Twin Cities RISE!

Volunteer Newsletter

In 2000, I had a life changing experience when Keith Hardy, a fellow Toastmaster, asked me to give an educational presentation for TCR!’s

Speechcraft class. Little did I know I would be hooked on TCR! and Speechcraft, continuing to volunteer for the next 11 years!

The moment I arrived at TCR! I was impressed by the people I met. The dedication of the staff was phenomenal. TCR!’s mission and successful track record of placements were awe inspiring. I was elated to see how diligently the participants were working so they could obtain good paying jobs after completing the program.

Speechcraft, a Toastmasters designed program, is a unique class where participants share their life stories, defeats, challenges and successes by giving speeches in front of their classmates. It is a learning laboratory giving them the opportunity to gain confidence while speaking in front of an audience.

My favorite part of Speechcraft is getting to know the participants as they share their life stories. I have learned a great deal about the human spirit, and the challenges people can overcome to become contributing, productive members of society.

The impact of TCR! on participant’s families and communities is enormous. It is an honor to see “empowered people” who know they can face life and its challenges, while achieving their goals. I started volunteering with TCR! to give back and wound up receiving so much more than I ever expected. Volunteering for Speechcraft has broadened my horizons and given me the ability to view life though the participant’s eyes.

It has been my privilege and an honor to get to know hundreds of TCR! participants and be a small part of the program that gives them the ability to succeed in life. Thank you for allowing me to volunteer at TCR!.

Contribute to our next newsletter! Write a Volunteer Spotlight by sharing your own TCR! experience. Please contact volunteer@twincitiesrise.org for details.

Important Volunteer DatesNovember 1-December 13 Mock interviewing! Contact Kate at kchristopherson@twincitiesrise.org if you can help.

November 4 Empowered Event, 11:30-1:00 in Minneapolis. Visit empoweredevent.eventbrite.com to RSVP.

November 14 Volunteer Orientation, 11:30 am or 5:30 pm in Minneapolis.

December 7 Tutor Meeting, 12:30-2 pm in Minneapolis. Contact Kate at kschristopherson@twincitiesrise.org for more information.

2011 Volunteer Hours as of 10/19/11Top volunteer assignments by hours volunteered

Tutoring: 636.25Mock interviewing: 398.5Speechcraft: 267

Total volunteer hours year to date: 1,798!

Winter 2011

Volunteer Spotlight: Lois Bell

Ravi Rai, Lois Bell, Bill Clark

Welcome our new Volunteer Associate!Hello Volunteers! My name is Kate Christopherson, and I am the AmeriCorps VISTA serving Twin Cities RISE! this year.

My work is split between the Volunteer, Internship, and Recruitment Departments. I work mostly out of the Minneapolis office, except on Wednesdays.

I graduated in May from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts in International

Studies and Political Science and a minor in Spanish. I’m very happy to be with Twin Cities RISE! and excited to meet and work with you all this year!

Thank you from Laura LussierAs I look back on my time at TCR!, I want to take a minute to thank all of you for a wonderful 10 month experience. Each and every one of you that I interacted with made me feel accepted and important. I appreciated the easy welcome into my role and have enjoyed communicating with many of you. Those of you I had a chance to get to meet and know better, I enjoyed our interactions. I will genuinely miss all of you as I move on to my next position.

Staff Volunteer Day 2011On October 7, TCR! staff volunteered a total of 62 hours to Neighborhood I n v o l v e m e n t Program on the first ever staff volunteer day! We

worked on 5 projects, assisting seniors in North Minneapolis with their homes.

The projects included landscaping, gardening, painting, scraping, window sealing and carpet pulling. The homeowners were delighted to receive TCR!’s support, and staff are already looking forward to the next project. Thanks to all who participated!

Comments, questions, ideas or corrections? Contact Tiowa Collier at tcollier@twincitiesrise.org.Want to unsubscribe to this newsletter? Email volunteer@twincitiesrise.org.

No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. - Author Unknown

Twin Cities’ helping hands lead nation By Mary Lynn Smith

Twin Cities volunteers lead the nation for a fifth straight year, finding new and different ways to lend a hand. While other cities across the nation saw a dip in volunteering last year, more people here donated

their time to help others in 2010, according to a new study from the federal government’s Corporation for National and Community Service.

“I was very pleased but not surprised,” said Sue Moyer, Caring Connection manager for Greater Twin Cities United Way. “We have a very deep commitment to volunteerism.”

According to the national report, 37.1 percent of Twin Cities residents volunteered in 2010, up from 36.6 percent in 2009, topping other communities such as Seattle and Salt Lake City And among volunteers who are 65 and older, the Twin Cities was No. 1. In all the other age categories, the Twin Cities and the state of Minnesota ranked above the national average for volunteering.

So why are we so helpful? Volunteerism rises with education and home ownership, and a high percentage of Twin Cities residents can check both those boxes, said Robert Velasco, II, acting chief executive officer for the Community Service corporation. Shorter commutes in the Twin Cities also give residents a little more time to volunteer. But mostly, volunteering is just what Minnesotans do.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/127300813.html