AMERICORPS WEEK
May 9-16 was AmeriCorps Week. It's our opportunity to promote national service in our own communities. A number of TCC's VISTA Members have produced some great projects. Here are some of them:
Alex Hebert, Highland Lakes Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, wrote a blog on Facebook.
Americorps Week '09 Entry OR How I Came to Love the VOAD
Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 5:33pm
About seven months ago I had little idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had a general idea as most college graduates do, but no concrete direction. The declining economy, combine with the fact that there were little options for my particular degree in my area of Colorado certainly made things more difficult. And I can tell you, despite having an interest in the subject, working in disaster recovery probably would have been the furthest thing from my mind.
But the directions life can lead you in are quite surprising.
I admit, it was at first difficult to deal with everything. I was moreaccustomed to doing the work with a hands-on approach, and there waslittle down time between the time I moved and the time I jumped intothe work. Both initially made my job difficult. However as time went onand I saw that the little things I did...making phone calls, sendingemails, producing the paper work, were all helping to lead to returningsomeone's life to normal, not to mention the way the community aroundthis person was reaching out to her so selflessly...it really helped mereevaluate what I was doing there, and I think it helped me grow a bit.
Read the rest of Alex's article.
Luke Blount, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, wrote an article for The Galveston Daily News and The Waco Tribune.
"How I'm serving America
my angle for a college basketball story wasn't a good use of time or emotion.I signed up for AmeriCorps. Instead of covering sports and games, I'm helping disaster victims piece their lives back together. My experience serving in hurricane-ravaged Galveston reinforces for me the importance of domestic nonprofit groups and national volunteer service.
With the recent passage of the Serve America Act, some conservative pundits have questioned the value of my work. The bill calls for $5.6 billion over five years to expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 members to 250,000. Around $1.1 billion is being invested into the Corporation for National and Community Service this year. CNCS oversees AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps and Learn and Serve America. Within the scope of federal expenditures, $1.1 billion is nothing - about 0.2 percent of our 2009 military budget of $515 billion.
Still, there are those who view AmeriCorps as a type of paid volunteerism. They argue that perhaps it actually is killing volunteerism by paying people to do what should be done for free.
Adam Walke, El Paso Long Term Recovery Committee, made a presentation on AmeriCorps*VISTA's benefits to City Representative Melina Castro's 
Community Meeting.
Prima Mosi, Central Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, entered both the AmeriCorps Week Photo and Video contests.
Her photo and video were some of the most-often viewed of all the 
entries. Her video was featured at the National Voluntary Organizations in Disaster Annual Conference during the opening ceremonies.
Paul Graham, Liberty County Long Term Recovery Committee, wrote the following article for the "Liberty Vindicator".
through AmeriCorps has allowed me the adventure of living and participating in a new community with such a deep history, culture, and influence. It has been truly a great experience thus far.May 9-16 commemorates “AmeriCorps Week,” and there is no better time to promulgate the good news of the propitious opportunities AmeriCorps can deliver for individuals who decide to take advantage of them. There were previously 75,000 AmeriCorps positions all throughout the United States, but thanks to the new administration, there will up to 250,000. In our weakened economy and the national unemployment rate reaching 9 percent, this increase to 250,000 positions nationwide provides opportunities perfect for recent college graduates, the unemployed, or those just looking for an adventurous change of pace. Most AmeriCorps positions do not pay competitive wages, but the majority offer medical insurance, cheap or free housing, gas allowance, moving allowance, and perhaps even the chance of acquiring food stamps. Also, depending on the bank or loan-servicing center, one may forebear federal student loans throughout the entire length of service in addition to the benefit of receiving a $5000 credit toward student loans after one complete year of service. With these initial benefits, the not-so-competitive wage is duly feasible. The bottom line is that AmeriCorps provides individuals with an opportunity to work for the common good of our society, receive benefits, and aggrandize or learn skills that will be attractive to future employers. What more can you ask for?!?"
The VISTA Members at Independence Heights in Houston, Evelyn Jones, Mardie Paige, and Maria Pena, participated along with their Site Supervisor, Tanya Debose, in a service project.
They helped restore a home that had been damaged 
by Hurricane Ike. They painted, landscaped, and had lunch with the family.
Here's what Carolyn Gibbs, Brazoria County Long Term Recovery Committee, said about her AmeriCorps Week Project:
"I created a display board about AmeriCorps and had it at the fair. I also used the Power Point presentation available on the website, and let it play. It was a great opportunity for the agencies in the area to learn about the program and about how they might also benefit from having a VISTA.
During the week, I also put up a blog where I talked more about the personal side of VISTA -- what the program entails, how I got involved, and how I ended up in Brazoria County. I shared the link with all of my Committee members, and it allowed me to share with them more about what brought me here, and what the life of a VISTA really entails."
Donna Talmage-Gibson, Faith Communities for Disaster Response, San Juan, said:
"Our case mangers presented Americorps information in each of their counties. We used the handouts from Americorps. Everyone was very interested in the information. Many had been unaware that there were Americorps volunteers in the Valley."