PWC VISTA Project Highlights Report in:

Hello Everyone:

I'm very pleased to share our first annual report. Thanks to all of our members, the MI CNCS Office, The Power of We Consortium, Michigan State University Extension and our Ingham County Commissioners for making this possible!

View '08-'09 PWC VISTA Highlights

United We Serve Campaign Kick Off

United We Serve
Submitted by NationalService... on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 11:22
Stories From The Field

In a video message released on Wednesday, President Obama unveiled United We Serve - a sustained effort to expand the size and impact of volunteer efforts in addressing tough challenges facing the nation.

The initiative, which will be led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, officially kicks off on June 22, during the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, and runs for 81 days through a new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.
To make it easy to get involved, the President is urging Americans to visit the Corporation's web site, http://www.Serve.gov - where visitors can search for local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization's projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families, and neighbors.

During this summer, the President is renewing his call to all Americans to identify needs in their communities, engage in meaningful service to create change - and stay engaged long after September. The President's call focuses on four key areas where everyone can make an impact in their community: energy and the environment, health care, education and community renewal.

With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. "United We Serve" is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.

What can you do?
* Create Your Own Project
* Register Your Project / Recruit Volunteers
* Find a Volunteer Opportunity
* Share Your Story

Visit http://www.Serve.gov

United We Serve | servicewire.org

United We Serve | servicewire.org

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Become a citizen co-sponsor of the Serve America Act

Help pass the Serve America Act by becoming a Citizen Co-Sponsor at http://www.bethechangeaction.org/servicenation/take_action/cosponsor. For more information about the Serve America Act and to hear Senator Hatch's thoughts, cut and paste http://www.bethechangeinc.org/changewire/2009/03/11/help/ into your browser for Service Nation's Changewire blog and YouTube update.

VISTA In-Service Training opportunity this March

Greetings! The PWC VISTA Project is happy to announce Continued Development In-Service Training for those VISTAs who began service in December 2008. If someone can suggest how to successfully hyperlink in these posts, I would be most obliged. In the meantime, click on over to our website for Continued Development (http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/continued_development.htm) or PSO information ( http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/pso.htm) for the training content and agenda. To summarize, workshops will include: building public awareness campaigns, community networking and poverty alleviation. Please call (517) 887-4594 with questions.

June PSO, come on board....

During the summer, the PWC VISTA Project has the opportunity to bring on six new VISTA members. We have the first opening for a VISTA at Gateway Community Services (see job description) begining in June. Please have application paperwork to me by the first week of May. Log onto the PWC VISTA homepage at http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/home.htm and follow the links to other opportunities.

Yes We Did!

The PWC VISTAs helped usher in a new era on January 19th, MLK, Jr. Day, with a new President to follow, strengthened committment to service and fresh hope. As President Obama says, "Yes we can!" - and we did. The VISTAs and other volunteers served the day away at South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA) (http://www.slcda.org/) completing their goal of strengthening future farm markets with advertising equipment, but also washing and painting the church SLCDA's staff is housed in. In the Spring, VISTAs will embark on step two of this project's goal in linking local people with local food in one of Lansing's food deserts. When the weather warms, the Project will assemble this fresh equipment and assist with further set-up. Check out http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/home.htm and http://www.slcda.org/ for further details in the coming weeks.