Welcome to the November 3, 2009 issue of E-News.

In this Issue

	Help Recruit Students for VYCC School Crews
	Second Annual Online Holiday Auction Seeks Donations
	A Denim and Diamonds THANK YOU!
	Two Generations of Conservation: CCC Reunion and Fall Crew Closure
	Tweeters Read On!
	New Face in the Monitor Barn

Faces Behind Our Success

As the Summer Field Season wraps up, VYCC Program Coordinators are catching their breath after supporting 32 Wilderness, Roving, Parks, and Community Crews over the past 5 months. Justin Kenney, Operations Coordinator extraordinaire, is among them. Justin started with the VYCC as a Corps Member in 2002 and has remained connected in a variety of ways. This past year, he assumed the Operations Coordinator responsibilities and facilitated the completion of more than 130 weeks of summer crew projects. Working in every county and corner of the state, he helped manage a myriad of logistics involved with coordinating the tools, vehicles, and gear for crews.  His endless energy and enthusiasm is evident, whether hiking down a trail to visit a crew or greeting a Corps Member on their first day of work. Now that the 2009 summer season is complete, he’s in the throes of project development for the 2010 season, constantly emailing, calling, and corresponding with past and future sponsors in an effort to arrange next summer’s work. It’s a safe bet that if you see a VYCC crew on the ground, Justin Kenney’s been involved.

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Help Recruit Students for VYCC School Crews

Just six weeks into the school year and crews have really hit their stride. If you know of a student who would thrive in a hands-on, outdoor-oriented classroom, please contact Kat Coons at (802) 434-3969 ext. 147. Applications are now being accepted for the spring semester.

This month we are highlighting the CTE (Center for Technology-Essex) and Twinfield/Cabot blogs. The blogs contain pictures, humor, and stories of personal growth as a way to highlight work projects and academic connections.

Second Annual Online Holiday Auction Seeks Donations

We have received a federal stimulus grant of $396,000. There is one catch: We need to raise $104,000 in matching funds to receive it. We need your help!

To raise the required funds, the VYCC is hosting its second annual Online Holiday Auction. The auction will be live from December 1–14.

We are actively seeking donations of goods and services. Here are examples of great gifts:
• Gift certificates
• Artwork
• Jewelry
• Donations of services, such as financial or     legal services
• Free oil changes
• Ski passes…and everything in between!

All auction proceeds will support the important work of the VYCC. To learn more about the auction, contact Kris Smith at (802) 434-3969 ext. 122. 

A Denim and Diamonds THANK YOU!

Denim and Diamonds was a great success thanks to the hard work of seven dedicated volunteers: Caroline Wadhams Bennett, Burgess Russell, Carol Conard, Liz Foster, Stacy Fender, Judi Manchester, and Louise Fairbank. The VYCC, as well as the 160 people who filled the West Monitor Barn, are ever grateful for their tireless contributions to the Corps.

Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the VYCC and we plan to throw another great party to thank our friends and to serve as a showcase for our programs. If you are interested in volunteering for next year’s Denim and Diamonds, please contact Cailie Burns at (802) 434-3969 ext. 113.

Be sure to view Lily Landes’ photographs of the evening on our website. You may also view the Denim and Diamonds album on our Vermont Corps Facebook page – be sure to friend the VERMONT CORPS. Also, feel free to contact Cailie Burns with any requests for photos. 

Two Generations of Conservation: CCC Reunion and Fall Crew Closure

Our Fall Park Crews ended their final four weeks of work on October 11th and we would like to thank them for another successful season.

On their final day, they joined members of the local Civilian Conservation Corps Chapter for lunch. The conversation between two different generations of conservationists centered on what conservation means to different people. The younger generation felt honored to hear CCC alumni speak about their experience over fifty years ago.

Now Hiring: If you would like enroll in the VYCC’s Park and Conservation Program (or know of a great candidate), contact Abigail Mendehall at (802) 434-3969 ext. 138. We are now hiring for the summer of 2010.

Tweeters Read On!

We tweet daily @thevycc to let followers know what is new and fast-breaking. And, Facebook will let you keep in touch with friends, read Corps Member banter, keep up to date on upcoming events, and browse the latest photo albums, including a new album with photos by Betsy Rich. When befriending us at Vermont Corps, be sure to join our Facebook Cause . Our goal is to connect with 2,500 followers! We also have a Linked-in page which we welcome you to join.

New Face in the Monitor Barn

We are pleased to welcome back Chris Ricker as he joins our headquarter staff in an AmeriCorps Conservation Internship. Chris was a strong Roving Crew Leader this past summer, working with the Forest Service for eight weeks. He excelled at taking initiative to support his crews’ educational experiences and professional development. Chris has an extensive background in adventure education, including risk management, group processing, and Leave No Trace.

Chris currently attends Green Mountain College in Poultney, and is using his time with the VYCC to complete a college internship. He is working on a variety of projects, including revising the Leadership Development Program model, assisting in equipment repair, helping to develop our risk management plan, and working on outreach to, and recruitment of, Corps Members. We are excited to have his energy and expertise on board!