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News
Alerts - Information
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NSCA e-News
Special Edition
November 2008
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As Thanksgiving approaches, many Project Directors are expressing thanks for the work of the National Senior Corps Association (NSCA) Board of Directors. This special edition of the NSCA e-News recognizes the work of your colleagues on the NSCA Board who are committed to and are working hard to promote and protect the interests of Foster Grandparent Programs, RSVPs, and Senior Companion Programs nationwide. Likewise, the Board acknowledges and extends our thanks to every NSCA member. Without your membership, support, and advocacy the Board's work would truly be ineffectual.
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Distinguishing Between the 3 National Associations and Their Work
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Some Senior Corps project directors have indicated confusion regarding the three national associations. What distinguishes NSCA and its work from NAFGPD and NARSVPD?
- NAFGPD states they are the "only association whose sole focus is geared toward the success of Foster Grandparent Programs nationwide."
- NARSVPD states they are the "only organization that is truly committed to what we do." NARSVPD provides visibility and advocacy for RSVP.
- NSCA embraces FGPs, RSVPs, and SCPs within one association to foster the interests of Senior Corps programs. Each Senior Corps program has specific issues and unique challenges that are addressed through program-specific committees and acted upon from a unified front. NSCA promotes, advocates for, markets, and enhances the power of the national Senior Corps programs. NSCA believes that the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and Senior Companion Program are STRONGER TOGETHER.
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Better Together |
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President-elect Obama announced in an election night address, "So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other" - better together.
These cries for unity rang throughout the longest presidential campaign in American history, and both candidates displayed a strong commitment to the power and purpose of national service and gave focus to the inclusion older persons in these agendas. The President-elect's platform supports senior volunteerism and engaging retiring Americans in service on a large scale, including an expansion of Senior Corps.
There is more good news. American altruism is on the rise as the some 65 million baby boomers begin to think about what's next. Most are not thinking about full-time leisure, but planning to volunteer and work in meaningful ways. They are thinking about their legacy and the problems their children will inherit, and they present Senior Corps programs with a tremendous opportunity.
The landscape of national service is under scrutiny and review, including exciting proposed expansion. Yet, as Senior Corps programs, we are often challenged to define our unity and fully tap our opportunities, leaving Senior Corps Program Directors fearing that we may be forced to watch as bystanders, invisible in the national dialogue on change.
The National Senior Corps Association (NSCA), founded in 2007, ensures that your decades of experience and wisdom are acknowledged and, more importantly, fully utilized as a resource for greater national visibility and increased funding opportunities. With unprecedented shift in national service on the horizon, Senior Corps programs can no longer rely on the notion that separate representation for each program will be adequate to obtain large-scale recognition. Only NSCA ensures that Senior Corps has a resounding, more powerful and united voice in the national dialogue. By meeting monthly via conference call, our Program Committees acknowledge the distinct needs of and work on behalf of each of your programs - FGP, RSVP and SCP. NSCA continues to tackle our challenges, tap our opportunities, and celebrate our successes. We are better and stronger together. These times demand nothing less.
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Extended Membership Offer |
Due to a generous award announced this week by Humana, Inc., new members can join NSCA for $100 for the next 18 months (through June 2010)! In other words, the first six months of your membership will be picked up by Humana! To join NSCA, the united voice on service and volunteerism, click here.
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FGP Committee's Recent Achievements Through NSCA |
- Successfully advocated against the $40,825,000 cut recommended for FGP in the President's Budget. Congress instead restored the full amount, bringing the program back up to the current FY08 funding levels.
- Program-specific best practices developed for national conference and for ongoing posting on website.
- Emails sent to current NSCA FGP members prior to Washington NSCA Board meeting to obtain input.
- Developed statement on "Over-Income Volunteers" and "Volunteer Leaders."
- Analyzed survey results to determine what the projects are telling us, and how to use this as a tool that helps to move us forward.
- Worked with National Mentoring Partnership to obtain grant funds for FGP volunteers matched with children of prisoners.
- Worked in collaboration with the National Mentoring Partnership (NMP) and RSVP Committee to improve the criminal background check system (Child Protection Improvement Act) with affordable and timely fingerprint scans increasing safety for children.
- Research on FGP cost-saving measures paper developed for Members of Congress.
Researched and advocated for FGP-specific issues in Reauthorization bill.
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RSVP Committee's Recent Achievements Through NSCA |
- Researched and advocated for RSVP-specific issues in Reauthorization bill.
- Examined survey results/extrapolations to determine how best to use findings to support/benefit Project Directors.
- Emails sent to current NSCA RSVP members prior to Washington NSCA Board meeting to obtain input.
- Advocacy in support of Child Protection Improvement Act to provide low-cost fingerprinting for RSVP volunteers matched with children.
- Advocacy for Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 ("GIVE Act") addressing the adverse impacts on volunteers of high gas prices and discriminatory tax policy toward nonprofits.
- Worked with National Mentoring Partnership to obtain grant funds for RSVP volunteers matched with children of prisoners.
- Research on RSVP cost-saving measures paper developed for members of Congress.
- Contacted RSVP program non-members regarding membership and benefits of NSCA.
- Collaborated with SCP Committee on development of Independent Living Curriculum.
- Shared ideas/networked with FGP/SCP regarding contact with Project Directors and best practices for national conference.
- Worked in collaboration with the National Mentoring Partnership (NMP) and FGP Committee to improve the criminal background check system (Child Protection Improvement Act) with affordable and timely fingerprint scans increasing safety for children.
- Joined FGP Committee in opposing FGP funding cut.
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SCP Committee's Recent Achievements Through NSCA |
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Happy Thanksgiving,
The National Senior Corps Association Board of Directors
Fred Lugo, President, Texas (RSVP); Camellia Pisegna, Vice-President, Michigan (SCP/FGP); Sherry Shively, Secretary, Arkansas (SCP); Normalyn Powers, Treasurer, Massachusetts (RSVP); Dwight Rasmussen, Immediate Past-President, Utah (FGP/SCP); Katy Allen, New York (FGP/SCP); Suzette Boydston, Oregon (SCP); Cheryl Christmas, Washington D.C. (FGP); Sue Conner, New Hampshire (At Large); Nancy Hess, New Jersey (RSVP); Jackie Johnson, Minnesota (FGP); Evelyn Jordan, Florida (FGP); Angela Kocher, West Virginia (RSVP); Anne Marie Mann, Ohio (RSVP/FGP/SCP); Megan McCarthy, California(RSVP); Jolene Niernberger, Kansas (FGP/SCP); Jose Perez, Texas (SCP); Dolores Schwertner, Texas (RSVP); Diana Slais, California (FGP/SCP); Debra Smith, Arizona (At Large)
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