THE SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OF WNY
ON SITE ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
SERVE NEW YORK VISTA
November 2013
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ON-SITE ORIENTATION AND TRAINING OVERVIEW
OBJECTIVES OF SERVE NEW YORK’S ON-SITE ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
By the end of the On-Site Orientation the new Serve New York member will:
•
Understand the culture and mission of The Service Collaborative of Western New York, including its
history and steady growth.
•
Understand the relationship of Serve New York VISTA with the other AmeriCorps programs run through
The Service Collaborative of Western New York.
•
Understand the structure of Serve New York: its management, multiple site structure, the mentoring role
of the VISTA Leaders, and the ongoing support and training offered to VISTA members.
•
Understand the VISTA policies of the Corporation for National & Community Service and the policies of
The Service Collaborative of Western New York.
•
Understand the mission of the assigned service site and their individual role in that mission.
•
Understand how Serve New York and The Service Collaborative of Western New York are working to meet
the current goals and objectives of the Corporation of National and Community Service.
•
Understand our program objectives in the upcoming year and how the project may evolve to meet the
needs of an ever-changing community.
•
Understand that personal development will benefit your VISTA service and beyond.
o Time management, personal career planning, stress management, financial planning,
networking, grant writing, and many other things.
OVERVIEW OF OSOT
An Orientation to The Service Collaborative of Western New York and the Serve New York AC VISTA Mission
Our Programs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps Builds Lives through Education (ABLE)
Opportunity Corps
Volunteer Center of WNY
YouthBuild
Our VISTA Programs
Serve New York: 41 Member Slots, serving from Buffalo to Rochester, Ithaca, the Finger Lakes, Geneva, and White
Plains
Impact areas: Veterans & Military Families, Education, Health & Nutrition, and Community & Economic
Development
Our Mission, Vision, and Tag Line
Serve New York AC VISTA Mission Statement:
As the largest combined multi-site AC VISTA project in New York State, The VISTA Department works to fight
the injustices and causes of poverty that face individuals and communities in Buffalo and the surrounding
regions of New York State. Serve New York VISTA members work to increase capacity in non-profit
organizations while empowering the community with tools to promote sustainable self-sufficiency. Our
members commit to a year of service in which they not only fight poverty but live it, not only lead the
community but are a part of it, and not only change the world but are changed by it.
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Serve New York AC VISTA Vision:
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To decrease poverty and the disparity of wealth in New York State
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To make all New York communities sustainable and self-sufficient
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To engage all New Yorkers in lifelong volunteerism and service
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To create a National Service network of New York State Veterans Service Agencies and organizations that
serve military families
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To increase impact, capacity, and sustainability in partnering organizations serving low-income individuals and
communities
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To foster collaboration among project members and host-sites
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To adhere to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “There is nothing new about poverty. What is new,
however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it.”
Tag Line: “Fighting Poverty. Empowering Communities. Changing the World.”
Introduction to Program Procedures
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Communication and reporting process: monthly (date, expectations, and process) and site visits
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Time sheets, time off request forms
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Monthly trainings (mandatory), periodic service projects (mandatory), and social activities (recommended)
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Project plan and VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) review.
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Anti-Harassment Policy, drug and alcohol policy
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Member contract
The Importance of Reporting
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Based on your Project Plan
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Providing documentation to ensure that data updates are accurate
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Complete reports are important: they go to Albany, Washington, and finally to Congress and the President!
Introduction of SNY staff and some The Service Collaborative of Western New York staff
Monthly Requirements
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Reports: Due monthly
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Timesheets/Time Records: Due bi-monthly
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Member trainings and meeting
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Service Projects (periodically)
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Social activities (optional, but recommended)
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HISTORY OF VISTA
1933-1942
Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the Civilian Corps (CCC), providing opportunities for millions of young men
to serve six to 18 months to help restore the nation's parks, revitalize the economy, and support their
families and themselves.
1944
The GI Bill, officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, is created, linking service and
education and offering Americans an educational opportunity in return for service to their country.
1961
President John F. Kennedy proposes establishment of the Peace Corps and Congress authorizes it on
September 22, 1961. President Kennedy states, "The wisdom of this idea is that someday we'll bring it
home to America."
The White House Conference on Aging is held, drawing attention to the continuing opportunity and
need to engage older adults in meaningful service activities.
1964
As part of the "War on Poverty," President Lyndon B. Johnson creates VISTA (Volunteers in Service to
America), a National Teacher Corps, the Job Corps, and University Year of Action.
1965
The Community Service Society of New York launches a pilot project involving a group of older adults in
volunteer service to their communities. The project demonstrates the value of senior volunteers and
serves as a precursor to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
1966-1967
Urban Corps emerges, funded with federal work-study dollars.
By this time, 3,600 VISTA members are serving throughout the country, helping to develop the first Head
Start programs and Job Corps sites, and starting agricultural cooperatives, community groups, and small
businesses.
The phrase "service-learning" is first used to describe a project in East Tennessee that links students and
faculty with area development organizations.
1970s
VISTA merges with the Peace Corps and senior service programs to form the ACTION agency.
1980s
National service efforts are launched at the grassroots level, including the Campus Outreach
Opportunity League (1984) and Campus Compact (1985), which helps mobilize students in higher
education.
VISTA’s focus changes to encourage citizen participation and community self-help.
1986
The VISTA Literacy Corps is developed to create literacy councils and expand adult education.
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HISTORY OF VISTA
1989-1990
President George H.W. Bush creates the Office of National Service in the White House and the Points of
Light Foundation to foster volunteering.
1990
President Bush signs the National and Community Service Act of 1990 into law. The legislation
authorizes grants to schools to support service-learning through Serve America (now known as Learn
and Serve America) and demonstration grants for national service programs to youth corps, nonprofits,
and colleges and universities.
September 1993
President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps
and the Corporation for National and Community Service to expand opportunities for Americans to
serve their communities. VISTA and the National Civilian Community Corps become part of AmeriCorps.
1994
The Corporation for National and Community Service officially begins operation.
Congress passes the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994, charging the Corporation for National and
Community Service with establishing Martin Luther King Day as a day of service.
September 1994
The first class of AmeriCorps members - 20,000 strong - begins serving in more than 1,000 communities.
In swearing in these Americans, President Clinton says: "Service is a spark to rekindle the spirit of
democracy in an age of uncertainty. When it is all said and done, it comes down to three simple
questions: What is right? What is wrong? And what are we going to do about it? Today you are doing
what is right - turning your words into deeds."
1995
A study commissioned by the IBM Foundation, the Charles A. Dana Foundation, and the James Irvine
Foundation finds that every federal dollar invested in AmeriCorps results in $1.60 to $2.60 or more in
direct, measurable benefits to AmeriCorps members and the communities they serve.
The National Civilian Community Corps is included under AmeriCorps, becoming AmeriCorps*NCCC.
1997
AmeriCorps expands by introducing the Education Awards Program, which allows more organizations to
join the service network -- nonprofits, faith-based organizations, colleges and universities, welfare-towork programs, and other groups.
October 1999
AmeriCorps celebrates five years and 150,000 members.
October 2000
AmeriCorps VISTA commemorates 35 years of fighting poverty in America. Since 1965, more than
130,000 VISTA members have used a hands-on, grassroots approach to empower individuals and
communities throughout the country.
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HISTORY OF VISTA
2001
President George W. Bush calls for a “nation of citizens, not spectators” in his inaugural address and
launches a faith-based and community initiative to expand support for grassroots organizations meeting
local needs.
January 2002
In his state of the Union Address, President George W. Bush asks all Americans to devote two years or
4,000 hours to volunteer service during their lifetimes. As part of this call to service, he creates USA
Freedom Corps, a White House office and coordinating council to encourage Americans to serve their
communities and country. He also proposes to expand AmeriCorps by 50 percent.
December 2003
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports that both the number of
volunteers and the volunteer rate rose over the year ended in September 2003. About 63.8 million
people did volunteer work at some point from September 2002 to September 2003, up from 59.8 million
for the similar period ended in September 2002.
January 2004
AmeriCorps receives a record funding increase to allow programs to grow to 75,000 members.
2004
AmeriCorps NCCC recognizes 10,000 alumni, 15.3 million service hours, 4,500 projects and 10 years of
service during Legacy Weekends at all five campuses. In recognition of its 40th anniversary, AmeriCorps
VISTA commences a study of its alumni and the impact national service had on their lives.
May 2007
The 500,000th AmeriCorps member is sworn into service.
April 2009
President Barack Obama enacted the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The Serve America Act
reauthorized and expanded national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and
Community Service by amending the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA) and the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (DVSA). This act dramatically increased intensive service
opportunities by setting AmeriCorps on a path from 75,000 positions annually to 250,000 by 2017, and
focusing that service on education, health, clean energy, veterans, economic opportunity and other
national priorities. This act also tied the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to the maximum Pell Grant
level (now $5,550, but set to increase over time).
July 2013
President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum to expand national service. The
memorandum established a National Service Task Force that will be co-chaired by the CEO of the
Corporation for National and Community Service and the Director of the White House Domestic Policy
Council. The Task Force will recommend policies to expand national service opportunities, develop
opportunities for interagency agreements between CNCS and other federal agencies, and identify
public-private partnerships to expand national service opportunities.
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ORGANIZATIONAL CHART: CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL &
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Volunteer
Generation
Fund
Senior Corps
AmeriCorps
VISTA
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AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps State
and National
AmeriCorps NCCC
Social
Innovation
Fund
July, 2013
Dear Serve New York VISTA member,
As Executive Director of The Service Collaborative it is my privilege to welcome you to your year of
service with the Serve New York VISTA program. The next 12 months will be full of new experiences,
unanticipated opportunities, and surprising rewards. My hope for you is that you will leave your service
with VISTA aware of not only the challenges facing our less advantaged communities but also of the
solutions that are being created by citizen, non-profit and faith-based organizations everyday.
At The Service Collaborative we are very proud of the history and growth of our VISTA program. What
started over a decade ago as a ten member corps has grown into a unique program that is one of the
largest VISTA initiatives in the nation. The Serve New York VISTA program and its members make strides
everyday in the battle against poverty in Buffalo and across the state. Serving in VISTA, you can know
that you are not only part of the national VISTA legacy and mission but also the AmeriCorps VISTA
movement, creating opportunities for all Americans to serve our communities and nation. As a VISTA,
whether you are writing grants, managing volunteers, starting new programs, or engaging the
community with needed services, your commitment will be vital to your host site and to the individuals
whose lives will be better because of it. I invite you to utilize all of The Service Collaborative programs
as resources and to let us know if there is anything we can do to make your year of service an even
greater success.
When the first VISTA members began their service in December 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson
remarked to the members, “your pay will be low, the conditions of you labor will often be difficult. But
you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort, and you will have the ultimate reward
which comes to those who serve their nation and who serve their fellow man.” These words are as true
today as when they were first spoken, and I hope that this experience will be just a step in a lifelong
journey of service. Thank you for your commitment, and may this year by everything you hope for and
much more!
Yours in service,
Kate Sarata
Executive Director
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc.
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July 2013
Dear Serve New York VISTA member,
First and foremost, thank you for choosing to dedicate a year of your life to AmeriCorps VISTA. You join more than
500,000 individuals that since 1994 have chosen AmeriCorps as a path, more than 7,000 members annually that
choose AmeriCorps VISTA, and over 300 Service Collaborative of Western New York (TSCWNY) AmeriCorps
members—64 of which are VISTAs—that in 2013 alone chose the path of service. With the support of a federal
administration that values service as a means of personal, community and national transformation, national
service is poised to take hold in mainstream culture and provide essential benefits for communities far and wide
across the nation. Congratulations on being at the forefront of a movement that is in the midst of vital growth and
affecting formative change on the face of our nation!
Historically, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) has been in operation since 1964, engaging thousands of
members per year in its rigorous poverty-elimination mission. Locally, Serve New York VISTA has been serving
Greater Buffalo since 1996.
The work of our members is consistently impressive. In the 2012-2013 program year alone, our 41 full-time VISTA
members raised a total of in $648,830 in cash resources and $1,098,063 in in-kind resources. They also mobilized
4,933 volunteers who performed 35,079 hours of service. This capital has increased our host sites’ abilities to help
erase the complex forces that lead to poverty in an abundant society.
In the 2013-2014 grant year, our program will improve our communities through non-profit organizational capacity
building including fund and resource development, financial literacy education, volunteer mobilization, and
increased support for refugees, immigrants, veterans and military families, and low-income youth and individuals.
Our members will additionally provide financial literacy and asset development among citizens, in addition to
sustaining programs which provide equitable housing.
While the results of your service will be easily quantifiable, what may not be easily quantified is the profound
impact that service may have on you. As the Director of this VISTA program, I get to witness it in others also:
individuals come to serve expecting to give back, and instead the experience gives to them, and keeps on giving.
One of our Alums recently stated this in a post-service reflection: “[Because of my service] I believe that hope is
justified for struggling communities. Most of all, I believe in the power of compassionate people to affect real
change.” I wish for you, then, an experience that provides affirmation: in the goodness of people, the power of
community, the reality of each person’s ability to make a difference.
As you begin, I thank you for your service and your trust in your ability to make a difference: because you wish it,
you are sure to affect the change you intend. The AmeriCorps VISTA team will be here to support you through
your commitment: we are here to serve you. Good luck and welcome!
Yours in service,
Steve Deisig
Director of VISTA & Opportunity Corps
The Service Collaborative of Western New York, Inc.
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SPONSORING ORGANIZATION
MISSION STATEMENTS
The Service Collaborative of Western New York creates opportunities for all individuals to serve, challenging
citizens to turn their ideals into action and their passion into positive change. Through transformational service
and civic responsibility, The Service Collaborative is designing a sustainable future for our nation’s communities.
The VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) programs of The Service Collaborative work to fight the injustices and
causes of poverty that face individuals and communities in Buffalo and New York State. VISTA members of The
Service Collaborative serve to increase capacity in non-profit organizations while empowering the community with
tools for self-sufficiency. Our members commit to a year of service in which they will not only fight poverty but
live it, not only lead the community but are a part of it, and not only change the world but are changed by it.
THE SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OF WESTERN NEW YORK
As a member of Serve New York VISTA, not only are you part of one of the largest VISTA programs in the country,
but you are also a part of the 501 c 3 non-profit organization The Service Collaborative of Western New York. The
Service Collaborative operates multiple national service programs within the primary impact areas of Poverty
Elimination, Education Youth Leadership Development and Volunteerism. Below are our core programs:
Serve New York VISTA - Poverty Elimination
Members serve at veteran and military family related non-profits and community organizations throughout New
York State to build capacity and sustainability for entities that provide services to veterans, military personnel, and
their families. Members also serve at non-profit, faith-based and community organizations throughout Buffalo to
develop Youth Education, financial literacy, and refugee services.
ABLE (AmeriCorps Builds Lives through Education) - Education
ABLE members primarily serve within Buffalo charter schools as tutors and teachers’ aides to improve educational
opportunities for Buffalo’s youth. In a secondary impact, ABLE members recruit and organize community
volunteers.
Opportunity Corps - Financial Literacy Development
Opportunity Corps members are placed within non-profit organizations to help increase the partner site's capacity
to provide quality financial literacy services.
YouthBuild - Youth Leadership Development
YouthBuild members commit themselves to "rebuild and improve the quality of life in our community through
collective work, responsibility and cooperative economics. To educate, elevate, and raise the consciousness of
ourselves and others along the way." The YouthBuild program works to insure this commitment is met through a
variety of volunteer projects and events held throughout communities statewide.
The Volunteer Center of WNY - Expanding Volunteer Opportunities to WNY
In conjunction with the New York State Volunteer Generation Program, New Yorkers Volunteer and the
Corporation for National & Community Service, VolunteerWNY serves as the hub for volunteer activity for Erie,
Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany Counties. VolunteerWNY is an initiative to promote volunteerism
across the region.
According to recent census data, New York State ranks 51st out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia in
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volunteer activity. Startled by this statistic, New York State’s Commission on National & Community Service
established a goal to strengthen our volunteer spirit. ‘Place one million people in meaningful roles as volunteers to
address important needs in communities across the state.’
To maximize the impact of volunteers, the State Commission established a network of ten volunteer-connector
agencies to serve as Regional Volunteer Centers. Regional Volunteer Centers, like VolunteerWNY, provide critical
training and resources to expand the capacity of local volunteer organizations. These resources will help
organizations recruit, manage, support and retain individuals to serve in high quality volunteer assignments.
Opportunity
Corps
ABLE
Volunteer Center
of WNY
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Serve New York
VISTA
Youth Build
Framing Hope
Warehouse
SERVE NEW YORK 2013-2014
IMPACT AREAS & PROJECT SITES
EDUCATION IMPACT AREA:
The Education impact area aims to provide educational services to serve economically disadvantaged youth
through increasing the number and capacity of services. Partners will focus on these outcomes: (1) Increase
unduplicated services to underperforming/Title 1 schools; (2) Increase the number of unduplicated economically
disadvantaged youth receiving educational support services; (3)Recruit volunteers to provide educational support
services and enrichment activities to disadvantaged children and young adults.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Buffalo State College Community Academic Center
Buffalo Urban League
Community Action Organization
Clean Air Coalition
Community Music School
Compass House
Explore & More Children’s Museum
Medaille College
New Roots Charter School
Peaceprints Prison Ministries
Plymouth Crossroads
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IMPACT AREA
The Veterans and Military Families impact area aims to provide a direct and demonstrable service and benefit to
organizations serving the unmet needs of veterans, members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty, and
family members of deployed military personnel. Partners will focus on these outcomes: (1) Through outreach and
the creation of veteran educational support services at college veteran offices, low-income or at-risk veterans and
military personnel will access GI Bill education benefits and pursue educational opportunities; (2) Services are
created or enhanced to assist veterans in receiving professional certification, licensure, or credentials to allow
veterans to obtain or train for employment; (3) Engage veterans as community volunteers to foster a sense of civic
reengagement and provide a network for military families; (4) Increase the number of housing units/services
developed and available for veterans; (5) VISTA members create and enhance services and programs geared
towards veteran and military families; (6) Increase the number of veterans receiving services and assistance,
including those who are disabled, unemployed, older, and/or live in rural areas.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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Compeer, Inc.
Every Person Influences Children
Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling & Referral Agency, Inc.
Headway of WNY, Inc.
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Rochester
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Geneva
Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
Opportunity Corps
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
Veterans Outreach Center, Inc., Rochester
Wayne County Action Program
WNY Law Center
WNY Veterans Housing Coalition, Inc.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT AREA:
The Community and Economic Development impact area aims to alleviate poverty through sustainable solutions
through financial literacy, employment services, and housing. Partners will focus on these outcomes: (1) Increase
the number of low-income individuals receiving financial literacy services because of a VISTA member's efforts; (2)
Due to financial literacy services provided, individuals report an improved financial knowledge; (3) Increase the
number of unduplicated, low-income individuals receiving job training and other skill development services
through community outreach and program enhancement; (4) VISTA members will increase the number of
unduplicated, low-income individuals, including homeless individuals, receiving appropriate housing seminars and
support services; (5) VISTA member(s) will increase from last year the number of unduplicated economically
disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, transitioned into safe, healthy, affordable housing.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Belmont Housing
Hearts and Hands
Journey’s End Refugee Services
Westminster Economic Development Initiative
HEALTH AND NUTRITION IMPACT AREA
The Health and Nutrition impact area aims to develop or enhance programs providing access to immediate and
preventative health care services and benefits to low-income individuals and families. Partners will focus on these
outcomes: (1) Increase the number of unduplicated low-income youth receiving obesity prevention educational
support services; (2) Increase the capacity of service providers to provide assistance to low-income families
through training, technical assistance, and capacity building related to school-based obesity prevention efforts; (3)
Increase the number of unduplicated obesity prevention education services provided to underperforming schools.
1.
2.
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New Roots Charter School
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
VISTA MEMBER BENEFITS
Members of Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA receive various benefits during their term of service.
ANNUAL LIVING STIPEND
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Stipend is $11,352 annually, which amounts to $436.62 each pay period before taxes.
•
Members are paid bi-weekly directly by the Service Collaborative of Western New York
•
Direct Deposit is the preferred method of payment.
END OF SERVICE AWARD
•
Prior to each member’s swear-in, they must elect to receive one of the following awards to be given at the end
of a successfully completed term of service:
o Education Award=$5,550 scholarship (before taxes)
 Awarded through the National Service Trust.
o Stipend of Appreciation=$1,500 cash (before taxes)
STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT
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Deferment of qualifying student loans is each member’s responsibility.
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Requests are made through the My AmeriCorps Portal.
•
Deferment is solely handled by the member, the NY Corporation State Office, and the VISTA Member Support
Unit.
•
Any interest accrued on deferred student loans will be paid by the National Service Trust, contingent on the
submission of the appropriate form.
•
To receive loan deferment during service, a member must elect the Education Award as their end of service
benefit.
HEALTH BENEFITS
•
This is provided free of charge to all VISTA members by the Corporation for National and Community Service
through Seven Corners.
•
All VISTA members are automatically enrolled in CNCS’s health benefits plan unless proof of alternate
insurance is submitted.
•
Any questions regarding health benefits should be fielded directly to Seven Corners.
CHILD CARE
•
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Members with children may be eligible for a child care stipend during their year of service to assist with the
cost of child care.
LIFE INSURANCE
•
If a member would like to receive life insurance, they must elect this benefit through the My AmeriCorps
Portal and provide proof of acceptance to their sponsoring organization.
•
Life Insurance costs each enrolled member ~$2.00 each pay check/26 paychecks during year term.
•
VISTA members are eligible for the following life insurance plan:
o Provider: Reliance Standard Insurance Company
P.O. Box 8330
Philadelphia, PA 19101-8330
1-800-644-1103
o Coverage: $19,600
o Coverage starts on your first day of service and terminates 31 days after your last day of service.
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES
•
Members that have completed a successful term are eligible for non-competitive status for one year.
•
For more information on this benefit, please consult your VISTA Member Handbook or www.americorps.gov,
or Google “non-competitive status.”
SOCIAL SERVICE BENEFITS
•
Many members are eligible for public assistance programs such as food stamps, HEAP, and Medicaid during
their term of service. The sponsoring organization will provide the necessary support (i.e.-letters) to apply for
these benefits, but enrollment is optional and the responsibility of each member.
MEMBER TRAININGS
•
Serve New York VISTA holds a three day overnight training conference in October. In addition to these
trainings, members will attend monthly trainings. These events give our members valuable opportunities to
grow as individuals and to connect with other VISTAs. Suggestions and requests for trainings are always
welcome.
•
Pursuing training opportunities outside of the Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA trainings is encouraged and
must be approved by a member’s host site. On a limited and case-by-case basis, funds may be available for
this from the sponsoring organization. Requests for these funds should be submitted to the VISTA Director in
a formal letter on the host site’s letterhead. Please include in the request the cost and the reason why the
training is necessary for the VISTA member to perform his or her service. Requests will be addressed in a
timely fashion, but please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. If approved, funds will be provided in the form of
reimbursement upon the VISTA member’s successful completion of the training course.
ADDITIONAL MEMBER SUPPORT
•
VISTA Members: We encourage our members to connect with other members and host sites during their year
of service at monthly trainings, social events, and beyond.
•
VISTA Leaders: VISTA Leaders are 2nd or 3rd year VISTA members. Leaders serve as mentors and examples for
all Serve New York VISTAs. Our program has three VISTA Leaders in place to make sure that each member has
a positive and fulfilling service experience. VISTA Leaders are a member’s first go-to resource for questions
related to VISTA service.
•
VISTA Program Specialist: The VISTA Program Specialist is responsible for payroll, enrollment paperwork,
supporting the VISTA leaders, recruitment of new members, overseeing member trainings, and otherwise
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assisting the Program Manager and Program Director. Any payroll questions should be relayed to the Program
Specialist.
•
VISTA Program Manager: The VISTA Program Manager is responsible for partner development and selection
and is the primary contact for site supervisors. The Program Manager is also responsible for the day to day
operations of Serve New York VISTA. Any general program-related issues should be relayed to the Program
Manager.
•
VISTA Director: The VISTA Director oversees, manages and leads the VISTA staff, Leaders and members. The
Program Director is responsible for reporting to the State Office of the Corporation for National and
Community Service. The Program Director is also available to discuss sensitive issues related to your term of
service.
HOST SITE RESOURCES
All partnering host sites are contractually obligated to provide each VISTA member with the following:
•
An adequate workspace with a desk, computer, and telephone.
•
Access to the internet and a fax machine.
•
Support and supervision by a host site supervisor.
•
All position-specific guidance and training necessary for the completion of the VISTA project.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Segal Education Award Information
edaward.org
Health Coverage Information
americorps.sevencorners.com
VISTA Campus
vistacampus.org
VMSU (VISTA Member Support Unit)/ National Service Hotline
1-800-942-2677
Food Stamps
www.mybenefits.ny.gov
AmeriCorps Alums
www.americorpsalums.org
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VISTA MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
All members are responsible for meeting the requirements stated in their VISTA contract.
REPORTING
Each VISTA Member is required to submit an electronic monthly report detailing activities, resources generated,
individuals served, and challenges faced or stories related to their service. Reports are due to your VISTA Leader by
the 5th day of each month (i.e. the January 1st-January 31st report is due by February 5th). Reports are to be
submitted to your VISTA Leader via email and you must always CC your host site supervisor so that the host site
supervisor also receives each report. The monthly report is your place to show the VISTA Management Team and
your host site supervisor the efforts and results of your service. Please read the explanations provided on the first
page of the member reporting template for further clarification.
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Why is my monthly report important?
o Your reports are compiled to complete our program's semi-annual progress report. The data and
progress stated in the report are reviewed by the Corporation for National and Community Service,
and your effectiveness directly affects our program's ability to receive future funding. In short, your
service influences federal dollars coming into New York State!
o Reports give each member a chance to reflect and provide feedback to the VISTA Management Team
on accomplishments and challenges.
o Finally, your reports are necessary for your supervisor to assess the overall progress of the project,
make adjustments where necessary, and complete their reports for Serve New York VISTA.
COLLECTING AND STORING DATA FOR VISTA MONTHLY REPORTS
The Service Collaborative of Western New York relies on the data gathered, analyzed, and reported by its members
to renew project funding, develop partnerships, and secure additional grants. It is important to us that the data
you provide on your monthly reports is accurate, accountable, and easily traced back to its source.
Twice a year, Serve New York VISTA sends Performance Progress Reports to the Corporation for National and
Community Service. These reports rely heavily on member monthly reports to provide CNCS with updates on our
community impact, service goals, and overall progress.
We strongly recommend that members start and maintain a folder to track data and ensure that data sources
are easily accessible. This folder could include the following types of documents (or photocopies thereof):
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Grant award letters from funders/foundations, or a letter on organization letterhead confirming the
award of funding
Volunteer sign-in sheets or volunteer log
Press/media clippings, and/or press releases
Participant logs for programs, classes, service-events, etc.
Copies of sample survey distributed to participants with summary of survey results.
If at any point you struggle with accessing, analyzing, or otherwise reporting data, please contact your VISTA
Leader. Do not hesitate to share your monthly reports with your site supervisor as he or she should be able to
assist you in identifying the people who or place which can satisfy your data needs.
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TIMESHEETS/PAYROLL
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Submission
o Time Records are due bi-weekly according to the payroll schedule. In the case that a timesheet is due
on a holiday, please submit your timesheet on the next business day. If you cannot have your
supervisor sign your timesheet by this deadline, please send it without the appropriate signature. Resend a copy of the signed timesheet as soon as possible.
o Any payroll related changes (direct deposit, address change, etc.) must be submitted to VISTA Staff.
o Please make sure that your signature is on each timesheet you submit.
o Timesheets should be emailed to Colleen Homer or faxed with a coversheet to 716 822 3060, Attn:
Colleen Homer
Hour Requirements
o Each VISTA member is required to serve at least 40 hours each week, which includes a daily one-hour
lunch break (as required by NYS Law). This means that each pay period, a member should have
served at least 80 hours, including time taken for lunches.
o If you serve two shifts in one day, please record those exact hours. It is perfectly acceptable to record
the first shift in the “Time In” box, and the second shift in the “Time Out” box.
*Example:
Day
Date
Time In
Time Out
Mon
11/12/2013
7am-10am
1pm-6pm
Total Hours
8 hrs
o Please total your hours and record the total on each timesheet.
Activities
o Activities must be recorded for each day served.
o Please provide at least two to three descriptions/activities for each day of service.
Holidays/Time Off
o Holiday host site closings should be indicated for each day when they occur. Never leave a day you
normally serve at your site blank; please indicate the reason you did not serve on that normally
scheduled day. These days off do not count as hours of service, so please do not add them to payroll
totals. The same pertains to vacation and sick days.
o When Holidays, closings, and days off occur during a pay period, you are not required to meet your
minimal 80 hours. Whatever constitutes a full day of service for your site (in hours) should be
subtracted from your required 80 hours. *EXAMPLE: Site is closed two days for Christmas, you
normally serve an 8 hour day at your site with a one hour lunch, that pay period you will need to total
at least 64 hours.*
o Any sick or vacation time taken during a VISTA’s year of service must be documented on a member's
time off request log. In the case of sick days, please turn in your signed time off request log with the
corresponding timesheet. If you plan to take vacation days, your time off request log must be
submitted to the Program Specialist at least three business days before the scheduled time off
occurs.
o Please remember that VISTA Members serve 24/7. This means that VISTAs should be serving at their
host site whenever it is open and staff is required to report. (i.e.-If your host site is open on
Saturdays, then you are required to serve at your site on that day.)
If you ever have a question related to timesheets or pay, please contact Colleen Homer at 716-418-8500 ext. 141
or chomer@tscwny.org.
MEMBER TRAININGS
Serve New York VISTA holds a three day overnight training conference in October. In addition to this training,
members will attend monthly trainings. Accommodations for transportation to these events are provided when
necessary and if possible. Members are urged to carpool to trainings as much as possible. If you perceive a
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potential conflict at your host site with a mandatory training event, please contact your VISTA Leader as soon as
possible to discuss the situation. Details for member trainings are communicated by VISTA Leaders through e-mail.
SERVICE EVENTS
Throughout each member's year of service, there will be various opportunities to take part in direct community
service projects. We encourage our members to participate in these special events whenever possible.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 9/11, and AmeriCorps Week always serve as our program’s mandatory Service Projects.
These are our organization's biggest service events of the year, and they coincide with the Corporation for National
and Community Service's mandate to increase volunteerism on MLK Day and 9/11, as well as recognize
AmeriCorps members during AmeriCorps Week.
SITE VISITS
It is a program requirement for each VISTA member to meet with a VISTA Leader monthly during his or her first
year of service, and bi-monthly during the second and/or third year of service (although a monthly visit is still
available to all members upon request). Site visits generally take place at a member’s host site and usually take
about an hour, depending on a member's individual needs. The purpose of the visit is to provide each member
with an opportunity to connect with the VISTA Leader as a mentor and to discuss VISTA-related topics. Site visits
follow a curriculum that relates to a member's stage in his or her service; they are a time to discuss how the
project is going and possible ways to strengthen the VISTA member's efforts. At least twice per year, the VISTA
staff will also go along for all monthly site visits to check in with each member face to face.
VISTA Leaders will schedule site visits as early as possible via email. It is requested that members be
accommodating and accept the Leader's requested meeting time whenever possible, barring major conflicts;
concomitantly, it is expected that VISTA members give advanced notice if it is absolutely necessary to change a site
visit time.
COMMUNICATION
All VISTA Members are required to provide communication to the Management Team regarding the following:
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Project progress
Accurate mailing address
Personal and host site contact information (i.e. phone, fax, email, etc.)
Any problems or concerns you may have during your VISTA service
THE HATCH ACT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ACTIVITIES DOES THE HATCH ACT RESTRICT?
AmeriCorps VISTA members, as well as AmeriCorps VISTA programs and projects, are subject to certain restrictions
related to their engagement in political activities. Such political activities are classified as either: (1) engaging in
electoral activities; (2) engaging in lobbying; or (3) participating in demonstrations.
Under the Hatch Act, AmeriCorps VISTA members are prohibited from engaging in the following activities at all
times during service, including off duty service time:
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May not use their official authority or influence, as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, to influence an election
May not knowingly solicit or discourage the political activity of any individual or organization that has business
before the Corporation for National and Community Service or the AmeriCorps VISTA program (e.g., an
AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organization or project)
May not engage in political activity while in service time as an AmeriCorps VISTA member (e.g., while on duty
as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at a sponsoring organization or project)
May not engage in political activity while in any office of the AmeriCorps VISTA program (e.g., while at the
sponsoring organization or the project)
May not engage in political activity while using a vehicle owned or leased by the AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring
organization or project
May not be a candidate for public office in a partisan election
May not wear political buttons while in service time as an AmeriCorps VISTA member (e.g., while on duty as
an AmeriCorps VISTA member at a sponsoring organization or project)
May not engage in political activity while wearing an article of clothing, badge, insignia, or other similar item
that identifies the Corporation or the AmeriCorps VISTA program
AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organizations and projects may not use funds or personnel in a manner that
supports or identifies the AmeriCorps VISTA program with partisan or nonpartisan election activities. Sponsoring
organizations and projects also may not use funds or personnel in a manner that supports or results in voter
registration activities, or that provides transportation to the polls. Additionally, no AmeriCorps VISTA member or
employee of a sponsoring organization may take any action with respect to a partisan or nonpartisan political
activity that would result in the identification or apparent identification of the AmeriCorps VISTA program with
such activity. The Hatch Act also prohibits AmeriCorps VISTA members from engaging in voter registration
activities or providing transportation to the polls during VISTA service hours.
WHAT ARE THE HATCH ACT RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING?
AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organizations may not assign AmeriCorps VISTA members to perform service or
engage in activities related to influencing the passage or defeat of legislation, or of legislative proposals or
initiatives. Also, AmeriCorps VISTA members are generally prohibited from engaging in such lobbying activities;
however, there are two rare exceptions to this prohibition on lobbying:
An AmeriCorps VISTA member may draft, review, testify, or make a representation on a legislative measure if the
member is asked by a legislative body, a committee of a legislative body, or member of a legislative body.
An AmeriCorps VISTA member may draft, review, testify, or make a written representation to a legislative body
regarding a legislative measure directly affecting the operation of an AmeriCorps VISTA project or program to
which the member is assigned, as long as:
(1) The sponsoring organization notifies the Corporation State Director on a quarterly basis of all activity
occurring pursuant to this exception; and (2) The legislative measure related to the funding of the
AmeriCorps VISTA project or program affects the existence or basic structure of the project or program.
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WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE PERMISSIBLE FOR AMERICORPS VISTA UNDER THE HATCH ACT?
Permissible activities under the Hatch Act, unless prohibited by other statutory authority, apply to members when
they are on authorized leave or are not perceived to be performing as an AmeriCorps VISTA member (e.g., while
not actually or perceived as performing service, or off duty service time).
Under the Hatch Act, during off duty service time, AmeriCorps VISTA members may engage in certain political
activities, as follows:
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May be candidates for public office in nonpartisan elections
May register and vote as they choose
May assist in voter registration drives
May express opinions about candidates and issues
May contribute money to political organizations
May attend political fundraising functions
May attend and be active at political rallies and meetings
May join and be an active member of a political party or club
May sign nominating petitions
May campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, municipal ordinances
May campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections
May make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections
May distribute campaign literature in partisan elections
May hold office in political clubs or parties, including serving as a delegate to a convention
CAN AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS?
As mentioned above, AmeriCorps VISTA members may participate in political rallies and meetings (i.e.,
demonstrations) with certain limitations. They may do these types of activities only while on authorized leave, or
while off-duty or not otherwise engaged in performing AmeriCorps VISTA service. Such activities cannot be related
to projects of the sponsoring organizations where the member serves. Moreover, AmeriCorps VISTA members may
only participate in such activities to the extent that:
(1) The member does not represent or attempt to represent the views of AmeriCorps VISTA members on any
public issue;
(2) The member's participation could not be reasonably understood by the community as being identified
with the AmeriCorps VISTA program, the project, or other elements of his or her service;
(3) The member's participation does not interfere with the performance of his or her duties.
No sponsoring organization may approve an AmeriCorps VISTA member's involvement in planning, initiating,
participating in, or otherwise aiding or assisting in any demonstration.
An AmeriCorps VISTA member must contact the Corporation State Office, and get its permission, before
he/she engages in any of the activities-electoral, lobbying, or demonstration-discussed above.
Adapted from http://www.nationalservice.gov/help/vistahandbook/chapter14.html
For additional information, please consult the VISTA Handbook at the above website or contact:
Steve Deisig, Director of VISTA & Opportunity Corps
The Service Collaborative of Western New York
2188 Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 418-8500 ext. 153
sdeisig@TSCWNY.org
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THE SERVICE COLLABORATIVE ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
NON-HARASSMENT
We prohibit harassment of one employee by another employee, supervisor or third party for any reason
[“protected class”] including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or any other protected class under federal, state or
local law. Harassment of third parties by our employees is also prohibited.
In New York, the following are a protected class: age [18 and over], race, creed, color, national origin, sexual
orientation, sex, disability (including use of a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog), predisposing genetic
characteristics, military status, marital status and previous conviction of criminal offenses, unless directly related
to employment or would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals
or the general public.
The purpose of this policy is not to regulate the personal morality of employees. It is to ensure that in the
workplace, no employee harasses another for any reason or in any manner. The conduct prohibited by this policy
includes conduct in any form including but not limited to e-mail, voice mail, chat rooms, Internet use or history,
text messages, pictures, images, writings, words, or gestures.
While it is not easy to define precisely what harassment is, it includes: slurs, epithets, threats, derogatory
comments or visual depictions, unwelcome jokes and teasing.
Any employee who feels that (s)he has been harassed should report the situation immediately to the following
member of management who has been designated to receive such complaints: Tina Dalka at (716) 418-8500 ext.
118 and 2188 Seneca Street Buffalo, NY 14210. If an employee makes a report to any of these members of
management and the manager does not respond or does not respond in a manner the employee deems
satisfactory or consistent with this policy, the employee is required to report the situation to one of the other
members of management designated in this policy to receive complaints.
The Organization will investigate all such reports as confidentially as possible. Adverse action will not be taken
against an employee because he or she, in good faith, reports or participates in the investigation of a violation of
policy. Violations of this policy are not permitted and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including
discharge.
In addition, the following will not be tolerated and will result in immediate disciplinary action up to and including
termination of service: Obscene Language/Gestures, Intimidation, Humiliation, Verbal and/or Physical Abuse
(fighting is included), Harassment of any kind, Disrespect.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Any type of sexual harassment is against Organization policy and may be unlawful.
We firmly prohibit sexual harassment of any employee by another employee, supervisor or third party.
Harassment of third parties by our employees is also prohibited. The purpose of this policy is not to regulate the
morality of employees. It is to ensure that in the workplace, no employee is subject to sexual harassment. While it
is not easy to define precisely what sexual harassment is, it may include: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and/or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature including, but not limited to sexually-related
drawings, pictures, jokes, teasing, uninvited touching or other sexually-related comments. The conduct prohibited
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by this policy includes conduct in any form including but not limited to: e-mail, voice mail, chat rooms, Internet use
or history, text messages, pictures images, writing, words or gestures.
Sexual harassment of an employee will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action,
up to and including discharge. There will be no adverse action taken against employees who report violations of
this policy in good faith or participate in the investigation of such violations.
Any employee who feels that (s)he is a victim of sexual harassment should immediately report such actions in
accordance with the following procedure. All complaints will be promptly and thoroughly investigated as
confidentially as possible.
(1) Any employee who believes that (s)he is a victim of sexual harassment or has been retaliated against for
complaining of sexual harassment, should report the situation immediately to the following member of
management who has been designated to receive such complaints: Tina Dalka at (716) 418-8500 ext. 118
and 2188 Seneca Street Buffalo, NY 14210. In an employee makes a report to any of these members of
management and the manager either does not responds or does not respond in a manner the employee
deems satisfactory or consistent with this policy, the employee is required to report the situation to one
of the other members of management designated in this policy to receive complaints.
(2) The Organization will investigate every reported incident immediately. Any employee, supervisor or
agent of the Organization who has been found to have violated this policy may be subject to appropriate
disciplinary action, up to and including immediate discharge.
(3) The Organization will conduct all investigations in a discreet manner. The Organization recognizes that
every investigation requires a determination based on all the facts in the matter. We also recognize the
serious impact a false accusation can have. We trust that all employees will continue to act responsibly.
(4) The reporting employee and any employee participating in any investigation under this policy have the
Organization’s assurance that no reprisals will be taken as a result of a sexual harassment complaint. It is
our policy to encourage discussion of the matter, to help protect others from being subjected to similar
inappropriate behavior.
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MEMBER GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR THE SERVICE
COLLABORATIVE
During a member’s service, a situation may arise that directly affects the member’s work situation or that the
member believes violates regulations governing the terms and conditions of service, resulting in a denial or
infringement of a right or benefit to the member.
As a member of the Serve New York VISTA Project you are servicing under a Program Grant that has been awarded
to The Service Collaborative by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Under the Memorandum of
Agreement between The Service Collaborative and the Corporation for National and Community Service, The
Service Collaborative is responsible for providing a comprehensive procedure that will enable members to bring
service-related issues to the attention of the Service Collaborative Management Staff for resolution.
An AmeriCorps VISTA member serving through The Service Collaborative who is experiencing an issue that is
effecting their ability to serve needs to bring that issue or those issues to the attention of Service Collaborative
Staff through the following steps.
A. DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT OR OTHER VIOLATION OF RIGHTS
If you believe your rights have been violated or if you believe your host site has violated any of the federal
laws or regulations governing the VISTA Project, you must immediately contact the VISTA Director. The
VISTA Director will meet with the host site supervisor within 48 hours of the member’s notification. If the
situation cannot be resolved, the member will be removed from the host site and placed at the
Sponsoring agency while a new suitable host site is located. No member will remain at a site that violates
their rights or the laws and regulations governing the VISTA Project.
B. UNSATISFIED WITH ASSIGNMENT
If your rights have not been violated but you feel that the host site and assignment is not what you
expected, you have two (2) options:
 Option 1: Seek resolution to the current problem or problems by:
1. Speaking with your host site supervisor, expressing your concerns and asking for help in resolving
the situation. Give your host site supervisor adequate time and information with which to resolve
the issue, and assist by preparing some possible solutions. As a rule, always approach your
supervisor with possible solutions and not just problems.
2. If after speaking with your host site supervisor and giving him or her time to resolve the issues you
feel as though the problems are persisting, then contact your VISTA Leader. Your VISTA Leader will
listen and offer guidance, drawing on his or her experience as a member to help you come up with
a plan to help resolve the issues. If after consultation with the Leader and the decided-upon followup action the member finds that the problem still persists, then the member and Leader should
alert the VISTA Director to the issue with a detailed, documented account of the issue and all steps
taken to resolve the issue to date.
3. Upon receipt of this documentation, the VISTA Director will meet with the member and the host
site supervisor together to try and resolve the issue through communication, mediation and
compromise. The VISTA Director retains the authority make final decisions with regard to the
VISTA project and steps necessary to resolve the issue and will take into account the VISTA host site
supervisor’s and member’s requests in attempting to resolve the situation.
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*You forfeit your right for redress if you walk off your site (unless it is a situation of harassment or other violation of
your rights and/or the laws and regulations that govern the VISTA Project). The VISTA Management Staff will
immediately submit a written request for termination to the Corporation for any member who walks off his or her
host site in lieu of following the steps outlined in this grievance policy.*
 Option 2: Resign from the VISTA Project.
1. Submit a written resignation to the VISTA Management Staff.
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The Serve New York VISTA Management Staff will make every effort to resolve all issues that are
hindering a member’s service. However, your initial site placement is not a trial until something better or
more interesting comes along. Each site has been picked and approved because of their need and the
benefit they provide to the community. Transferring a member to a different project within the
Sponsoring project is a last resort. All attempts will be made to preserve the initial placement.
If the Director of the project agrees to transfer the member to a new host site, the member should
understand that this will be the sole transfer.
If the member believes the Sponsor did not respond appropriately to the situation or violated federal laws
or regulations, the member is entitled to seek redress with the Corporation for National and Community
Service by contacting the State Program Specialist.
Before contacting the State Program Specialist, please review the Administrative Policies as detailed in
your VISTA handbook.
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DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE POLICY
The Service Collaborative of Western New York (TSCWNY) is, in conformance with the Federal Drug Free
Workplace Act of 1988, maintains a drug-free workplace. All program participants should be aware that the policy
of TSCWNY, and its sub-sites, is that all participants will be subject to criminal, civil and disciplinary penalties if they
distribute, sell, attempt to sell, possess, or purchase controlled substances while at the workplace or while
performing in a program-related capacity. Participants are also prohibited from on the job use or impairment from
alcohol or a controlled substance.
All participants will abide by the terms of this statement and will notify the Executive Director of any criminal drug
statute convictions for a violation occurring at any TSCWNY program site, no later than five (5) days after such
conviction under federal law. The notification procedure relates only to convictions, not arrests.
All participants are reminded of TSCWNYs’ position that alcoholism and other substance abuse are treatable
diseases. All participants are encouraged to utilize the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and/or the drug free
awareness program for any problems, which impact program participation and performance.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE AWARENESS PROGRAM
In order to maintain a drug and alcohol free workplace, The Service Collaborative of Western New York (TSCWNY)
has established a drug and alcohol free awareness program to educate employees on 1) the danger of drug abuse
and alcohol in the workplace; 2) TSCWNY’s drug and alcohol free workplace policy; 3) the availability of any drug
and alcohol counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and 4) the penalties that may be
imposed upon employees for drug abuse and alcohol violations, and violations of the TSCWNY drug and alcohol
free workplace. Such education includes: the distribution of our drug and alcohol free workplace policy at the
employment interview; a discussion of our drug and alcohol free policy at the new employee orientation session;
the distribution of published educational materials regarding the dangers of drug abuse and alcohol misuse;
reorientation of all involved employees in cases in which a drug and/or alcohol-related accident or incidents
occurs; and inclusion of the company’s drug and alcohol free workplace policy in the Employee Handbook and any
other personnel policy publications.
The Service Collaborative will not tolerate the use of drugs and/or alcohol during work hours or at any Corps
activity or event. Consequences: Any Corps member suspected of reporting to work under the influence of
drugs/and or alcohol will be suspended pending an immediate drug test. If the test is positive, a suspension will
follow until treatment and counseling are completed. Failure to attend and complete counseling will result in
termination.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE ACT:
The following statement is published in order to comply with the provisions of the Drug Free Workplace Act of
1988. Each member of The Service Collaborative is hereby notified that the unlawful manufacture, distribution,
dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace, on project sites, and any
time you are wearing the AmeriCorps uniform and/or representing the AmeriCorps program. If you are caught in
violation of these prohibitions, a disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the Drug and Alcohol Abuse
policy.
DEFINITIONS:
Alcohol or Alcoholic Beverage: any beverage containing alcohol that may be legally sold or consumed.
Drug: any substance of altering mood, perception, pain level, or judgment of the individual consuming it.
Prescribed drug: any substance prescribed for the individual consuming it by a licensed medical practitioner.
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Illegal drug: any drug or controlled substance, the sale or consumption of which is illegal.
On premises: any office, building, vehicle or property owned, leased, rented, or operated by TSCWNY or Serve
New York VISTA; or any other site at which a program participant performs work.
Impaired: under the influence of a substance such that the participant’s motor abilities (sight, hearing, balance,
reaction, and reflex) or judgment are, or may reasonably be presumed to be, affected.
Possession: on a program participant’s person; in a program participant’s vehicle, duffel bag, lunch box, or in an
area entrusted to the control of a program participant, such as a desk, file cabinet, or locker.
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS:
All program participants, as a condition of participation, must abide by this policy, and must notify Serve New York
VISTA of any criminal drug law conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) days after
such conviction. If convicted, the participant will be terminated immediately.
INSPECTIONS:
Refusal to submit to an inspection will be treated as an act of insubordination and may result in termination. Upon
reasonable suspicion, a program participant’s work area, desk, files, lockers, and personal belongings at the
worksite are subject to inspection.
TARGETED SUBSTANCES:
Some of the drugs that are illegal under federal, state or local laws include marijuana, heroin, cocaine and PCP
hallucinogens. Depressants and stimulants not prescribed for current personal treatment by an accredited
physician are also illegal.
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SERVE NEW YORK AMERICORPS MEMBER CONTRACT
I. PURPOSE
It is the purpose of this contract to explain the terms, conditions, and rules of membership regarding the
participation of
(“Member”) in the Serve New York VISTA Program.
II. TERMS OF SERVICE
I understand that my term of Service begins the day after I take the Oath of Service. My first living allowance will
be for less than fourteen days as I will not have served fourteen days.
Term of service begins on ____________________and ends on _____________________.
Member’s term of service shall be served at________________________. The site may be changed if either the
Sponsor or the Corporation deems the site to be in non-compliance or the sponsor deems the Member is unable to
serve to his or her capacity.
I understand as a Member I will not be employed with any company or agency during my service. I will also not
attend school, without prior permission from the Sponsor.
I understand that I may request an extension or re-enrollment, however either is not guaranteed. The decision to
extend or re-enroll requires the permission of the Sponsor’s AmeriCorps VISTA Director and is dependant upon
available funding to the Corporation, the nature of the agreement between the Corporation and Sponsoring
Organization, and my performance and conduct as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member.
I understand that I am making a commitment to serve 24/7. This means I will be available outside of my normal
workday when the Host Site, Sponsor, or Corporation finds my participation necessary in serving the local or
national community.
III. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Member of Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA I acknowledge that I will be held accountable for the following:
1. Time Records- I will submit a bi-weekly time record documenting my service hours and activities. All time
records are due the day a new pay period begins. For specific dates, please see the Pay Period Schedule in the OnSite Orientation and Training guide.
2. Time Off Requests- I am required to submit a time-off request for any time away from my Host Site.
This
includes doctors’ appointments, funerals, vacations, or personal time. This request will be submitted no later than
three days before the first requested day off, and immediately following my return to the Host Site after taking sick
leave.
I receive ten days of sick leave and ten days of personal leave during my service, and these will not be taken during
my first three months or last month of service unless it is in the case of a medical or family emergency. In the event
of a medical or a family emergency, documentation must be provided in writing to the VISTA staff as soon as
possible.
3. Monthly Reports- I am responsible for completing and submitting a project progress report on the fifth (5th)
of every month. I will use the form provided by the Sponsor. Timely completion and submission of these reports is
vital to the success and continuation of Serve New York. Non-compliance will place my Member status in
jeopardy.
4. Member Issues- When issues or problems arise at my site I will follow the procedures listed in the grievance
policy. If I walk off my host-site, I acknowledge that this action will be taken as resignation from AmeriCorps VISTA.
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5. Participation in Member Development and Training Activities- All prospective Members are required to attend
Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) at a location of the Corporation’s choosing.
Upon return from PSO, Members will attend On-site Orientation and Training with the Sponsor prior to beginning
service at the Host Site. The Sponsor will organize a training, meeting, or service project a minimum of once every
other month for member development. Participation in these trainings is mandatory unless prior arrangements
have been made with Sponsor management. Members are expected to attend and participate in the planning and
implementation of additional member activities, including but not limited to trainings, service projects, and special
events. The Sponsor, on occasion, offers additional activities that may not be available to all Members. In such
cases, selection of members to participate in such activities will be made based on performance factors. These
performance factors include attendance and active participation in member activities, training activities, and
service projects, timely completion of reporting paperwork and participation in Sponsor events.
6. Member Visits- I am required to meet with a Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA Leader on a bi-monthly basis for
an on-site visit at my Host Site.
IV. AMERICORPS VISTA POLICIES
As a VISTA I will adhere to the following policies, established by federal law or regulation:
1. Civil Rights Laws- Title VI of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, ensures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color,
or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to
discrimination by any recipients of federal financial assistance.
2. Sexual Harassment- The overarching federal legislation authorizing the AmeriCorps VISTA program and the
National Service Trust prohibits sexual harassment of any kind.
3. Prohibitions on Political and Lobbying Activities- AmeriCorps VISTA programs and Members are prohibited
from using funds or personnel in a matter supporting or resulting in the identification of such programs with
partisan or nonpartisan election activities, in voter registration activities, and providing transportation to the polls.
AmeriCorps VISTA Members are prohibited from any activity intended to influence the passage or defeat of
legislation or proposals by initiative proposals or by initiative petition.
Members may participate in political activities allowed under the Hatch Act. Permissible activities, unless
prohibited by other statutory authority when the Members are on authorized leave or are not perceived to be
performing as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member include:
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Registering to vote;
Expressing opinions about candidates and issues in a non-public context;
Contributing money to political organizations;
Attending political meetings;
Joining and being a Member of a political party and club; and
Signing nominating petitions.
Members may not identify any of these activities with AmeriCorps VISTA or your Sponsoring Organization.
4. Corporation Guidelines on Service of Members in Religious Organizations or Activities- Members may not give
religious instruction, conduct worship services, or engage in any other religious activity as part of their AmeriCorps
VISTA duties, or which would be perceived as part of their duties by Members of the community in which they
serve.
No religious instruction, worship, proselytizing, or other religious activity will be conducted as part of a project to
which Members are assigned or referred.
Members who serve in an institution that gives religious instruction or engages in other religious activities will not
be used as a replacement for regular personnel.
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5. Limitations on Demonstrations- AmeriCorps VISTA Members may not engage in planning, initiating,
participating in, or otherwise aiding or assisting in any demonstration whatsoever.
6. Limitation on Displacement of Employed Workers and Impairment of Contracts for Service- The Domestic
Volunteer Service Act prohibits you as a Member from performing activities or duties that would otherwise be
carried out by employed workers, or would supplant the hiring of, or result in the displacement of, employed
workers or would impair existing contracts for service.
7. Limitation on Receiving any compensation for service of AmeriCorps VISTA Members- The Domestic Volunteer
Service Act prohibits Members from requesting or receiving any compensation from the Sponsoring Organization
or the site in which the Member is assigned.
8. Limitation on Labor or Anti-Labor Activity- The Domestic Volunteer Service Act prohibits Corporation funds
from being used, directly or indirectly, to finance labor or anti-labor organizations or related activities.
9. Nepotism- Persons selected as AmeriCorps VISTA Members shall not be placed or assigned to an AmeriCorps
VISTA project when related by blood, marriage, or adoption to project staff, Sponsoring Organization staff, officers
or Members of the Sponsoring Organizations Board of Directors, or Corporation program staff responsible for the
AmeriCorps VISTA project. I acknowledge that I am not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to project staff,
Sponsoring Organization staff, officers or Members of the Sponsoring Organizations Board of Directors, or
Corporation program staff responsible for the AmeriCorps VISTA project.
10. AmeriCorps VISTA Fraternization- Relationships between AmeriCorps VISTA Members and the staff Members
(including volunteer and contracted personnel) of the Corporation, Sponsoring Organization, and Project Site that
are exploitive or that have the appearance of partiality, preferential treatment, or the improper use of position for
personal gain, are prejudicial to the morale of AmeriCorps VISTA Members and will not be tolerated.
V. RULES OF CONDUCT
1. At all times, while serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member, the Member is expected to:
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Demonstrate mutual respect toward others;
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Follow directions;
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Direct concerns, problems, and suggestions to the Program Staff and Host Site Supervisor;
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Under Corporation for National and Community Service Policy, AmeriCorps Members must provide a
direct and demonstrable benefit that is valued by the community. Service activities must be related to
and support the Program goals and objectives. Service activities approved by The Service Collaborative
VISTA and the Corporation for National and Community Service in the host site’s grant application must
comprise the member’s daily activities.
2. At no time may the Member:
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Engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state or federal law;
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Engage in activities that pose a significant risk to others;
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Raise funds for living allowances or for an organization’s general (as opposed to project) operating
expenses or endowment;
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Write a grant application to the Corporation or to any other Federal Agency;
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Engage in an assignment that displaces employees; and
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Engage in other activities as the Corporation for National and Community Service, and/or the AmeriCorps
VISTA program determines as prohibited.
3. The Member understands that the following acts will constitute a violation of the Program’s Code of Conduct:
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Wearing inappropriate clothing to service assignments;
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Stealing or lying;
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Engaging in activity that may physically or emotionally damage other members of the Program or
members of the community;
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Possessing or using any illegal drugs;
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Consuming alcoholic beverages or any illegal drugs during the performances of service activities; Under
the Drug Free Workplace Act, the Member must immediately notify the Director of VISTA if he/she is
convicted under any criminal drug statute. Continued participation in the Program is contingent upon
compliance with this notice requirement.
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Failing to notify the Program of any criminal arrest or conviction that occurs during the term of service;
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Falsifying or failing to complete Program records such as service timesheets, monthly reports, etc.
VI. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
For violation of the above stated rules, the Program may impose any of the following disciplinary actions at the
discretion of Program Officials (except in cases where during the term of service the Member has been charged
with or convicted of a violent felony, or the possession, sale or distribution of a controlled substance). The degree
of violation and related circumstances shall be taken into account in determining the appropriate action. A
sanction need not be imposed in every case, and no action taken shall be more serious than is clearly appropriate
given the circumstances. The actions that may be taken by Program Officials include:
1. Verbal Warning- An oral statement to the Member that he/she has violated Program rules. This warning should
include the nature of the violation and the consequences of the further violation.
2. Written Warning- A written statement to the Member of the violation and a clear indication that repetition of
wrongful conduct will be followed by more severe disciplinary action. The Member and appropriate program
official will develop and agree upon a corrective action plan. Such written statement shall become part of the
Member’s permanent personnel file.
3. Removal from Host Site- If the Host Site determines that a Member is not a suitable match for their
organization, or if they feel a Member is not effective in the position, the Host Site can request immediate
removal. Upon removal from the Host Site, the Member will continue working at the Sponsor site until a new host
site has been identified.
4. Administrative Hold Status- If a Member has been removed from their Host Site and the Sponsor is unable to
allow them to continue to serve through Serve New York AC VISTA, the Sponsor will inform the Member of the
decision to request that they be placed on Administrative Hold. The Sponsor will submit the request in writing to
the State Program Specialist who will approve or deny the request. If the request is approved, the Member will
have thirty (30) days from the effective date to secure another VISTA placement that has no relation to Serve New
York AmeriCorps VISTA Administrative Hold is not a request the sponsor makes lightly. If a request is made for you
to be placed on Administrative Hold, then the Sponsor has exhausted all available options.
5. Suspension- A Member may be suspended for up to thirty (30) days in order to determine whether sufficient
evidence exists to start termination proceedings against the Member.
Notice of suspension may be either written or verbal and is effective upon delivery to the Member.
Within three (3) days after initiation of the suspension, the Member will receive a written notice of suspension
setting forth in specific detail the reason for the suspension.
During the suspension period, the Member may not engage in project activities but will continue to receive all
allowances.
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6. Early Termination- The Corporation may terminate or suspend a Member as an AmeriCorps VISTA based on
conduct (for cause termination) for the following reasons:
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Conviction of a criminal offense under federal, state, or local statute or ordinance;
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Violation of any provision of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, or a Corporation
regulation, policy, or guideline;
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Failure, refusal, or inability to perform prescribed project duties as outlined in the project application
and/or assignment description and as directed by the Sponsoring Organization to which you are assigned;
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Involvement in activities that substantially interfere with your performance of project duties;
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Intentional false statement, omission, fraud, or deception on obtaining selection as a Member;
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Any conduct on the Member’s part that substantially diminishes effectiveness an AmeriCorps VISTA
Member including skipping mandatory training sessions at state, cluster or national training events;
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Or unsatisfactory performance of assignment.
7. Request for Termination- A written request by the Sponsoring Organization to the Corporation for National and
Community Service that the Member’s service be terminated early. This request, with details of the action(s), shall
become a part of the Member’s permanent personnel file.
8. Termination for cause- The ability to terminate a Member’s service early lay solely with the Corporation for
National and Community Service and is based on the “Grounds for Member Termination” as explained in the VISTA
Member Handbook.
VII. BENEFITS
The Member will receive the following benefits during their year of service:
1. Living Allowance- The Member will receive a bi-weekly living allowance in the gross amount of $436.62. The
living allowance is taxable. Living allowances received by AmeriCorps VISTA Members shall not in any way reduce
or eliminate the level of, or eligibility for, assistance or services that any AmeriCorps VISTA member may be
receiving or is eligible to receive under any governmental program. Neither the Corporation nor the Project
Sponsor assumes any financial responsibility for a Member other than the allowances and benefits provided to a
member. Further, the Corporation assumes no financial responsibility for a Member’s spouse or dependant
children. A Host Site can supplement the Member by providing housing or subsidized housing, mileage
reimbursement, bus passes, or use of a company vehicle.
2. Medical Benefits- Members are covered by the AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefits Program, which includes
Health Benefits and coverage for service-related injuries or illnesses. Coverage begins automatically (unless proper
documentation of existing coverage has been provided) the Member’s first day of service and ends on the date of
termination as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member. Coverage does not extend to a spouse or other dependants.
3. Paid Time Off- Members receive ten (10) personal and ten (10) sick days during their year of service. All timeoff from a Member’s host site must be documented by a Time-off Request Log with a supervisor’s authorizing
signature. Personal days are not allowed to be taken during a member’s first three (3) months of service or during
his/her last month of service.
4. Workman's Compensation- Members are not covered under The Service Collaborative or Host Site Workmen’s
Compensation Policy. Members are not employees of either organization. For all service related injuries, Members
must use the Individual Health Insurance provided by the Corporation.
5. Child Care Subsidy- AmeriCorps VISTA offers child care benefits to qualifying Members. These benefits are nontaxable to Members.
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6. Life Insurance Policy- AmeriCorps VISTA Members may enroll in the voluntary life insurance plan. The cost of
life insurance is $2.07 and is deducted automatically from each living allowance check. Members must enroll or
waive coverage during On Site Orientation and Training and provide evidence of such.
7. Loan Forbearance- This is only available to Members that elect the Education Award benefit. If the Member has
received forbearance on a qualified student loan during their term of service and the member successfully
completes his/her term, the National Service Trust will repay any interest that accrued on the loan during the term
of service. This payment is considered taxable income for the year in which it is issued.
VIII. POST SERVICE BENEFITS
1. Education Award
Upon successful completion of the Member’s full-time term of service, the Member will receive an Education
Award in the amount of $5,550.00 from the National Service Trust. The Education Award is considered taxable
income for the year(s) in which it is used.
The Education Award can be used in the following ways:
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To repay qualified student loans;
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To pay for all or part of the cost of attending a qualified institution of higher education; and
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To pay qualified expenses incurred while participating in an approved school-to-work opportunities
system program.
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The Education Award can only be used at participating Title IV schools. It is up to the Member to contact
those institutions in which they are planning to use the education award in advance of electing the
Education Award.
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Members are eligible to receive up to two (2) awards.
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The Education Award can be chosen at the beginning of the Member’s service. If the Member forfeits the
Education Award at the beginning of his or her service, then the Member is not eligible to select the
Education Award later in his or her service term.
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If the Member selects the Education Award and would like to instead choose the End of Service cash
stipend, the Member has through his or her tenth (10th) month of service to do so.
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If the Member has not yet received a high school diploma or its equivalent, including an alternative
diploma or certificate for individuals with learning disabilities, the Member agrees to obtain a high school
diploma or its equivalent prior to being issued the Education Award.
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If the Member has received forbearance on a qualified student loan during the term of service, and the
Member successfully completes the term of service, the National Service Trust will repay any interest that
accrued on the loan during the term of service. This payment is considered taxable income for the year in
which it is issued.
2. Post Service Stipend
Members who do not select the Education Award will receive the post-service stipend. (Members who chose the
stipend will still be eligible for the other education benefits.)
The post-service stipend for a Member is equal to $1,500.00. The post-service stipend for a VISTA Leader is equal
to $3,000.00.
Members do not receive a stipend if they do not complete a full term of twelve months.
Federal income tax and Social Security (FICA) deductions are withheld from the stipend at the time of any
payment.
The Member may elect to change from selecting the Education Award to selecting the cash stipend through his or
her tenth (10th) month of service and not subsequently to that.
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3. Civil Service Status
After the completion of their term of service, if an AmeriCorps VISTA Member is hired into the federal civil service,
the time served as an AmeriCorps VISTA will be credited toward a federal pension in either the Civil Service
Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System if the Member is subsequently employed by the
United States government.
AmeriCorps VISTA service may be credited in connection with subsequent federal employment in the same
manner as a like period of regular civilian employment by the federal government. AmeriCorps VISTA service will
apply toward purposes of determining seniority, reduction in force and layoff rights, leave entitlement, and other
rights and privileges based on length of service under laws administered by the U.S Office of Personnel
Management and other laws establishing terms and conditions of service of federal civilian employees.
AmeriCorps VISTA service, however, is not credited toward completion of any probationary or trial period or
completion of any service requirement for a career appointment.
IX. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONTRACT
This contract may be modified at any time with the consent of both parties.
X. MEMBER CONSENT
I _______________________ (do / do not) consent to the use of my name and/or photo for publicity purposes of
the Serve New York AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps VISTA and CNCS, The Service Collaborative of WNY, The
Volunteer Center of WNY, Hands on Greater Buffalo, AmeriCorps Alums
I. Authorization
The undersigned hereby certifies that all information contained on his/her application and enrollment forms are
true, complete, and accurate, and understands that misleading omissions or falsification of this information may
be grounds for immediate dismissal from the Project for cause.
Further, the undersigned acknowledges by their signature that they have read, understand, and agree to all terms
and conditions of this agreement. Also, Members agree to allow authorized personnel to examine their personnel
file for the purpose of our audits.
Print Name-AmeriCorps VISTA Member
Date
Signature
Steve Deisig
Director of VISTA
The Service Collaborative of WNY
Date
Signature
Kate Sarata
Executive Director
The Service Collaborative of Western New York
Date
Signature
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