Volunteer Conference in NYC

Beth Fox, Director of Linn-Benton RSVP, a program of Community Services Consortium, recently returned from the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New York City.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Points of Light Institute hosted the conference, supported by corporate sponsorships. Each conference workshop offered opportunities to network with colleagues in volunteer management from across the nation, with a few attendees from around the world, including the Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Activities from the country of Liberia.

One of the network opportunities was held in Chinatown. This immersion session focused on the literacy work of four local nonprofits supported by AmeriCorps members. A second opportunity to network sponsored by Target was called “Party With a Purpose”, where one evening 2,000 attendees gave their time to build enough food boxes to provide 150,000 meals.

Dr. Erwin Tan, the new director of Senior Corps was introduced to Beth's group. He shared that his wife is from Corvallis! Amy Dailey, the Oregon CNCS Director, invited him to Oregon to see the best and brightest Senior Corps projects the country has to offer and specifically to see the impact the program has in Benton County.

Congratulations to the 81 CSC graduates

Community Services Consortium (CSC) graduated 81 students this year in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. The students graduated with either a high school diploma or a GED. The graduates came from CSC’s 3 alternative schools, in Corvallis, Albany or Lebanon, CSC’s charter school, Career Tech, in Lincoln City and from CSC’s partner, Angell Jobs Corp campus in Yachats.

Following are excerpts from remarks made by Clay Martin, Director of the CSC Workforce & Education program while addressing the class of 2010 in Corvallis. Martin spoke at several CSC graduations this June.

“Events like graduation that mark a significant achievement and a significant transition in life are special – a significant achievement for each of you.

“Many people talk about the value of a high school diploma in terms of real dollars. According to the US Census Bureau a high school graduate was expected to earn $1,216,000 over a 40 year career. That is $300,000 more than a person who did not graduate from high school. A college degree will add another $250,000-a higher degree even more. So, don’t ever stop learning. It almost always pays in real dollars over the course of your career.

“But, I think the value of a high school diploma is more than the real dollars. It demonstrates that you can stick with something difficult and challenging and persevere until it is complete. It is what most people call a good work ethic.

“Thank you to the teachers and staff who helped you. Thank you especially to the families who supported you. And congratulations class of 2010!”

More appliances now eligible for rebates

If you’ve got an appliance that leaks energy, the state’s newly expanded rebate program can help.

The program, which started in January to replace low-efficiency furnaces and heat pumps, now includes water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The program is open only to homeowners whose annual household income is 60 percent or less of the statewide median. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. And new appliances must be Energy Star, which certifies superior energy efficiency. Vouchers can be redeemed for up to 70 percent of the price, to a specified maximum. Old appliances must be legally recycled to receive a rebate.

For details or to apply:
Online: http://go.usa.gov/OTx
Call Oregon Housing and Community Services: 1-800-453-5511 (option 2, selection 4)
E-mail: appliancerebate@hcs.state.or.us

Source: The Oregonian 7/9/2010

For information about energy assistance or weatherization, call Community Services Consortium at (541) 752-1010.

AC*VISTA Off-Site Training Day

Editor's Note: this story is a compilation of stories written by AC*VISTA Leader Jeannie Ramsey and AC*VISTA member Megan Tolley and originally published in CSC's 'Building Bridges' AmeriCorps*VISTA newsletter.

From Jeannie:
On Wednesday, April 21, I joined ten 'Building Bridges' VISTA members and Tifani Erpelding, Project Coordinator, at the OSU Challenge Course for a day of team-building exercises. I had not even been in Oregon for a week and I was going to be climbing a telephone pole! It was only my third day in the new Leader position, so I was a little nervous about meeting everyone, especially during something I thought would require so much athletic ability.


One of the challenge exercises involved ten of us being blindfolded and coached by the two remaining VISTAs. Our task was to place a rope around a small can and move it to another location about 15 feet away. The two coaches had to describe the tools to us, and guide our steps to the goal. “Being blindfolded in order to move the bucket was difficult for me because I work best when I am able to see what needs to be done and what tools are available,” stated Tifani Erpelding. That information will be helpful for me as I work with Tifani through my service year.

Another exercise required all of us to move across three platforms, using three pieces of 2x4 wood of different lengths, none of which were long enough to fit between the platforms. Neither people nor wood were allowed to touch the ground. The team would be successful when all members were standing on the last platform, which measured less than three feet square. Clear communication and excellent balancing skills contributed to successful completion of this challenge.

The most challenging exercise was climbing and belaying. Each person was outfitted with helmets and climbing harnesses so they could climb a telephone pole to belay down to waiting team members. Constant communication between climber and primary belay person, and careful watching of the primary belay person by other team members brings the climber down safely. Fear of heights did not stop anyone from attempting this exercise.

From Megan:
I didn't realize how scared I was until my feet left the ground. My hands didn't want to move as I climbed up the pole. I felt paralyzed. My heart started racing and my mouth went dry. I wanted to get down and quit. After watching everyone else gracefully cross the line and finish, it didn't seem to be like such a big deal. But now it was my turn. I had a team of 5 belaying me; with encouraging glances and persuading chants I couldn‟t bare the chance that I would be the one person who couldn't complete the challenge. I like to finish what I started, so especially now with everyone watching, I just had to do it.

As I stared at the other side, an easy task turned into new perspective on becoming focused to overcoming this challenge. Stepping away from the comfort of safety and onto the line, I expected to fall, but I didn't. I took a deep breath and one baby step at a time I finally made it to the other side. Needless to say I was relieved to get back on solid ground, but more importantly I was proud of myself for letting go and moving forward to attain my end goal.

‘Building Bridges’VISTA Members 2009-2010:

Linn County
Miao Zhao
Albany InReach Services

Hilary McAlister
CSC-Santiam Wilderness Academy

Melissa Clark
Linn County Sheriff‟s Department

Benton County
Rachel Karasick
CSC-Youth Garden Project

April Pritchard
CDDC-Project Action

Megan Czerny
CSC-Fund Development

Megan Tolley
Corvallis Environmental Center

Lincoln County
Kaija Daniel
Lincoln Commission on Children & Families

Linn & Benton Counties
Jenn Crist
Jackson Street Youth Shelter

Matt Walker
Linn Benton Housing Authority

Please check out the website for more information on CSC's Building Bridges AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

Linn Benton Food Share Has New T-Shirts For Sale

Mike Gibson, Director of Linn Benton Food Share displays the new t-shirts.

CSC's Linn Benton Food Share program has a new line of
t-shirts for sale. The short and long sleeved 100% cotton shirts come in a range of new colors. You can choose from a large food share logo or small pocket sized logo. The t-shirts are priced at $8 for short sleeved and $12 for long sleeved.

The shirts are available at Linn Benton Food Share office located at 545 SW 2nd Street in Corvallis. All proceeds go to the Linn Benton Food Share program to help achieve its goals.

Food Share’s goal this year is to distribute 5 million pounds of food to its 74 member agencies this year—an increase of nearly 200,000 pounds. Food Share can achieve this by expanding their Fresh Alliance pickups to new supermarkets, by purchasing more bulk products such as rice, beans, and cereal, and by taking steps to increase our storage and repackaging areas so they can accept large donations and accommodate the many volunteers who bag up this food into family-size packages.

Health Care Website

Take Charge of Your Own Health Care.

The federal government has launched a website aimed at taking the guesswork out of finding a health care plan. The Department of Health and Human Services unveiled HealthCare.gov a website that is dedicated to helping people navigate their health insurance options and understand the provisions in the recently passed health care reform law.

Calling All Containers!

CSC Youth House Gardens and SAGE Garden are teaming up to bring you a free container gardening class!

Come learn how to grow your very own herbs and veggies right on your front porch!

June 17th 4:30 - 5:30 at CSC Youth House Garden (Downtown Corvallis, across from the Community Services Consortium building)

To register, call Rachel at 541-224-4413 or register online at:

http://www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org/

Linn Benton Food Share Receives Diabetes Grant

CSC's Linn Benton Food Share was among four community organizations to receive grants from the Diabetes Health Promotion Memorial Trust to provide education, services and supplies for people with diabetes in Benton County.

Linn Benton Food Share received $250 to determine the needs for diabetes information for people served by Food Share. Contact Susan James, Gleaning/Volunteer programs Coordinator for more information at (541) 758-2645

CSC in place to respond to green job skills

Published in the Spring Issue of THE PROMISE Magazine, Community Action Partnership, the National Association of Community Action Agencies

By Janet Hessel, Editor /Communications Coordinator and Sharee Cooper, Program Manager, Workforce & Education Program, Community Services Consortium, Corvallis, OR


Participants from CSC's Weatherization Training Program perform Weatherization work on a mobile home.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is in the forefront of Oregon’s response to the increasing demand for green jobs skills. The CSC Weatherization Training Program has seen a constant stream of older youth, adults, and dislocated workers from Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties since last summer when the program began with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ( ARRA) Workforce stimulus funds.

A 3,000 square foot Weatherization Training Center in Corvallis is the site where the action begins. Weatherization, energy efficiency, conservation, and safety methods are taught in the multimedia-equipped instruction area. The Weatherization Training Center contains a learning lab that allows trainees to practice and demonstrate all weatherization techniques that are utilized in the field. The weatherization diagnostics and energy conservation lab allows for multiple training and testing events. Models in the center represent a single-wide mobile home, a site built attic, interior and exterior walls, under-floors, and more. By the time a trainee goes to the field there will be no surprises.

The CSC Weatherization Training Program is a unique collaboration between the Workforce & Education and the Weatherization departments. CSC operates a Weatherization Assistance Program that is free to moderate and low-income families. This program has in the past weatherized about 200 houses per year but recent ARRA stimulus funding has doubled its capacity and increased the need for trained workers. CSC’s Weatherization Training Program provides a unique opportunity for trainees to get real hands-on experience side-by-side on actual weatherization projects.

In addition to providing training opportunities for unemployed workers, customized training options are available to contractors, businesses, Weatherization Assistance Programs, and other educational institutions. In total, 132 individuals have received training since the program’s inception and another 80 are already registered for upcoming spring trainings. The program has recently been awarded an additional $450,000 through the Linn, Benton, Lincoln Workforce Investment Board to serve 175 people over the next 2 years.

Weatherization Trainers Jerry McGuire and Dennis Feeney are in constant motion in the classroom, or with trainees at job sites. Their busy Spring Schedule includes hosting nationally recognized certification workshops in such areas as lead safety for construction workers, energy efficiency and building science training for contractors, energy auditing and even pre-apprenticeship for high school students.

“We are not only teaching people weatherization job skills but also to understand energy efficiency and conservation to evaluate their own energy uses and apply the techniques they learn at their own homes,” said McGuire.

Lesson stays despite teacher’s departure

By Amanda Robbins, Albany Democrat-Herald

Tara Keuter, 11, holds a bag open as Jaime Viramontes, 11, fills a bag with cereal he scooped out of a box. (Photo by Mark Ylen/Democrat-Herald)

Monday was bittersweet at the Linn Benton Food Share. It was the last day that Karen Sundseth would bring her class from St. Mary's School to volunteer. For the last seven years, one day a month, her fifth-graders have skipped their morning and lunch recesses to spend an hour helping at the food share.

And for the last three years, St. Mary's School has shut down one morning a year so the whole school can volunteer for a couple of hours."This is a great service project and necessary for our community," said Sundseth, who is cutting back next year to substitute teaching so she can care for her ailing mother.

"It also teaches our gospel values, like helping the poor," she said, as well as about problem solving and cooperation in the real world.Susan James, the volunteer and gleaning program coordinator, said Sundseth's class always is a big help.

"Volunteers allow us to accept large quantities of food," James said. "We couldn't do it without our volunteers."

She brought cupcakes and flowers Monday to thank the students and Sundseth for the many years of service. Both James and Sundseth agree that the kids are serious about what they do at the food share.

"They ask great questions about where the food comes from and where it is going," James said.The kids say they enjoy the hour away from class to help the needy.

"This is fun," said Christian Campbell, 11. "I am glad I can help all the people."Alex Delsman, 10, said that it was good for the community.

"These kids just love coming out," Sundseth said.St. Mary's intends to keep the program going, although it hasn't yet selected a teacher to assume Sundseth's role.
Last year, Linn Benton Food Share distributed more than 4.7 million pounds of food to 74 agencies.

To volunteer, call Susan James at 541-758-2645. A Community Repack Open House is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. the last Thursday of every month, which is later this week on May 27.

Protect Yourself and Your Money

A lunchtime lecture focusing on the most common frauds and scams reported in Oregon — A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.


June 14, 2010
12:00—1:30 pm
Citizens Bank, Corvallis
275 SW Third St
RSVP: 541-812-0849

Sponsored by CSC Linn-Benton RSVP, Citizens Bank, and the Department of Justice

CSC Crew Members Complete Fire Hall Remodel and Art Park in Toledo

CSC’s youth crew, Remington Iverson, Ashley DeVries, Joseph Jensen, John Weaver and CSC teacher Peter Lohonyay (mid-photo) take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony along with Port of Toledo officials and local artists.

Community Services Consortium's (CSC) Lincoln County work crew cuts the ribbon on the completion of the Port of Toledo’s rehabilitation of the “Old Toledo Fire Hall” and grounds. The open space was developed into a beautiful sculpture garden displaying the work of local artists. As the work sells it will be replaced with new pieces. The ceremony held May 21st was also a celebration of the Port of Toledo’s 100th birthday.

At the end of the ceremony, each crew member thanked the people involved in his or her tenure as a crew member. All plan to use their training in the future.

John Weaver is hoping to work on the Port’s Boat House construction as part of the port development plan.

Ashley DeVries has plans to continue in the construction trade. “It runs in the family,” she said as she points to her father, who is all smiles at Ashley’s accomplishments as a CSC construction crew member.

Frank Aguilar will go into the new CSC welding training course based on local employer needs.

The locally focused welding training is a collaborative effort involving Workforce Investment Act funding from CSC and space from the Lincoln County School District. The training will supply each student with the skills needed for welding including forklift, OSHA, CPR, and first aid certification and a full set of tools for work.

CSC Lincoln County has remaining openings in the welding program for qualified youth (aged 18 to 21) call for further information (541) 265-8505.

Additional Opportunities at CSC:
There are remaining spaces for qualified youth ( age 16 and up) for natural resource crews in most CSC offices.
Contact:
Newport CSC: 120 NE Avery Street, Newport, OR 97365 (541)265-8505
Corvallis CSC: 545 SW 2nd St., Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333 (541) 752-1010
Lebanon CSC: 380 Market Street, Lebanon, OR 97355 (541) 451-1071

The Lebanon CSC office will also be recruiting Youths from Linn County (ages 16 – 24) for YouthBuild starting in late summer (541) 451-1071