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Notes from ICVS
Nominate a VISTA Superstar- Governor's Volunteer Awards
Deadline: Monday, May 2nd
AmeriCorps VISTA members are eligible to nominate outstanding volunteers at their host organization for a Governor's Volunteer Award (GVA). The nomination forms and additional information are available at www.volunteeriowa.org/awards.The submission deadline is Monday, May 2 and regional recognition ceremonies have been scheduled for June and July. If you are nominating a volunteer at your host organization, then see below to determine your closest GVA award coordinator and processing agent. There is a $15 processing fee per nomination.
Nominating Agency/Organization |
Submit Form Through |
City government entities, such as Parks & Rec departments |
Iowa League of Cities |
Nonprofit or charitable organizations such as a local hospice, scout troop, or Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter, etc. |
Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center |
State government agencies |
Appropriate state agency contact listed on the awards website (see link above) |
Questions?
Contact Jody Benz, Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, jody.benz@iowa.gov, 515.725.3094.
Midterm Evaluations
From Jamie Nagel, ICVS AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator
A significant number of our VISTA team members started service in November 2010. That means you are soon approaching the midpoint of your service term - good for you! We think this is a good time to take a step back and evaluate the months that have passed, so that any necessary changes or improvements can be implemented in order to ensure a great finish to your service year. So, we require both members and site supervisors to complete a midterm evaluation. You should complete these forms and then schedule a time to meet so that you can review and discuss your evaluations together. After this evaluation meeting you should each sign both evaluation forms and submit them to me at Jamie.nagel@iowa.gov. These evaluation forms are due in June at the same time you turn in your May monthly reports, but they may be turned in earlier if they are completed before that time.
Book Club
As suggested by Jessica Krough, ICVS AmeriCorps VISTA Community-Based Service Learning:
The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
Edited by Paul Rogat Loeb
This book is a collection of over sixty poems, memoirs and essays written by and through the view of environmentalists, civil rights crusaders, and anti-poverty activists. (Amazon)
AmeriCorps State Service Sites
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service AmeriCorps VISTA Team is unique in that we span the entire state of Iowa. While this helps balance the service needs of the state, it also can be difficult to feel connected to your AmeriCorps peers. I have attached a list of the AmeriCorps state service sites so that you are better able to connect with AmeriCorps members in your area. You may want to consider partnering with these sites for days of service and local training opportunities.