2008 Executive Directors Conference

We are having difficulty finding hotel availability on the dates planned for the 2008 ED conference (September 17th – 19th). We are looking at alternative dates within a close timeframe to the proposed dates. We are going back to hotels to investigate availability.

Administrative Grant Processing and Supplemental Awards

We are in the final stages of processing the complete installments of your Administrative grant awards. We anticipate this process concluding over the next two weeks. After the final allocations are awarded, we will begin processing supplemental Administrative grant awards (as well as supplemental Disability grant awards)l.

Disaster Services Protocol Issues work group meeting

The Disaster Services Protocol Issues working group had a productive meeting yesterday here at CNCS headquarters. Working group members in attendance were Alex Amparo, Florida Commission; Bill Basl, Washington Commission; Kitty Burcsu, Ohio Commission; Scott Ingram, Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona; Steve Niles, Training Resource Center; Marty O’Brien, The Corps Network. Jane Bullock and Justine Murray of Project TADS (Technical Assistance for Disaster Services) also participated. Susan Schechter of the Office of Leadership Development and Training facilitated.

The working group met with Colleen Clay and Cee Cee Molineaux of the Corporation’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and discussed many issues regarding application of national service resources to disaster services. The matrix of issues developed by the working group and introduced to you at the Executive Directors conference in December served as the basis for discussion. Colleen and Cee Cee updated the group on progress made in addressing some of the field’s most pressing concerns. In particular, they announced that an updated cooperative agreement process would be distributed to the field prior to the National Conference and that there would be time at the conference to address outstanding questions from the field.

The working group met with Lois Nembhard, Deputy Director for AmeriCorps National, and me to discuss AmeriCorps-specific policy issues. Lenny Teh, AmeriCorps program officer and CNCS Disaster Cadre member, participated. Peg Rosenberry, Director of the Office of Grants Management (OGM), and Greg Winn, Senior Policy Advisor in OGM, also participated. The discussion covered policy and protocol issues regarding performance measures, match issues, member time during disasters and communication protocol, among other things. The Corporation participants agreed to include updates on the resolution of as many of these issues as possible prior to the National Conference and to allow time for discussion there.

AmeriCorps Week – Collaboration with CNCS State Offices

AmeriCorps Week provides a wonderful opportunity for commissions and state offices to collaborate on celebratory and service activities that recognize the incredible contribution of national service participants. We know of joint activities among VISTA, AmeriCorps State and National, and NCCC members and encourage you to continue these beneficial partnerships. We are one family and certainly have a greater impact by working together. Thanks for your creativity and hard work in preparing for AmeriCorps Week. We hope you and your CNCS State Office enjoy great success as we celebrate the work of our programs and members.