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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>To the list,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> I am stunned by the immediate
responses on the list to the news that </span></font><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>VISTA</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> has become another link in the battle for homeland security. So
far we have suggestions that range from using literacy </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>VISTA</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>'s to teach the dangers
of biological attacks to a refocusing of WIA to a workforce development
program that emphasizes "the teaching of knowledge useful in homeland
security job training". </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> These seem like very tentative and
incremental steps which only prolong the inevitable. Fortunately, we are in the
enviable position of being able to rewrite the current WIA legislation within
the next year. In order to consolidate all of these many efforts perhaps the
field could recommend that the new WIA be changed to something like Defending
the Homeland Through Literacy Act with accompany changes to the NRS system that
would show measurable gains in such things as skill in designing bomb shelters,
air filtering systems and the best firearms to use in protecting your property
from other citizens who did not plan ahead. Art Ellison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> LVAILL@aol.com
[mailto:LVAILL@aol.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, October 07, 2002
12:20 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> nla@lists.literacytent.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [NLA] literacy and
homeland security?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In a message dated 10/5/2002 9:55:50
AM Central Standard Time, alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu writes:<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>received a letter from the Vista
office stating that if they cannot draw a link between the work being done in
the literacy program and homeland security, the Vista workers would need to be
pulled from the </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><br>
<br>
We have not seen that in Illinois, but every state is different.
Illinois' Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) office has
always had a focus on education in VISTA and that continues. However, the
Illinois CNCS office is also requiring a cost match of $10,000, the cost of the
living allowance. CNCS estimates their contribution of an educational
award, health insurance and initial and in-service training for members to be
$10,000 as well. That is limiting the number of agencies that want (or
can afford) VISTA members. <br>
<br>
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has become a favorite
agency to run administration initiatiatives through, especially when they don't
get congressional approval for something, i.e., America Reads. After that
as program operators we dealt with Colin Powell's Promise and had to
incorporate one of his first four promises into our annual objectives and were
all required to do the fifth which is to provide opportunities for youth
"to give something back."<br>
<br>
The RFP's for AmeriCorps grants (not VISTA that is a different system) are due
out this week . Those go to states and "national direct"
progams. States have some latitude in writing their own calls for
proposals and setting their own priorities, but we are told there will be a
focus on homeland security and a preference given to those applicants.
How much of a focus and how much preference we're not sure. <br>
<br>
There's been talk about all AmeriCorps grantees and sub-grantees doing at least
one homeland security objective. Our state commission (Illinois
Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service) had a planning retreat two
weeks ago, and we recommended that rather than having all programs involved
with homeland security that CNCS set a target for the number of members they
want involved in such an effort say 10%, 25%, 50% and let states implement
it. I also liked the idea of giving non-homeland security type programs
extra points in review if they were able to effectively incorporate homeland
security or those such issues in their programs. Our Commission also
asked CNCS to more clearly articulate what they consider homeland security
issues. At this point it is broad and includes civil defense, law
enforcement including community policing, and a range of public health topics
and issues. <br>
<br>
In addition to a focus on homeland security, it appears that CNCS will also be
seeking to advance the Leave No Child Behind programming. There will be
specific training requirements for members who are tutoring children and at
this point they are saying that they want those members to have an Associate's
Degree as well. There are also a variety of changes being made on
"allowable activities" for members, and in the future members can be
involved with fundraising and capacity-building activities. <br>
<br>
Now that states will have the federal guidelines, they will be developing their
own RFPs. Though each state sets their own guidelines and processes
for funding, most will be announcing three-year funding opportunities this fall
with a submission date most likely in the spring. Anyone interested in
sponsoring AmeriCorps programs should follow that process with their State
Commission on Community Service. It varies as to where the Commission is
"housed" in each state, but it can be accessed through the national membership
organization for state commissions - America's Service Commission at
<asc-online.org>. <br>
<br>
Dorothy Miaso<br>
Executive Director<br>
<br>
LVA-Illinois<br>
30 East Adams Street, Suite 1130<br>
Chicago, IL 60603<br>
312/857-1582<br>
312/857-1586 (fax)<br>
literacyvolunteersillinois.org (web site)</span></font></p>
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