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Volume 3, Issue 7

October 2012

3 cities, 2 Red Cross shelters, and more than 200 clients — Oak 3 (North Central

Region) has helped Louisiana recover from Hurricane Isaac and transition from

disaster over the past 3 weeks.

285 Corps Member uniforms being issued at the Southwest Region campus on Day 1.

They look good in gray!

Jenna and Maggie, NCCC alums, visiting the Atlantic Region

campus.

Team Leaders from the Pacific Region take time out for a unit

photo during chainsaw training.

The Southern Region’s Summit 4 having a little fun before heading off to FEMA

training.

All About NCCC

E S CA PE T HE OR DI NARY

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-

based residential program for men and

women ages 18-24. NCCC members are

assigned to one of five campuses and

organized into teams of 10-12 members.

Campuses are located in Perry Point, MD;

Vinton, IA; Denver, CO; Vicksburg, MS; and

Sacramento, CA. NCCC teams serve

approximately 4-6 projects throughout their

ten months of service. NCCC serves every

state, responding to pressing local needs that

are identified by organizations in the

community. Projects are focused on the

following five categories – Natural and

Other Disasters, Infrastructure Improvement,

Environmental Stewardship and

Conservation, Energy Conservation, and

Urban and Rural Development. 100 percent

of members are certified in CPR, first aid,

and disaster response; approximately 9% are

firefighter trained by the National Park and

U.S. Forest Services. NCCC teams also

support local disaster relief organizations to

help communities prepare for, respond to,

and recover from natural or man-made

disasters. Since September 2005, NCCC

members from all campuses have served

more than 9.6 million hours on 5,035

projects.

Inside this issue:

Benefits of Service 1

An Alumni Perspective 2

Where Are We Now? 3

Getting Things Done: Catching up with Cedar 6 4

Leave Your Mark: A Corps Member Spotlight 6

The Application Process 7

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 1

AmeriCorps NCCC: Benefits of Service

Uniform—includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, BDU pants,

shorts, steel-toed boots, fleece vest, coveralls and more

Housing—campus residences are co-ed floors with same

gender roommates; spike housing is provided by the

project sponsor

Health Care—limited coverage includes payment for

most medical and surgical costs, hospitalization,

prescription drugs, and certain emergency dental, vision,

and maternity care. However, these benefits may be

affected by restrictions on payment for pre-existing

conditions as well as other exclusions.

Child Care—up to $400 per month may be available for

a custodial parent of a minor child

Personal Days—Corps Members are entitled to 3 paid

personal days off from service, as well as 2 paid Life

After AmeriCorps days (subject to approval).

Transportation—NCCC will cover the cost of a Corps

Member’s travel to a campus at the start of a

service year and back home at the end of a service year.

Living Allowance—approximately $4,000 per year (or

$200 every two weeks) before taxes

Training/Skills—CPR/First Aid and Disaster Relief

certification training from the Red Cross, leadership

skills, conflict management, team-building and lots more

Education Award—Once a Corps Member has

completed 1700 hours of service and successfully

completed the program, they are eligible for the

Education Award. Currently, the award is $5,550.

Loan Forbearance—If Corps Members have Federal

Education loans (Perkins, Stafford, or Direct Loans) they

may be placed in forbearance. Once a Member earns an

Ed. Award, NCCC will pay the interest accrued on these

loans while the Member was in service.

College Credit—We currently offer, through the

American Council of Education, undergraduate credit for

the following three-credit-hour courses: Introduction to

Service Learning and Diversity in Service (available to

both Team Leaders and Corps Members); and

Supervisory Skills (available only to Team Leaders).

Certification from American Humanics in Non -

Profit Employment and Management—NCCC alumni

may enroll in this online program offered by the

University of Montana and LSU-Shreveport.

Congratulations to our inaugural

FEMA Corps members from the North

Central and Southern Regions on their

successful induction into AmeriCorps

NCCC FEMA Corps.

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 2

An Alumni Perspective

How many teammates did you have as

a Corps Member? As a Team Leader?

How many do you still keep in contact

with?

Lucky 13 on both teams. Thanks to the

wonders of modern communication, I

can tell you where almost each one of

them is right now.

What was your favorite project from

your Corps Member year? Team

Leader year?

Rebuilding basements that had been

damaged in the Red River flood of 1997

alongside volunteer old-timers who

taught me enough about carpentry that I

was able to use those skills later to build

my own home. And working in Point

Reyes National Seashore, a peninsula

north of San Francisco, the most

picturesque place I’ve ever pulled non-

native vegetation.

What were your most

interesting/challenging

accommodations?

In no particular order: a homeless

shelter, a naval barracks, an attic, a

closed-for-business hotel, a haunted

boathouse, a monastery and plenty of

bunk beds.

What are your fondest overall

memories?

The spontaneous fun you can have with

12 friends in tow.

What was something you did for the

first time?

I wore a uniform for the first time.

What was the most outrageous thing

that you did?

We probably shouldn’t print that.

What was the most challenging part of

your ten months of service? How did

you overcome these challenges?

There will inevitably be a project you

don’t believe in. For me, it was

removing non-native vegetation.

You remember that you are lucky

to be outside. You find ways to

make the days fun anyway. 80s

rock ballads help.

Why do you think national

service is important?

Because it reminds us that we are

not entitled to anything. And

because teaching, building and

lending a hand is a very

productive use of your precious

time.

How has your NCCC experience

affected your life?

It gave me a vast array of experiences

and exposure to jobs, people, cultures,

places, and more. I learned what I

wanted to do, and also what I didn’t want

to do. And I made some of my best

friends for life.

What are some skills that you took

away from NCCC that you still utilize

today?

Spackling. Parallel parking large

vehicles. Knowing the difference

between a Pulaski and a McLeod. There

are too many to mention, really.

As you may know, our new NCCC

FEMA Corps program just started at

our Iowa and Mississippi campuses.

What are your thoughts on this

exciting, new venture for NCCC?

I found helping people and cities to

clean up and rebuild is very rewarding

work, particularly because it takes such

a coordinated effort – there’s solidarity

in that.

And finally, do you have any advice

for prospective Corps Members?

Do it. Get things done for America.

When it’s over, you won’t regret a single

day that you spent as an AmeriCorps

volunteer and you’ll look back on even

the hardest times fondly.

Erin Vanderberg served as a Corps

Member on Water 6 (aka - The Roots!) in

Class IV at the Southwest Region campus

in Denver. A few years later, Erin

returned as the Team Leader for Green 6

(aka - The Fatdog Kornfield Blues Band)

in Class VII at the Western Region

campus in San Diego (now closed).

Today, Erin is a legislative researcher at

the State of Colorado and the editor for

her neighborhood newspaper. I spoke

with Erin about her time in NCCC and the

experiences that she fondly remembers.

Class IV: The Roots at Red Rocks

Erin (on the right) with her NCCC team in Point Reyes.

LIKE us on Facebook and

connect with currently

serving members and alums.

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 3

Where Are We Now?

Atlantic Region Perry Point, MD

North Central Region Vinton, IA

Pacific Region Sacramento, CA

Southern Region Vicksburg, MS

Southwest Region Denver, CO

Click these links to visit each

campuses’ Facebook page.

Note: You will have to be

logged in to access each page.

Marion, MA - The Atlantic Region’s Raven 1 is currently working with the Marion Institute. They are assembling volunteer

packets, setting up exhibits, overseeing event registration, engaging youth volunteers, gardening, educating community

about Green Jobs, and urban and rural gardening to support Marion's efforts to create amore eco-Friendly society.

Key West, FL - Delta 10, representing the Southern Region is currently working with Habitat for Humanity of Key West and

the Lower Florida Keys. They are leading volunteers in painting, cleaning yard debris and planting trees.

Milwaukee, WI - The North Central Region’s Oak 7 is currently working with River Revitalization Foundation (RRF). The

team is providing trail maintenance along the Milwaukee corridor watershed and participating in outdoor education activities

with urban youth.

Jackson, MS - The Southern Region’s River 7 is currently working with The Jackson Zoo. The team is removing and replacing

bamboo skirting along perimeter fencing, installing landscaping, removing debris, constructing decks and stages and

assisting with event set-up and implementation.

*************************************************************************************

NOTE: Several AmeriCorps NCCC teams from the Atlantic & Southern Region and FEMA Corps teams from the North

Central and Southern regions are currently on disaster deployments responding to communities affected by

Hurricane Sandy.

Find out how you can help in response to Hurricane Sandy:

http://www.serve.gov/stories_detail.asp?tbl_servestories_id=950

*************************************************************************************

NOTE: No projects are listed for the Pacific or the Southwest Region as members are currently in training. They will

deploy on their first round projects in mid-November.

Want to Serve for a Day? Serve with a current team of NCCC members at a project in your area!

Contact ANCCC@cns.gov for more information.

**Please note, we may be unable to accommodate all “Serve for a Day” requests due to sponsor restrictions.**

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 4

Getting Things Done: Catching Up With Cedar 6

“For our third round we worked in Henryville, IN. Our task was to

work with Habitat for Humanity of Indiana prepping for a 10-home

blitz build that would take place during the second week in October.

We spent time enclosing a warehouse space so the supplies for the

build would be secured as well as assembling the walls for 2 homes

and all 10 garages. We built numerous shelving units to make the

storing of supplies easy and organized. We lived in New Albany,

Indiana in the basement of the Jacobs Chapel United Methodist

Church. Whether exploring around New Albany or working in

Henryville, the people we met were very warm and inviting. The team

learned many valuable construction skills and came together as a

team - we had a great round.” - Courtney Miskell, Cedar 6

I spoke with Team Leader, Courtney Miskell and Corps Members,

Nick Rossmiller and Jason Flemke about their 3rd round experiences

and more.

What were your team’s thoughts as

you arrived at your spike location for

your 3rd round project?

Courtney Miskell: One of the things

that I love about my team is their

consistent positive attitude. Everyone

was thrilled to be helping with a blitz

build and ready to show Habitat what we

were made of. There was a little bit of

uncertainty going into the round. Not

many of us had seen a town completely

devastated by a tornado, but once we

arrived, we were inspired to start

working that much more.

Nick Rossmiller: The team was anxious

upon arriving in Henryville, IN primarily

because the project was our first

experience with a disaster and relief

efforts. We were motivated to help the

ongoing relief with Habitat for

Humanity, to assist with the construction

of homes, to aid of the families displaced

by the tornado and as a team, we

believed the project was going to

benefit the Henryville community and

recoup the damages of the tornado.

Jason Flemke: As we arrived to

Henryville, Indiana the team was in awe.

We were amazed at all the damage

there was from the tornadoes that

devastated the town earlier that year.

We saw that most of the town was

affected from the tornadoes. Homes

were damaged, a gas station was

leveled and worst of all, the school was

destroyed.

What has been the most surprising

moment of your project thus far?

CM: The dedication of our site

supervisors, France and Bill Moriarty

and Bill Oates, really amazed me. They

have given their life to serving with

Habitat and do so much for communities

affected by disaster. They travel around

the country in their RVs and set up blitz

build after blitz build. They were

extremely knowledgeable and shared

all they knew with the team.

NR: The most surprising moment

involved the daily interactions with the

townspeople of Henryville, who were

thankful for the continuous

support from volunteers and

expressed their gratitude

through hosting meals and

events that made the team feel

welcomed to a part of the

country we had never imagined

we would have the chance to

visit.

JF: What surprised me most

about the project was the

kindness of everyone that we

met. Everyone was always

giving. After what had happened in the

community, it was amazing to see how

willing they were to lend a hand to

others who needed help. Every day we

went to the Volunteer Recovery Center

for lunch. Everyone was always happy

and in good spirits.

What has been the most trying

moment?

CM: The heat definitely was the biggest

struggle of the round. Fifteen minutes

after arriving at work, our shirts were

soaked through with sweat. We had to

start work earlier so we could avoid the

hottest parts of the day.

NR: The most trying moment came

when the team was battling hundred

degree temperatures at a volunteer

building event assisting with the

construction of wall frames. The success

of the event proved that the chaos of

hundreds of volunteers with hammers

and the extreme summer heat couldn’t

produce a more memorable, if daunting

experience.

JF: The hardest moment of 3rd round

was working in the heat. Almost every

day of the round, we were working in

90-degree heat. There was one week in

August when almost every day the

temperatures reached over 100

degrees. It was exhausting working in

the hot conditions doing physical labor

every day, but we got through it.

Continued on Page 5

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 5

What was the most rewarding or

memorable moment?

CM: Even though we weren’t in Indiana

for the build we knew that all the hard

work we put in would benefit 10 families

who were displaced from their homes

by the tornado. Walking away from the

warehouse on the last day was

extremely rewarding; we had left our

mark in Henryville.

NR: The most rewarding experience

included: seeing the completion of our

construction goals and preparations for

the Building Blitz that took part after our

departure. Knowing that the team

persevered and contributed to the

rebuilding of the resilient Henryville

community meant the project was a

success and that the team was able to

take away from the experience the value

of positivity in the face of adversity

made the project an invaluable

experience.

JF: My most memorable moment of 3rd

round was having a celebration get

together with a community member we

met at the Volunteer Recovery Center.

We had the chance to go to her house

and swim in a pool and eat good food. It

was interesting talking with her about

her experiences the day the tornado

outbreak took place.

Your favorite project of the year?

Why?

CM: We had a wonderful first round

project in Madison, Wisconsin working

with the UW Arboretum. Our

supervisors were great and they knew

how to work with 18 to 24 year olds. For

team leaders, first round is pretty

difficult because you are still getting to

know your team and explaining all the

rules to them. The Arboretum was a

great environment for us to get to know

each other better as well as what is

expected on spike.

NR: The project working for the North

Country Trail in the Upper Peninsula of

Michigan building boardwalk and trail

stands out as the best service project of

the year. Our opportunity to do

environmental work establishing trails

that will last generations while working

outdoors in such a beautiful part of the

country has made the project and

service with the NCT the most

memorable.

JF: My favorite project of the year was

our first round project. Our first round

project was at the University of

Wisconsin Madison Arboretum. I

enjoyed that project the most because

we mainly worked outside. There was

also a variety of tasks so the

work never got mundane, and

luckily the weather cooperated

most of the time. Another great

thing about first round was how

nice the sponsor and our work

supervisors were. When we

first arrived they had a potluck

for us, and when we left they

had another gathering.

And finally, what is one piece

of advice you would give to

prospective Corps Members?

CM: My advice is to try

everything. You might be scared of

using power tools if you haven’t before,

but that’s one of the best parts of the

program. You get to learn so many new

and exciting skills. Enjoy every minute

of it because it goes by quickly. I know

that I will miss NCCC dearly when it’s

over.

NR: Future Corps Members would be

advised to prepare for the challenge of

a lifetime. One that is filled with

enjoyment and accomplishment as it is

the most trying days of physical and

emotional toll that will become the most

memorable at the culmination of

the service year.

JF: A piece of advice I have is to

always enjoy what you are

doing. Try to have fun no matter

what the conditions are. If you

live in the moment, take it one

day at a time, and not worry

about anything else, you’ll have

a fantastic time!

JOIN US!!!

What: AmeriCorps NCCC North

Central Region Class 18 Graduation

When: Wednesday, November 14 at

6:30 pm; meet and greet from 5:15-

6:15 pm and a reception following the

ceremony

Where: Vinton-Shellsburg High

School auditorium located at 210 West

21st Street, Vinton, Iowa 52349

Contact: RSVP by November 9 to

Krista Eichhorst at 202-409-4928 or

keichhorst@cns.gov

Where Are They Now?

Cedar 6 is currently working

with Hiawatha Shore to Shore in

Rudyard, Michigan. The team is

providing support to staff in

expanding recreational trails

which include, restoration and

rerouting.

V OLU ME 3 , IS SU E 7 Page 6

Leave Your Mark: A FEMA Corps Member Spotlight

My name is Maya Jordan of Hickory Seven. I am 23

years old from Hampton, VA. I am a 2011 Public

Relations graduate from Virginia Commonwealth

University. As an NCCC FEMA Corps member, I

serve two roles. First, I am a media representative,

building awareness of the journey my team and I are

currently experiencing. Secondly, my FEMA role is

as an Individual Assistance Applicant Services

Program Specialist Trainee where it is my duty to

ensure needs and wants are met for qualified

disaster survivors. In my spare time I enjoy reading,

writing poetry and jet-setting across the world.

How did you first learn about AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA

Corps?

I first learned about the inaugural AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA

Corps program while on the AmeriCorps.gov website, last

fall while applying for the traditional program. I then decided

that the FEMA Corps would best fit me because it was new,

exciting and would help me develop leadership skills

personally and professionally.

Why did you choose to apply?

After a short stint in corporate America, I realized that I

wanted to not have wallet size dreams, but be apart of a

bigger picture other than myself. Overall, I wanted to simply

pay it forward to the world.

What has been one of your favorite memories thus far?

My favorite memory was when my team, Hickory 7 headed to

Montour, IA for our 9/11 Remembrance & Community service

project. My team and I laid 3,000 pounds of mulch for Pilgrim

Heights Camp & Retreat Center.

Tell us about something that you’ve done for the first time

since starting.

While on our 9/11 Remembrance & Community service

project, at Pilgrim Heights I had the privilege of canoeing for

the first time with my team as a part of PT.

What has been the most challenging part of your term of

service thus far? How have you worked to overcome that

challenge?

The most challenging part of my term thus far has been

accepting the unknown. As a member of an inaugural

program, there are many changes being made every

second of every minute, every minute of every hour,

day in and day out. Each day truly gets better, and I

have learned to embrace change, because it is one of

the only things that is constant in life.

Your term of service just started a few weeks ago. What

are some of your goals as you progress through the year?

Some of my goals as I progress throughout the year include:

-To continue to keep a positive “can-do” attitude

-Make someone smile

-To keep a smile on my face no matter how frustrated I may

be

-Stay open to change

-Successfully complete any task given to me

- To continue to believe not in just my knowledge, skills and

abilities but also in my teammates

-Travel to states I’ve never been to

And lastly, please share any advice that you might have

for prospective Corps Members who are interested in

FEMA Corps.

-Be positive

-Keep an open-mind

-Be confident

-Challenge yourself

-Have fun

-Don’t be afraid of the unknown

Woodrow Wilson said it best, “You are not here merely to

make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live

more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and

achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you

impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

Maya (center) helping two of her teammates carry a fallen tree limb.

Maya (upper left) with her team,

Hickory 7.

1201 New York Ave

Washington, DC 20525

Phone: 800-942-2677

E-mail: ANCCC@cns.gov

Follow NCCC Online:

We’re on the Web

www.americorps.gov/nccc

What does my NCCC status mean?

You’ve heard about the amazing things that AmeriCorps

NCCC members do and now you’re ready to be a part of this

great program. You apply but then you ask, “What does

Assessment Complete mean”? Well, we’re going to break

down those statuses right here.

How does placement work in

NCCC?

NCCC employs a “rolling

admissions” process, similar to many

colleges. We have a few rounds of

placements during the application

period and additional rounds of

placements once our application

period closes. We continue to offer

positions as they become available,

including up to the day before a

campus opens.

All selections and placements are

random. We have far more

qualified applicants than positions

available, and unfortunately cannot

guarantee a position to all qualified

applicants.

Using your smartphone,

scan this code for more

information about

NCCC.