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MCSC News
Building a culture of service by providing vision and resources
to strengthen communities through volunteerism
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September 2010
 
 
In This Issue
Annual campaign allows state employees to volunteer
Are you joining us for Disability/ Inclusion Week?
AmeriCorps Spirit of Service winner an inspiration
 
 
Join Our Mailing List 


In the News
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State Employees Can Volunteer as part of Charitable Campaign
SECC The State Employees Charitable Campaign (SECC) began in 1987 and strives to gather donations for thousands of local, national, and international charitable organizations. It encourages state employees to give to the organization of their choice through a simple payroll deduction. In 2009, employees gave a total of $1.5 million.

The 2010 campaign - which runs September 27 through October 8 - incorporates an additional element in an effort to get more Michigan state employees involved. "Community Connect" encourages employees to use their School and Community Participation Leave credits (valued at eight hours) to serve a charitable organization. This is the first year the SECC has encourage acts of service - not just monetary contributions.

For more information, visit www.misecc.org

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Make Yourself More Inclusive - Join us October 4 thru October 8
wheelchair The Michigan Community Service Commission is committed to encouraging all Michigan residents to engage in service. Our vision is a state where all residents meet community needs and find personal fulfillment through service and volunteerism.

The first-ever Disability/ Inclusion Week will be celebrated by the MCSC to help empower national service programs, volunteer organizations, mentoring programs, and others to make service a part of the lives of individuals with disabilities. Mark your calendars to participate October 4 through October 8!

This week-long effort will raise awareness about disability and inclusion while engaging programs and organizations in the various efforts of the MCSC. This will link them with valuable tools and resources to help serve and connect with those with disabilities.

Of Michigan's 10 million residents, about 1.9 million have a disability. That's one in every five residents - and an immense population to tap. We encourage members of the volunteer, national service, and mentoring communities to join us the week of October 4 in a variety of ways, including: Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and Webinars.

Links to get involved are provided here: http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137--242707--,00.html.

We look forward to engaging you during our first-ever Disability/Inclusion Week! 

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Michigan has Best Colleges for Service-Learning
Many of you may be aware of the service-learning infrastructure in place for K-12 schools across the state as part of the Michigan Community Service Commission's Learn and Serve - Michigan initiative. But there are also many colleges across the state that have service-learning programs in place, using service as an instructional strategy.

In August, the U.S. News & World Report announced the best colleges in the country for service-learning. On the list - three Michigan institutions: Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan State University in East Lansing, and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Congratulations to these schools for this national recognition of their commitment to service-learning. 

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AmeriCorps NCCC Pays Visit to Michigan
AmeriCorps NCCC The Members from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) North Central Region Campus participated in a Michigan-based service project during the last three months. The project was a partnership with Hiawatha National Forest and consisted of preparing the county fairgrounds for the county fair, maintaining Escanaba's city beach, clearing and maintaining trails on National and State Lands, and cleaning and staining the main building used by the Clear Lake Education Center.

NCCC members returned to Michigan on September 17 for a separate project with the Kaizen Corporation for Children and Families. Members are taking part in a new mentoring program (Rising Stars Mentoring Program) designed to increase the graduation rate in the Pontiac School District. Members are tutoring and mentoring high school students along side full-time mentors from the community. They are also assisting the Baldwin Center, a human services agency serving the community with 25 different programs, in organizing the food pantry and clothing closet. Their efforts will conclude on November 12.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a federal team-based national service program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. Members serve 10-month terms full-time, working on projects to meet community needs in five main program areas: disaster services, energy conservation, environment, infrastructure improvement, and urban and rural development.

Teams are located in five regions. Please note the North Central Region; consisting of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, is currently requesting proposals for community service projects. Those eligible to apply are nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, Native American Tribal Councils, and faith-based organizations.

Proposals should consist of team-based, community service projects typically lasting six to eight weeks that focus on at least one of AmeriCorps NCCC's five main service areas listed above. Please note that greater consideration will be given to projects with a large disaster focus.

The first step is to complete a Concept Form. Upon review, potential sponsors will be invited to submit a full application or contacted for more information.

To learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/apply/nccc.asp.

To request an application for the North Central Region, please contact JJ Trotta at (319) 472-9654 or [email protected].
 
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Great Stories

2010 AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Winner an Example to All
Dwight Owens with Patrick Corvington from CNCS.
Dwight Owens
Dwight Owens has always been a happy person. And despite a life-altering accident that threatened to take his life - Dwight is still a happy person today.
 
Five years ago, Dwight was hit by a drunk driver in Collins, Mississippi. As a result, he is permanently paralyzed. Through diligent hard work and months of rehabilitation, he gained back basic functions and independence - and began serving others.

It started with an extensive outreach campaign (Before You Drink, Think Like Owens) to express to individuals the dangers of drinking and driving, which catapulted into assisting others with disabilities. Dwight even developed a "Men with Disabilities" support group that encourages independence and leadership. Through his various volunteer efforts he was introduced to AmeriCorps, and instantly wanted to serve!

Dwight just finished a term of service with the LIFE of Mississippi Project LINC (Linking Individuals to Neighborhoods and Communities) in August. Project LINC aims to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to relocate from an institutional setting back into the community or to ensure independence in the community is maintained - something Dwight has had first-hand experience with.

As part of his AmeriCorps service, Dwight provided peer support to more than 1,200 individuals with disabilities, completed 48 ADA site surveys to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and provided more than 300 life skills training sessions to increase independence for Mississippians with disabilities.

Dwight's efforts made quite an impact - throughout the state of Mississippi and the country. In June he was honored with the 2010 National AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Award, an annual recognition that highlights those who have performed exemplary service in their communities. Dwight was chosen from 325 nominees and received his award at the Corporation for National and Community Service's 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

"The thing [service] that I do...I don't do it for the publicity," explained Dwight. "But getting that award in front of thousands of people, it kindof validates what you're doing. That you're doing the right thing."

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Dwight's efforts allowed many Mississippians with disabilities the chance to be active, productive members of their communities. He believes the same can be said by serving with AmeriCorps.

"AmeriCorps is a great program for people with disabilities," he said. "It connects you to the different resources that are out there, makes you feel good about yourself, and builds your character. Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't contribute!"

Dwight is an illustration of how an individual with a disability who joins national service can impact others and himself. Consider becoming an inclusive national service program. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc


Opportunities/Resources

AWARDS

President's Volunteer Service Awards
The MCSC is seeking nominations on an on-going basis for volunteer recognition. Nominees meeting established criteria will be presented The President's Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of service hours over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. To nominate someone, click here.    

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Applications are being accepted for the 16th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. These awards honor young people, in grades fifth through 12th, who have made meaningful contributions to their communities over the past year. You can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.principals.org/spirit. Applications must be completed by Monday, November 1, 2010.
RESOURCES

Make A Difference Day - October 23, 2010
Plan and post a service project on the Make A Difference Day website and you could win a $10,000 donation! Judges will select 10 projects for the national Make A Difference Day Awards. To be considered, fill out the official entry form AFTER you conduct your Make A Difference Day project. Be sure to submit your entry before the deadline. The awards include $10,000 donations to 10 projects from Newman's Own. Previous honorees who continue to excel will receive donations from the Gannett Foundation. Awards are announced annually in a special issue of USA WEEKEND published during Volunteer Week the April following Make A Difference Day. For more information, click here
SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING
 
Find Us on Facebook & Twitter!
The Michigan Community Service Commission has spread its efforts to the social networking site, Facebook. Keep up to date on the latest news, events, and stories by searching for "Michigan Community Service Commission," "Michigan's AmeriCorps," "Mentor Michigan," and "Learn and Serve - Michigan." We're also on Twitter - follow us at @MCSConline, @miamericorps, @MentorMI, and @learnandservemi.

Michigan's AmeriCorps LeaderCorps Blog
Join members of the Michigan's AmeriCorps LeaderCorps as they "Get Things Done!" through one year of service. Each week a different participant of the LeaderCorps will share a story about their service. To read more, visit http://miacleadercorps.blogspot.com/

Learn and Serve - Michigan's Resources Blog
Check out Learn and Serve - Michigan's connection to resources and information relevant to the service-learning community through their Resources Blog! Postings are new weekly and often feature guest authors. To read more, visit http://learnandservemi.blogspot.com  

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Calendar of Events


October 13 - 15, 2010
Youth Service Institute - Detroit, Michigan
Those interested in the youth service movement will gather to share stories, network with peers, and build their capacity to develop effective programs and increase the number of community minded youth. For more information, visit www.ysa.org.
 
October 23, 2010
Make A Difference Day - Nationwide
Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored annually by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its 700 carrier newspapers. Make A Difference Day takes place on the 4th Saturday in October each year. For more information, click here. To find events in your area visit http://daytabank.handsonnetwork.org/.

November 15 - 17, 2010
Financial & Grants Management Institute - Dearborn, Michigan
The purpose of this event is to help build the capacity (knowledge, tools/systems, practices, peer network) of grantee and sub-grantee fiscal and program staff. The Institute covers both financial and grants management topics for AmeriCorps State and National Direct grantees, sub-grantees, and State Service Commissions. For more information, click here

November 17, 2010
Fifth Annual Michigan's Premier Mentoring Conference - East Lansing, Michigan
Join mentoring professionals from across the state at this unique opportunity for information gathering, resource sharing, and networking. The conference, held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University, will feature Dr. Michael Karcher (University of Texas San Antonio) as the keynote speaker. For more information, click here.
 
November 18, 2010
2010 Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Celebration - East Lansing, Michigan
This annual event will be held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center and will gather hundreds of AmeriCorps members for a day of training, teambuilding, and networking. Members will hear from a keynote speaker, attend workshops, and swear-in for their upcoming term of service. For more information, click here.
 
November 18, 2010
MCSC Board Meeting - East Lansing, Michigan
Members of the Michigan Community Service Commission will gather together for a quarterly meeting to discuss business of the state's lead agency on service and volunteerism. All MCSC Board Meetings are open to the public. For more information, call (517) 335-4295.
 
January 2011 - SAVE THE DATE
Michigan Mentoring Month
This annual opportunity raises awareness about the value and importance of mentoring. Mentoring programs from across the state will plan activities in their communities related to raising awareness, recruiting volunteers, and celebrating accomplishments. Mark your calendars now and discover ways you can get involved by visiting www.mentormichigan.org.

January 17, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - Nationwide
The MLK Day of Service was initiated by Congress in 1994 and has been developed beyond a federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service. In honor of this special day, thousands of service projects will be planned across the country grounded in Dr. King's teachings of nonviolence and social justice. For more information, visit www.mlkday.gov.

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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commissionbuilds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2010-2011, the MCSC is granting nearly $9 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 26 AmeriCorps programs, 25 Learn and Serve programs, and seven Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.