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Index
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You're probably thinking that if you become a volunteer, you'll have
to give and give and give. But guess what? While you're helping
others, volunteering can be doing important things for you.
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| In the Spotlight - M.L. King Day - A Day On, Not A Day Off | |
 For
hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country, January 17
was a day “on” for service—not just a day off from work—as they
honored Martin Luther King Jr. by engaging in service activities for
their communities and neighbors. This year’s event marks the 10th
anniversary of observing the King Holiday as a day of service. In
1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging Americans to celebrate
the King Holiday as a day of service reflecting Dr. King's life and
teaching. Locally, King was celebrated through service by both
VolunteerLEON Youth Corps and Tallahassee Habitat for Humanity.
Youth Corps kicked off Home Safety and Disaster Preparedness for Seniors, a project in which youth will assist seniors in preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. More than 300 seniors will be impacted during the program’s implementation January through May 2005. Youth Corps also nominated a deserving community member for their 2nd Annual Leon County DREAM award. The recipient will be announced at the Leon County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, January 25th.
As the recipient of a Points of Light Foundation M. L. King Day of Service grant, Tallahassee Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteer team leaders worked with approximately 150 volunteers to prepare their hospitality center used to house the 6th Collegiate Challenge. The days activities included painting, landscaping, light construction and remodeling. The Collegiate Challenge is comprised of college students from across the United Stated that come to Tallahassee to spend their spring break volunteering to build homes for Tallahassee Habitat for Humanity. The registration fee paid by students provides a portion of the materials used to build homes. A list of projects throughout the country, including contact information, is available at www.mlkday.org. |
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| Start '05 Right, Volunteer! | |
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Looking for an internship?
College students seeking experience outside the classroom should consider an internship within Leon County this year. To view the many intern opportunities, the listing of intern job descriptions can be viewed on our website. Applications are now being accepted for the Spring semester.
Is your community based agency in need of some quality help?
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Increase the effectiveness of volunteers!
Would you like to
maximize the work
of your volunteers? Do you want to achieve greater results? Want to
learn the latest in volunteer management? Take advantage of the
professional volunteer management training series developed by the
Points of Light Foundation and presented by VolunteerLEON.
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Her most memorable volunteer experience was the two years she spent in the Philippines as a United States Peace Corps volunteer. Today she volunteers with the VolunteerLEON as the Program Division Chair of the 2005 International Conference on Volunteer Administration, as well as with the Florida Trail Association, Florida State Parks, Mended Hearts, Tallahassee Quilters Guild and is a board member for Kids Voting in Leon County. |
Announcing Project InterFACE As the recipient of a grant from 
the Points of Light Foundation, VolunteerLEON will implement Project
InterFACE, Faith-Based
And
Community
Engagement, a program developed to assist and train
congregations in ways to sustain and expand their volunteer
programs, as well as work with non-profit organizations in meeting
community needs.
Beginning in 2005, the Center’s
AmeriCorps VISTA plans to offer classes in volunteer recruitment and
management; familiarize organizations with using communication
technologies to enhance contact with volunteers; provide information
on mentoring programs; and arrange for workshops, such as effective
federal grant writing. Other
resources, like coordination of national days of service, resource
directories, and technical support will be available at no cost.
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Changes
to the Volunteer Connection
In order to fulfill our community's need for a dynamic and most importantly up-to-date online volunteer opportunity matching system, VolunteerLEON has selected 1-800-Volunteer.org as our new matching system service provider. Upgrades to the current Volunteer Connection will include email reminders, reporting features, integrated community calendar & event management, and many other exciting and versatile features. The application's launch date is anticipated in February. Many communities are using technology to supplement, and in some cases replace, traditional recruiting methods like advertising and neighborhood fliers. Nationwide, the number of volunteers grew last year to 63.8 million, or about 29 percent of the population, from 59.8 million in 2002, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A special newsletter will notify managers of volunteers when training on the new system will be offered, as well as encourage residents of the Big Bend area to utilize the Volunteer Connection to get engaged in our community.
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Targeted seniors for the Home Safety and Disaster Preparedness program will be clients of Elder Care Services of the Big Bend whose homes are not well equipped with needed home safety materials. In February, Youth Corps members will visit the homes of more than 300 seniors to distribute Meals on Wheels with the Elder Care Services volunteers. In addition to meals, they will also distribute disaster preparedness informational packets donated by the American Red Cross and home safety packets containing information on the Florida Injury Prevention Program for Seniors (FLIPS), and Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) pamphlets and handouts. Seniors will be asked to complete a short questionnaire, return it to Elder Care Services of the Big Bend, and then Youth Corps members along with Elder Care Services case managers will determine 75 homes in most need of assistance. In May 2005, the youth will return to 75 homes to distribute home safety items, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, flashlights, batteries and light bulbs. For
more information contact the Youth Corps Coordinator |
VolunteerLEON
will be teaching the Volunteer Management Training Series curriculum
during the Spring 2005 semester at Tallahassee Community College.
Participants who complete all class requirements receive the Florida
Volunteer Administration Certificate, awarded through Volunteer
Florida and Florida Association of Volunteer Centers. Download the
Congratulations
to our volunteer Jill Canono, PhD. whose article on family
volunteering was recently published in the
Youth
of the Big Bend area are concerned with intergenerational issues
and are dedicated to assisting Florida seniors with making their
homes safer. VolunteerLEON Youth Corps will aid seniors in
preparing for the upcoming 2005 hurricane season, through their
Home Safety and Disaster Preparedness for Seniors program. More
than 300 seniors will be impacted during the program’s
implementation January through May 2005. Prior to working
on the program, VolunteerLEON Youth Corps members will attend an
interactive Aging Sensitivity Training-a course in order to help
youth understand many of the challenges faced by seniors. | Programs & Services: | ||
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If you would like to contribute stories or ideas for
VolunteerLEON's newsletter, send us an
email. |
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| Copyright © 2005 Leon County Board of County Commissioners | ||