SPOTLIGHT ON COMPACT AMERICORPS MEMBER: MEGAN BROWN

Megan Brown, supporting a community beautification project.

Megan Brown relocated from Washington state to serve as an MTCC AmeriCorps Team Leader at MSU Northern in Havre, MT. Megan is part of Campus Compact's inaugural college access AmeriCorps program, and leads a team of college student AmeriCorps members supporting college going culture, and supporting educational needs on Montana's Hi-Line.

Mentoring at the Boys and Girls Club has been a rewarding experience for her and the young people. She notes, “My bond with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club is very meaningful.  I take great pride in knowing that I have built strong bonds which is shown when I see the kids outside of the Boys and Girls Club and they are excited to see me and run up to give me a hug.”  Megan also tutors young kids with reading and spelling which has taught her patience and an appreciation for teachers.  Megan mentioned success with one Kindergarten girl she tutors—“Over the months I have observed an increase in confidence associated with reading for this young girl and an increase in understanding and frequency of reading sentences without errors. I am pleased to recognize my ability and skills in teaching reading to children.”  

Megan supports the Junior Staff Program (8th and 9th graders) at the Boys and Girls Club.  The Junior Staff mentors younger children at the center. They take the time to learn more about their mentees, their skills and passions, so they can better meet the needs of the centers where they serve.  Six –of the ten total- Junior Staff members have consistently demonstrated increased confidence, leadership skills and abilities to mentor youth. As they increase their dependability and understandings of their skills and abilities, they are able to mentor individual children at the center on an ongoing consistent basis.

Besides working directly with children, Megan helps coordinate service projects to meet community needs in Havre.  In honor of Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service, Megan and four other Hi-Line AmeriCorps members coordinated a Havre Cleanup Day.  Megan worked alongside Havre Mayor Tim Solomon on this project and engaged volunteers in service including pruning trees and shrubs.  The Mayor was pleased to recognize the AmeriCorps Members engaged in National Service in Havre.

Although Megan’s AmeriCorps service ends this summer, Megan has expressed interest in continuing serving with MTCC AmeriCorps in a new community next year.

MTCC VISTAS GIVE BACK THIS 9/11

Bozeman Fire Fighters and MTCC AmeriCorps VISTAs

On September 11^th National Day of Service and Remembrance 2015, MTCC AmeriCorps VISTAs gave back to their communities all over Montana and  northeastern Wyoming.  Every year Compact VISTAs participate in the September 11^th National Day of Service, and this year they did not disappoint. From Gillette, Wyoming up to Havre, Montana VISTAs volunteered at special events and led and supported local service projects.  Here is what our amazing VISTAs did:

Bozeman: Cards, Letters and Treats to First Responders
VISTA members In Bozeman created a program that engaged 500 local children to create thank you cards for their fire stations. They were able to garner free supplies from local businesses (ACE Hardware, The Children’s Museum, Costco and Staples) to create cards and received a donation of free donuts from Granny’s Gourmet Donuts. On September 11^th they delivered all of the cards and treats to four Fire Stations in the Bozeman area; the fire fighters were very grateful for the recognition.

Bozeman: Community Café Clean Up and KidsPack lunch preparation

The rest of the VISTAs in Bozeman participated in the KidsPak program, which benefits students who lack access to healthy/proper amounts of food. They also helped organize the local Community Café’s food pantry which benefits low income schools by providing lunch and dinner services to a few low income schools.

MTCC VISTA members and a Food Corps AmeriCorps member in Kalispell.

Dillon: In Case of Emergency
Down in Dillon the MTCC VISTA planned a disaster preparedness simulation. The goal was to educate the staff at her organization, the Women's Resource/Community Support Center on how to react in a disaster situation, while also engaging the Montana Western college students as mock victims of a disaster.

Kalispell: Red White and Blue Run
The VISTAs in Kalispell volunteered at Flathead Valley Community College’s Red, White, and Blue Color Run that was held in honor of the 9/11 day of service. Proceeds from the event benefited the Veteran’s Association Endowment Fund.

Billings: 14^th Annual Community Celebration of Life 
The MTCC VISTA member in Billings participated in the Annual Community Celebration of life, where in, community members helped clean-up the south side park and then attended a ceremony that included speeches from military members and awards given to those in service.

Gillette, WY: Girl Scouts American Heritage Badge
The MTCC Girl Scout VISTA in Gillette, Wyoming helped a local troop gain their American Heritage Badge. This included educating the girls on what happened on 9/11 and then helping them reflect on the importance of the event to our country.

Havre: Havre Remembers

Our members in Havre put together a service event at MSU-Northern to honor Havre’s service members and also victims of 9/11. Their local Salvation Army addressed the current forest fire disaster and collected donations for fire fighters and victims. Finally our members received 1500 American flags, from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which they used to decorate their campus on September 11^th.  

Missoula: Disaster Response Simulation

Several of the MTCC VISTAs based in Missoula put together a disaster seminar to address the proper way to address an emergency situation. Keynote speaker Sgt.  J.C. Denton discussed the importance of safety when involved in a high stress/emergency situation.

Missoula: Veteran Scholarship Fundraiser for Montana Code School

The rest of the members in Missoula raised funds to create a scholarship to the Montana Code School which will begin its Pilot Class this year. They solicited donations from local businesses including; the University Center at UM, The Dram Shop, The Montgomery Distillery, Five on Black and the Big Sky/Sentinel High School Booster Clubs.  They were able to gather $1,644.89; this amount will benefit a veteran scholarship at the code school.

Hamilton: Veterans Benefit Materials

The VISTA in Hamilton with UM Bitterroot College collected information from veterans organizations all over Ravalli County and created a display at Bitterroot College. The college now has a centralized location with all of the services/benefits available to veterans.

Great Falls: Great Falls Community Food Bank

The MTCC VISTA member in Great Falls helped out the Great Falls Community Food Bank by helping to unload trucks and organize donations. She also helped with the creation of 200+ backpack meals for students with limited access to food.

Overall, MTCC's members made positive impacts in each community where they serve.  I hope these examples of exemplary service and program creation inspires everyone to step-up and become a larger part of their community. 

MTCC WELCOMES 16 NEW VISTAS TO SERVICE!

Montana's July 2015 VISTA Class with Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean

The Montana Campus Compact welcomed sixteen new AmeriCorps VISTA members into year-long terms of service with affiliate campuses last week.  These brand new MTCC VISTAs come from cities across the country as well as right here in Montana.  Staff and VISTA leaders spent five days in Helena helping to train, orient and  prepare these inspiring folks for their service.  

Following Montana's Pre-Service Orientation and Swearing In Ceremony with Lieutenant Governor McLean in Helena, MTCC's VISTA class spent two and a half days at the Montana Learning Center on Canyon Ferry for Campus Compact orientation and training, and learning the expectations of service with the Campus Compact network. Staff and members participated in a service projects with Helena Food Share, got familiar with one another, and MTCC's staff and VISTA leaders.  
On Saturday, July 18th we said our goodbyes and sent them on their way to their communities across the state. We wish them the best of luck during their service.  Our July 2015-2016 members and projects include:

Yaritza Aguilar- Dawson Community College Student Success- Glendive
Claire Anderson- Flathead Valley Community College and Sparrow's Nest- Kalispell
Olivia Carney- UM Blackstone LaunchPad- Missoula
Sara Feilzer- The University of Montana and spectrUM Discovery Area- Missoula
Lauren Hall-Montana State University and Montana After School Alliance- Statewide
Deanna Linn- Montana State University and the Girls STEM Collaborative- Bozeman
Jill McIntyre- MSU Blackstone LaunchPad- Bozeman 
Kelsey O'Donnell- UM Blackstone LaunchPad- Missoula
Alexandra Opie- Montana State University and the Children's Museum- Bozeman
Alanna Reid- The University of Montana and Girl Scouts- Missoula
Kelsie Severson-The University of Montana and Big Sky High School- Missoula
Erik Swanson- UM and the Missoula Public Library MakerSpace- Missoula
Jennifer Thimell- MSU Northern Lights Student Success- Havre
Michelle Van Meter- MSU Northern and HRDC IV- Havre
Brylee Zumpf- The University of Montana Western and Women's Resource Center- Dillon
Austin Terreri- VISTA Leader- Statewide, from MTCC Network Office

Keep checking back as we will be posting about the successes and strides our members are making in communities across the state!

MSU-NORTHERN HONORS VOLUNTEER OF THE GAME

MSU-Northern chancellor Greg Kegel awarded student Joseph Vernon with the Volunteer of the Game Award at a Lights home game on October 18. Nice work, Joseph!

Joseph is MSU-Northern’s Sustainability Coordinator and has been instrumental in re-vitalizing Northern’s recycling efforts. Under his direction, the Sustainability Team has more than doubled the number of recycling bins available on campus and has brought a renewed awareness of the need to recycle.

Joseph coordinates the Sustainability Team’s efforts with the communities Recycle Hi-Line efforts and can be found volunteering at the community drop-off site every month. Joseph took initiative to obtain seed money for a 1 year pilot program for recycling #5 plastics, expanding the recycling effort at Northern as well as the surrounding communities. Joseph also volunteers for community clean-up days.

In April 2014, Recycle Hi-Line recognized Joseph by presenting him with their Environmental Hero Award for his leadership and dedication to the community’s recycling efforts.

WELCOME TO THE MTCC NETWORK OFFICE, GERRI STIFFARM!

Network Office staff members Jon Stephani and Gerri Stiffarm

Today's a special day for the network office staff because we welcome a new coworker and colleague to work of educating citizens and building community. Gerri Stiffarm joins us today as the Compact's program specialist. She will support the Compact's mission by providing outreach to the member institutions across Montana, including helping with VISTA project development, Ready Campus promotion and training support for our AmeriCorps VISTAs.

Gerri is a graduate of Montana State University's Community Leadership program, and has worked for Aaniih Nakoda College in Fort Belknap, and with Opportunity Link. During her college years, Gerri served as an AmeriCorps member through a Compact program, and helped recruit and coordinate volunteers who served with Hi-Line area nonprofits and social service agencies.

Gerri brings a great depth of knowledge about Montana, as well as a great enthusiasm for the work of volunteerism, service and citizenship. Welcome Gerri, to the Compact's network office team! We are excited to have you.