members' Handbook [pdf].

"The baggage allowance, based on direct mileage between two points, is $25.00 per 100 miles, rounded down to the nearest hundred, with a maximum of $500.00. The weight of the shipment is not considered in determining the reimbursement. In all cases, members must provide receipts. The baggage allowance is paid by check from the Corporation and should reach the member within his/her first month on the project. For shipment related to close of service, the check should be received before or within a month following departure."

If you ship items before the orientation, bring your receipts with you and you can submit them at that time. Otherwise, you can fax them to us later.

Relocation Allowance

Anyone relocating more than 50 miles will be receiving the $550 relocation allowance. This is included in your first living allowance check. The living allowance is paid every two weeks per the CTC VISTA Payroll Schedule.

You don't have to fill out any forms to receive the allowance. We calculate the distance based on the address that you provided in your AmeriCorps application.

Relocation Information

If you are relocating to a new part of the country, you should feel free to contact the people you interviewed with at the host organization for recommendations on housing. They understand that this is a big concern for new VISTAs and I'm sure they will be as helpful as they possibly can.

Resources to Rock Finding a Place to Live

So you've just signed up to live for a whole YEAR at poverty level AND you might have even been crazy enough to move to a new city to do this. You're (hopefully!) excited to start your work as a CTC VISTA building the capacity of your organization.

But what if you haven't found a place to live yet? If you've just started your VISTA year in a new city, your housing should be a top priority. It's hard to do good work if you're constantly wondering where you're going to live.

In this post, I'll cover 5 tips/tools for rocking finding a place to live. Read on to begin the rocking.

1) craigslist

well duh. Craigslist is almost a given. For the uninitiated, craigslist is an awesome online classifieds service originally founded in San Francisco. It has since been replicated in major metropolitan cities around the world and is used by millions of people each day for finding housing, cars, romance and just about any other things humans can share with each other.

TIP: one of the most under utilized features of craiglist is their search-based RSS feed. *Setting one up is easy:

1. Click on the 'apts/housing' section (or whatever housing situation you are looking for) and enter in your search terms.
2. Click "Search"
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the RSS link. You can either subscribe this link in your RSS reader (like Bloglines or Google Reader) or simply add it as a bookmark to your browser bookmark toolbar (see the image above for how it looks in Firefox 3 for the Mac).

• A more detailed tutorial of this process can be found on the Get Rich Slowly blog.

2) housingmaps.com

This one is sweet. Google maps + craigslist. If you've just moved to a new city, chances you are not really sure where everything is just yet. When you look for housing on craigslist, the names of the neighborhoods may be irrelevant to you because you don't know where these neighborhoods are in relation to you. Housingmaps.com fixes that.

It has the built in housing search/filtering of craigslist (price ranges, number of rooms, pictures, location) + the marker functionality of Google maps. These two put together allow you to filter the markers that appear on a map to fine tune your search.

Maybe you might get ideas for how Google maps could be used at your organization?

3) listpic

Yet another awesome way that craigslist is being used to help people find things. This lets you browse craigslist visually, so you can see what these places look like.

However, some things to consider: 1) it ONLY searches posts with an image. This may limit what comes up. 2) conversely, by showing ONLY the places with images, it COULD save you some time trekking to the place only to find that it's not agreeable to where you want to live during your VISTA year.

Speaking of trekking, you DID ask your org if they could help out with public transportation, right? We at CTC VISTA encourage you to ask your org about any resources you may need during your year. Living on the meager stipend that AmeriCorps mandates can be tough. Don't make it any harder on yourself by getting burned out trekking across town to run errands, look for housing, let alone get to work.

College/University Volunteer Centers

Clearinghouse for all contacts for college and university community service, public service and volunteer service centers.

Constituent Management Databases

from the Tech Soup Newsletter: Tracking Constituents in Small and Mid-Sized Organizations

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/databases/page7129.cfm

Before you consider what actual database tool is right for you, it's important to think through what's important for your organization.

• Understand who will use it. Your organization's databases shouldn't be the domain of the technical. Many people will need to use it — for instance, a constituent database should be used by anyone looking up a constituent phone number or tracking a contact with someone.
• Think through the processes and data you need to track. What do you currently do that should be supported in the new system? What isn't working well right now that could be improved with a new system? What do you think you might want to do down the road? Try to consider all the ways that you could interact with the data you're going to track.
• Begin with your outputs in mind. Make a list of the reports, lists, and other things that you will want to output from the system. What information will you need? In what ways will you need to filter the data?
• Prioritize your needs. Define which of your needs are critical, and which are just nice to have. Trying to support everything at once can result in a system that's too complicated for your needs or not being able to find a system at all.

External Resources

Listed below are a variety of external links related to Volunteer Management:

Management Help's Extensive Volunteer Management Resource

Non-Profit Volunteer Risk Management

Volunteer Today's Volunteer Resource Clearinghouse

Idealist Nonprofit HR Center

Interview Process

Management

• The Maine Commission for Community Service's E-newsletter: VolunteerFare: The Volunteer Managers Edition: In this edition we take a look volunteer management as a profession. Often times as volunteer managers you only get information on how to perform the duties of your job, but this time we're turning the tables. We've posted some interesting articles for your professional development and what it really means to be a volunteer manager.
• The attached pamphlet by www.idealware.org gives some tools and ideas and resources regarding a case management system to keep track of volunteers and/or clients.

Orientation

Promotion

Recruitment

Retention

How to Keep Your Volunteers Coming Back for More: Web-based Volunteer solutions and how they can increase your volunteer recruitment and retention.
(See attached presentation.)

Volunteer Management Presentations

These are some of the resources I present to donors and to agencies. They are rough and they require extra explanation in many places. But, since I haven't trademarked them, unfortunately, I am sharing them with you. Feel free to email me with any questions...I also have a list of websites and reading that supplement this. I'll get it on the wiki sometime soon hopfully.

10 Tactics for Growing Your Community Online

Last week I attended an NTEN Member Appreciation Webinar entitled: 10 Tactics for Growing Your Community Online. As NAMAC's Online Community Manager, I found this webinar very helpful, engaging and well worth my time.

The webinar, provided by the awesome N-TEN, can be found in context here: http://tinyurl.com/2mtekz

The following are the main bullet points that were discussed at the *session:

1) Let the potential members of the community know why you are providing an online community, and how being an active member of a community would benefit them.

2) Use every opportunity to showcase your online community.

3) Seed the community with groups, forum postings, blogs, etc., so that early adopters aren’t faced with an “empty” community.

4) Make it as easy as possible for people to sign up and to use the community tools.

5) Designate a staff person to be the facilitator or moderator of the community.

6) Acknowledge those members who use the community frequently.

7) Seek input from the members on your organization’s agenda and other organizational issues. Take what you learn from the community and put it into practice in the organization.

8) Use wiki and/or forum functionality to publish ongoing lists of group events.

9) Announce new initiatives and other important organizational news in the community first.

10) Keep the community content fresh.

Feel free to watch the powerpoint below (click on it to go to a download page): <center>