MONTANA TECH INVESTS IN COMMUNITY!
MTCC AmeriCorps VISTA member Cody LaBean, serving with Montana Tech’s Institute for Educational Opportunities and Butte’s Local College Access Network, assisted with National TRiO Day on February 22nd in Helena. Here’s what he had to say about it:”National TRIO Day is a ‘National Day of Service’ that helps address the complex needs of young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives. TRiO Day was an opportunity for over 100 TRiO Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound students from Butte, Deer Lodge, and Helena to volunteer, visit campuses and consider postsecondary education. The group visited two Montana higher education institutions, and it highlighted the need for investment…
HAPPY 50, VISTA!
A vintage VISTA poster, apparently before Alaska was around?The VISTA program is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Over there years, there have been an amazing Montana Campus Compact, we bring the resources of a network of engaged colleges and universities to this important work. VISTAs who have served with us over the years have helped start up the successful Graduation Matters program, have helped open and expand food pantries, veterans services offices, service-learning offices, afterschool programs. MTCC VISTAs have supported college access and success work, and have built capacity for college student volunteers to address community needs all along the way….
TWELVE NEW VISTAS BEGIN THEIR SERVICE!
On January 29th we welcomed twelve new AmeriCorps VISTAs to Montana and Wyoming. They finished their Pre Service Orientation in Helena and continued to a Montana Campus Compact orientation immediately following, where they were joined by MTCC network staff. We spent three beautiful days at the Montana Learning Center outside of Helena where we got to know our members a little better and they got to know us. On January 31st we sent our members on their journeys across the state to begin serving. Our new members include:Brandon Fish- Blackfeet Community College, BrowningSamuel Garetson- Salish Kootenai College, Upward Bound, Pablo Sage…
CAMPUS ELECTION ENGAGEMENT WRAP-UP
Students at Augustana College prepare the sidewalks before Election DayMTCC’s election engagement work successfully mobilized over 15,000 college students and community members across the region in the summer and fall of 2014. Working closely with the national Campus Election Engagement Project (or “CEEP”) a grassroots, college-focused initiative begun by author Paul Loeb, Campus Compact institutions in Montana and South Dakota rose to the challenge of engaging students volunteers, voters and engaged citizens. The project mobilized college students to serve with local organization to increase youth voter turnout. At least 12,000 college students and young people across Montana and South Dakota were…
MTCC DISASTER INSTITUTE RESULTS ARE IN.
This October MTCC hosted its first Disaster Institute in Billings, Montana, hosted by Rocky Mountain College. We partnered with American Red Cross of Montana (ARCMT), the Montana Department of Emergency Services (DES), the Governor’s Office of Community Service (OCS) to train 40 participants from across our wonderful state of Montana. We were excited to collaborate with these agencies in order to help our communities learn valuable lessons on disaster preparedness.ARCMT participants during the Shelter Management SimulationInstitute participants came from different areas and backgrounds to receive training in Red Cross certifications and Montana State DES Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training….
COMPACT PRE-THANKSGIVING NEWS ROUND-UP
On Saturday, November 22nd Campus Compact used the occasion of the Brawl of the The Wild (aka “Griz/Cat” or “Cat/Griz,” depending on where you’re from) to honor ten exemplary college student volunteers from our network.Photo courtesy of Todd GoodrichPlease join us in congratulating our 2014 Montana Athletes In Service:Tyler Adair, UMHunter Chandler, MSUN Aubrey Conceicao, MSU BillingsDarrell “D.J.” Fish, SKCJordan Johnston, Carroll CollegeDilan Starkel, Montana Western FootballKatie Tabaracci, Montana TechJulie Theis, MSUTinaya Monroe, Blackfeet Community CollegeKelsey Oblender, Rocky Mountain CollegeAs we head into this holiday, the Compact’s network office staff is thankful to live in a state where our two flagship universities, Montana State University and University…
GET INFORMED AND VOTE (AND GET YOUR FRIENDS TO)!
We’re not sure what exactly this means, but we like the sentiment.Tuesday, November 4th is Election Day across the country, and here in Montana we’ve got plenty to think about with important local elections and bond issues, state-level races and even a senate and (our lone) house seat all being sought.Montana Campus Compact has partnered with the Campus Election Engagement Project which works nationally to engage students in the important, practical work of being involved in elections, campaigns, voter education and mobilization and, ultimately, voting. Student’s from Compact affiliate campuses across Montana and South Dakota are working hard to engage…
LESS THAN A WEEK LEFT TO ELECTION DAY
The Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) has been hard at work with colleges and universities all across Montana and in South Dakota. Events generating the youth vote are in full swing.In western Montana, the University of Montana, in collaboration with MontPIRG and the Forward Montana Foundation, is hosting a full week of events on campus like “It’s All About that Vote!” and “Trick-or-Vote” parties. More information on these events can be found on the Forward Montana’s Facebook pageIn addition to the University of Montana, Bitterroot College UM is integrating Get Out the Vote (GOTV) events throughout their school and community….
MSU-NORTHERN HONORS VOLUNTEER OF THE GAME
MSU-Northern chancellor Greg Kegel awarded student Joseph Vernon with the Volunteer of the Game Award at a Lights home game on October 18. Nice work, Joseph!Joseph is MSU-Northern’s Sustainability Coordinator and has been instrumental in re-vitalizing Northern’s recycling efforts. Under his direction, the Sustainability Team has more than doubled the number of recycling bins available on campus and has brought a renewed awareness of the need to recycle.Joseph coordinates the Sustainability Team’s efforts with the communities Recycle Hi-Line efforts and can be found volunteering at the community drop-off site every month. Joseph took initiative to obtain seed money for a 1…
MTCC HOSTS DISASTER INSTITUTE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
MTCC’s network office staff is getting excited to spend a couple days at Rocky Mountain College in Billings for the Disaster Institute, October 16-18. the Institute will convene partners from fourteen Compact affiliates from across the region, and will help build capacity of colleges and universities to support communities when disasters happen. Big thanks to the Corporation for National and Community Service for the funding support for this important work, to Montana DES, American Red Cross of Montana and Rocky. See you in Billings!
MTCC’S FIRST VOLUNTEER OF THE GAME!
Samantha Zetler, Rocky Mountain College student and Volunteer Of the GameWe’re working with Montana’s Governor’s Office of Community Service and MTCC’s board of directors to highlight some of our state’s exemplary college student volunteers this fall. Our first Volunteer of the Game recipient is Samantha Zetler from Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Samantha’s off-campus service focused with Billings nonprofit organization, the HUB. The HUB focuses on providing services to mentally ill, homeless people in Billings, and Samantha’s given hours of her time to supporting HUB clients.Additionally, Samantha is involved with Rocky’s Community Service office, Debate and Spiritual Life programs. Samantha’s…
MTCC NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMS HONORED ON AMERICORPS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Campus Corps AmeriCorps Alum Jill WashburnToday is a special birthday around here, AmeriCorps turned twenty! It’d be old enough to vote, drive and register for selective service if it were a person. The AmeriCorps program had its roots in the War on Poverty programs of the the early 1960s, and when it was signed into law in 2014, it marked a huge expansion of National Service programs.I often tell folks that AmeriCorps is kind of the younger, bigger cousin of VISTA, or “Volunteers In Service To America.” VISTA is correctly referred to as a domestic version of the Peace Corps,…
SEPTEMBER 11TH DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE PROJECTS ACROSS MONTANA
September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is quickly approaching. As many of you know we received a small grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to help fund projects around the state. Below is a listing of some of the great work that will be happening! Campus CompactInstitution or ProjectSponsor Rocky Mountain College Person Completing FormName, title Jill Washburn, Community Service Coordinator Email Jill.washburn@rocky.edu Phone 406-238-7394 Event Name Red Cross Roll Call and Red,White & Zoo Location including zipcode Billings, Montana 59102 Date 8/23/14 and 9/11/14 Time- Varied varied Primary Event ContactName, title Jill WashburnCommunity Service…
TRIATHLON IS CORRECTLY SPELLED WITH JUST ONE A.
True story, in my forty years, including several helping organize and hold MTCC’S fundraiser triathlon, it wasn’t until I had to type the word that I learned it wasn’t spelled “Triathalon.” I guess by that logic, they would also need to be called “Athaletes” … Anyhow, no spelling bees in my immediate future. So, this weekend, Western Montana hosts a couple of events I’d like you to consider either registering for, or supporting as a volunteer: those races are The Garden City Triathlon and the Montana Mucker. This Saturday, September 6th marks the 28th season that Western Montana will have hosted…
MTCC AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni Spotlight
Featured Alum: Gladys Walter Gladys at an Appalachian Trailhead in the Great Smokey Mountains.<!–> 281 7772400 10058400 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0“““““““““““ 5 1 0 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 243 True 128 77 255 3175 3175 70 True True True True True 278 134217728 1 1 -9999996.000000 -9999996.000000 8 Empty 5597799 11586736 7775090 14609386 8290020 4670664 16777215 74 Foundry <!–><!–> 22860000 22860000 (`@““““` 266 263 5 110185200 110185200 <!–>2012-2013 Montana Campus Compact VISTA Gladys Walter was kind enough to answer some questions about her experience serving with MTCC AmeriCorps VISTA and…
AMERICORPS 20TH ANNIVERSARY!
MTCC is excited to celebrate 20 years of AmeriCorps members getting things done for Montana, below is a list of events commemorating this awesome anniversary:HelenaJoin Governor Steve Bullock, the Montana Commission on Community Service, AmeriCorps Alumns, and current AmeriCorps members for birthday cake, a simultaneous swearing-in, and a 20th Anniversary celebration at the State Capitol!When: Friday, September 12th at 11:00AMWhere: Governor’s Reception Room, Montana State CapitalParticipate in a service project with the Montana Conservation Corps and the Prickly Pear Land Trust, AmeriCorps members and alums, and an appearance from special guest, Governor Steve Bullock. Volunteers will help build a bridge and…
WELCOME TO THE MTCC NETWORK OFFICE, GERRI STIFFARM!
Network Office staff members Jon Stephani and Gerri StiffarmToday’s a special day for the network office staff because we welcome a new coworker and colleague to work of educating citizens and building community. Gerri Stiffarm joins us today as the Compact’s program specialist. She will support the Compact’s mission by providing outreach to the member institutions across Montana, including helping with VISTA project development, Ready Campus promotion and training support for our AmeriCorps VISTAs.Gerri is a graduate of Montana State University’s Community Leadership program, and has worked for Aaniih Nakoda College in Fort Belknap, and with Opportunity Link. During her…
NEW COMPACT VISTAS BEGIN SERVICE
Montana Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAs and staff members.We are excited to bring on a class of fourteen new and continuing Volunteers In Service To America (aka “VISTAs”) this July and August. These inspring folks come from here in Montana, nearby and as far away as Louisiana to seek innovative solutions to poverty problems. The VISTA program is unique in the family of National Service programs because of its explicit charge to move Americans out of of poverty. I like to call it a “older cousin” to AmeriCorps, even though it’s officially known as AmeriCorps VISTA now. MTCC’s VISTA program engages higher education in this important antipoverty work….