get to the point, volume xix, issue 5

GET TO

THE POINT T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E N C C C A T L A N T I C R E G I O N

T H U R S D A Y , A P R I L 4 , 2 0 1 3

V O L U M E X I X , I S S U E 5

The Journey Home A Corps Member Returns to Her Hometown to

Lend a Hand with Hurricane Recovery Efforts

Alumni Spotlight Lisa Nikole Swaney, Class X, Southwest Region

Gallery Getting Things Done with Wheel Barrows

A New Sort of Uniform

Around the Atlantic Region in 28 Days

MEMBER STATEMENT

I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps

Program. N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things

done for America while developing their own leadership. We serve on teams

to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes, and

help the environment.

To learn more or apply, visit AmeriCorps.gov/NCCC or call 1.800.942.2677

CONTACT THE ATLANTIC REGION COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE

Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS)

Phone: 202.528.3755 ● Email: [email protected]

Mona Hillstrand, Assistant Community Relations Specialist (ACRS)


Ben Dillon, Community Relations Support Team Leader (CRSTL)


Get to the Point is a weekly newsletter edited and designed by Ben Dillon, CRSTL

Facebook.com/NCCCAtlanticRegion

3 Feature Story

The Journey Home: A Corps

Member Returns to Her

Hometown to Lend a Hand to

Hurricane Recovery Efforts

5 Alumni Spotlight

Lisa Nikole Swaney, Class X

Southwest Region

6 Bulletin Board

Vehicle Safety Tips; National

Stress Awareness Month

7 Team Shout Outs

8 Gallery

Wheeling & Waning: Getting

Things Done with Wheel

Barrows; Suiting Up: A New Sort

of Uniform; Around the Region

in 28 Days

10 Team Project Map

Composite Team Dragon 1

deploys to N.J. for disaster

recovery

↑ Top-Left: Members of Raven 4 practice yoga on Rockaway

Beach, N.Y. for a team physical training session.

↑ Top-Right: Jeremy Flores of Phoenix 1 gives his regards to the

flames of a prescribed fire in Virginia.

→ Cover: NCCC members conducted a cleanup of Rockaway

Beach, N.Y. where a boardwalk stood prior to Hurricane Sandy.

Photo Credit: CNCS/Serve.gov

ISSUE IN THIS

3 APRIL 4, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT

FEATURE

By Meg Wheeler, Raven 1

I had made the trip probably hundreds of

times: the N.J. Turnpike to Staten Island,

over the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn, and

the straight ride back home to Rockaway.

This most recent time, however, was very different

for me. This time, I shared the ride with my fellow

Corps Members. I was not going home to visit for

the weekend or returning home from college for the

summer. I was returning to Rockaway as an Ameri-

Corps member with the plan and determination to

get things done.

I was very fortunate in that my parents and I lost

nothing during Hurricane Sandy. That second floor

walk-up had finally paid off. Some of my family

members and friends were not as lucky. When we

returned two days after the storm hit, people’s lives

were in five-foot piles lining the street. It was be-

yond overwhelming, seeing sand cover the pavement

and the vast, empty space on the beach after the

boardwalk had been carried away by the tide.

Story Continued on Page 4

↑ Top: The damages incurred to homes in

Wheeler’s hometown of Rockaway, N.Y. still

linger well into 2013. Wheeler’s team, Raven 1, is

one of several teams in the area for long-term

Hurricane Sandy recovery projects.

↑ Above: Raven 1 works with the non-profit

organization New York Cares to coordinate the

efforts of volunteer groups, pictured here

wearing Tyvek coveralls and respirators.

THE JOURNEY HOME

GET TO THE POINT / APRIL 4, 2013 4

FEATURE

Continued from Page 3

The only comfort was seeing neighbors helping each

other, even though they had their own needs, and the

swarm of volunteers that quickly took over to start recov-

ery. Rockaway would come back, but it would take time.

The big joke in my house was that I would be sent right

back home. When I found out during project reveal that

this was going to be the case, that I would be helping peo-

ple who truly needed it, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

When I told my sister, however, she laughed for nearly 10

minutes straight. We were able to surprise my parents,

telling them for weeks that my first project would be in

Vermont. Knowing that I would be as close to home as I

could without actually being there, and that I would be

helping with something that had direct consequences for

my home community, assured me I would enjoy this

round.

These first few weeks have been tough, to say the least.

Mucking and gutting is no joke! With the amount of gut-

ting and mold removal my team has done, our upper-body

strength will rival that of the firefighters on Phoenix 1. The

physical challenges of the work are to be expected, and we

will continue to face them each day, but the emotional

challenges are just as difficult. Although the stories of

homeowners are harrowing, they spur us to work harder

and to the best of our abilities. Every day, their stories give

us cause to step back and take a moment to understand

what they have gone through. My teammates—and I espe-

cially—always keep in mind that these homes could have

been our homes. That keeps us going.

Admittedly, driving around my hometown with my

team rather than my parents still feels odd. But the more I

get used to the realities of this project, the more I am com-

ing to appreciate my teammates. From our emotional pro-

ject reveal to the tough days on the worksite, my team-

mates and Team Leader have constantly been supportive

of me and each other. They know how important and close

to home this work is to me, and I could not be prouder or

more thankful to call them my team.

My teammates—and I

especially—always keep in

mind that these homes could

have been our homes. That

keeps us going.

“

”

← Wheeler, third from the left in the

back row, with her Raven 1 team

prior to the Atlantic Region Class XIX

Induction Ceremony on March 8.


ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

How did you hear about NCCC?

I learned about it while attending Vir-

ginia Commonwealth University from

a former NCCC alumna out of Sacra-

mento, California.

Why did you join?

I thought it was really interesting how

other communities worked. I didn’t

know much about my community

where I grew up. It gave me a better

sense of my community in a way I had

not been aware of before my partici-

pation in NCCC. Plus, I like to get

things done. I had one semester left in

college, so I decided to finish it after. I

had a desire to travel, but I also want-

ed to participate in service-oriented

work. AmeriCorps was a good way to

marry those two goals.

What was your most interesting

project as a Corps Member?

We did taxes for low-income residenc-

es for “The Center of Economic Pro-

gress” in Chicago. The experience was

very hands-on. I knew immediately I

was having an impact on people’s

lives—that I was doing something

worthwhile.

What did you like about NCCC?

I was fascinated to travel in new parts

of the country. I was most inspired by

the sponsors who did their jobs pas-

sionately.

What advice would you give to

current NCCC members?

I would say talk out your problems

with your team. You are often in tight

living quarters and unstable environ-

ments. Try to resolve your issues with

others; it will lead to a better experi-

ence overall. The time goes by fast, so

enjoy the places you’re in while you’re

there, because you may never be there

again. Use the opportunity of living

with different people to learn about

their culture. It is an enriching experi-

ence to learn about and a valuable

asset in life. You learn different ways

to approach problems you would nev-

er know if you didn’t spend time with

those people.

Do you have any future Ameri-

Corps plans?

In my current position, I get to work

with NCCC as a sponsor. I also get to

facilitate training for AmeriCorps

NCCC firefighters.

How did NCCC impact life plans

or career interests?

After a short two-week round with the

Nature Conservancy, I had a pretty

good idea that I wanted to be apart of

that organization. NCCC gave me a

better understanding of the wide vari-

ety of service projects out there.

LISA NIKOLE SWANEY

CLASS X, SOUTHWEST REGION

↑ Swaney (right)

instructs Class XIX

Corps Member

Laura Mahoney

on how to roll fire

hose during

training in Kinston,

N.C. in March.


The Moose Unit has charged

from behind to take a slight

lead in the ISP race!

Percent Complete

Moose: 12.78 %

Raven: 12.30 %

Buffalo: 12.18 %

“I slept and dreamt that

life was joy. I awoke and

saw that life was

service. I acted and

behold, service was joy.”

- Rabindranath Tagore

April 7–14 is

National Stress

Awareness Week

1. Sleep More

2. Breathe More

3. Laugh More

Benefits of Laughter

Helps diffuse conflict

Eases anxiety and fear

Increases memory

Lowers stress hormones

Relaxes your muscles

Adds joy to your life

Enhances teamwork

Exercises abs

Promotes better sleep

BULLETIN BOARD

Vehicle Safety Tip of the Week Keep the brake fluid reservoir at an optimum level

with the correct fluid type.

Your brakes may require servicing if: the brake warning light is flashing there is squealing, chirping or grinding noises there are pulsations in the brake pedal the steering wheel is shaky stopping distance has increased the car pulls to one side when you stop

Before & After with Buffalo 1 ← Buffalo 1, in working with

Habitat for Humanity of

Westchester in areas of

New York that were hard-hit

by Hurricane Sandy, has

been removing debris from

neighborhoods and piling it

for removal by waste

management. Here, Buffalo

1 member Garret Ford

indicates the large scale of

one of many debris piles

gathered by the team.


Phoenix 1

Moose 5

Thanks to all the permanent teams for the shout outs! We miss you

guys!

Scrubbing mold in tiny, stuffy, dank crawlspaces is tough in the going, but Elite Team Raven 1 is

getting it done!

Shout out to Jeremy on Fire: “We miss you!” And our sister team Buffalo 2: “Holla back, y’all!”

Congratulations to the composite team members. Please treat Travis

well. He will be missed!

A HUGE shout out to Rosslyn

Jordan, Buffalo One alumna and

now USTL. She’ll be amazing in

her new role, and B1 can’t wait to

see all the fantastic work she

accomplishes!

Buffalo 1

B3 welcomes a new addition to

our team: Kadesha! As we gain

one member for the year, we also

lose one for a while. Victor has

been selected to serve on

composite, so we will be without

him for four weeks as he does

Sandy recovery in New Jersey.

We already miss you, man! We

can’t wait to hear your stories!

Also, big shout-out to Wayne, our

roaming fire Buffalo!

Shout out to Gaby Gardose for being selected for the composite

team! We miss you! Have fun and do great work!

Moose 4

Spoiler Alert: Not Intended for Individuals who Believe in the

Easter Bunny!

This week Moose 5 turned their cabooses into cotton tails and helped out with the Camden

Children’s Garden Brunch with the Bunny! Blake transformed

into the Easter Bunny and hopped around to spread springtime

cheer. Due to the hare’s oversized ears he actually cannot hear nor

see, so he was aided by Laura Mahoney. Others were required to hold Laura back from stealing the adorable children in their Easter

outfits and bunny ears.

My team helped out with an animal shelter this Saturday! They

really had a lot of fun and definitely came back with some

seriously cute pictures of Moose 4 with dogs, puppies, cats, and

kittens. On the other hand, some of their tasks included cleaning and

sweeping – it’s like the tasks of Brownsville plan on following us

everywhere we go.

Shout out to all the other teams for making it halfway through Round 1. Way to go, guys! Also, shout out to our awesome USTL, Rosslyn, on her first week in the green shirt. You are doing great!

Buffalo 4

SHOUT OUTS

Raven 1

Raven 2

Raven 4

Buffalo 3

Buffalo 2 TL says “HOO-RA” to

M1 TL. Florence says “shake it

out, shake it out” to Moose 2.

Additionally, congratulations to

all those who made the disaster

composite team!

Buffalo 2

To Raven 2: We know you miss your dad.

Raven 5


GALLERY

AROUND THE REGION IN 28 DAYS

↑ Max Limeberger of Raven 3 while working with Delaware State Parks

→ (From Top) Alicia Spack of Moose 2 maintenancing a chainsaw in Orefield, Pa.

→ Moose 5, a.k.a. Moose Caboose, finds a real caboose in Camden, N.J.

→ Kaitlyn Liafsha of Buffalo 3 at an ISP

→ Natalie Hillmann and Bridget Kimbell of Phoenix 1 during a prescribed burn in Va.

↓ Buffalo 2 after gutting a water-damaged house in Schoharie, N.Y.


GALLERY

Wheeling &Waning

Few tools are as universal or as

versatile as the wheel barrow.

Whether hauling dirt and mulch,

racing your teammates, or

taking a quick nap, the wheel

barrow helps AmeriCorps

members get things done.

SUITING UP Working in disaster-effected

areas has its share of

challenges, hazardous

materials being chief among

them. While mucking and

gutting damaged homes,

Corps Members are donning a

new sort of uniform: Tyvek

coveralls and respirators.

→ Kayla Lickey of Raven 1

(left) and Andy Phongphiou of

Moose 3 (right).

↑ Natalie Hanisch of Raven 4 working with the

St. Bernard Project in Rockaway, N.Y.

← (Top) Rebeckah Moran and Kris Hall of

Raven 3 working with Delaware State Parks

← (Far left) Eddy Lee of Buffalo 3 with Blue

Water Baltimore

← (Left) Kayla Hanson of Buffalo 2 in

Schoharie, N.Y.

For Round 1, Class XIX teams will complete 21 projects in

seven states and the District of Columbia. Four teams are

aiding in recovery from Hurricane Sandy in New York,

while four more teams are doing long-term disaster

recovery work elsewhere in the region.

Additionally, three teams are

completing projects focused

on environmental

stewardship, two teams

are doing urban and

rural development,

and one team is

doing infrastructure

improvement.

Where in the Atlantic Region Are They? Round 1, Week 4

BUFFALO 1

New Rochelle, N.Y.

Habitat for Humanity

Disaster Recovery

BUFFALO 2

Schoharie, N.Y.

Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery

Disaster Recovery

BUFFALO 3

Baltimore, Md.

Blue Water Baltimore

Environmental Stewardship

BUFFALO 4

Winterthur, De.

Winterthur Museum


MOOSE 1

Allima Institute

Baltimore, Md.

Urban & Rural Development

MOOSE 2

Orefield, Pa.

Valley Youth House

Disaster Recovery

D.C.

MOOSE 3

New York, N.Y.

World Care Centers

Disaster Recovery

MOOSE 4

Davis, W.Va.

Appalachian Coal Country Team


MOOSE 5

Camden, N.J.

Camden Garden Club


PHOENIX 1

Suffolk, Va.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Disaster Response/Env. Stewardship

RAVEN 1

New York, N.Y.

New York Cares

Disaster Recovery

RAVEN 2

Newburgh, N.Y.

Habitat for Humanity


RAVEN 3

Marshfield, Mass.

Mass. Audubon—South Shore


RAVEN 4

Brooklyn, N.Y.

St. Bernard Project

Disaster Recovery

RAVEN 5

Meadville, Pa.

Allegheny College Lake Effects

Infrastructure Improvement

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW YORK

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

MASSACHUSETTS

CONN. R.I.

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE

COMPOSITE: DRAGON 1

Hackensack, N.J.

Volunteer Center of Bergen County

Disaster Recovery

get to the point, volume xix, issue 5

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