Greetings
from our Directors
As we complete an exciting year for volunteerism and service in Ohio, we want to "Thank" our individual program partners, sponsors … and you, for your continued support of national and community service. Volunteering truly does make a positive difference in all of our lives. Wishing
you a warm and safe holiday season and health and prosperity in
the new year. We look forward to an exciting 2008! Welcome Tina Dunphy Welcome Tina
Dunphy, our new CNCS State Office Director! Tina replaces
Paul Schrader who will continue in his role as Area Manager for
the North Central Cluster.
Susan Rogers Elected Chair of the Ohio Community Service Council
Governor appointee Susan Rogers was elected December 18 to serve a two-year term (ending in December 2009) as Chair of the Ohio Community Service Council. Rogers was first appointed to the Council in March 2003 and served most recently as its’ secretary.
Ohio Residents Urged to Fight Poverty by Joining AmeriCorps VISTA As the holiday season brings thoughts of giving back, a new public service campaign was launched today to enlist Ohio residents to “fight poverty with passion” by joining VISTA, the AmeriCorps program that fights poverty. The campaign draws attention to the 37 million Americans who live in poverty and to the changing face of poverty, which today is often hidden and found within working families. It encourages Americans to dedicate a year of their lives to fight poverty by joining VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Bilingual television PSAs, print ads, and web banners drive potential recruits to visit AmeriCorps.gov or call 1-800-942-2677 to learn more and apply.
Governor Strickland Swears in AmeriCorps Members On
Friday, October 19, Ohio’s 68th Governor Ted Strickland officially
swore-in 500 (first-year) enthusiastic AmeriCorps members at The
Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center.
It’s
been 10 years since then, U.S. Congressman Ted Strickland, joined
Ohio AmeriCorps Members at the closing ceremony of the All Member
Gathering (at Ohio University) … to express his appreciation
for all the hard work members do each day. He said, “to me,
this is spiritual in terms of responding to the human need to be
engaged in meaningful work.”
Ohioans
Made A Difference For the eight consecutive year, Ohio led the nation in the number of volunteer service projects planned for Make A Difference Day Ohio (MDDO)– Saturday, October 27. Over 1,000 projects were conducted throughout the state … Way to go OHIO, GO BUCKS!! Read the Success Stories from across the State
MDDO
Awards Ceremony: |
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Ohio Community Service Council Executive Director, Kitty Burcsu and communications staff met with Ohio Department of Public Safety Director, Henry Guzmán in early December. The meeting was used as an information session to brief the new director about Ohio Citizen Corps activities and the volunteer infrastructure. Items discussed included background checks, funding, volunteerism and outreach to the special needs and diverse communities of Ohio. Director Guzmán stated he saw the contribution first-hand of an organized citizen volunteer response and Ohio Citizen Corps during the northwest Ohio flooding in the summer. He was pleased to know a volunteer response can be conducted through OCC's statewide database.
At the end of the meeting, and to the surprise of the OCSC Team, Director Guzmán summoned a photographer to capture the presentation of a plaque in appreciation of Ohio Citizen Corps' efforts during National Preparedness Month.
Still Growing
Welcome our newest Medical Reserve Corps units, Holmes and Ottawa County. The total number of MRC units is now 76 covering 80 counties. This provides Ohio with 91 percent coverage by local MRC units.
SERVICE-LEARNING TRAINING WORKSHOP- February 2008 WHAT IS IT? Service-learning is an educational strategy that reinforces and enriches classroom learning via extending student learning beyond the classroom into the community by involving students in meaningful classroom-based service activities. WORKSHOP GOAL – To give newcomers to service-learning and others a basic understanding of what service-learning is and how it can be used to enhance and enrich classroom teaching and learning, K-16. Participants who complete the two-day training will be certified as “Service-Learning Trainers".
The rewards
are numerous: Volunteering is a way to share your gifts and experiences.
Many people begin to recognize their own blessings. Helping others
can be of great assistance in deflating negative self-centeredness
and self-absorption.
SAVE
THE DATE! Date:
April 21-22, 2008 National
Conference on JUNE
1 - 3, 2008 For more information: http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/ Nearly 50,000 people are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through 138 national service projects across Ohio.
The serveohio.org Web site provides a calendar of events, best practices on screening volunteers, tips on finding the right volunteer opportunity, homeland security updates, Ohio's National Service Programs, Ohio Citizen Corps, updates on legislation of interest to the field of volunteer service- and much more! The
Ohio Community Service Council
"Thanks" to Brady Oxender, Senator Padgett, and Rep. Larry Flowers for their fine work on behalf of volunteers throughout the state. Stay tuned for further details …it’s moving! |
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CONTACT US Ohio
Community Service Council |