News from Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism

We hope that your fall is off to a great start - that your students are settling in to the new school year, that your AmeriCorps members are trained and serving with gusto, and that you are ready for the sugar festival known as Halloween. After a summer that brought record rain, an earthquake, a hurricane, and an emotional remembrance of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it is fair to say that here at the GOSV, we are hoping for a calmer season ahead.

This year will provide us with a number of opportunities to support service and volunteerism across Maryland. We will partner with the Maryland September 11 Memorial to honor the 68 Marylanders lost in 2001 - and to call on all citizens to honor their memory by serving and volunteering in our local communities. When you're in Baltimore, be sure to visit the memorial at the World Trade Center, and log on here for information about this remarkable tribute.

We'll also partner with Maryland Nonprofits to sponsor professional development opportunities for AmeriCorps members and program staff, and join the Maryland Council of Directors of Volunteer Services in supporting and training professional volunteer managers across the state. In the months ahead, please keep an eye on our website for updates on these partnerships and additional resources available to strengthen volunteer management and engage citizens in service across Maryland.

-The Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism

SPOTLIGHT: Pledge 25 in Montgomery County

This year is one of celebration of 25's in Montgomery County. The Volunteer Center kicked off the year by honoring the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a volunteer expo. At the event, they mobilized residents to "Pledge 25" hours of volunteerism throughout the year. On October 22, Montgomery County will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Community Service Day with a week-long schedule of volunteer projects throughout the county-anticipating 25,000 participants. The festivities and service projects will occur October 15-22.

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center has been gearing up for Community Service Week since their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event was a volunteer and civic engagement fair at the Bethesda North Marriott. Over 4,800 volunteers participated in service projects and a tribute to Dr. King. At the event, the volunteer center challenged county residents to Pledge 25 hours of community service between January and October.

From October 15-22, residents will participate in community service projects to honor the 25th anniversary of Community Service Day. A Volunteer Engagement Expo will start the week on October 15 at White Flint Mall. Other MoCo-sponsored events include the World of Montgomery Festival on October 16 (where the volunteer center will sponsor a Service Village), and a Silver Anniversary Celebration of Community Service on October 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm in Silver Spring.

Find out more about Community Service Week at this link.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:

AmeriCorps Funding Overview

Would you like to find out if AmeriCorps is a good resource for your organization? Please sign up now for our next AmeriCorps Funding Overview webinar on October 12, 10:00 - 11:00 am to find out about 2012 AmeriCorps grant opportunities. During this one hour session, you will learn about Maryland AmeriCorps funding opportunities available with the GOSV while sitting at your desk. The webinar will include an online presentation and a simultaneous conference call.

The webinar will help you understand, in broad strokes, what AmeriCorps is, if it is a good fit for your organization, and how to access AmeriCorps members and/or funding. The session is targeted to employees of government and nonprofit organizations.

Registration is required. Please click here to sign up now!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY:

October 22, 2011

This year marks 25 years of celebrating Make a Difference Day -- a national day of service that originated in our own Montgomery County as the Community Service Day spotlighted above.

This month, millions of volunteers will roll up their sleeves and join in volunteer projects across the country as part of a national day of doing good. The day is led by the HandsOn Network in partnership with USA WEEKEND. Volunteers will help their neighbors with food drives, green space expansions, and community building renovations among many other projects.

Visit the Make A Difference Day DAYtaBANK to join a project in your community or start one on your own. You can also access volunteer opportunities at your local volunteer center. Log on here to find a center near you.

NEW PROGRAM: Comcast's

Internet Essentials

Comcast recently launched a new program to provide affordable Internet service to low-income families that don't have access. The program is designed for families who have school-aged children and who participate in the national school program can receive Internet from Comcast for $9.95/month. These families may also purchase a home laptop computer for $149 and receive literacy training. Once enrolled in the program, participants will continue to receive the discounted rate for as long as one child in the household remains on the free lunch program or when the Comcast account is closed by the user.

Find out more at www.internetessentials.com.