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Quarterly E-News | Winter 2018

December 27, 2018

Happy New Year from ASC!

decorativeSeason's Greetings! Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday break and a happy new year on behalf of America's 52 state service commissions.

Our offices will reopen on January 2. See you in 2019!


Public Policy Update

As we come to the end of 2018, ASC is grateful for the tremendous support national service received this year from both the House and Senate, as evidenced by the culmination of the FY 2019 Labor H/Defense appropriations law. Thanks to strong bipartisan support from our Congressional champions, we are now at the highest funding level in history for AmeriCorps State/National ($425 million) and the Volunteer Generation Fund ($5.4 million).

We are also grateful to Congress for the modest increases to State Service Commissions, AmeriCorps NCCC, and Senior Corps as well as continued funding for the VISTA program.

Although our nation is currently undergoing a partial government shutdown at the time of this publication, it is important to note that negotiations continue and that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and its programs will not be impacted by this shutdown. We are extremely thankful that national service funding was appropriated earlier this fall as part of two "minibus" bills (Defense and Labor-HHS-Education) which the President signed into law on September 28th.

Click here to view our FY19 national service funding charts and appropriations >>


ASC Welcomes 2018-2019 Board Members

During its annual Membership Assembly on October 17, 2018, ASC members from across the country approved a new slate of board members and officers for the 2018-2019 year, who will help guide and shape ASC as the nonprofit association of the 52 state service commissions in the year to come.

2018- 2019 Board Officers:

  • ChairLaDawn Stoddard – UT – executive director, UServeUtah
  • Vice-Chair/Public Policy ChairAmber Martin-Jahn – WA – executive director, Serve Washington
  • Membership ChairMaureen Eccleston – PA – executive director, PennSERVE
  • Resource Development ChairLindsay Dolce – chief advancement officer, Reading Corps
  • TreasurerScott McFarland – IL – executive director, Serve Illinois
  • SecretaryPhil Kolling – VT – executive director, SerVermont

2018- 2019 Board Members (in addition to Officers above):

  • Katie Abbott – AK – executive director, Serve Alaska
  • John Albright – MO – commissioner, Missouri Community Service Commission
  • Jeanne Duffy – WI – executive director, Serve Wisconsin
  • Caroline Farmer – NC – executive director, Volunteer NC
  • Ginna Holmes – MI – executive director, Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Beverly Hoster – OK –chair, Oklahoma Community Service Commission (continuing)
  • Bill Hulterstrom – at-large – President/CEO, United Way of Utah County (continuing)
  • Judd Jeansonne – LA – executive director, Volunteer Louisiana
  • Julia Keehner – WV – commissioner, Volunteer West Virginia
  • Cat Keen – FL – national service programs director, Volunteer Florida
  • Adam Lounsbury – IA – executive director, Volunteer Iowa (continuing)
  • Shelly McAlpin – WY – executive director, Serve Wyoming
  • Beth McGuinness – MA – director of programs, Massachusetts Service Alliance
  • Antonio Mendez – CO – executive director, Serve Colorado
  • Kate Scheuritzel – CT – director of programs, Serve Connecticut
  • Leslie Silverman – at-large – Partner, The Giving Practice, Philanthropy Northwest (continuing)
  • Linda Thompson – GA – executive director, Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (continuing)
  • Richard Swarttz – at-large – CFO, Peace Corps

"I am delighted to work with this talented group of state service leaders and experts this year," said Kaira Esgate, Chief Executive Officer for America's Service Commissions. "These Board members and officers will bring tremendous wisdom, geographic diversity, and insights from the front lines of the field to ASC so we can continue to represent the needs and interests of our members effectively."

ASC would also like to thank its outgoing Board members and officers for their service in 2017-2018:

With Thanks for Their Service:

Diana Algra – MI (2013)
Celeste Connors – at-large (2014)
Liz Darling – TX (2016)
Emily Haber – MA (2012)
Stacy Higa – HI (2012)
Jeff Mixon – at-large (2016)
Peter Sacco – DC (2015)
Jim Snell – TN (2012)
Don Stamper – MO (2017)
Audrey Suker – MN (2012)

To learn more about the ASC Board of Directors or to see the list by region, click here.


Save the Dates! 2019 Regional Training Conferences

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We are please to announce the dates and locations for the 2019 National Service Regional Training Conferences, which will happen over three days in three regions:

Registration will open in February for participating opt-in states first, then will be opened to the public on a first come, first served basis pending space availability. To find out what region you are in or if your state is participating, click here.

Interested in being an exhibitor, advertiser, or sponsor of the conferences? Sign up by March 1st.


Giving Tuesday Success!

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November 27th was Giving Tuesday, a celebration of America’s greatest traditions: generosity, entrepreneurialism, and community. Now in its seventh year, #GivingTuesday has become a global giving movement of individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world.

 

This year, ASC celebrated Giving Tuesday by showcasing some of our bona fide #ServiceNerds -- those special individuals whose lives have been forever changed by their AmeriCorps, national service, or state service commission experience and have pledged their lives to help others experience the same transformation through service. #ServiceNerds have a unique fondness for impact, data, and community building.

 

Thank you to our 2018 #ServiceNerds -- Alexis, Antonio, Lindsay and Roger -- for helping us get the word out about ASC and exceed our Giving Tuesday goal! In total, we raised $1,000 to help us support State Service Commissions and AmeriCorps State programs across the country.


Apply to Become a Service Enterprise Hub in 2019
decorativePoints of Light is now accepting applications for organizations to join the Service Enterprise Initiative as a Hub, to lead capacity-building transformations in their communities. The Service Enterprise Initiative is a national change-management program that helps organizations better meet their missions through the power of volunteers.

Through a comprehensive assessment, training, coaching and certification model, selected Hubs will be equipped with the program materials and technical assistance necessary to lead organizations in their market through a transformation process to become Service Enterprises.

Certified Service Enterprises join an exclusive group among the top 11 percent of organizations in the country in volunteer management and organizational performance. Research shows that Service Enterprises are significantly more adaptable, sustainable and capable of going to scale. They are also just as effective as their peers, but at half the median budget – in fact, for every $1 they invest in effective volunteer engagement, Service Enterprises can expect $3 to $6 in return through more effective program delivery.

Apply to become a Service Enterprise Hub by January 25 >>


Training News: From Boot Camps to Institutes

Over the last few months, America's Service Commissions has been pleased to team up with outside experts to offer innovative training and professional development opportunities to ASC members, including both commission staff and AmeriCorps program professionals.

On November 15-16, we held an AmeriCorps Start-Up Boot Camp in Austin, TX for 70 new AmeriCorps program directors hailing from 13 different states. Thank you to Amy Salinas and Jennifer Jefts-Cowart from On3Learn for leading this insightful training!

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On December 11-13, ASC teamed up with Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to host an intensive Resource Development Training Institute for state service commission leaders in Indianapolis, IN. Thanks to the 13 commissions who joined us and to our incredible instructors from IU for a great week of learning and discussion regarding resource development strategies!

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In This Issue...

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. Service Job Board
  3. Happy New Year from ASC!
  4. Public Policy Update
  5. ASC Welcomes 2018-2019 Board Members
  6. Save the Dates - 2019 Regional Training Conferences
  7. Giving Tuesday Success
  8. Apply to Become a Service Enterprise Hub
  9. Training News: From Boot Camps to Institutes
  10. Honoring President George H.W. Bush
  11. Top 10 Volunteer States
  12. Power of Youth Challenge Mini-Grants
  13. Volunteer with ASC
  14. Join the States for Service Coalition
  15. 2019 ASC Sponsor Opportunities

Upcoming Events

January 3: Opening Day of 16th Congress

January 4: Points of Light Conference Workshop Deadline (extended)

January 21: MLK Day of Service

January 25: Service Enterprise Hub application deadline

January 30: FY19 AmeriCorps State/National Grant Deadline

February 12: ASC Capitol Hill Day (invitation only)

February 12: Friends of National Service Awards (hosted by Voices for National Service)

February 13-14: ASC Leadership Convening (Commission Executive Directors and Commission Chairs Only)

March 1: Sponsor Commitment Deadline for Regional Conferences

March 10-16: AmeriCorps Week


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:

Coordinator for Volunteer Initiatives, Massachusetts Service Alliance

Program Officer, Serve Connecticut

AmeriCorps Program Manager, Volunteer Florida

Utah Healthcare Corps Program Coordinator, Association for Utah Community Health

AmeriCorps HR Associate, Reading Partners


Honoring President George H.W. Bush

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America's Service Commissions is saddened by the passing of former President George H.W. Bush on November 30, 2018 -- founder of Points of Light, champion of AmeriCorps and all things service and volunteerism, and namesake of the George H.W. Bush Volunteer Generation Fund. We thank President G.H.W. Bush for his incredible life of generosity and service to others. He will be genuinely missed by state service commissions and our network nationwide.


Volunteer with ASC

We are currently recruiting volunteer interns in the following roles for winter/spring 2019:

Advocacy and Policy Intern

Communications Volunteer/ Intern

To learn more and apply, click here.


Top 10 Volunteer States

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Congratulations to this year's Top 10 Volunteer States from the new 2018 Volunteering in America Report published by the Corporation for National & Community Service:

1) Utah
2) Minnesota
3) Oregon
4) Iowa
5) Alaska
6) Nebraska
7) D.C.
8) Montana
9) Maine
10) Idaho

Read more about Volunteering In America >>


Power of Youth Challenge Mini-Grants decorative

America’s Promise Alliance is launching the Power of Youth Challenge with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Peace First to encourage and inspire youth-led service projects around the country.

Every team that signs up will have access to financial support in the form of mini grants of up to $250. Those who apply and complete their projects will be eligible for an accelerator grant of up to $5,000 to grow their project over the next year!

Deadline: March 31, 2019

Learn more about the Power of Youth Challenge >>


Join the States for Service 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 in 2019 and beyond?

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

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Join S4S now >>


2019 ASC Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in connecting with the state service network? Have a product or service that might be of interest to service and volunteering professionals? America's Service Commissions (ASC) now has a wide variety of event sponsorship and advertising opportunities for 2019 - ranging from  executive gatherings to Capitol Hill Days and large conference-style events. Deadlines vary by event:decorativeLearn more about becoming an ASC sponsor >>

 

 

Happy New Year from all of us at ASC!

 

 

 

 

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