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AmeriCorps Sponsors First-Ever Video Contest
Washington, D.C. - AmeriCorps is turning to its far-flung network of members, alums, and nonprofit partners for help in recruiting the next class of AmeriCorps members by hosting a YouTube-style video contest.
The contest, which runs from May 1 to June 15, asks participants to create a 30-60 second spot answering the question “Why AmeriCorps?” Entries could address topics such as how AmeriCorps helps America tackle some of its biggest challenges; what AmeriCorps experience means to you; and why someone should join AmeriCorps.
“AmeriCorps members love to get things done and love telling others about their service,” said AmeriCorps Director Kristin McSwain. “So many of them have shown creativity in the ways they have served, and I’m sure they will show that same creative streak when they get behind the camera. This great way to tell the AmeriCorps story, and I’m excited to see the entries.”
The video contest is the latest step by the Corporation for National and Community Service to embrace new media and user-generated content to support recruitment and other programmatic goals. Other recent tools include a blog by an AmeriCorps NCCC team; “in-their-own-words” videos; stories of service, and the AmeriCorps eCommunity.
Entries must include the AmeriCorps logo, and the videos should be informative, memorable, and creative. The contest is not limited to AmeriCorps members, but participants must be over 18. A panel of service leaders will select nine semi-finalists by June 22. The semi-finalist entries will then be available for viewing and voting on the AmeriCorps Video Contest website from June 25 until July 2. General public votes will be combined with the panel of service leaders’ votes to determine the winner.
The creator of the winning entry will have the opportunity to present the video at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Philadelphia in July 2007. In addition, the winning entry, or a derivative work of the entry, will be aired on the Corporation for National & Community Service website (http://www.nationalservice.gov) and the contest website (http://www.americorpscontest.org) and may be used for future marketing purposes.
Entries must be in WMV, AVI, MOV, or MPG format and must be less than 100 MB in size. They can be submitted digitally online at http://www.americorpscontest.org or mailed to Kate Houston, AmeriCorps Contest Coordinator, 607 14th St., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. A full listing of rules and guidelines is available at http://www.americorpscontest.org.
The contest is part the first-ever AmeriCorps Week, May 13, a national recognition and recruitment event aimed at saluting AmeriCorps members and alums for their impact, thanking AmeriCorps community partners, and bringing more Americans into service. The week comes as the 12-year old national service programs reaches a historic milestone of 500,000 members – who collectively have provided more than 637 million hours of service. contest comes on the heels of AmeriCorps Week, May 13-20, which could provide some ideas for videos. For more information, visit http://www.americorps.gov/americorpsweek.
AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.
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