UW to Serve as an Americorps Service Site |
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Sept. 27, 2005 -- The University of Wyoming Center for Volunteer Service (CVS) recently was awarded status as an AmeriCorps Service Site, providing opportunities to advance community service and volunteerism in the Laramie community.
The "Connecting Campus and Community" program is a three-year endeavor funded by a grant from SERVE Wyoming and the Corporation for National and Community Service. The grant will support 10 UW students who will serve as part-time AmeriCorps members. They will work with community service and nonprofit organizations, says Robyn Paulekas, CVS program adviser.
She says eight Americorp members will work directly with organizations to increase their volunteer management capacity and help them recruit, train and retain more volunteers. The other two will serve at the UW CVS, helping to recruit UW students to volunteer and advance service learning opportunities.
"This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for local organizations and students alike," Paulekas says. "The eight local nonprofit organizations selected as service sites will benefit from more than 900 hours of an AmeriCorps member's time working toward developing volunteer management programs."
The project's goal, she says, is to increase each organization's capacity to recruit and retain volunteers by 30 volunteers for each program year.
"The AmeriCorps members' experience and training in this field can be a valuable asset for organizations looking to better manage existing volunteer programs or to develop a volunteer management plan from the beginning," Paulekas adds. "All secular and faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply."
The CVS is now accepting proposals for service sites to be selected through a competitive application processes. To apply, call Paulekas at (307) 766-3117, e-mail Paulekas@uwyo.edu or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwvolunteers to download applications. The deadline for organizations to submit proposals is 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.
UW students selected to serve as AmeriCorps members also will benefit. Paulekas says the CVS will provide volunteer management training for these members throughout the program year. Members will receive a monthly living allowance and, upon completion of their time commitment, will receive an education award that can be used to pay back student loans or can be used toward graduate school attendance.
Four of the positions are reserved for returning Peace Corps fellows who are working on their masters degrees through the UW American Studies Program.
"This is an opportunity for the returning Peace Corps fellows to apply to the local community some of the skills they learned during their time abroad," Paulekas says.
Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005
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