| April 16, 2008 |
With the increasing role that not-for-profit organizations are having in their communities, a great opportunity for groups to have a greater impact and to expand their services is now available. Through a partnership between the Michigan Community Services Commission and Huron Pines, nonprofit conservation groups can obtain some much-needed help through the Huron Pines AmeriCorps Program.
Huron Pines AmeriCorps was created in 2007 by Huron Pines, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to conserving the forests, lakes and streams of Northeast Michigan. The Grayling-based group uses their volunteer board and professional staff to bring together diverse partners to complete “hands-on” conservation projects that northern Michigan needs.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that enrolls nearly 70,000 people annually in volunteerism and improving communities through service. Activities of AmeriCorps members include mentoring and tutoring programs, health care assistance, building homes and protecting the environment.
Funding for this innovative new approach to meeting community and natural resource needs is made available from the Michigan Community Services Commission via a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, along with support from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and in-kind contributions from Huron Pines.
The Huron Pines AmeriCorps Program is preparing for its second full year and applications are now being accepted from organizations interested in participating. The program is based on the philosophy of helping northern Michigan conservation organizations, particularly those impacting Northeast Michigan, by placing a full-time AmeriCorps Member to directly serve with host sites. Members will complete 1,700 hours between October 1, 2008 and September 1, 2009.
AmeriCorps members recruited by Huron Pines for this program come from a variety of backgrounds, but are required to have a B.S. degree and be highly motivated to serving their communities. Recruitment of Huron Pines AmeriCorps members for next year’s program will begin once host sites are selected in early summer 2008. Members’ position descriptions will be tailored to the needs of the host site and may include engaging volunteers in conservation projects, planning and implementing on-the-ground stewardship programs, assisting with organizational capacity building and increasing public outreach.
During the first year of the program, nine full-time and two part-time AmeriCorps members were placed with several key conservation groups, including Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, Otsego Conservation District, Headwaters Land Conservancy, Huron Pines, Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Freshwater Future, the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. To date, Huron Pines AmeriCorps members have already made a meaningful impact through their service by developing volunteer recruiting programs, volunteer tracking databases, coordinating 10 conservation projects, creating resource stewardship materials that have been sent to over 1,000 people and helping to establish new program offerings for their host sites.
Host sites involved with the program will be selected on a competitive basis by Huron Pines. Applications are available at www.huronpines.org. Host sites selected into this program need to demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation, provide $5,300 in cash funding, develop a clear position description that meets their needs, provide day to day guidance and supervision of the member placed with them, identify how their organization can benefit the Northeast Michigan region, and show commitment and support for Huron Pines AmeriCorps.
“Our organization has long felt that Northeast Michigan is an underserved area. Through Huron Pines AmeriCorps, we’re able to bring more people resources to the region and help the nonprofit sector have a greater impact on local communities,” Huron Pines Executive Director Brad Jensen stated.
For more information about Huron Pines or this program, please visit www.huronpines.org or call 989-344-0753.
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