SERVE TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

May 2017 Update

In this update, we will look at how to do a sustainability

binder, those who serve later in life, and the member of the

month!

What is a sustainability binder? I’m glad you asked,

let me tell you all about it!

Every AmeriCorps term must come to an end. You will

go off to life after AmeriCorps and someone new will

take over your role next term. They will be eager to

jump right in just like you were your first week of

service. But where do they start?!?!?!?

In comes the sustainability binder! Think of it as the

ultimate guide for your position. It will have all the do’s

and don'ts that you have encountered. What works and

what won’t that you have discovered. The “tried this

but should have tried that” projects you endeavored.

Basically anything you think will help the new

incoming member get started!

So wait, it has to be a physical binder? Nah.

Technology is great and if you have the means to leave

the guide electronically then go ahead! I usually leave a

paper greeting letter for the incoming member and

leave the rest electronically. That being said, you do

you! If you want to leave it all electronically then go for

it! Prefer something you can hold in your hand? Then

leave a hard copy! The choice is yours.

That’s cool, but what do I include? Great question!

Since you have spent the last 4-8 months in your role

you now have the power to decide what information is

important to pass on. Think to yourself, what would I

like to have known my first week of service? What

projects would have gone smoother if I had a how-to

guide? What things would I do differently next time?

Still not sure? Here is a list of things you could

include:

A greeting letter: Say hello to the new member. Tell

them who you are and welcome them to a fun year

of service!

Account information: Will they need access to your

organization’s Facebook Page? How about Survey

Monkey? Use Doodle or Google? Basically this is for

any login information they may need during their

term.

MLK Day and other service days: Will they need to

plan or run an event? Then let them know how you

did it, what worked and what you would do

differently. Joined an event? Leave them something

on where to find an event to join.

Major projects: Leave them guides on any major

(and sometimes the minor ones too) projects they

will be expected to do throughout the year. Will they

be planning a career fair? Teaching a class? Hosting

a restoration event? Recruiting volunteers? Doing

monthly newsletters? Let them know how to get

things done.

Organization they are serving: Sometimes it can be

hard to figure out how your role as an AmeriCorps

member fits into the organization. Tell them about

who they are serving with and what to expect.

Well that’s the basics of the sustainability binder. Make

it great, make it fun, but most importantly make it to

help the next member be prepared!

Don’t Forget to Leave a Sustainability Binder!

Serving Later in Life

O ne of the many great things about AmeriCorps is the diversity of the members. People who serve come from all different backgrounds,

education levels, and ages. It is admirable to serve at any age, however, today we want to highlight members who chose to serve later in life. Check out these quotes about why they chose to serve: “Well it was more than one reason. When I was young, my mom and dad always had us help those [in] need around us. It could be

an elderly person that needed someone to mow grass in the summer or shovel a walk in the winter. Could be about anything. We didn't get paid for it. It wasn't about money, it was about helping those in need. I have never stopped helping others.”

~Mark Anderson “I chose to serve at this time in my life because over the past few years I have become more invo lved in my community. Prior to this time I was raising a family and working full time. I have gone back to college to get the BA-Management that I stopped short of getting years ago. I knew that I would need some business type experience and felt that serving as a Youth Navigator for WorkSource in Union Gap would provide just that. And it did and more!! The idea of serving my community in some way has always called to me but I just did not know which avenue to take to be of maximum service. This service term has allowed me to help youth gain valuable job-and life-related skills and I have gained insights into my community with ideas [on] how to continue to be of service after I leave

AmeriCorps in June.” ~Hope Lange “This has been a different experience for me, as I was used to doing more outside work, being a security guard for some of our local mills. Doing that was more of a physical job, not that much in the office, so I had to learn to use my brain a little more when I was accepted for the Navigator position. To this date, I have no regrets about choosing to be

a member of AmeriCorps, in fact, I have signed up for another term this September! So my reason I chose to serve is to be a service to my community, helping those individuals struggling to find employment to find jobs, and to pass on some small portion of the knowledge I have of how to use a computer a little easier for those that lack that capability!” ~ Rhonda Goodyear “Being a senior, I needed work, and the opportunity opened up with AmeriCorps and I took it. The second reason is that I have always wanted to serve, and where I am at now is tremendous; the staff is very helpful

and kind, and I get to help people all day with their quest for employment. I have had the opportunity to support recently

homeless people trying to get on their feet, and give them and others moral encouragement. It is satisfying to help those around me and makes me grateful for what I have.” ~Randy Richter “Part of me remembers when I was nine and President Kennedy said "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That is true. Several of my friends served in the nascent VISTA [program] upon graduation. My family and [I] have always

volunteered for social and conservation causes and projects, and AmeriCorps seemed a logical step. The opportunity to work with the King Conservation District (in part on water quality issues) with volunteers appealed to me as I worked earlier in life as

a biologist on fisheries and stream issues.” ~ John Rosapepe

“Many people don’t know that although I became an [AmeriCorps] member at age 65, I have been involved with the program indirectly since 1999. My wife was a member and served two years. Afterwards, she became the Director of the Ferry County AmeriCorps program, and held that position for 15 years. During that time, I volunteered in many community projects, [witnessed] the growth of many young adults, and the completion of some amazing projects. Not

only had my wife served, but our three daughters and a couple of nieces served as well.

[Prior to AmeriCorps], I went to work at a homeless shelter as the property manager. I found this to be very rewarding work. [However], after two years of doing this job, which was extremely physical, I knew that although my mind was willing, my body said it was time to quit. This just so happened to be at the same time that my wife left the AmeriCorps program. Knowing that I could not physically continue to do my job, but also knowing that I wasn’t ready to stop altogether, my wife suggested that I apply for the AmeriCorps team - they

were taking applications and it wouldn’t hurt to apply. [Over] the years, I gained so much respect for the program, for all the good that was done year after year, [but] I just didn’t know if I could work with little children all day long. But to appease my

wife, I applied. When I was offered the position, I didn’t know what to think; it was very overwhelming - what was I supposed to do? Could I handle working with children all day? I did know that this was a commitment, and once I signed that contract, there was no changing my mind, and that my wife truly believed in the program and was so passionate about AmeriCorps, that I just had to do it. In all honesty, the first few weeks were really hard. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, or how to figure out what was expected of me; but with help of returning members and the teachers, I finally got it. Not only did I figure it out, I soon came to realize how much I enjoyed working with the children. It is so amazing to see the light come on when a child learns a new task, or how excited they can be when they can read an entire

page of a book by themselves, even if it only has four words on it. I have been a member for almost three years now. Between the “Hi, Mr. Jack”, the hugs and the children saying, “Is it my turn, Mr. Jack, to work with you”, I feel pretty special and fulfilled with my life. I don’t know what I would have done the last three years. I hope to do another year of AmeriCorps. When my four years are up, I plan on continuing to volunteer at the Republic School as long as I am physically

able to do so. Being part of the AmeriCorps program and the school family has brought me so much pleasure. I now know what my wife meant when she said, “the more you give, the more you will gain”. Another great part of being an AmeriCorps member is the education award. Our oldest granddaughter graduated from high school the same year that I completed my first term of service; it was a proud moment for me when I gave my award to her to go towards her college education. I hope this story will encourage other people my age to put themselves out there and serve, whether in a school or in their community. There is no more fulfilling

experience than giving to others.” ~Jack O’Neal

It is satisfying to help those around me and makes me grateful for what I have. ~Randy Richter

WSC Member of the Month

Alison Young-Herron Alison is serving at Workforce Snohomish in which she has an undeniable impact on the high school students

she serves. She is known for her continuous positivity and ability to connect to everyone she encounters. She is one of the members who chose to serve later in life. We asked her why she decided to serve.

Why Did I Chose To Serve? (by Alison M. Young-Herron)

I’m a mother of five, grandmother of seven, and a semi-retired dance teacher. I was raised by loving parents in a

supportive community-connected environment where service was a way of life for most everyone I knew. All of

my best experiences in life, and most of my personal growth, has been related to appreciating, internalizing, and

carrying on that legacy. Whether through actual volunteering or in paid positions, I can’t imagine being happy

in any endeavor that wasn’t rooted in making the world a better place.

However, lately the joy & satisfaction of teaching dance have been tempered by the reality of my 60 plus-years-

old body. I arrived at a place in life where I needed to find a new passion, and so I made the decision last fall to

look for a new job or position that I could get excited about. At the same time, I had a friend going to school,

learning to be a life coach. She needed another person willing to be coached by her as she finished her course,

and I consented.

During our initial consultation, she asked me what my dream job would be. I generally answer that question by

saying that I’d love to be part of the staff on Sesame Street. But since I live on the wrong coast, I went with my

second option, which was to be a motivational speaker in the schools. For years I’ve had that desire working

inside me, and felt that all my teaching and mentoring experience was probably leading me in that direction.

Then just a few days later, I saw the online post for the AmeriCorps position… teaching job skills, job search

skills, and life skills to high school students in our county. I instantly knew that this was perfect for me –

almost like I had called it into existence with my vocalization of my dream. Everything came together very

quickly, and in a very short time I became an AmeriCorps Youth Career Navigator for Workforce Snohomish.

I’ve never been motivated by money. I’m motivated by using my creativity, talent and skills to accomplish

wonderful things. But more than that, I’m motivated by knowing that what I do matters, and makes a difference

in the lives of those with whom I interact. This position has all of that and more.

The teachers, staff, and students that my partner and I work with are so

appreciative of our outreach. Their participation, comments, and

passionate thank you notes remind us in powerful ways that the

information we share, and the way we share it, has a real and positive

impact on their lives.

Helping these youth see and reach their potential is extremely fulfilling,

and has helped me work through some significant personal challenges I’ve

had to deal with this past year. Service always blesses those that serve,

and my life with AmeriCorps is evidence of that truth.

I also wish to add that being able to give my education award to a family

member (since I’m over fifty-five) was a real clincher for me. My daughter

Mandy has gone back to college in the midst of raising her three children,

and is really excelling at her studies while on her career path of serving as

an advocate for abused & traumatized women & children in the legal

system. It’s pretty awesome to think that long after my AmeriCorps

service is over, the service to our community will continue through my

daughter, whose education will have been partially funded by my own

service. It’s a beautiful circle.