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Senior
Corps Project Directors:
The
National Senior Corps Association
Board just concluded its four-dayinaugural
meeting in Washington, DC.
NSCA
is a unified membership
association that works on behalf
of its FGP, RSVP and SCP members
across the country. Board members
traveled from NY, OR, CO, OK, KS,
TX, VT, NH, MN, UT, AR, NE, OH, WV
and MI. Board members
delivered NSCA information packets
to all 535 Members of
Congress. While in DC,
board members personally met
with key members of Congress,
their staff members, as well as
CNCS staff. Response from
legislators was overwhelmingly
positive to NSCA's mission of
working together and bringing a
unified message to Congress. They
applauded our membership's efforts
to speak with one voice and look
forward to working with us! Our
board meetings focused
on three burning issues -- 1)
reauthorization of the
National Senior Service Corps, 2)
assuring our programs are
adequately funded for fiscal
year 2008as well as looking
forward to 2009, and 3) the
development of NSCA's strategic
plan. This email will provide
a brief overview; NSCA members
will receive full meeting minutes
at a later date.
1)
Reauthorization:
a.k.a.
The GIVE Act
(HR2857)
One message
that NSCA Board members carried
to Capitol Hill was that we hope
the GIVE Act will come to a full
vote during this session of
Congress. It
contains numerous
provisions intended to give
the National Senior Service
Corps a "face-lift"
since its creation four
decades ago. NSCA has been
instrumental in proposing and/or
supporting changes such as
lowering the entry level age to
55 for FGP and SCP;
re-defining stipend
eligibility to 200% of poverty
level; allowing Senior Corps
projects to accept donations and
lastly, permitting FGP and SCP
the option of utilizing up
to 15% of their budgeted stipend
positions for over-income
volunteers. Despite all of these
promising elements,
one aspect of the GIVE
Act remains unacceptable -- the
proposed requirement for RSVP
projects to undergo
re-competition every three
years. Until the President
signs it into law, NSCA will
make every attempt to prevent
re-competition from being
included in the bill. The NSCA
board unanimously approved
an amendment to protect
RSVP projects from this invasive
measure and is working with
members of Congress in
hopes of getting it added
to the bill. The amendment
reads:
"RSVP
programs that consistently meet
or exceed CNCS compliance
standards will not be subject to
re-competition."
2)
CALL TO ACTION:Fiscal Year
2008 Funding in Peril Again
We
would prefer to inform you that
Senior Corps programs are safely out
of the woods when it comes
to 2008 funding. Unfortunately
we cannot. During our Capitol Hill
visits, congressional staff confided
ominous news. Congress plans to trim
$21 Billion dollars from the 2008
Appropriations bill before it is
passed. All programs are vulnerable
to reduction. NSCA is acting
quickly. We have until October 15 to
deluge Congress with telephone
calls. Effective immediately
we ask all project staff to
urge volunteers, service recipients,
advisory council members, sponsor
representatives and other supporters
to call their Senators and US
Representative. The message is plain
and simple: "DO NOT ALLOW
FUNDING CUTS TO FOSTER GRANDPARENT,
RSVP & SENIOR COMPANION
PROGRAMS."
3)
History in the Making--NSCA's First
Strategic Plan
Just
four months old, NSCA is now
undergoing the process of molding an
organization all project directors
will want to join. With generous
sponsorship from AT & T and the
support of our first-year members,
NSCA will be implementing a
Five-Year Strategic Plan. The plan
is designed to make NSCA a highly
respected and widely recognized
organization in the national service
community -- one that achieves
results for its members.
NSCA's tagline, "Stronger,
Together" is not
just a catchy phrase. In reality is
is what NSCA proudly stands
for: FGP, RSVP and SCP working
in strategic cooperation to promote
and protect the interests of all
three programs. Join those from
across the nation who have
become NSCA members. Print a
membership form from our website, www.nscatogether.org
and mail your dues this week!
Even if you belong to another Senior
Corps association, NSCA graciously
welcomes your involvement and
membership.
Yours
in National Service,
The
NSCA Board of Directors
Congratulations
to all of you!
Congratulations, NSCA!
Unquestionably, we are stronger
together!
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