WARTBURG-ICAP
PRE-SERVICE ORIENTATION
Orientation Purpose
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The purpose of this pre-service orientation is
tri-fold:
1.
Provide general information
2.
Determine eligibility for participation
3.
Ensure commitment to the process
AmeriCorps Benefits
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$1,132 education award
The difference you make in the community
Provides opportunities to grow professionally and
personally
Allows networking with other students committed to
improving communities
Joining the National Service movement through
AmeriCorps
Why Should You Join?
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SERVE your community and “give back” through
service
LEARN about your community and yourself
EARN an educational award of $1,132 to use
towards your education expenses, student loans,
and continuing education
How the process works
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Attend the info session on Sept 10th at 11:15pm (Sustainability Office) or meet
individually with Anne Duncan to discuss your service plan
Complete this pre-service orientation PowerPoint presentation.
Email Anne your completed application (found at www.wartburg.edu/cce/icap.aspx
by Monday, September 16th @ 8:00 a.m.
You will receive notice of your acceptance status into this program via email by Friday
Sept 20th
On Tuesday, September 26th @11:30-12:30 you will meet with Anne in the CCE to
finalize your enrollment documents…most of this will be done online.
Attend monthly meetings with other Wartburg-ICAP members. These meetings occur on
the first Thursday of every month @11:30-12:30pm.
Serve your community, document your hours, recruit volunteers, and record activities
using the online timesheet.
Complete requirements of program (i.e. recruitment of volunteers and Disaster
Preparedness training)
Finish the program, complete necessary paperwork, and earn an educational award!
Application Timeline
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Sept 10th @ 11:15am, Sustainability Office
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Sept 16th @ 8am
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Selections made
You will be notified by email of your acceptance status
Sept 24th @ 11:30am, Sustainability Office
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Applications for the program are due
Sept 20th
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Informational Meeting
Submit all enrollment paperwork
Oct 1st
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Begin service!
The BIG Picture…
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Wartburg-ICAP is an AmeriCorps (pronounced
Ameri-Core) program.
AmeriCorps is federally funded through the Corporation
for National and Community Service (CNCS) in
Washington D.C.
Since 1994, more than 350,000 Americans have served
in AmeriCorps
In addition to AmeriCorps, CNCS also manages the
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse and funding for
Senior Corps
The BIG Picture…
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Most AmeriCorps programs are run at a state level.
Our program, ICAP, is hosted by Iowa Campus
Compact and available to member colleges and
universities in Iowa.
The BIG Picture…
What is AmeriCorps?
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AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that
engage more than 75,000 Americans each year in intensive
service to meet critical needs in education, public safety,
health, and the environment.
Members serve in more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies,
and faith-based organizations.
Members tutor, mentor, build housing, teach skills, clean parks,
run after-school programs, and help communities respond to
disasters.
Eligibility for AmeriCorps
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At least 17 years old
GED, high school diploma, or working towards one of the
above options and will receive it before using the service
scholarship
United States citizen or permanent resident
Required Documentation:
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U.S. Citizen: Need a photocopy of either your current passport or
birth certificate
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Permanent Resident: Need a photocopy of either your permanent
resident card or current passport with INS approval of resident
status.
Getting More Specific…
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AmeriCorps service is focused on meeting identified
community needs.
AmeriCorps members connect colleges and universities with
local communities as service liaisons, sharing resources, skills,
knowledge, and time.
AmeriCorps supports students engaged in “Careers in the
Common Good” such as teaching, social work, healthcare
professions, psychology) and student leadership/service
programs.
Terms of Service through Wartburg-ICAP
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Serve 300 hours, EARN a $1,132 education award
 The program officially begins Oct 1st. Technically you have one
calendar year to complete your hours. But all service must be
completed within a 30 mile radius (unless otherwise approved) of the
college and thus Wartburg requires hours to be completed by end of
May 2014.
Recruit and document 10 volunteers to assist with your service activities
Attend all monthly meetings (first Thursday of every month @11:3012:30)
 Participate in required trainings: Disaster Preparedness, Volunteer
Recruitment, Communication, Life After AmeriCorps
 Participate in some reflective journaling and dialogue
Submit monthly timesheets online
Terms of Service cont’d
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Individuals can earn up to two (2) full time Ed Awards
in their lifetime (currently set at $4725 for one full time
award).
The education award is issued to members two to four
weeks after successful completion of service hours,
evaluation, and exiting.
Members who exit without completing their service
term receive no education award and can NEVER be
involved in an AmeriCorps program again.
Service - What Will You Do?
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Our main program goal is to assist the sustainability department
with capacity building.
 4* students will serve as eco-reps; designing and leading monthly
activities to engage the student body, providing educational
resources at weekly eco-rep booths, and serving as a campus
leader for sustainability.
 2* students will work on the production and implementation of a
natural resource management plan for the college.
 2 students will be unaffiliated with the Sustainability Dept. and
work at qualified off-campus non-profit agencies.
You can serve an internship simultaneously.
*Qualified Members need to have an understanding of natural
resource management and techniques.
300 hours - What Will Count?
You will work with the ICAP coordinator to create a “service
plan” that fits your goals as well as the needs of the
community.
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The majority of your service hours (240) must be
completed with the Sustainability Office or a Qualified
Service Agency.
Some on-campus engagement including: Service-Learning
activities associated with classes(for example Community
Builders), MLK Day, or the Res program may count
300 hours - What Will Count?
Member development/training is an important part of
AmeriCorps service.
Member development hours can account for up to 20% of your
total service term and include:
 Class time related to training for your direct service
 Professional conferences or workshops
 Faculty meetings or agency staff meetings
 On-site training with your organization
 Monthly ICAP training meetings (8 hours)
The maximum number of member development hours you can
accrue with each term of service is:
 60 member development hours out of the 300
300 hours - What Will Count?
Fundraising can account for up to 10% of your total service
term and includes:
 Fundraising for specific service projects and soliciting
in-kind donations
The maximum number of fundraising hours you can accrue
with each term of service is:
 30 fundraising hours out of the 300
Prohibited Activities
It is really important that you know up-front what some of the
activities are that you cannot do as an AmeriCorps member.
Individuals may engage in these activities in their personal time,
but may not include these activities as part of their term of
service nor can AmeriCorps related paraphernalia be
worn/exhibited.
Prohibited Activities
Political Activities
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Efforts to influence legislation (i.e. lobbying)
Engaging in partisan political activities
Advocacy for or against political parties, platforms, or
candidates
Voter registration drives
Participating in boycotts, strikes, or protests
Prohibited Activities
Religious Activities
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Engaging in religious instruction or proselytizing
Conducting worship services
Constructing or maintaining facilities devoted to religious
instruction or worship
Union-related Activities
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Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing
Interfering with contracts for services or collective bargaining
agreements
Prohibited Activities
For-profit Businesses
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Providing a direct benefit for a for-profit entity, a labor union,
a partisan political organization, or an organization engaged
in religious instruction
Specific Kinds of Fundraising
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Grant writing or fundraising for operational expenses at the
non-profit agency
Prohibited Activities
Service that one would normally do…
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The program’s intent is not to reward those for activities that
would be done anyway
Greek Philanthropy
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Services completed within the Greek system cannot be used for
AmeriCorps service hours
Prohibited Activities
Tutoring…well sort of anyway
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Tutoring by itself is not an allowable activity UNLESS it is with
an organization that meets all requirements of a tutoring
program.
Moreover, these activities need to be referred to as mentoring
in the service performed section of the timesheet.
Prohibited Activities
International Activities
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All volunteer work must be done in the United States
National Activities (outside of Iowa)
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All activities need to be completed within Iowa
Safety Factors
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Participating in activities that pose a significant safety risk to
clients.
The $1,132 Education Award
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Is a voucher issued by the National Trust in Washington, D.C.
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Is received by the member two to four weeks after being exited
from the program.
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Can be applied to a financial institution or to an institution of
higher education (Title IV school).
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Is considered taxable income by the IRS in the year it is used, not
the year it is earned.
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Can be taken away from a member if a member receives a
felony drug conviction after successfully completing their service
term.
The $1,132 Education Award
The Education Award can be used in three ways:
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Past  members can repay qualified student loans such as the Stafford,
Perkins, Federal Direct/Indirect
Present  members can apply the voucher to their current education
expenses through the financial aid office on their campus*
Future  Members can use the voucher for up to seven years toward
graduate programs, individual classes, specialty and trade schools, and
study-abroad
*Check with the financial aid office to see how the education award may be used
for tuition or other educational expenses.
Next Steps…
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Personally complete the pre-service reflection
questions found in the next slide.
Answer the review questions by indicating the
appropriate letter on Section 2 of your application.
Email your completed application to Anne Duncan
at anne.duncan@wartburg.edu
Pre-Service Reflection Questions
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What motivates you to pursue this term of service in AmeriCorps?
How does your participation in AmeriCorps relate to your
professional/personal goals?
In what ways do your professional/personal goals support lifelong
involvement in your community?
Serving as an AmeriCorps member requires, time and dedication.
Do you have 8-10 hours/week to devote to AmeriCorps?
How will you balance the other activities you are involved in with
being an AmeriCorps member?
PowerPoint Review Questions
**Identify your answers by highlighting the appropriate letter in Section 2 of your application.
1. How can you use the AmeriCorps Education Award?
a. I can use it to pay for the cost of attendance or towards outstanding student loans.
b. I can give it to a family member for them to use.
c. I can wait and use it in 10 years.
d. All of the above
3. What is member development?
a. It gives you the opportunity to pursue personal and professional goals that are education and service oriented.
b. It is time spent reflecting upon your service
c. It is time spent in training, workshops, classes or conferences related to your service
d. All of the above
4. How many hours of service can be spent on member development?
a. 20
b. 40
c. 60
5. How many AmeriCorps awards can you receive in a lifetime?
a. 1 (one)
b. 2 (two)
c . Up to the equivalent of 2 full time awards
d. Unlimited
PowerPoint Review Questions (cont’d)
**Identify your answers by highlighting the appropriate letter in Section 2 of your application.
6. Which of these are prohibited activities?
a. Religious activity, political activity, fundraising for capital or operating costs
b. Serving with a for-profit organization, lobbying, or union organizing
c. Service in a church’s food bank or mentoring students at a parochial school
d. All of the above
e. “a” and “b”
7. Can you count volunteer work done internationally?
a. Yes
b. No
8. What specific requirements are associated with the Wartburg-ICAP program?
a. Disaster Preparedness training
b. Reflective journal
c. Recruit 10 (ten) volunteers
d. Attend monthly meetings
e. All of the above
9. How long do you have to complete your AmeriCorps program?
a. 6 (six) months
b. Technically 1 (one) calendar year but Wartburg requires hours to be completed by end of May 2013
c. Forever
10. If you enter the program and quit or are removed can you ever participate in another AmeriCorps program?
a. Yes
b. No
AmeriCorps Pledge
I will get things done for America-to make our people
safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our
communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
Wartburg-ICAP Contacts
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Iowa Campus Compact
 Justin Ellis
 Office # (515) 235-4681
 jellis@iwcc.edu
Wartburg Campus ICAP Coordinator
 Anne Duncan
 Sustainability Office, Basement of Old Main
 Office # (319) 352-8536
 Anne.duncan@wartburg.edu
Thank You!
Thank your interest in Wartburg-ICAP!
If you have any questions please contact the ICAP
coordinator Anne Duncan, anne.duncan@wartburg.edu