GET TO
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013 VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 20
THE POINT THE
NEWSLETTER
OF THE
NCCC
ATLANTIC REGION
Litter: Can It Ever Be Stopped? Buffalo 4 member David Wright highlights possible approaches to reducing that unsightly, detrimental refuse. Page 6.
CONTENTS
IN THIS
ISSUE 04
Gallery Images from Round 4 projects
06
Feature Litter: Can it ever be stopped? Buffalo 4 member David Wright highlights options for reducing unsightly, detrimental litter.
I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Program.
↑ Moose 4, following in
N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America while developing their own leadership. We
the footsteps of three Atlantic Region teams,
08
Alumni Spotlights Amelia Hansen, Atlantic Region
is working with Friends of Rockaway and the
Team Leader, Classes XVII & XVIII
St. Bernard Project to
Chelsea Pennucci, Atlantic
restore normalcy to
Region Corps Member, Class XVIII
New Yorkers who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
serve on teams to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes, and help the environment. To learn more, visit NationalService.gov or call 1.800.942.2677
CONNECT WITH AMERICORPS NCCC ATLANTIC REGION
10
Staff Spotlight
11
Life After AmeriCorps
12
Community Relations
13
Shout Outs
14
Team Project Map
Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 410.642.2411 Ext. 6244 ● Email: smckenzie@cns.gov Mona Hillstrand, Assistant Community Relations Specialist (ACRS) Phone: 202.815.4259 ● Email: rhillstrand@cns.gov Ben Dillon, Community Relations Support Team Leader (CRSTL) Phone: 443.995.7940 ● Email: bedillon.guest@cns.gov
Facebook.com/NCCCAtlanticRegion @AmeriCorpsNCCC NationalService.gov
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AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
About the cover Raven 4 and Buffalo 1 collected dozens of bags of litter and large debris at New York City’s Floyd Bennett Field in April. See page 6 for a corps member’s perspective on tackling the issue of litter.
BULLETI N B O ARD
September 21 will mark 20 years since President Bill Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act into law that created the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps. On Sept. 20, CNCS will launch a year of celebratory events.
over 11 The Raven Unit has just dent en ep Ind its of percent lete! It’ll mp co to left urs ho Service here! m fro sh be a sprint to the fini urs
Percentage of ISP Ho Complete Raven: 88.74 Buffalo: 82.15 Moose: 77.61
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
3
G ALLERY
↑
Atlantic Region Support Team Leaders joined Moose 1 at the Lincoln Memorial to serve as ushers for Let Freedom Ring, an event marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. (Photo courtesy of CNCS)
→ Buffalo 1 member Owen Wolfe works with the Appalachian Mountain Club to clear recreational trails near Russell, Mass. ↓
4
Raven 5 member Adriana Battle and Team Leader Khal Ismail install a buffer fence along a creek at Valley Force National Historic Park. The team is working with the park to reduce invasive species including mile-a-minute weeds and rusty crayfish.
AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
G ALLERY
← Phoenix 4 recently returned from a twoweek deployment with the Virginia 2 wildland firefighter crew. The crew assisted with suppression of the Salmon River Fire Complex in Sawyers Bar, Calif. ↑
Members of Moose 2 and Raven 2 carry a large, plastic section of a jungle gym while serving with KaBoom to construct a playground at an elementary school in Seaside Heights, N.J.
↓
Buffalo 3 member Meagan Julian removes invasive vines from a tree along a recreational trail near Torrington, Conn. Julian’s team is working with the Torrington Area Health District to improve trail access for emergency vehicles.
← Raven 2 member Lewis Cuthair measures and cuts insulation for the underside of a trailer home in Moonachie, N.J.
GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
5
FE ATURE
LITTER: CAN IT EVER BE STOPPED? BY DAVID WRIGHT, BUFFALO 4
I
have always had a pet peeve about littering. I have never been able to understand what’s so hard about disposing of your garbage properly. I’m not just talking about big things, such as that fast food wrapper; even the small stuff bothers me, such as cigarette butts. People love to use the excuse, “It’s just one piece, it’s not like anyone will notice.” But that’s where there’s a problem; people DO notice. What if everyone throws out one piece? Then we have millions of pieces! I recently read an article in a local paper that discussed the issue of littering and wanted to share it, as well as my thoughts on it, with all of you. Perhaps maybe we will even be able to help solve the issue of littering, if only just a tiny bit. During the first week of Buffalo 4’s fourth round project we had the opportunity to go kayaking in the Middle Branch area of the Baltimore Harbor. I have heard a lot of bad things about the water, such as how polluted it is. I was a little nervous but also very excited. When we set off on our journey I did not see much in the way of garbage; however, once we got past the old rail road bridge and went a 6
AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
little ways to the west I started to see more and more. At first I wanted to blame the local landfill and recycle center that was up against the water; however, our guide informed me that, if any, only a very small amount of that was a result of those facilities. We continued our journey into a very dark tunnel under Baltimore. Once we had gone about 300 feet in, our guide explained what it was. Baltimore was literally built right on top of the watersheds and we were in one of them. She explained that the storm drains you see on the sides of the road all lead into the watersheds and those watersheds lead into the harbor that we just kayaked through. When you throw garbage onto the ground, it gets blown around by the
↑ Courtney Amburg and Shannon Herr dig a retaining wall trench for a French drain at Collington Square Playground in Baltimore. Buffalo 4 worked with Baltimore Bureau of Parks to beautify and improve several locales, which included litter removal.
What about that oil leak from your car or the paint that you didn’t want to dispose of properly? It’s ending up in our local water...
FE ATURE
wind and eventually ends up in the street. When it rains, it then flows into the storm drains, then into the watershed and then into the harbor. You might be thinking, “So what?” Most garbage is hardly noticeable in small amounts, but the problem is all of the large amounts of litter that is occurring on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s not even trash that is an issue. What about that oil leak from your car or the paint that you did not want to dispose of properly? It’s ending up in our local water, polluting it, making it so we can’t enjoy the water. The solution to the problem is neither more law enforcement nor higher penalties. Litter can be easily diminished, if you put your mind to it. The single most important way to reduce liter is to put a value on it. Massachusetts has already implemented this concept by charging a deposit on things such as beverage containers. This deposit is charged at the time of purchase, usually around 10 cents for a 20oz bottle, and you only get that deposit back when you turn them in. Now you might be thinking, “10 cents, that’s not much. Heck, I lose more than that in my couch.” That’s true. However, just because you did not want to turn the
container in, does not mean someone else won’t. This has proven to reduce trash flow by about 50 percent. The next issue of litter is what to do about the less commonly disposed things, such as old tires. Most states charge a fee when you buy tires. Currently, it’s only around $5. If that fee is raised, then perhaps more people will properly dispose of them instead of dumping them. What do we do with those tires, though? The answer: use them! You can grind up the rubber into chips and use them at playgrounds. There are many other solutions to different things out there, they just need to be put in place. The article goes on to talk about other solutions that I myself have mentioned numerous times and Buffalo 4 hopes to help implement at least one of them at the local park we are working at for a day of service: more public trash cans! Putting up “NO LITTERING” signs and imposing higher fines has had minimum impact, adding more trash cans where litter is a problem, though, has had a much better effect. I for one would really like to see these changes made, and if everyone plays their part, it can happen.
← Kaitlyn Liafsha uses a pick-mattock to cut a trench for a retaining wall at Baltimore’s Collington Square Playground while working with Baltimore City Bureau of Parks. ↑
Members of Buffalo 4 sit on the finish retaining wall alongside Marcia Froomer of the Baltimore City Bureau of Parks.
Litter can be easily diminished, if you put your mind to it. The single most important way to reduce litter is to put a value on it.
GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
7
ALUM NI SPOTLI GHT
CHELSEA PENNUCCI ATLANTIC REGION, CLASS XVIII CORPS MEMBER HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT NCCC? I learned about the VISTA program through a volunteer opportunity in college. I knew that I wanted to do a service year after college, so I investigated other AmeriCorps programs. I came across NCCC and the idea of traveling with a team and working in different communities sounded awesome.
HOW DID NCCC IMPACT YOUR LIFE? NCCC really reaffirmed my passion for non-profit work. I have never felt more certain of the value of service, especially for young people.
WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GAIN? The most important thing I learned was how to work and live with people who were very different from me. We all came from such different backgrounds and still managed to get a ton of work done for our sponsors, live together, and appreciate each other’s quirks and unique assets.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT? My team spent the summer in Bangor, Maine, working with the Parks and Recreation Department. We helped clear trails in the city and taught swim lessons at a local camp. Our sponsors were awesome and it was a great place to spend the summer months. We even made it to Acadia National Park, where we were able to see some of the work that the CCC did back in the ‘30s.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT? I really loved being part of a team. By the end of the year my team was like a second family in the truest sense. We cooked and cleaned together, we fought, we laughed, and at the end of the day, we loved each other.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I work at a healthcare non-profit called Health Leads. The organization helps connect people to the basic resources they need to be healthy—food, utilities, safe housing, childcare, etc. By addressing these needs within the doctor’s office, we target the root causes of poor health.
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AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
ALUM NI SPOTLI GHT
AMELIA HANSEN ATLANTIC REGION CLASS XVII FIELD TEAM LEADER CLASS XVIII SUPPORT TEAM LEADER HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT NCCC? My little brother served in the Badger Unit in the Atlantic Region and it changed his life.
HOW DID NCCC IMPACT YOUR LIFE? It made me more aware of issues facing U.S. communities and the changes that individuals can make through positive teamwork and mindset. It also made me less hygienic!
WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GAIN? Mad skills! Being more patient; how to dig a mean fence hole; how to fight invasive species and feel like a winner.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT? Respond, Inc. in Camden; working on city revitalization projects.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT? Getting to know all sorts of fantastic people and also be inspired by them.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND NCCC? Yes, I would highly recommend this program to anyone. Once you survive this program, you can survive almost anything.
GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
9
ST AFF SPOTLI GH T
MEET THE NEW ATLANTIC REGION FLEET MANAGER,
MICHAEL HOWARD HOMETOWN:
CRAZIEST THING I’VE EVER DONE:
I had her sit on a stool on stage while I sang
Magnolia, Delaware
I was out at a bar with some Marine bud-
“Slide” by the Goo Goo Dolls to her. Once I
dies and, after a lot of peer pressure, I en-
finished, the crowd erupted into applause.
NICKNAME:
tered the karaoke contest the bar was
The DJ walked over with a handful of cash
“Irish Mike.” I’m named after my paternal
hosting that night. After singing four songs,
and said, “I think I know who our winner is.”
grandfather, Lt. Col. Michael Joseph How-
the pool went from 20 contestants down to
I split the $250 in prize money with Nichole.
ard, who was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air
myself and a woman who sounded just like
Not only was that the craziest thing I’ve
Force. He and his family came to the U.S.
Alanis Morissette. For the last song, we were
ever done, but I’m happy every day I wake
from Kildare, Ireland, and his radio call sign
told the winner would be determined by
up because I will soon be celebrating my
while in the Air Force was “Irish Mike.”
crowd applause. The woman went first and
sixth wedding anniversary with the girl I
sang “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette (cheater).
pulled on stage that night.
EDUCATION: [After high school] I enlisted in the U.S. Ma-
MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I’VE VISITED:
rine Corps and graduated basic training as
Dubai. The architecture and the tropical
a Private First Class in April 2004. I then at-
trees and plants are just gorgeous.
tended Marine Combat Training, Marine Corps Motor Transportation Operator’s Mili-
WHO I ADMIRE:
tary Occupational Specialty School ,and
I admire my wife, Nichole. She grew up in
Tactical Urban Combat and Convoy Oper-
poverty and was forced to grow up fast,
ations School.
striking out on her own at 16. She joined the Marines, served her country and is now in
I was honorably discharged in Sept. 2011
college for sonography. She is a great wife
and then attended the U.S. Department of
and mother, has achieved many things,
State’s Worldwide Protective Services Secu-
and has come a long way from her humble
rity Course and got a job with the AEGIS
I was left to follow a great performance
Defense Services, LLC, which had the con-
and knew I’d have to do something drastic
tract for the security of the U.S. Embassy in
to win. I figured if I serenaded a woman on
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
Kabul, Afghanistan. I left contracting in Jan.
stage, I might get a good vote from all of
“It ain’t about how hard you can hit; it’s
2013 and found my new home here at the
the women in the crowd. So I walked up to
about how hard you can get hit and keep
AmeriCorps NCCC Atlantic Region, where I
the most attractive girl in the place and
moving forward, about how much you can
plan to stay for the rest of my career. I love
said, “Hi, my name is Mike. I know you don’t
take and keep moving forward. That’s how
it already!
know me, but I think you’re the best looking
winning is done! So if you know what you’re
girl here. I need your help. Can I please put
worth, then go out and get what you’re
HOBBIES:
you on a stool on stage and sing to you to
worth. But you gotta be willing to take the
Spending quality time with my wife and two
get a better vote from all of the girls in
hits and not point fingers, saying you’re not
sons, bow hunting, fishing, camping, beach
here? If I win, I’ll split the prize money with
where you wanna be because of him, or
days, working on cars, baseball, football,
you.” She said, “Sure, I’ll do that. My name
her, or anybody. Cowards do that, and
playing drums, singing karaoke and getting
is Nichole.”
that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
tattoos.
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AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
beginnings.
— Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)
LI FE AFTE R AME RI CORP S
Visit EdAward.org for stories of AmeriCorps members who used their education award to become teachers or lawyers, go to trade school, buy laptops and school supplies, pay off students loans, or study abroad.
FREE CAREER CENTER To help streamline your job search experience, AmeriCorps Alums has revamped its Career Center. This career resource will still be available to you at no cost, but the retooled Career Center gives you quicker access to search jobs, post your resume, and create job alerts. It also combines the ability to search for candidates if you are looking to hire AmeriCorps alumni. Access the new career center at AmeriCorpsAlums.org
CAREER COACH Question: If you aren't employed by the time your service term ends, what are your options? I have heard you can't go on unemployment and I am really concerned I won't be able to support myself while I look for a job. It's got me completely terrified, please help! Anytime you are in an employment transition, uncertainty can rear its doubtful head as you question who you are, what you offer and why it seems like EVERYONE else is landing a job. First, remember it just feels like you are the only one in this situation but that is not reality. Second, this is not going to last forever. Third, you still have options and choices. These four questions can put you on a path of confidence, certainty and employment: What is your unique situation? What are your options? What are you putting out there? How are you showing up? Denise Riebman, AmeriCorps ‘94 For the full article, see “Ask the Career Coach” at Blog.AmericorpsAlums.org
GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
11
COMM UNI TY RE LATI ONS
Weekly Updates for Media/CAP Reps. Shout Outs
Media Reminders
Thanks to Jake Clark (B1) for completing a team leader spotlight on Rico! These spotlights will be very useful for team leader recruitment at CAP events!
Shout out to Mike Brown (B4) for following up on an application and sending in an applicant ID!
Shout out to Kayla Lickey and Nicole Allen (R1) for logging three events this week!
Shout out to Natalie Hillmann (M4) for logging over 20 media hits on top of the 53 from her team’s Facebook page!
TEAM
MEDIA
CAP
ALUMNI
BUFFALO 1
6
BUFFALO 3
12
1 (30)
1
BUFFALO 4
23
3 (251)
2
APPS
1
Yearbook Articles, Minimum of 10 Project Photos & Yearbook Photos of Team Members: Due by Sept. 12
Round 4 GTTP Articles: Raven 4 — Sept. 1 Phoenix 4 — Sept. 8
Glide Path for Tweets: 8 by September 2 10 by September 12
Submit a yearbook photo of each member of your team by the end of the round. All members should wear formal shirts for the photos.
Media Reps have the option to complete a Team Leader spotlight article to count as 2 media hits! Ask the CRSTL for more information.
MOOSE 1 MOOSE 2
3
CAP Reminders
MOOSE 3
6
MOOSE 4
76
MOOSE 5
2
2 (2)
RAVEN 1
10
3 (164)
RAVEN 2
24
1 (30)
RAVEN 3
3
RAVEN 5
8
TOTAL
173
AUGUST 30, 2013 | GET TO THE POINT
Each team has been assigned at least one alumni contact for the round. Email your contact to inquire about a possible day of service, social event, or conference call
Events at Historic Black Colleges or Universities and Native American organizations will count as 2 events for your team
CAP Reps have the option to complete a spotlight article on an NCCC applicant to count toward your goals.
1 1 (14)
RAVEN 4
12
1
11 (327)
4
2
SHOUTS OUTS
Eddy says, “Three weeks left until we see everyone!”
BUFFALO 3
KaBOOM!
B4 misses our recently lost team member Shannon Herr. We hope she is doing better back home. B4 also misses Megan Racine and hopes she is safe and getting things done with those fires in California. Soon the Buffalo 4 herd will be making its way up to Mass. STAMPEDE!!!
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 2
Thanks to Jason and Emily for visiting the unforgettable Moose Force to share dinner, stories, and the finding of several cast-away crab parts along the beach at dusk.
Shout out to Buffalo 1! We miss our significant other! XOXO, Raven 1
MOOSE 4 RAVEN 1
We warmly welcome Evan into the Eternal Order of the STL! He will soon receive his customary pet goose.
Hanging with Queen Latifah with Moose 2! Hey, y’all!
SUPPORT TEAM LEADERS
Clarity dance party, anyone?
RAVEN 2 RAVEN 3
Shout Outs?
Shouts Outs are short messages submitted by teams each week to share with the rest of the Corps. Whatever it may be, a Shout Out is one little way to keep the Corps connected throughout the service term.
Glad to be back in Maine! House party!
Rahhh!
RAVEN 5 RAVEN 4
GET TO THE POINT | AUGUST 30, 2013
13
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They?
Round 4, Week 6
For Round 4, Atlantic Region teams will complete 19 projects across nine states. Currently, five teams are doing environmental stewardship projects, five teams are doing community improvement projects in rural and urban areas, three teams are doing disaster recovery projects, and one team is on-call for disaster response.
RAVEN 1 Manchester, N.H. New Hampshire Food Bank Urban & Rural Development RAVEN 2 Hackensack, N.J. Volunteer Center of Bergen County Disaster Services BUFFALO 1
MOOSE 1
MOOSE 4
RAVEN 3
Russell, Mass. Appalachian Mountain Club Environmental Stewardship
Elk Township, Pa. The Nature Conservancy Environmental Stewardship
Rockaway, N.Y. St. Bernard Project Environmental Stewardship
Queens, N.Y. Respond & Rebuild Disaster Services
BUFFALO 3
MOOSE 2
MOOSE 5
RAVEN 4
Torrington, Conn. Torrington AHD/MRC Urban & Rural Development
Toms River, N.J. Jersey Cares Disaster Services
Newburgh, N.Y. Habitat for Humanity Newburgh Urban and Rural Development
Rockport, Maine Midcoast Habitat for Humanity Urban and Rural Development
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 3
PHOENIX 4
RAVEN 5
Marion, Mass. The Marion Institute Environmental Stewardship
Sanford, Maine The Town of Sanford Urban & Rural Development
Wells, Maine U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Disaster Services
King of Prussia, Pa. Valley Forge Environmental Stewardship