National Center for Appropriate Technology

Helping people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce

poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources.

NCAT MISSION

NCAT OFFICES

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY

4.5kw PV Solar System

Green tags

Energy efficiency upgrades

Hybrid cars

Emissions inventory

Four day work week

Electronics recycling

Recycling

NCAT PROJECTS AND PARTNERS

• Part of a network of National Service programs

• Engages more than 75,000 Americans each year

(250,000 by 2017) • Addresses a variety of critical needs in communities • Provides participants with benefits, experience,

training and an education award to finance education

WHAT IS AMERICORPS?

Could Be You

1933: Civilian Conservation Corps

1961: Peace Corps

1964: VISTA

1993: The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps

Edward M Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009

Expands service opportunities

Increases AmeriCorps Education Award

The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps

The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation administers three core programs: • Senior Corps

• AmeriCorps

• Social Innovation Fund

Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps

State & National

State Commission

Grants

Education Award Program Grants

National Planning Grants

National Directs National

Professional Corps Grants

Indian Tribes Program Grants

AmeriCorps Today Three Programs

AmeriCorps

State/National AmeriCorps

VISTA AmeriCorps

NCCC

• Veterans and Military Families • Environmental Stewardship

• Economic Opportunity • Disaster Services

• Healthy Futures • Education

NATIONAL SERVICE FUNDING STREAMS

Congress

Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS)

AmeriCorps

National Center for Appropriate Technology

Energy Corps Members

NATIONAL ENERGY NEEDS

• Need: Communities need clean, affordable, sustainable

energy.

• Need: Individuals need education and motivation to

proactively use energy more efficiently.

• Need: Workforce needs training to meet demand for

emerging market in green/clean energy.

• Need: Non-profit organizations need added resources and

capacity building to address energy concerns.

Helping to address unmet

community energy needs by

providing hands-on energy

assistance, promoting

sustainable energy

consumption and education,

fostering community

sustainability and helping to

mitigate the effects of global

climate change.

ENERGY CORPS AMERICORPS PROGRAM

This is Our Energy Reality

ENERGY CORPS OBJECTIVES

• Hands-on Energy Assistance

• Energy Education and Outreach

• Community Energy Planning and Organizing

• Green Collar Jobs Training

ENERGY CORPS ACTIVITIES

• Weatherizing, winterizing and retrofitting low-income

households

• Conducting energy audits for low-income households and

community facilities

• Providing clean energy-related services designed to meet the

needs of rural communities

• Developing clean energy strategic planning networks within

communities

• Sustainable energy education and outreach

• Greening of community facilities and programs

• Living allowance

• Student loan deferment

• Health care and child care for full-time members or

half-time members serving in a full-time capacity

• Training and professional development

• Segal AmeriCorps Education

Award to pay for college or pay back student loans

• Eligible for public assistance programs such as SNAP

and heating assistance (LIHEAP)

MEMBER BENEFITS

SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD

• Is a voucher issued by the National Trust in Washington, D.C.

• Can be applied to a financial institution or to an institution of higher education (Title IV school)

• Is considered taxable income by the IRS in the year it is used, not the year it is earned

• Is valid for 7 years after being issued

• Can be taken away from a member if a member receives a felony drug conviction during or after successfully completing their service term

EDUCATION AWARD

An Education Award can be used in one of three ways:

• Past Expenses Members can repay qualified student loans such as the Stafford, Perkins, Federal Direct/Indirect

• Present Expenses Members can apply the voucher to their current education expenses through the financial aid office on their campus

• Future Expenses Members can use the voucher for up to 7 years toward graduate programs, individual classes, specialty and trade schools, or qualifying study abroad programs

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EDUCATION AWARD

To be eligible for the education award, members must

"successfully" complete the program. This means:

1. Meeting the requirements of the Energy Corps program laid out in the Member Manual. Completing the minimum hour requirement alone is not sufficient to earn the education award contract.

2. Turning in paperwork on time.

3. Meeting the minimum hour requirement for the AmeriCorps term of service. If a member fails to meet the minimum hour requirement for whatever reason other than compelling personal circumstances, the member receives no portion of the education award.

MEMBER SUPPORT

• All members assigned supervisor at host site

• Encourage weekly meetings with supervisor

• Develop work plan with defined deliverables

• State or Regional Coordinator support –

AmeriCorps specific questions, organizing,

outreach, education, energy related questions,

almost anything and everything and lastly

problems at host site – we are here to help!

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

SERVICE HOURS

• 1700/900 hour minimum over service term

• Direct service hours

• Time spent working directly at your host site

• At least 70% of your service

• Member development hours

• Time spent working toward personal/professional goals (workshops,

training, etc.)

• No more than 20% of overall service commitment

• Fundraising hours

• Raising funds or grant writing for events or specific projects is allowed

• No more than 10% of overall service commitment

• Not a service requirement

• Outside community service hours

MEMBER TIMESHEET PROCEDURES

• Due by 11 am Mountain Time on the first

workday after the 15th and last day of the month

• Submit timesheets electronically through

America Learns system

• Pay days on the 7th and 22nd of each month

• Late timesheets will result in withholding checks

• Recurring late timesheets will result in use of

disciplinary actions

REFLECTION AND REPORTING LOGS

Coming soon…

MEMBER TRAVEL POLICIES

• Energy Corps will cover the travel costs of

members traveling to Energy Corps organized

trainings and service events

• When traveling, members will receive

reimbursement for mileage, lodging and per diem

• Members will complete travel reimbursement

forms and submit to state coordinators after travel

is complete

• Host sites are responsible for all other travel costs

NATIONAL DAYS OF SERVICE

• 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

• Green Apple Day of Service

• National Public Lands Day

• Make a Difference Day

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• AmeriCorps Week

• Cesar Chavez Day

• Earth Day

• Global Youth Service Day

• National Volunteer Week

• Read and understand the member manual

• Read and understand your member contract

• By signing your member contract you agree to

the following:

• Drug-Free Workplace

• Non-discrimination and Harassment Policies

• Rules of Conduct

• Release from Terms of Service

• Grievance Procedures

RULES AND REGULATIONS

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

• Any activity that is illegal

• Activities that pose a safety risk

• Political Engagement

• Religious Activities

• Union Organizing

• Providing direct service to for-profit entities

FUNDRAISING AND GRANT WRITING

• Members may raise funds directly in support

of service activities

• Fundraising must not exceed 10%

• Prohibited fundraising activities include:

• Raising funds for your living allowance or other

costs associated with the program

• Raising funds for operating expenses or

endowment

• Writing grants to CNCS or any other federal agency

LEAVE SITUATIONS

The living allowance is not based on an hourly

wage, therefore you are not entitled to vacation

time, compensatory time or sick leave.

• Approved absence

• Disciplinary suspension

• Administrative hold status

• Holiday leave

• Military leave

• Jury duty

RULES OF CONDUCT

You are expected to:

• Demonstrate mutual respect toward others

• Follow directions

• Direct concerns, problems and suggestions to your

supervisor or program staff in a timely matter

• Represent AC, EC and your host site in a positive

manner

• Introduce yourself publicly first as an AC member

with the EC program and your host site secondly

RULES OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS

• Engage in prohibited activities

• Unauthorized tardiness

• Unauthorized absences

• Repeated use of inappropriate language

• Failure to wear appropriate clothing to service assignments

• Stealing or lying

• Engaging in any activity that may physically or emotionally damage others

• Unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of any

controlled substance or illegal drugs

• Consuming alcoholic beverages during the performance of service activities

• Being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs during the

performance of service activities

• Failing to notify the program of any criminal arrest or conviction that occurs

during the term of service

RELEASE FROM TERMS OF SERVICE

You may be released by suspension or termination for

cause or compelling personal circumstances.

Disciplinary actions:

• First offense- verbal warning

• Second offense-written warning and reprimand

• Third offense- suspension without compensation, you

may be released at the program’s discretion

• Fourth offense- the program may release you for

cause

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Energy Corps works to maintain an atmosphere of

teamwork, openness and conciliation.

Communicate early and often!

• Informal grievance- notice to immediate supervisor

within 5 days of the incident

• Formal grievance- if informal is unsuccessful, written

complaint within 10 days of incident to HR