Find the people getting things done and join them. (Insight from Symposium in Helena.)

The reasons for doing AmeriCorps are as varied as the people in it. Many positions have a set service description, but it will not cover all of the things you could be doing.  There is also some flexibility to tailor the position to your skills and goals.  There are also many versions of AmeriCorps.  In Montana we have AgCorps, Conservation Corps, Watershed Corps, National Service, Fish, Wildlife and Parks AmeriCorps, Campus Compact, Rural Dynamics, Billings Metro VISTA and AmeriCorps National Habitat For Humanity. 

My reason was because I wanted to be at the University of Montana Western in my hometown. I didn’t like any of the advertised open positions.  I liked the AmeriCorps Service Description: Mentor students providing resources in TRIO, MT 10, Disability Services, Learning/Career Services, Advising, Veteran Military Exchange or Financial Aid and other offices. That’s a nice broad service description.  At its core are mentoring, coaching and helping students find resources. 

The title of my position is AmeriCorps Montana Campus Compact College Coach. I like the title of College Coach.  I can tailor that in many different ways.  First, I was in the career service area working on a Job Expo, doing career workshops, helping students write resumes, job applications, and researching occupations.

Then I moved to the Veteran Military Exchange where I continue to coach students and help them find resources.  I spend about half of my day there.

As Registration for Fall and new student registration began, I moved into the Advising Office. I support our two advisors by talking to students when the advisors are on the phone.  I hand them forms for adding or dropping classes, changing majors or advisors, or let them know when an advisor will be available for signatures or registration help.  I also was in the advising workshops and helped some students get registered for Fall classes.

Soon, I will be transitioning to another phase of service.  After graduation on May 4, there won’t be any students on campus.  Everyone moves out of the dorms. All summer classes are online. As my service description requires working with people, I looked around for a way to continue serving within or near the community.

Bannack State Park is about 30 minutes from Dillon.  It was once the territorial capital of Montana.  It was also a placer, gold and silver, mining town.  It’s now a well preserved ghost town with 50 buildings on the main street. Bannack has a state park AmeriCorps volunteer.  I met him at Symposium in Helena.  I have worked in Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and I am familiar with what volunteers do in state parks.  So I filled out a volunteer application, contacted the park manager, and I will be serving at Bannack State Park in the visitor center and leading school tours in May and June two days per week.

Bannack also has a huge celebration every year during the third weekend of July.  This year it is July 20-21. It takes many volunteers to put this event together.  There are demonstrations of pioneer and mining camp life, blacksmithing, crafts and food.

I will still be at UMW three days a week, but I’m not sure what I will be doing. As always, I will look for the people getting things done and join them.

I’ve made my own way in my year of service.  I would like to stay longer, but UMW has decided not to host a Montana Campus Compact College Coach next year. Maybe I will be able to be an AmeriCorps State Parks volunteer in the future.