7/9/98
Attention editors: For the best photo opportunities of conference participants, contact University News Services by July 15 for details on community service clean-up projects set for July 16 in the Athens area.
ATHENS, Ohio -- More than 600 people from around Ohio will travel to Ohio University's Athens campus July 15-17 to take part in a conference for members of the state's AmeriCorps USA and VISTA service programs. This is the third time the university has hosted the annual meting, which is sponsored by the university and the Governor's Community Service Council.
The theme of the 1998 All Member Gathering is "Change Lives: Change Ohio," a philosophy that serves as a mission statement for these community service programs, said Lyn Krause, coordinator of Ohio University's AmeriCorps project, AppalCORPS.
There are two types of AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps USA and AmeriCorps*VISTA. In both programs, member receive a living allowance and an education grant, and the work focuses on four key areas: education, public safety, human services and the environment.
"We believe that community service is an activity that brings people together and builds individual and community citizenship," Krause said. "We are pleased that Ohio University was chosen to host this meeting. It is an opportunity for us to showcase the university and this beautiful part of Ohio."
During the meeting, many of the participants will volunteer their time for community service projects in Athens County. Projects will include refurbishing a playground in Buchtel, a town just outside Nelsonville, and helping Athens area residents clean up damage from recent floods.
A national model for member training, Ohio's third annual All Member Gathering offers participants workshops on 41 topics, including adult literacy, using arts to build communities, building community partnerships, conflict management, diversity training, grant writing, gang awareness, mobilizing youth in community service and volunteer management.
Opening ceremonies for the conference will begin at 7 p.m. July 15 on the South Green behind Nelson Commons. The keynote speaker will be Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service and former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. He will talk about plans by the House Appropriations Committee to cancel funding for AmeriCorps projects around the country.
"Federal funding currently is essential to our program," Krause said. "While it is matched by state, university and community resources, it is the basis for us to go out and get the matching money to run the programs that allow us to serve the communities of Ohio."
Now in its fourth year, AmeriCorps involves more than 30,000 participants in 400 programs across the nation. For the 1997-98 fiscal year, more than 1,000 AmeriCorps members are working in 67 Ohio programs. The broad range of AmeriCorps programs includes nonprofit organizations, city/state and private sector alliances, schools and universities, and interdenominational coalitions.
Often referred to as America's domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps involves thousands of Americans age 17 and older who perform services in urban and rural areas. In exchange for one or two years of service, AmeriCorps members receive educational awards that may be applied to education expenses encumbered prior to or after their service term.