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Quarterly E-News | Summer 2018

July 25, 2018

Congress Recommends Strong and Continued Funding for National Service, Commissions in FY 2019 Appropriations

It's been an extremely busy and productive summer for the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, both of which have now completed the process of "marking up" the FY 2019 appropriations spending bills for the coming year.

We at America’s Service Commissions (ASC) and the States for Service (S4S) Coalition are happy to report that both Senate and House Appropriators have rejected the previously proposed budget cuts to the Corporation for National and Communtiy Service (CNCS) and its programs. Instead, both committees have recommended restored and continued funding for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Volunteer Generation Fund and state service commissions. Both committees have recommended that CNCS retain its annual budget of just over $1 billion.

Even more exciting, the Senate bill proposes to expand AmeriCorps funding by an additional $3 million, the highest funding amount in its history. The Senate also included important language supporting the expansion of Fixed Amount Grants to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on current and potential AmeriCorps programs.

All of this news is extremely positive for the entire service sector -- despite the fact that Congress has been working with the same amount of overall funding as last year and had to make offsets to increase funding for NIH and other critical but competing priorities.

A big thank you to Congressional Appropriators for their unwavering support as well as the entire state commission network, States for Service Coalition, and our partners at Voices for National Service and Service Year Alliance for all of the collective, continued outreach to make this outcome possible.

ASC would also like to extend special gratitude to the 520 Commissioners representing 46 states/territories who sent a powerful Commissioner Letter to the Labor-HHS Subcommittee about the impact and effectiveness of national service in advance of the FY 2019 mark-up hearings.

With the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, much work will need to be done in a short span of time to complete the appropriations process in time. If not completed, there will most likely be a Continuing Resolution that provides short term funding to allow Congress to complete action on appropriations bills. Nonetheless, this strong funding mark coupled with the AmeriCorps increase in the Senate mark puts CNCS funding in a strong position as the FY 2019 appropriations process moves forward.

Read more about the House Appropriations mark-ups >>

Read more about the Senate Appropriations mark-ups>>


2018 Regional Conference Recap

This spring, ASC hosted three regional National Service Training Conferences in partnership with Service Year Alliance and our host commissions Serve llinois, the South Carolina Service Commission, and Serve Washington.

In total, the 2018 training conferences brought together 1,074 national service program directors and thought leaders from across the country. Some highlights:

  • decorative96% of attendees agreed or strongly agreed they plan to apply what they learned (+2% from 2017)
  • 94% agreed or strongly agreed they gained new knowledge and skills as a result of attending (+6% from 2017)
  • 94% of attendees said the conferences were a valuable Investment of their time (+7% from 2017)
  • 89% of attendees agreed or strongly agreed that their  organization's effectiveness will improve as a result of attending (+6% from 2017)

Thank you to those who made these events possible through seed funding from participating commissions and our top sponsors Service Year Alliance, Cigna, Causality, Galaxy Digital, and NobleHour!

View photos of the conferences on Flickr >>


Service Unites Conference 2018

Last month, ASC's staff and commission members attended thedecorative Service Unites Conference hosted by Points of Light from June 18-20 in Atlanta, Georgia. ASC was pleased to coordinate six in-depth workshops this year with a focus on how commissions are supporting service and volunteerism in innovative ways nationwide.

Workshops coordinated by ASC included:

  • All Disasters Are Local: A Look Back at State Service Response Efforts to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria
  • Attacking the Opioid Epidemic Through Service
  • Engaging Elected Officials
  • Innovative Programs to Engage Youth In Service
  • Service Enterprise Hub: Taking Your Training to the Next Level
  • Volunteer Generation Fund Convening

Thank you to our co-presenters from the following organizations: Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family; Massachusetts Service Alliance; Michigan Community Service Commission; OneStar Foundation; Points of Light; Puerto Rico Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service; Service Year Alliance; Voices for National Service; Volunteer Florida; Volunteer Iowa; Volunteer Louisiana, and Volunteer Tennessee.

Afterward, ASC's CEO Kaira Esgate was asked to share her "Top 5 Takeaways" on the Points of Light Blog, including her thoughts on the need to connect and support; the importance of new faces, new perspectives; the future of nonprofit capacity building; finding your voice; and voting with your volunteerism.

Read Kaira's Top 5 Takeaways from Service Unites >>


Commissions Gather in Mississippi for Biannual Disaster Services Training

Thanks to CNCS and the Disaster Services Unit (DSU), 30 state commissions recently came together for a successful and engaging Commission Disaster Services Training from June 4-7 at the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus in Vicksburg, Mississippi. decorative

Topics ranged from a review of lessons learned from the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires, creating new disaster services programs, working with Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster (VOADs), and making the transition from immediate response to long term recovery.

Thank you to CNCS and the DSU staff for making this possible, as well as the commission planning committee for the event which included CaliforniaVolunteers, Missouri Community Service Commission, OneStar Foundation, Serve DC, Volunteer Florida, Volunteer Iowa, Volunteer Mississippi, Volunteer Tennessee, and Volunteer West Virginia.

Learn more about the Disaster Training and view training presentations here >>


The AmeriCorps Experience: Transformation through Service


A new research report related to AmeriCorps decorativewas recently published by Arizona State University's Morrison Institute. The report, The AmeriCorps Experience: Transformation through Service, was funded by CNCS's Department of Research & Evaluation to better understand the employability and employment outcomes of AmeriCorps members. ASC CEO Kaira Esgate and Arizona Commission Director Bob Shogren served on the Advisory Board of the study; six commissions also participated in the research project.

The study expands upon Morrison Institute's previous 2016 analysis of Arizona's AmeriCorps programs to include findings from five states across the country. The findings suggest that strong personal and professional networks emerge within the AmeriCorps program, which leads to positive employment outcomes.

Download the report >>


AmeriCorps State Program Staff Salary Survey

America's Service Commissions is now conducting a nationwide AmeriCorps State Program Staff Salary Survey. The results of this survey will be shared in the aggregate as a resource for state service commissions and their programs to access salary range data for AmeriCorps program staff in their state and region.

AmeriCorps State program staff directly managing an AmeriCorps State program are encouraged to complete the survey by Friday, August 3. With questions contact [email protected].

Take the salary survey >>


ASC Welcomes New Summer Interns

This summer, we are excited to welcome two summer interns to our D.C. office, Zoe Douglas (pictured on left) andecoratived Erin Gamba (pictured on right).

Zoe Douglas serves in two roles, splitting her time between working as our AmeriCorps Mental Health Intern & Public Policy Intern. Zoe is from Houston, Texas and attends the University of Texas at San Antonio where she is obtaining a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is in Washington, D.C. this summer as a Bill Archer Graduate Fellow in Public Policy through the University of Texas System.

Erin serves as our Public Policy Intern, focusing full-time on legislative activities, the development of our States for Service (S4S) Coalition initiatives, and education of elected officials on national service. A sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Erin is also actively involved with the National Youth Leadership Council Youth Advisory Council and Youth Service America’s Global Youth Council. Prior to attending UNC, Erin attended Stanford University and completed an intensive program in Service-Learning.

Welcome, Zoe and Erin!


Statement on the Loss of Commissioner Jennifer Ridecorativeordan

On April 17, our community experienced the tremendous loss of a respected and beloved state service Commissioner, Jennifer Riordan, who passed away in a tragic accident on Southwest Airlines Flight 1380.

Jennifer Riordan was a champion for national and community service and a dedicated Commissioner of the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism. As Chair, Ms. Riordan had stewarded the Commission through a number of administration changes and served as a trusted friend and mentor to Commissioners and Commission staff alike.

Despite a highly demanding professional and personal schedule, Jennifer was a tireless and highly effective advocate in celebrating the accomplishments of AmeriCorps programs throughout New Mexico. Seeking resources and allies to increase service, volunteerism and community engagement — especially among young people — were what motivated Jennifer throughout all aspects of her life.

The New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism deeply mourns her loss, and will find inspiration and comfort in her extraordinary legacy. On behalf of the 52 state service commissions across the country, our hearts go out to Jennifer Riordan’s family, friends, colleagues and community.

If you would like to pay tribute to Jennifer Riordan's life, please visit this site for more details on how you can contribute to Jennifer's family and community.

In This Issue...

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. Congress Recommends Strong and Continued Funding in FY 2019
  3. Regional Conference Recap
  4. Service Unites 2018
  5. Commission Disaster Convening in Vicksburg
  6. The AmeriCorps Experience: Transformation through Service
  7. AmeriCorps State Program Salary Survey
  8. ASC Welcomes New Summer Interns
  9. Statement on the Loss of Jennifer Riordan
  10. States for Service Coalition
  11. Service Job Board
  12. T/TA Directory

Upcoming Events

August 24: Deadline for Written Comments regarding CNCS Sustainability & Transformation Plan

September 12: Voices for National Service Hill Day (Washington, DC) - 8:30 AM  -1:00 PM

September 12-14: AmeriCorps State/National Symposium (Arlington, VA)

September 13: ASC Annual Reception and Innovation & Leadership Awards (Arlington, VA) - 6:00 - 8:30 PM - Registration forthcoming!

September 14: ASC Annual Membership Assembly - Commission Members Only (Arlington, VA) - 1:30 - 3:30 PM


States for Service (S4S) CoalitionStates for Service logo

Are you interested in working on national service public policy at the state and local level? Do you want to protect national and community service for generations to come?

Join the States for Service (S4S) coalition, the public policy arm of ASC, which focuses on mobilizing for service at the state and local level. Leadership opportunities available.

Individual - $150/year*

Programs/Partners - $250/year*

State Commissions - $500/year*

*Dues must be paid from non-federal funds.

Cick here to join >>


Service Job Board

Looking for new opportunities in the service sector? Check out the ASC Service Job Board, including recent listings such as the following:

Senior AmeriCorps Program Manager, Volunteer Tennessee

AmeriCorps Program Officer/Grants Coordinator, Serve Ohio

Grants Coordinator, Nevada Volunteers

Program Manager, Homewood Children's Village


T/TA Directory

decorativeAs a reminder, ASC has published the 2018 ASC Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Directory. This is a resource we compile annually with information on consultants and trainers in the national service and volunteer field. ASC encourages members to use the Directory as a resource when  releasing RFPs and seeking TTA providers.

Download the 2018 TTA Directory >>


Volunteer with ASC

We are currently recruiting volunteer interns in the following roles for spring/summer 2018:

Advocacy and Policy Intern

Communications Volunteer/ Intern

Every Student Succeeds Volunteer/Intern

To learn more and apply, click here.


2017- 2018 Board of Directors

Board Officers:

Chair, Liz Darling, OneStar Foundation

Vice Chair/Membership Chair, LaDawn Stoddard, UServeUtah

Secretary, Emily Haber, Massachusetts Service Alliance

Treasurer, Amber Martin-Jahn, Serve Washington

Public Policy Chair, Scott McFarland, Serve Illinois

Resource Development Chair, Audrey Suker, ServeMinnesota

Board Members:

Diana Algra, Michigan Community Service Commission

Celeste Connors, Hawaii Green Growth

Lindsay Dolce, Reading Corps

Maureen Eccleston, PennSERVE

Stacy Higa, Hawaii Commission on National & Community Service

Beverly Hoster, Oklahoma Community Service Commission

Bill Hulterstrom, United Way of Utah County

Phil Kolling, SerVermont

Adam Lounsbury, Volunteer Iowa

Jeff Mixon, North Carolina

Peter Sacco, Serve DC

Leslie Silverman, The Giving Practice

Jim Snell, Volunteer Tennessee

Don Stamper, Missouri Community Service Commission

Linda Thompson, Georgia Commission for Service & Volunteerism

Thank you to all of our ASC Board members for your ongoing service and leadership!

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