Gearing Up for AmeriCorps Week 2012

This year National AmeriCorps week will soon be upon us as this year it is scheduled to take place from March 10th to 18th. A Intended to recognize the commitment of AmeriCorps members and to highlight the extraordinary impact of the work that they do for their communities, the theme for this year's initiative is "AmeriCorps Works". I am excited to report that our Campus Corps programs throughout the state have planned a variety of events and service projects in honor of the event. Check out the list below to see what will be taking place in your local community! 

Aaniiih Nakoda College (Harlem, MT/ Fort Belknap Reservation)
Event: Harlem Seed Show - AmeriCorps volunteers will be helping with Harlem Seed Show, the only seed show in Montana! They'll help with set-up, running events etc. AmeriCorps volunteers will also have an booth to distribute information about various AmeriCorps programs.
When: March 10th, 2012 (10:00am-2:00pm)
Where: Harlem High School
Contact: Alison Graham (agraham@mail.fbcc.edu/ 406-353-2607)


Carroll College (Helena, MT)
Event: Outreach for Volunteers -  Campus Corps members will be recruiting volunteers to help distribute disaster preparedness information to the Helena Valley.
When: March 12th-March 16th, 2012
Where: Carroll College Campus Center
Contact: JoAnn Maffit (jmaffit@carrol.edu/ 406-447-5442)


Fort Peck Community College (Poplar, MT/ Fort Peck Reservation)
Event: AmeriCorps Reunion - AmeriCorps reunion for former and current Americorps members to reconnect.
When:  March 16th, 2012
Where: FPCC Greet the Dawn Auditorium 
Contact: Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)


Event: AmeriCorps Outreach - A press Release in the local paper and radio station and a poster campaign highlighting local Americorps members, who they are and what they do. 
When: March 12th - 15th, 2012
Where: various media outlets in Poplar, MT
Contact: Katie Wise (kwise@fpcc.edu/406-768-6333)


Flathead Valley Community College (Kalispell, MT)
Event: Free Cooking Class -  Campus Corps members have helped organize a free cooking class intended for community members currently receiving SNAP and Food Bank Benefits.  The class will offer creative ways to stretch one's dollar in order to provide nutritious non processed meals for their family.
When: March 10th, 2012
Where: Marion Food Pantry
Contact: Carson Booth (campuscorps@fvcc.edu/ 406-756-3372)


Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)
Event: AmeriCorps Week Display: Display highlighting AmeriCorps in the Bozeman area.
When: March 5th- 18th, 2012
Where: Pagoda 104 East Main St
Contact: Alex Black (teamleader@montana.edu/ 406-994-7571)


Event: AmeriCorps Presentations - Presentations to high schools in the Bozeman area
When:TBD
Where: TBD
Contact:Alex Black (teamleader@montana.edu/ 406-994-7571)

MSU-Billings (Billings, MT)
Event: Seussville - Annual event that promotes literacy to 150 local elementary students .
When: March 16th, 2012 (10:00am-2pm)
Where:  Rose Park Elementary School
Contact: Hazel Todd (hazel.todd@msubillings.edu/ 406-896-5817)


Event: AmeriCorps Recognition at MSUB - We will promote AmeriCorps across campus on a rolling promotional board and the display outside our office, which will feature an "all-star" campus corps member every day. We also have a team appreciation dinner planned and one of our members is hosting an Educational Program for the youth she serves that will have four current and alum AmeriCorps members speak. 
When: March 12th-16th
Where: MSU Billings
Contact: Hazel Todd (hazel.todd@msubillings.edu/ 406-896-5817)

MSU- Great Falls (Great Falls, MT)

Event: Do AmeriCorps - In order to re-engage alumni with service, we are doing what AmeriCorps does best, a Service Project.  Join us at the Boys and Girls Club of Cascade county as we hold a St. Patrick’s Day Carnival.  Bring Your favorite kid games  and share the love!
When: March 16th,2012 (3:30pm-6:00pm)

      Where: 600 First Ave SW
   Contact: T.C. Knutson (campuscorps@msugf.edu/ 406-771-4324)


  Event: Project AmeriCorps - Throughout AmeriCorps Week, members and alum will be distributing AmeriCorps fliers to local businesses and high schools.
  When: March 12th-16th, 2012
  Where: Various locations throughout Great Falls
  Contact: T.C. Knutson (campuscorps@msugf.edu/ 406-771-4324)

    

MSU- Northern (Havre, MT)

Event: Carpenter Park Clean Up - AmeriCorps volunteers serving in the greater Havre area will be cleaning up trash in local Carpenter Park.

When: March 17th, 2012 (10:00am-12:00pm)
Where: 11th Ave & 4th street

Contact: Grace Milanowski (campuscorps@msun.edu/ 406-265-3577)

Montana Tech of the UM (Butte, MT)

Event: AmeriCorps Displays - Displays highlighting AmeriCorps will be constructed throughout the Butte Area.

When: March 12th - 16th

Where: Various locations

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)

Event: AmeriCorps Roundtable on KMSM 103.9 - The CFWEP.org program hosts a radio show every Wednesday from 11-2 on our local campus radio station. AmeriCorps members from Butte will discuss our programs. 

When:  March 14th, 2012 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Where: The Student Union Building at Montana Tech

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)

Rocky Mountain College (Billings, MT)

Event: Seussville:  Annual event that promotes literacy to 150 local elementary students .
When: March 16th, 2012 (10:00am-2pm)
Where:  Rose Park Elementary School

Contact: Jill Washburn (campuscorps@rocky.edu/ 406-238-7394)

Stone Child College (Box Elder, MT/Rocky Boy Reservation)

Event: Food Drive:  The campus community will be collecting food for two food banks on the reservation: the pantry at the local Catholic Church and a new food pantry hosted by the Family Resource Center.

When: march 7th-18th, 2012
Where:  Kennewash Hall Foyer, Stone Child College

Contact: Michael Yegerlehner (myegerlehner@stonechild.edu/ 573-822-6171)

University of Montana (Missoula, MT)

Event: Service Saturday at Animal Control - Volunteers will be heading to Animal Control on Butler Creek Road to socialize with animals by walking dogs and playing with cats.

When: March 17th, 2012 (12:00pm-1:00pm)

Where: Animal Control, Butler Creek Rd

Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)

Event: Service Saturday at Kidsfest - AmeriCorps members will partner with SpectrUM to teach kids about technology with the Nanofest Exhibit. 
When: March 10th, 2012 (9:00am-6:00pm)
Where: Southgate Mall, Missoula
Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)

Event: AmeriCorps Potluck ath the Loft - Gathering for local AmeriCorps members and Alumni

When: March 13th, 2012 (6:00pm-8:00pm)

Where: The Loft- 119 West Main Street (above Downtown Dance Collective)
Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)

UM - Western (Dillon, MT)

Event: CASA Ski for Kids Fundraiser - Volunteers will be assisting Director of SWMT CASA with the facilitation of the ski event. Individuals will raise pledges for the amount of ski runs they can make in one day. Campus Corps members will help service the check-in table along with the awards ceremony ending the event. 
When: March 11th, 2012 (10:00am-3:00pm)
Where: Maverick Mountain
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

Event: Dillon Tree Board Children's Fishing Pond - Volunteers will be removing weeds around trees and mulching the area

When: March 12th, 2012 (4:00pm-6:00pm)

Where: Swenson Way

Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

Event: Dillon Tree Board Sidewalk Clean Up - Volunteers will be removing weeds and debris around sidewalks surrounding public park

When: March 13th, 2012 (4:00pm-6:00pm)
Where: East Center Street

Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

Event: Dillon Tree Board-Jaycee Park/DMS tennis courts - Volunteers will be removing sod and mulching trees.
When: March 15th,2012 (4:00pm-6:00pm)
Where: West Sebree Street
Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

M-Tech Campus Corps Member Awarded Tebow Tickets for his Service with Habitat for Humanity!

Montana AmeriCorps Alums is recognizing Mat Darlington with four tickets to attend the Tim Tebow fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of South West Montana. 

Mat is currently a Montana Tech student and serving with AmeriCorps with Campus Corps. This team that serves with Habitat for Humanity at MT Tech comprises a team of 15 students working 4 days a week to build high performance, solar-ready homes are all Construction Trades degree seeking students. 

Mat Darlington, a Young Adult Service Corps Alumni who served in high school with Neighborhood Works in Great Falls, Montana and now attends Montana Tech and serves with Campus Corps at Habitat said, “I could sit around and watch TV or I can haul around 2x4's building houses for people who physically can’t put in that sweat equity. But they paint, while they paint we build and the projects are completed faster. It’s a team effort.”

Joining Mat will be Bill Ryan, Department Chair of the Trades and Technology Division at MT Tech and two other AmeriCorps members to hear Tim Tebow’s word of inspiration to help out Habitat for Humanity. 

Over the years Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Montana has benefited from many AmeriCorps and VISTA members through service and alumni as staff. The last completed project included 9 units, including 3 ADA compliant units. Habitat has committed to building “visit able” homes in its projects in Butte, meaning a wheelchair bound person can use the home without barrier. Because Habitat requires a certain level of sweat equity for each new home owner, AmeriCorps members engage side by side with volunteers play a critical role for those who are disabled. 

Barbara Miller of Habitat for Humanity noted that a few of the Corps members worked over Christmas and Spring break to help complete these homes.
“AmeriCorps members are a miracle, helping the disabled buy accessible homes,” Miller said. “These AmeriCorps students are invested in the Butte community through their service with Habitat, for them it's not just a class; they are taking pride in this learning process. The message of Habitat is instilled in the students. The AmeriCorps Tech students are building homes for people who ‘need a hand up not a hand out’.”

Darlington said the AmeriCorps Education Award enabled him to pursue a degree in Construction Management. There is no doubt Darlington thinks this hands-on learning and service experience is something all schools should offer. His voice rings with excitement as he explains that the house they build exceed energy efficiency standards. He says with a chuckle “these new home owners’ heating and cooling bills for the year will equal what I pay in month because they are that energy efficient.” 

Montana AmeriCorps Alumni Co-Chair and ServeNext Montana Organizer Heather Margolis explain that "Mat represents how AmeriCorps members strengthen the impact of local nonprofits and state agencies improving lives of Montana’s across the state." "Without AmeriCorps, pursuing a four year degree was not an option for Mat and without AmeriCorps; Habitat would not have been able to build as many homes in South West Montana or across the country. We need alums like Mat to tell their service stories, so that more Montanans understand what is at stake when funding for AmeriCorps and all of national service is on the chopping block.” 

Since Habitat partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service in 1994, over 7,000 AmeriCorps members have served with Habitat for Humanity. These individuals have served over 15,000 U.S. families, contributed more than 12 million hours of service, raised tens of millions of dollars in cash and in-kind resources and mobilized over 2.5 million volunteers. For more information or to learn how to get involved please visit habitat.org/americorps or americorps.gov.

AmeriCorps Week Starts Early at MSU!

With AmeriCorps Week coinciding with MSU's spring break, their Campus Corps program opted to start things up a little early and organized an AmeriCorps-wide service project in Livingston, MT on Sunday March 4th. Corps leader, Alex Black organized the project which brought together AmeriCorps members from a variety of programs in addition to AmeriCorps alumni currently residing in the Bozeman area. Volunteers spent the day working to repair a Livingston home in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. Their efforts gained media coverage on local news station KBZK. Check out the story here!

http://www.kbzk.com/news/helping-hands-for-a-livingston-habitat-for-humanity-project/