To all FGP, RSVP and SCP Project Directors, Staff and Supporters,   Welcome new NSCA members! We wholeheartedly welcome our many new and continuing members -- over 400 and growing! Project Directors and supporters from all three Senior Corps programs have responded to NSCA's 2007 membership campaign and more applications are arriving daily. If your postal carrier has not delivered your personal membership packet by now, please request one by email:  Jacque.pipe@stmarygj.org.     Thanks to everyone who visited the NSCA Booth in Philadelphia! Special thanks to our corporate partner AT&T, for booth sponsorship, a variety of fun promotional items and free phone cards. We enjoyed meeting Senior Corps project directors from across the country along with representatives and interested partners from a broad spectrum of service organizations.   NSCA Meets in Washington September 29 - October 3 As the National Senior Corps Association prepares for the bi-annual meeting in Washington at the end of September, we would like to hear from our members! If you would like an issue to be added to the agenda for discussion, please send topics to info@nscatogether.org. Please note that we will not be able to respond personally to each e-mail but be assured that the concerns of NSCA members will be addressed at the meeting. Board meeting minutes are emailed to NSCA members only, 1-2 months after the Board meets.   2008 Appropriations  As you know from our previous monthly updates, the Appropriations Committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate have restored funding for Senior Corps programs approving funding at 2007 levels.  As was also explained, there are several other steps in the Appropriations process. The full House and the Senate must vote on the Appropriation bills and that will probably happen in the fall or winter of this year.   As the NSCA Board prepares for our meeting in Washington September 29 - October 3, the Legislative Committee is working with Priscilla Chatman, our Washington representative, to develop the 2009 Senior Corps funding request to be delivered to legislators during Hill Visits scheduled for October 2. Requests will be for increases for all three Senior Corps Programs. Project Directors will receive the funding request document via e-mail; your personal contact with your respective legislators will be THE CRITICAL PIECE in obtaining increased funding for Senior Corps programs in 2009. Watch for more info in the comingmonths.   Reauthorization ~ "Generations Invigorating Volunteering and Education (GIVE) Act"  (H.R. 2857)   NSCA continues to work toward passage of this important bill which contains many elements that will enhance and strengthen Senior Corps programs.   NSCA continues to work closely with our Washington Representative and Voices for National Service to determine priority modifications to improve the bill. NSCA is singelhandedly responsible for the amendment offered by Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) to allow Senior Corps programs to accept donations in addition to a provision to allow FGP and SCP the option to include 15% over-income volunteers.    We remain strongly opposed to the language in the bill regarding re-competition for RSVP. Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) offered the amendment, that was accepted and became a part of the bill, that stated currently funded RSVP programs would get "priority" during the re-competiton. Acceptance of the amendment was contingent upon clarification of the term "priority". One attempt at clarification was proposed but was not accepted by the Committee. The bill had been moving very quickly; in June the Committee indicated the bill would come up for a vote in July before the August congressional recess.  However, many programs and associations, such as our NSCA, wanted more time to negotiate improvements in the bill.  In particular the various youth service programs had substantial objections to the bill and wanted to pause for a fuller discussion of these issues.  Congress will return from recess next week and indications are that the House will bring the bill up for a vote. We'll let you know if any changes are made relevant to Senior Corps programs.    Congressional Recess We are compiling information now about which Project Directors were able to meet with their legislators during the August recess. As you will recall, NSCA provided detailed information on how to schedule a meeting or tour and talking with your legislators.   Now we need your help to following up on your visits! Please provide us with the following important information: 1) your name, 2) your program name and location 3) names of each legislator you were able to meet with, 4) the results of each meeting (i.e topics discusses, your legislators response). Priscilla will follow-up with personal visits to your legislators' Washington office. Please send your information to info@nscatogether.org. Thank you.     More Work on Your Behalf NSCA submitted 3 grant proposals to CNCS in July 2007 to provide additional services and technical support to programs.  Applications were submitted for development of a Medicaid Waiver handbook, development and implementation of a peer mentoring program for new Senior Corps directors and development of a Train-the-Trainer curriculum for RSVPs and SCPs volunteering  in independent living assignments.  Applications are currently under review and we hope to hear within the next few weeks. Board Openings! What you've read about NSCA is true. It's an organization based on unity, collaboration, negotiation and collegial professionalism. That means members are encouraged to get involved and take on leadership roles. NSCA's first Board election this Fall offers an exciting opportunity to serve on the national level. FGP, RSVP and SCP project directors who are NSCA professional members are qualified to run. Please visit www.nscatogether.org for more information on our board structure and board positions. To obtain more information about serving on the NSCA board, please email Dwight Rasmussen at drasmussen@slco.org. NSCA Website Be sure to visit our new website: www.nscatogether.org.  As always, we welcome questions, feedback, and most importantly, your membership.   A Special Word of Thanks! The NSCA Interim Board extends sincere thanks to our Washington Representative, Priscilla Chatman, for her extraordinary direction and representation in both the Appropriations and Reauthorization process. Priscilla's professional guidance and long history of advocacy have been invaluable in educating Congress about the benefits of working with a unified and strong organization representing all Senior Corps programs. We look forward to meeting her in person in Washington in a few weeks where she will participate in our upcoming Board meeting and Hill Visits.   For more information about Priscilla, please visit our website: www.nscatogether.org     Yours in National Service,