1. Virtual Volunteering and National Service October 15, 2010 Jewel Redrose (Jewel Bazilio-Bellegarde) Chad Mikado (Chad Gobert)

2. 1.Introduction to CNCS and NSIP 2.Path to Virtual Volunteering 3.Virtual Volunteering in Action Discussion

3. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) CNCS discharges its mission to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering by providing opportunities for all Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage. Since its inception, with the 1993 National Community Service Act, CNCS has been committed to the active participation of Americans with disabilities in all of its programs and initiatives. Thousands of people with disabilities serve in CNCS’s three major programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.

4. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Senior Corps Each year Senor Crops taps the skills, talents, and experience of nearly 500,000 Americans age 55 and older to meet a wide range of community challenges. AmeriCorps AmeriCorps provides opportunities for more than 85,000 Americans each year to give intensive service to their communities and country through three programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). Learn and Serve America Learn and Serve America provides an “on-ramp” to a life-time of civic engagement for approximately 1.5 million students each year.

5. On March 31, 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to reauthorize the CNCS and its programs through 2014 On April 21, 2009. President Obama signed the bill into law. The 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

6. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act… Even more explicitly emphasizes a commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities as active participants in national service…

7. www.serviceandinclusion.org Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)

9. What is Virtual Volunteering? Completed online, phone May be done at home or work Expands benefits of volunteer programs –New communities of people ready and willing to serve –New ways to volunteer

10. Volunteer Experience Poll Quick feedback: 1.How many present have volunteered before? 2.How many present have virtual volunteered before?

11. Why Involve Virtual Volunteers? Larger pool of interested people, greater than searching offline Setting out expectations online allows prospective volunteers to self-screen interests Allows participation of people who might find on-site volunteering difficult or impossible Environmentally friendly- no car exhaust, less paper waste, etc. Saves time- commuting, travel

12. Becoming a Virtual Volunteer 1.Discover your interests –Online research –Consulting expertise –Writing proposals/grants –Captioning/translation –Marketing and advocacy –Web development –Creating curriculum/training –Design, editing, copywriting, proofreading –Accessibility evaluations –Service recipient contact

13. 1.Discover your interests 2.Assess your own skills –Education or degree –Experience –Professional connections Becoming a Virtual Volunteer

14. 1.Discover your interests 2.Assess your own skills 3.Find your cause Volunteer Blog Posting on SL: http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/vol unteers Becoming a Virtual Volunteer

15. Volunteer Sites Corporation for National and Community Service –www.CNCS.gov Idealist –www.Idealist.org United Nations Volunteers Online Volunteering Service –www.onlinevolunteering.org Volunteer Match –www.volunteermatch.org Community Networks by state, country –http://ofcn.org/networks/By_State.txt.html

16. Volunteer Sites (Cont.) For volunteering examples by a specific cause: Sidelines (National Volunteer High Risk Pregnancy Support Network- email or phone peer support) –http://www.sidelines.org Pearls of Africa (helps orphans with HIV and AIDS) –http://www.pearlsofafrica.org/ Family-to-Family- helping to feed, clothe a family –http://www.family-to-family.org/adopt_family.htm Proofreading for Project Gutenberg –http://www.pgdp.net/c/

17. Pursuing Virtual Volunteering Opportunities Existing opportunities in environments (virtual, online, or offline) Serving with groups that offer virtual volunteering positions Create your own opportunity!

18. http://www.serve.gov/toolkits/food-bank/four.asp

19. Virtual Volunteering in Action

20. Open Discussion & Questions

21. Thank You Jewel Bazilio-Bellegarde (Jewel Redrose) JBazilio@cns.gov Chad Gobert (Chad Mikado) Chad.Gobert@umb.edu