Quarterly E-News | Spring Edition
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National Service Training
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We kicked off National Service Training (NST) season last week with our West region event in San Diego. Thanks to all who joined us! We look forward to our remaining NST events in New Orleans, in Charleston WV, and online. Please note that the event in New Orleans is already at capacity, but we have space available in Charleston and online. For more information, visit our NST website or email us.
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Celebrating Volunteers in April
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There are many volunteer and service holidays in April. Save the dates below and celebrate with us throughout the month.
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We hosted our annual Leadership Convening from February 13-16, 2023. The week included a board meeting, Hill Day visits, meetings for grantees of the Schultz Family Foundation, and two days of programming for commission leadership. View Leadership Convening photos.
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AmeriCorps Week, held March 12-18, was a wonderful celebration of all things national service and included trips to Arizona, Utah, and Georgia by AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith. We loved seeing commissions and programs around the country honor their members and volunteers!
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Training Series for New Commission Staff
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Did you know that ASC offers training for new commission staff? In January and February, we facilitated our annual webinar series for new executive directors, new fiscal officers, and new program officers. We love supporting commissions through training and technical assistance! If you have questions about these training opportunities, email Chad Driscoll.
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FY23 Omnibus Appropriations Act
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On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the FY23 Omnibus Appropriations Act into law. For the AmeriCorps agency, the bill provides funding that meets the President’s Budget Request in numerous accounts, including for AmeriCorps State and National (ASN), and provides nearly $2 million more than the President requested for the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF). As part of the appropriations process, ASC and the States for Service coalition had been urging Congress to provide the President’s requested level of funding for ASN to avoid cuts to either the number of ASN members serving nationwide or recent increases to the living allowance. The bill also includes more than a $400,000 increase for Commission Support Grants.
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FY24 President's Budget Request
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Earlier this month, the President released his FY24 budget request for all federal agencies, including the AmeriCorps agency. The President’s request calls for a $160 million increase to the agency’s budget over FY23, including a sizable increase for ASN to fund an increase of the member living allowance to the equivalent of $13 per hour.
With the release of the President’s Budget Request, the federal appropriations season is now under way. If you are not already a member, we encourage you to join our States for Service coalition to learn more about how you can become an advocate for national service funding and legislation both at the federal and state levels.
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State Legislation in the Works
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State legislative sessions are in full swing. Below are a few interesting service-related bills we are tracking:
- Maryland HB0546/SB0551 — Establishes a new service year program for recent high school graduates
- Oregon HB3032/SB2 — Creates a state tax benefit for those who rent a room in their home to service members
- Washington HB1176/SB5247 — Creates the Washington Climate Corps
- Nevada SB87 — Provides that a state position can be filled without competition if the applicant is a service alum
- Texas HB2179 — Adds AmeriCorps to a state program that gives local school districts a bonus of up to $5,000 for every graduate that enrolls in college, completes a job training program, or enlists in the military
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Budget Advocacy Toolkit — The first thing any commission needs to be able to advocate for is their own budget. After all, there is no point in advocating for new policies and programs if a commission doesn’t have the resources they currently need. Our new Budget Advocacy Toolkit provides commissions with everything they need to convince policy makers that supporting national service should be a fully-funded priority.
Day at the Capitol Toolkit — State capitols are where many of the decisions that impact service happen, but we know organizing a trip to let our representatives know what great service is being done and how much more could be done can be stressful and complicated. Our new Day at the Capitol Toolkit provides commissions with clear messaging, strong strategies, and customizable templates to make the process of planning your trip to the capitol as easy as possible.
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In This Issue
- Upcoming Events
- Events in Review
- S4S Public Policy Updates
- Announcements & Reminders
- AmeriCorps Agency News
- Commissioner Highlight
- 25th Anniversary Philanthropy Corner
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Announcements & Reminders
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Grant to Establish Emergency Funds
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ASC received a $750,000 grant from the Schultz Family Foundation to support the creation of emergency funds that will assist AmeriCorps members experiencing financial hardship during their terms of service.
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The 2023 TTA Directory is available for download! Use the directory to find consultants and trainers with demonstrated expertise in national service and volunteerism.
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New Timesheet App from America Learns
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America Learns worked with AmeriCorps members nationwide to build the first made-for-AmeriCorps timesheet app. Whether your members are 17 or in their 90s, whether or not they're comfortable with technology, and even if they don't have a stable internet connection, this app just might be what you've been looking for. It is now available in the Google Play and Apple app stores. Watch this video created for NST West attendees to learn more.
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Volunteering and Civic Life in America
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Choose AmeriCorps PSA Campaign
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Last week, the AmeriCorps agency launched a new PSA campaign called Choose AmeriCorps. A PSA toolkit is available for promotional assistance, and commissions should have received access to localized PSAs earlier this week.
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"When I was 10 years old, I learned about the Jewish concept tikkun olam, which can be translated as 'repair of the world.' To me, it means no one can sit idly by, waiting for the world to get better. Every action we take must advance justice. But people don’t have the same ability and resources to do so, which is also why we must work together in this pursuit. It’s the reason I followed a life of service, studied communications to support mission-driven organizations, became a community and volunteer organizer, and continue to make service a part of my work and life every day. It’s why I’m honored to serve the District of Columbia as a commissioner with Serve DC." —David Horwitz
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25th Anniversary Philanthropy Corner
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Thank you to our Year of Silver sponsors GivePulse and America Learns! In addition to supporting our 25th anniversary, they are our lead sponsors for National Service Training.
As we continue celebrating our anniversary, we are looking at ways for you to invest and support ASC in our mission of uniting states in service. In the coming months, we will be providing information on a monthly giving program, legacy gifts, tributes, and giving days. Thank you for your ongoing support of ASC!
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About America’s Service Commissions (ASC)
America’s Service Commissions is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing and promoting the 52 state service commissions across the United States and territories with the mission to lead and elevate the state service network. State service commissions are governor-appointed public agencies or nonprofit organizations made up of more than 1,000 commissioners, private citizens leading the nation’s service movement and administering more than 75 percent of the federal AmeriCorps funds to address pressing community needs. Learn more at statecommissions.org.
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