AmeriCorps Week is May 14-21st this year!  Maine AmeriCorps Alums has received a grant from National AmeriCorps Alums to make for a great celebration of service.  We’re planning social events (Bayside bowling and a Sea Dogs game!), outreach at neighborhood fairs and the farmers’ market, and service projects with local environmental non-profits.

So please stay tuned to hear more about how you can participate in National AmeriCorps Week.  Want to know how you can help?  Email kate.mccarty@americorpsalums.org to get involved.  And look to our AmeriCorps Week 2011 page for details!

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You are invited to a planning meeting next Thursday, April 28th, at 6:30pm.  We will meet at Local Sprouts Cafe, 649 Congress St, Portland.  Look for the Maine AmeriCorps Alums banner.

See you there!

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As you may have heard, Congress agreed upon a stop gap budget that will prevent a federal governement shutdown.  This bill does not include the cuts to the Corporation for National and Community Service.  But the fight to save AmeriCorps is not over yet. 

As Congress agrees upon a budget for the remainder of the year, AmeriCorps may still be threatened.  That’s why it’s vital that we continue to let our elected officials know how important AmeriCorps is to us and our communities.   Please continue to let your representatives and community leaders know about AmeriCorps’ impact.  You can contact your representatives, write letters to the editor, sign the online petition, and send in your stories of service.

Together, we will be a voice of service and will continue to highlight the good works being done by AmeriCorps members and alumni across the country.

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House Plans to Eliminate AmeriCorps

As many of you may have heard, the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives may be proposing the elimination of AmeriCorps as a part of the Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the remainder of this fiscal year.   (You can read more about it via the AP, Washington Post).

The good news:  it is simply a proposal.  Any such plan would face various and considerable hurdles (the Senate, the White House) before enactment.

The most important news:  it is clear we are going to need everyone who values national service to be ready to take action. Individual alumni are starting to organize to quickly disseminate information. There is currently a Facebook group here. As well, AmeriCorps Alums has created a space for official alumni action. You can follow @act4americorps on twitter and take action on the Act 4 AmeriCorps facebook page.

What you can do today:

1) Send AmeriCorps Alums your best stories of your AmeriCorps experience:  how did your work benefit your community, how did the education award help you with college or job training, how have you used your AmeriCorps experience in your professional life and in your on-going service? Send written stories to Whitney Soenksen at AmeriCorps Alums Nations at wsoenksen@americorpsalums.org or submit videos on the Act 4 AmeriCorps page.

2) Let us know if you want to be engaged in advocacy work around support for AmeriCorps.  This budget season in Washington, DC is going to be intense and we will need your engagement more than ever! Email us at caitlyn@americorpsalums.org to be connected to advocacy initiatives in Maine.

3) Call your Senators and House Representative to convey the value of AmeriCorps to your community and to the nation. Make the call today!

• Find your US Representative by clicking here
• Call Senator Snowe’s Office at (202) 224-5344
• Call Senator Collin’s Office at (202) 224-2523

Most importantly — Spread the word!

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Maine AmeriCorps Alums thanks all the volunteers, partners, and sponsors who made our MLK Day of Service a success! We were able to weatherize 16 homes in partnership with Hour Exchange Portland, PROP, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland.  The project involved more than 50 volunteers who completed nearly 400 hours of service.  And of course, we’re pleased that more than half of our volunteers were current AmeriCorps Members or AmeriCorps Alums.  Find out more about our project by visiting the MLK Day 2011 tab.

MLK Day Weatherization Blitz

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For the second year in a row, Maine AmeriCorps Alums has been awarded a MLK Day of Service grant. This year, our chapter will partner with PROP and Hour Exchange Portland to weatherize the homes of low-income residents in York and Cumberland counties, disseminate educational materials on energy efficiency, and create a training video for future use.

With additional help from the Community Resource Corps and other local organizations, we will mobilize teams of volunteers on Monday, January 17th to help people stay warm efficiently. There are many ways to be involved – become a crew leader, volunteer to weatherize homes, help collect video footage of the project, or provide food for our volunteer teams…anything helps!

Thank you to those who have signed up to volunteer.  Our volunteer needs have been met at this time.

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Maine AmeriCorps Alums has a lot going on in the next couple of weeks, including some events with AmeriCorps*NCCC teams that are in Maine for the fall.  Hope you’ll join us!

Life After AmeriCorps with AmeriCorps*NCCC – Saturday, October 23rd from 5-8pm at Empire Dine and Dance in Portland (we’ll be downstairs)
Come meet members of Badger 7 – an AmeriCorps*NCCC team serving in Maine at the Wells Nature Preserve.  This is a great opportunity to meet new AmeriCorps members and alums, share your AmeriCorps experiences, and tell stories about how AmeriCorps has impacted your life choices.

Service Project with Badger 7 – Tuesday, October 26th from 5-8pm
Join AmeriCorps*NCCC team Badger 7 for service at either LearningWorks or Preble Street in Portland from 5-8pm.  Email Jade Jackson at  jade.jackson@live.com if you’re interested in volunteering.

MLK Day Planning Night – Monday, October 25th from 7:30-9pm at Local 188
Brainstorm with Maine AmeriCorps Alums to plan our MLK Day 2011 event.  We’re hoping to apply for grant funding this year for projects that reduce our carbon footprint while developing civic leaders – please join us for this planning session from 7:30-9pm at Local 188 on Congress Street in Portland.  Contact Caitlyn at 720-298-2490 or caitlyn@americorpsalums.org for more information, or just meet us there!

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