In August 2007, AARP launched a video contest for young adults, ages 18 - 30, called U@50. The goal of U@50 was to encourage intergenerational dialogue, allow young people to speak their minds, and give AARP insight into the views of future constituents. Fifty contestants submitted short videos that depicting what they expect their lives to look like at age 50.
The San Francisco Public Library is looking for several volunteers to work in their bookstores. Opportunities abound in the Main Library Branch and at FortMason, where a great selection of books is offered to the public at affordable prices. 2-3 hour weekday and weekend shifts are available. If you love books plus fun this is where you want to volunteer!
Contact Barbara Marre at bmarre@ncphs.org for more information or call 415-474-7787.
Everyone has a personal reason for taking part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and now you can take part without walking. AVON needs a variety of pre-walk support in the next few weeks. GOODY BAG ASSEMBLY VOLUNTEERING (Tuesday, June 24th)
It’s time again for the ever-popular goodie bag assembly festivities! This year we have over 3,000 to assemble. We’ll plan to start in the morning at 10:00am and continue into the evening at 8:00pm. RSVP via the link below. Let me know the hours you are available.
ROUTE HANGER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (Saturday, June 28th)
We are looking for energetic all-star volunteers to help us hang door hangers along the route, letting local businesses and residents know the Avon Walk will be passing through their neighborhoods. We’ll be visiting parts of San Francisco, Sausalito and MillValley. This is a great bonding opportunity for individuals and equally perfect for teams and groups of family and friends. Each group of volunteers will have Staff or a Volunteer Team Captain assisting them. If you’d like to be a Route Team Leader please email below. Groups will meet in a central area (to be determined) and we’ll place door hangers along the route as a team. The more people who help out, the faster we can finish. We need at least four people per area. RSVP via any of the links below per your neighborhood of choice. Once you RSVP we’ll be in touch with a meeting location.
VOLUNTEER NIGHTS (June 2008)
A group of dedicated and outgoing volunteers come together each week to personally influence the success of the Walk. In June we will be working on mailings, posters, printing, quality control counts and goody bags in preparation for event weekend this July. There are a variety of things to work on each week and your help is greatly needed and appreciated!
VOLUNTEER EVENT WEEKEND (July 11th, 12th & 13th)
There are many opportunities to volunteer event weekend. There is no registration requirement or registration fee for volunteers – we just ask for your enthusiasm and a desire to support the cause. We hope you will join us. It takes hundreds of volunteers to create a successful event…so send this to your family, friends, associates and co-workers; anyone you know who may be interested. We need volunteers Event Eve, Friday July 11th at the Westin St. Francis; Opening Ceremony, Saturday July 12th at Golden GatePark ; “Tent Angels” at the WellnessVillage, Saturday afternoon July 12th and Sunday morning July 13th at Crissy Field; and at Closing Ceremony, Sunday afternoon July 13th.
DAYTIME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
There are various projects each week where you can assist the Avon Walk office Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm.
Contact RSVP for more information by emailing Barbara Marre at bmarre@ncphs.org or calling 415-474-7787.
The U.S. House of Representatives acknowledged the contributions of AmeriCorps members by passing a resolution recognizing May 11-18 as AmeriCorps Week.
Passing by a 344-69 vote, the resolution “acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners; recognizes the important contributions to the lives of our citizens by AmeriCorps members; and encourages citizens of all ages to consider serving in AmeriCorps.”
Since its inception in 1994, AmeriCorps, often referred to as the local Peace Corps, has hosted a membership of 540,000 people, who contributed more than 705 million hours of service. Additionally, recent research shows that graduates of AmeriCorps continue to volunteer at higher rates than the general population and are more likely to become civic leaders.
Click here to read the complete text of House Resolution 1173, recognizing AmeriCorps Week.
Be inspired by stories of AmeriCorps members of all ages, using the links in the widget on the right!
TITLE: MARIN PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (One – two positions available)
LOCATION: Greenbrae, California with travel throughout Marin County and occasional travel to San Francisco
SUMMARY: Oversees of the program operations of Experience Corps Marin (EC) and the Senior Companion Program of Marin (SCP), programs of Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services that respond to community needs with the skills and experience of volunteers, ages 55 and older. Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, volunteers, media, schools, and volunteer stations. Ensures that the programs meet recruitment and funding quotas. Exhibits strong commitment to building communities that value all ages and generations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Develops short and long term goals, objectives and programs’ operations in response to volunteers’ and community’s needs in consultation with Director of Community Engagement which are consistent with NCPHS Mission, Vision and Core Values and those of Experience Corps and Senior Companion Programs.
Interviews, hires, supervises, trains, motivates, and the performance management of EC Volunteer Coordinator.
Develops a work plan for the EC Volunteer Coordinator and leads on-going process to effectively carry out plan and ensure program quality. Provides guidance in team building and volunteer leadership development.
Arranges for recruitment and placement of volunteers. Screens, interviews, and orients volunteers. Arrange for external screenings, pre-service trainings, in-service instructions, and overall supervision by EC Volunteer Coordinator or Senior Companion volunteer station staff. Provides information and support to Senior Companion volunteers and ensure support of Experience Corps volunteers.
Plans and implements volunteer recognition program with support of EC Volunteer Coordinator.
Assess appropriateness and performance of volunteer stations and school sites, in concert with Director of Community Engagement. Establishes and maintains strong relationships and frequent communication volunteer station staff and school staff, including after-school programs.
Establishes and maintains partnerships with Marin Division on Aging and community organizations which include older adult, school-serving, volunteer agencies, and media in consultation with Communications Consultant.
Develops, implements and tailors a communication plan to raise program awareness and recruit volunteers. Tracks results of outreach and recruitment. Ensures program meets recruitment quotas and funding priorities.
Maintain website(s) with support of the Communications Consultant and web programmer.
Maintain current Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) and site applications for both SCP’s partners and EC Bay Area.
Supervises, gathers, and maintains program evaluations and volunteer impact.
Seeks formal structure for community input into program structure and operations.
Ensures integrity of Excel, SAMS, and Saleforce databases.
Maintains appropriate program and fiscal records.
Perform other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIALJOB FUNCTIONS Knowledge of Marin County nonprofit community, senior services, school systems, services organizations and government agencies. Knowledge and understanding of the nature and function and components of volunteerism and volunteer supervision. Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Strong public speaking, organizational, time-management and administrative skills. Strong public relations and interpersonal skills needed for harmonious work relationships and ability to oversee volunteers. Ability to lead collaborative effort to carry out work plans. Ability to inspire and maintain enthusiasm among volunteers. Ability to develop and conduct educational programs for volunteers. Ability to work closely and develop strong relationships with diverse individuals. Ability to approach and solve problems with creativity. Ability to maintain positive customer focused approach as well as confidentiality of volunteers, staff and organization information. Ability to act with patience, tact and courtesy in dealing with volunteers, staff, and agencies under demanding and difficult conditions. Sensitivity and understanding of issues related to aging. Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of products (Outlook, Word, Excel) and Access preferred. Physical skills and ability to perform work that requires sitting, walking, stooping, bending and lifting up to 35 pounds.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in social services, education, gerontology, or organizational behavior preferred. Minimum of 1 year experience working with seniors in an institutional, recreational, or volunteer services agency and/or 1 year experience working with children. Minimum of 2 years of progressive experience in volunteer management. Training experience preferred. Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred. California driver license, proof of insurance, clean driving record, and ability to travel to multiple locations on a daily basis.
COMPENSATION
NCPHS offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits and employee salary program to those working 32-40 hours per week.
One – two positions available. Willing to consider applicants for the following:
Marin Program Administrator – full time position that oversees operations of two programs, Experience Corps Marin and Senior Companion Marin.
OR
Experience Corp Program Administrator – approximately 24 hours per week, oversees of the program operations of Marin Experience Corps (EC)
AND
Senior Companion Program Administrator – approximately 16 hours per week, oversees of the program operations of Senior Companion Program of Marin.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: EC Volunteer Coordinator and up to 40 Senior Companion Volunteers
APPLICATION: Send Cover letter and resume via email or mail to the Director of Community Engagement at 881 Turk Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 or volunteers@ncphs.org by May 30, 2008.
What lingo do you use to describe your contribution to the community? Volunteering? Giving back? Donating? Doing Pro Bono work? Wendy Bay Lewis, author and founder of www.CivicMind.com, came up with dictionary of options.
Click here to peruse The Civic Minded Companion Dictionary.
Do Something, a website that promotes the involvement of teenagers in the community, is using technology to encourage teens to volunteer. In two or three clicks, teens can sign up to receive text messages that advertise volunteer opportunities in or near their zip code and in the area of interest that they specify.
What's more, Do Something offers us "old people" an opportunity to help get teens involved in service. Visit www.dosomething.org and scroll to the bottom of the page. In the footer, you will find the "Old People" link.
Use the Widget below to see the variety of service opportunities that Do Something offers to teens.
Do you know anyone making an extraordinary contribution to your community? As announced on The Today Show, tell the Reader's Digest Foundation about them, and the story selected by RDF may be featured in Reader's Digest. Plus, RDF will give $100,000 to a deserving charity in their name. Your stories may also appear on todayshow.com or rd.com. So tell us about the good works below—or email your story to makeitmatter@rd.com!
Click here to fill out an online nomination form for yourself or someone else.
An article in the February edition of The American Interest (AI) journal proposes the creation of a National Service American Dream Account (NSADA). NSADA would use "the power of the market to leverage a $5,000 federal investment into an $18,000 award for all young Americans who successfully complete a year of national service." AI hope NSADA would address enduring social problems by mobilizing the time and talents of Americans through national service, and suggest that current work by volunteers does not begin to tap the potential of the national service to transform our society.
In the same issue, The American Interest journal interviews Robert Putnam on social capital, or social trust. They talk of the difference between bonding and bridging social capital, the shortterm impact of diversity on social capital. He remarks,
"...We used to manage our problems through the context of social capital, which is just my jargon for saying that we would have discussions about them at church picnics, or on the bench at the bowling alley while waiting for our turn, or around the table over lunch at the Rotary Club, or at union halls and so forth. We were engaged in civic discourse, exchanging views on integrating the schools or constructing a highway system or the Russians or whatever the problem was. And now we don’t, because hardly anyone goes to those places anymore. We’re not at the church picnic or the bowling alley; we’re sitting at home watching TV."
Click here to read more about the NSADA proposal. Click here to read The American Interest journal interview with Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone.
