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NSCA News
 
JUNE 2008
 
This is the monthly National Senior Corps Association update for all FGP, RSVP and SCP Directors, volunteers and friends.
In This Issue
Big Crowds Attend NSCA Events at National Conference
CNCS Presents New Senior Corps Marketing Materials
Child Protection Improvements Act Passes Important Milestone
Big Thanks to All Who Helped with the 2008 National Conference
Message from Fred: Conference Theme Says It All
You Are Invited to Join NSCA

Big Crowds Attend NSCA Events at National Conference  
 
"Packed to the gills," "standing room only," "filled to capacity," however you want to express it, the NSCA events at the national conference in Atlanta drew huge crowds. 
 
NSCA held its first annual meeting on June 1. Attended by members and non-members alike, our space in the Hilton's Grand Salon soon filled to capacity. We regret that it was "standing room only" for some of you. After board introductions, President Fred Lugo presented NSCA's strategic plan. Vice President Camellia Pisegna gave a chronology of NSCA's first-year accomlishments, which was followed by a videotaped message from NSCA Washington Consultant, Priscilla Chatman. The meeting came full circle during the Q & A wrap-up, emphasizing NSCA's equal representation for FGP, RSVP and SCP members as assured by board committee structure and our organizational bylaws.
 
Likewise, NSCA's hospitality reception was a roaring success! We stopped counting at 300 attendees and want to thank everyone who braved the elevator wait times, the line to the Ambassador Parlor and the too-warm room. Thank goodness the hotel hustled to deliver more food and beverages throughout the evening. What a celebration! We enjoyed meeting project directors, sponsors and others, answering your questions, handing out gifts and planning for a bright future as we move forward and grow "stronger together."
CNCS Presents New Senior Corps Marketing Materials
 
CNCS unveiled the new Senior Corps marketing materials at the 2008 National Senior Corps Conference. NSCA, along with NAFGPD and NARSVPD, provided feedback on the format of the brochure, layout and taglines.  A great feature of the new brochures is a pocket to insert local project information.
 
CNCS staff also developed:  
  • a video with segments on each of the three programs;
  • new operations handbooks for FGP, RSVP, and SCP;
  • new fact sheets that feature basic information about each of the three Senior Corps programs;
  • new tabletop and standing exhibits that are available for FGP, RSVP, and SCP;
  • new program posters for displaying in work spaces or for distributing to volunteers; and
  • new site signs for recruitment sessions and other events.

NSCA thanks those who provided feedback in the development of the brochure and taglines for FGP, RSVP and SCP.  We do hope that the brochure proves useful as you promote your program. 

We also hope that the other marketing materials developed by CNCS will help you in your outreach and resource development efforts. 
 
You can order your free materials by going to www.nationalservicepubs.org and entering the item number you want. 
Child Protection Improvements Act Passes Important Milestone
  
NSCA has been working with the National Mentoring Partnership (NMP) to secure effective and affordable background checks on behalf of Foster Grandparent Programs and RSVPs engaged in mentoring children. Last month, NSCA requested your letters of support to pass this important legislation. Thanks to all Senior Corps project directors who contacted their Senators and Representatives.
 
According to the NMP, the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2008 (S.2756) authored by Sens. Biden (D-DE), Hatch (R-UT) and Specter (R-PA). If adopted, the legislation would expand and make permanent a national child safety protection program established by the 2003 PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21). The pilot program - SafetyNET <http://apps.mentoring.org/safetynet/index.adp> - was created by MENTOR in partnership with the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the National Council on Youth Sports and served as the model for this permanent system that would be available to all youth-serving organizations.

"Millions of people volunteer to work with our nation's youth every year," said Sen. Biden. "These individuals are the lifeblood of youth serving organizations. The vast majority of them have the best interests of our children at heart, but we've got to do everything we can to keep away those who prey on our kids."

Since SafetyNET pilot program was created, over 40,000 background checks have been performed. Of these volunteer applicants, 6.1 percent were found to have criminal backgrounds that rendered them potentially unfit to work with children, including sexual crimes against youth. Nearly 40 percent had moved across state lines with the hope of leaving their records of conviction behind and once again having unfettered access to children. The program is set to expire on July 30, 2008.

If passed into law, the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2008 would institutionalize measures that prevent predators from gaining access to children. Specifically, it would: 

  • Make the SafetyNET pilot program permanent;
  • Create an Applicant Processing Center (APC) to assist youth-serving organizations with the administrative tasks related to accessing the system, including the collection of fingerprints and working with the FBI on fees;
  • Establish the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as a "criminal history resource center" to assist youth-serving organizations on how to interpret criminal history records;
  • Authorize a fee of no more than $25 to pay for the FBI for the background check and to offset the expenses incurred by the new Applicant Processing Center; and
  • Include privacy protections as recommended by the Department of Justice to ensure that criminal histories and related records are used and disposed of appropriately.
 
The legislation was endorsed and continues to receive energetic support from the following organizations on behalf of the thousands of organizations across this country: Afterschool Alliance, American Camp Association, America's Promise Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, Communities In Schools, Inc., First Focus, GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, National Collaboration for Youth, YMCA of the USA, and the National Senior Corps Association.

If you haven't already done so, please contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor this important legislation. Please use this easy-to-send letter to contact your members of Congress: http://capwiz.com/mentor/issues/alert/?alertid=11146581. Please encourage others that support your program, including staff, board members, parents, mentors, to do the same.
 
Big Thanks to All Who Helped with the 2008 National Conference 
 
NSCA extends a big thanks to those who helped make the the 2008 National Conference a huge success - the Sounding Board members, Corporation staff, and countless volunteers.  A huge thanks is also extended to those who provided the incredible gift baskets as door prizes, and those from the Southern Cluster who showed us what Southern hospitality is all about. 
 
 
 
Atlanta Logo
 
  
I couldn't help but notice all the conference banners, signs, and materials that were emblazoned with the conference theme, "The Urgency of Now." Corporation staff, conference planners, guest speakers all spoke about the importance and timeliness of this year's theme - a theme that was born over four decades ago when Martin Luther King gave his I Have a Dream speech.  The 2008 National Conference on Volunteering and Service theme, "The Urgency of Now," really does say it all.   The theme kept reminding me that to strengthen every Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion program, I need to transform my passion and energy into immediate action.  Why?  Because the President's proposed $40 million cut to the Foster Grandparent Program would be devastating to low-income volunteers and children served.  Why?  Because an expansion of senior service is essential to address the critical needs that our communities face.  Why?  Because sustaining current levels of service is difficult without an increase in support.  Why?  Because new reauthorization language for Senior Corps programs is needed.  Why?  Because the National Senior Corps Association's 2009 Congressional Budget Request would restore funding lost from this year's 1.747% recission and would provide an administrative adjustment for FGP, RSVP, and SCP.
 
So, what can I do?  I can start by recognizing that even though I'm only one person, my voice can make a difference.  Secondly, I can talk to my federal legislators about the impact that my program's volunteers are having.  Thirdly, I can talk to my federal legislators about the fact that the Senior Corps family - FGP, RSVP, and SCP programs and volunteers - are critical assets to communities across the nation.  Fourth, I can take action now!
 
Right now, I have an incredible opportunity to talk my federal legislators here at home as part of the Senior Corps Congressional Education Campaign that NSCA launched at the end of March.  I believe that the future of Senior Corps programs depends on our ability to educate members of Congress about the impact that Senior Corps programs are having across our nation. There is an urgency of now.  I invite you to join me in talking to our U.S. Representative(s) and Senators about Senior Corps.  Visit the Congressional Education section of the NSCA website at www.NSCAtogether.org for all the documents and print materials that you will need.  We are stronger together.  
 
-Fred  

 

 

You Are Invited to Join NSCA 
The 2008 NSCA Membership Campaign officially got underway in April when we sent you an e-invitation to join.  The 2008-2009 membership year runs from July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009.  
 
If you are a current member, we hope that we've met your expectations for professionalism, being respectful, maintaining open and honest communication, keeping you informed, being responsive to your concerns, and presenting a strong and united voice before members of Congress and within CNCS.  
 
If you are already a member, click here to renew now!  
 
If you aren't a member yet, we hope that you've been paying very close attention to what we've done and how we've been working to promote and protect funding for FGPs, RSVPs, and SCPs across the nation.    
 
If you aren't a member and want to become part of this dynamic association, click here to join!  
 
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Fred Lugo, President, Texas (RSVP); Camellia Pisegna, Vice-President, Michigan (SCP/FGP); Jody Steinhardt, Secretary, New York (SCP); Normalyn Powers, Treasurer, Massachusettes (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); Ann Hammond, California (RSVP); Nancy Hess, New Jersey (RSVP); Jackie Johnson, Minnesota (FGP); Angela Kocher, West Virginia (RSVP); Janice Laws,Oklahoma (FGP); Anne Marie Mann, Ohio (RSVP/FGP/SCP); Jolene Niernberger, Kansas (FGP/SCP); Jose Perez, Texas (SCP);  John Pribyl, Minnesota (FGP/SCP);  Dolores Schwertner, Texas (RSVP);  Sherry Shively, Arkansas (SCP); Diana Slais, California (FGP/SCP); Debra Smith, Arizona (At Large)

This NSCA newsletter is brought to you by the 2008-2010 National Senior Corps Association Board of Directors.
 
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