Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism                                                                           January 2017

START THE YEAR OFF WITH SERVICE

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is:   What are you doing for others?" 
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
Each January, Utahns address the question "What are you doing for others?" by planning projects and volunteering with local nonprofits to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. This annual tradition is known as the Martin Luther King Day of Service, and in celebration, Americans across the country will participate in service projects from January 13-22.

UServeUtah recently awarded MLK Day of Service grants to assist 9 nonprofit organizations in their MLK Day of Service projects. The goal of these projects is to strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions. With dozens of projects happening over 10 days in multiple Utah counties, it is possible to give even just a few hours of your time this MLK Day. Get involved in one of our grantees' projects, or visit MLKDay.gov to find other opportunities to serve.
We would love to hear about your day of service experience. And be sure to use #MLKDay when you share photos of your day!

DOING GOOD IS GOOD FOR YOU
Is volunteering one of your resolutions for 2017? If it is, read about the advantages of volunteering and strengthen your resolve. If it isn't, take this opportunity to learn how volunteering benefits you and your employees in addition to those you serve.

For example, did you know volunteering is good for your health? UnitedHealth Group's Health and Volunteering Study proves that volunteering has a powerful effect on physical, mental, and emotional health. The article also outlines how employers profit in multiple ways from employees who volunteer.

To find volunteer opportunities in your community, visit our resources page or create a profile at JustServe.org.

AMERICORPS SERVICE STORY: FLOOD RELIEF IN LOUISIANA
By: Chris Pruden

As Crew Lead for the Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), I supervised two separate disaster response teams, joining 200 other AmeriCorps sponsored groups doing recovery work in Baton Rouge, Louisiana ,  following massive flooding this fall. Initially, the UCC AmeriCorps crews lived with other volunteers in a large auditorium, but we were later moved to a National Guard base where AmeriCorps members were headquartered for two months.
 
Our projects ranged from doing initial assessments of homes to measure the extent of the damage homeowners suffered to mucking and gutting homes. This included taking down any water damaged drywall or insulation so a mold remediation team could follow up and treat the studs and wood. The interaction my crews had with over 200 families, many of whom had lost everything, was an awesome experience. We heard many stories of rescue and loss, but the hope of these people was still very high. The gratitude they expressed was humbling to us.

Chris Pruden was an AmeriCorps Crew Leader serving with the Utah State University-based Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) in 2016. UCC members joined over 700 other AmeriCorps members from around the country in an effort that assessed 767 flooded homes, provided mucking and gutting to 596 homes while removing 20,921 cubic yards of debris.

To learn more about AmeriCorps programs in Utah, click here.


Learn best practices to effectively recruit, retain, motivate, and manage volunteers by registering for our volunteer management training. To learn more visit our website at www.userve.utah.gov/volunteer-management.

UPCOMING 2017 TRAININGS


March 13 - 14 | Southwestern Utah | Register 
Basic Volunteer Management Training
Dixie Applied Technology College, St. George 

March 15, April 12 | Cedar City
Volunteer Management for Museum Professionals
Southern Utah Museum of Art, Cedar City
To register, please email Jennifer Ortiz at  jenniferortiz@utah.gov

April 5 and April 19, 9AM - 2PM | Salt Lake County | Register
Intermediate  UNA Credential Volunteer Management Training
UNA Conference Room, Salt Lake City

May 11 - 12 | Salt Lake County | Register
Basic Volunteer Management Training
Department of Human Services Building, Salt Lake City

September 18-19 | Grand County | Register
Basic Volunteer Management Training
The Grand Center, Moab

December 7 - 8 | Utah County
Basic Volunteer Management Training
Location TBD, Utah County
Registration will open at a later date. For more details,  click here.
W ELCOME KATE!
Kate Hulme is our new Outreach Coordinator , focusing on furthering the role of UServeUtah as the go-to resource for promoting service and volunteerism in her home state.

Kate is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University, where she worked with the Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance and graduated with the distinction of being a Ballard Scholar, which reflects her having made social innovation an emphasis in her course of study. Kate has sought out opportunities to serve since childhood. Her experiences with Habitat for Humanity and Operation Smile, most notably on an Operation Smile mission in Kenya, solidified her commitment to make service a priority in her life.

The Lt. Governor's Volunteer Recognition Certificate program let's you nominate an outstanding volunteer. Submit your nomination here.  

 

Every volunteer has a story, and we want to hear yours! Share your story  here.

STAY CONNECTED