18 September A New Service Year is Here! How Ohio’s AmeriCorps Programs Orient Members for Service September 18, 2019 By rverhoffkiss AmeriCorps 0 If Billy Idol were to perform a song at this time of the AmeriCorps grant cycle, he might sing something like, "More, More, More...AmeriCorps." Why? It's the start of a new AmeriCorps year and more people have signed onto a term of service. During the summer and fall months the 23 AmeriCorps State programs come to life with new AmeriCorps members and once all is said and done with the 2019-20 program year almost 900 members will have served in the state of Ohio. The start of a new program year is always an exciting point in time and each AmeriCorps program hosts an orientation that prepares members to serve their communities. Every program puts their own spin on orientation, but certain elements carry over from program to program—ensuring that Ohio’s AmeriCorps members have a rich understanding of their service. Orientation is a time for members to learn about the organization they are serving with, meet program leadership, gain a handle on the day to day activities of their service, and connect with their corps. What does an AmeriCorps Orientation look like in general? Overview of National Service Overview of the Corporation for National and Community Service and their signature programs Introduction to ServeOhio and the ServeOhio Portfolio Benefits of Service Prohibited Activities—what they are and why they are in place How to make the best of a service year Orientation is just the start of a fantastic year ahead—so three cheers to those serving in 2019-2020. The service adventure has just begun! Related Posts Meet our New AmeriCorps Programs In the 2020-21 Program Year, we are delighted to welcome six new AmeriCorps programs into our portfolio. These programs will support 123 AmeriCorps members who will serve in schools, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout Ohio. Learn more about our new programs! 2019 Year in Review As we ring in the New Year, it is a great time to reflect on our work and all the amazing accomplishments in service and volunteerism we saw in our state over the past twelve months. Read more for just a few highlights of our work this year. AmeriCorps Members Continue To Serve Ohio’s Students As schools start across the state, Ohio AmeriCorps members continue their work supporting Ohio’s K-12 students. Fourteen education-focused AmeriCorps programs will engage hundreds of individuals to creatively connect with students to support them academically, emotionally, and socially during the pandemic. AmeriCorps Orientation Every year across the country, over 80,000 Americans commit 9-12 months to serving their communities through AmeriCorps programs. The first few days of their service are critical to their success, that’s why a robust AmeriCorps Orientation program is crucial! Ohio AmeriCorps: Getting Things Done for 25 Years Each year – for the past 25 years – thousands of Americans have taken this pledge to become AmeriCorps members. They come together with a common commitment to build community and improve lives through service. Putting aside their own needs and individual challenges, they share a transformational experience that benefits both themselves and the neighborhoods in which they live. Year in Review: Bright Spots from 2020 It has been a tough year. Like organizations across the country and the world, ServeOhio made major shifts to our programming in 2020 and transitioned to a virtual office. While the challenges were great this year, it was also a year where we saw incredible resiliency, passion for service, and new opportunities. As we prepare to ring in the new year and hope for a brighter 2021, we wanted to take a minute to reflect on the good stuff from 2020. Comments are closed.