Dear AmeriCorps NCCC Class XXA Corps Member, Since our Welcome Packets go to print in mid-March for classes starting later that fall, there is often additional information that comes out post-print that we want to share with you. This packet contains some of that information, as well as other reminders, so please read it carefully. Also, remember to join the Class XXA Facebook Group page to meet some of your future Corps-mates, get answers to your questions, and find any additional updates before you travel to campus. You can search Facebook groups for “AmeriCorps NCCC Fall 2013: Denver Campus” or find the page at: https://www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsNCCCSouthwest#!/groups/470081799726845/ We look forward to meeting you on Monday, October 7! Yours in service, AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region Staff

Meet us on a Conference Call! Southwest Region staff will host three conference calls in the weeks before your campus arrival. On these calls we will go over questions that members frequently have prior to arrival, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions as well. If you are unable to make any or all of these calls, fear not. All of the critical information you need to know is in the Welcome Packet, and you can always contact staff directly with questions you may have. This is simply another opportunity for incoming members to connect with staff before arrival. These calls will also be recorded; we’ll put up information on the Facebook group after each call on how to listen to the recording. We hope you can join us! Call 605-475-4700, passcode 304087#.

• Thursday, September 12 – 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time- Headlines in NCCC and on the Southwest Region Campus

• Monday, September 23 – 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time- Questions about packing: what to bring and what you’ll need

• Thursday, October 3 – 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time- Expectations for serving in NCCC and on the Southwest Campus

Welcome Packet Supplement Class XX-A – 2013-2014

From Ken Goodson, the Region Director . Dear Class 20A Corps Members, Greetings from Denver! I hope this finds you well and enjoying the final weeks of warmer weather. My name is Ken Goodson and I have the privilege of serving as the Region Director for NCCC’s Southwest Region. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of a team of dedicated professionals in supporting a mission which resonates strongly with me. Over the course of a 15-year career in six countries with the Peace Corps, I was able to witness the transformational power of community service around the world. Whether it was directly related to NCCC’s two goals (strengthening communities and developing leaders), or providing compassion and hope during times of distress, I believe community service is a life altering effort for both those who give it, and receive it. The chance to pursue that effort here in the United States is an honor I am grateful to share with you, our Team Leaders and the NCCC staff at the Southwest Campus. I think you will find that while I believe NCCC’s two goals are interrelated; I view our pursuit of strengthened communities, through high quality projects, dedicated team effort and hard work, as the best way to develop the leadership skills of our Corps Members. I see community service as a job, no different than how I would view any other professional commitment. Subsequently, I have high expectations for both what you are capable of providing to the eight states of the Southwest Region, as well as the professionalism with which you will carry out that pursuit. Although I am still relatively new to the organization, what I’ve already gathered from my colleagues and your predecessors is clear: being a Corps Member is complicated, stressful and challenging. Yet it is also perhaps the greatest job in the organization as you are on the front line of our service efforts, working with your teammates to fulfill the expectations of communities, organizations and individuals who have asked for NCCC support. You have the ability to influence how well we meet those expectations. What an opportunity! Here at the NCCC Southwest Region Campus, there is a lot taking place. We are ensuring we have the supplies and resources necessary to support your training and the service work your teams will complete. We are meeting with, and responding to, requests from potential project sponsors. Your training is being planned, incorporating feedback from previous Corps Members and Team Leaders. We are working with our recruitment partners to promote a community of service within the NCCC that reflects the diversity of the United States. Needless to say, the team here at the Southwest Campus is eagerly awaiting your arrival. Until October 7, I ask two things of you. First, think through the 10-month service commitment you are making and your motivations for national service. NCCC service will come with a lot of unpredictable twists and turns. Your motivations to serve can be helpful for staying grounded during more challenging stretches of your commitment. Second, rest up and make sure to spend as much time with friends and family as you can. We have a lot of work ahead and a lot of people relying on us to make a difference. While 10 months may seem like a lot of time right now, I feel confident it will fly by. We need to be ready to push ourselves hard if we are to contribute as much as possible to those who have requested our assistance. The team and I look forward to seeing you on the campus soon, greeting you in person, and welcoming you to the NCCC family of service. kg

Important Reminders/Updates

1. NO PARKING: Beginning this fall, Corps Members are not permitted to park their personal vehicles on campus due to construction on campus, leading to parking space constraints, and to changing national policy considerations. If you already turned in your Transportation Selection Form to Vanessa Davis and marked that you will be driving, she will be contacting you soon to make alternate arrangements.

2. AmeriCorps NCCC has zero tolerance for illegal drug use. You will undergo a drug screening upon arrival as part of a physical exam. Urinalysis drug screening will also occur randomly throughout the 10 months of service. Urinalysis testing and searches of campus facilities can also be done if probable cause exists. Anyone testing positive for illegal drugs will be immediately dismissed from the program. Drug paraphernalia found in a person’s possession will lead to dismissal as well. These policies remain unchanged, despite Colorado’s recent decriminalization of marijuana, since we are a federal program.

3. Don’t forget to complete the Member Profile Form! Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCCCSWprofile20A This form is used by the campus to send updates to your hometown newspaper about your service in the NCCC and for other media opportunities. While it is not required, it is strongly encouraged! If you have questions about this form, please contact Community Relations Specialist Heather Dirck at hdirck@cns.gov.

Please keep in mind that you’ll only be in Denver for training, transition weeks, and maybe one project. For most of your 10 months, you’ll only see and use what you bring on spike. You will be required to move out of your room each time you depart campus, so that the space can be used in your absence. You will be able to store one suitcase/luggage item, which should be empty with the exception of bedding. Any personal items you leave on campus (clothing, etc.) must fit in a duffel bag that we will issue you after you arrive and which we will store for you. These bags are about three feet long by one foot in diameter. Plan accordingly so as not to bring extra items to campus which you will not be able to bring on spike and which will be in excess of what you can store.

So, what do you need to do? Pack light! o Don’t bring much more that you can bring with you on spike

(usually two items: one large red bag that we issue to you and one other small duffel bag/backpack/small piece of luggage/etc.)

o Limit any large “non-essentials” such as lamps, televisions, desktop computers, stereos, bikes, other large recreational equipment, large box fans, video games, etc.

o Don’t ship more than two (reasonably sized) boxes to campus.

The Art of Living on the Go Packing Light:

The packing list in the main Welcome Packet is still a good guide, but take some time to think about how frequently you will use things. With the uniform you’ll receive, you’ll need a lot less clothing than you think. Also, please be selective about the “optional items” you choose to bring – if it’s something that you would not use frequently or that takes up a lot of space, it might not make sense to bring it.

CM Arrival on Campus October 7 In-processing/CTI October 8-November 1 Columbus Day October 14 Induction November 1 Round 1 Deployment November 2 (7-week round) Veterans Day November 11 Thanksgiving Break November 28-29 – off Transition Day December 20 Winter Break December 21 – January 4 – off Arrive Back on Campus (if left) January 5 Transition Week January 6 – January 10 Round 2 Deployment January 13 (8-week round) Martin Luther King Day January 20 – A Day On – National Day of Service Presidents Day February 17 – off Transition Week March 10 – March 14 Round 3 Deployment March 17 (8-week round) Spring Break April 18 – April 21 Transition Week May 12 – May 16 Round 4 Deployment May 19 (8.5-week round) Memorial Day May 26 – off Independence Day observed July 4 – off Round 4 Ends July 16 Transition and Out-processing July 17 – July 24 Graduation & Departure July 25

Welcome new staff members! Since the printing of the Welcome Packet, we have four new staff members are now on duty.

Deputy Region Director for Programs Dana Platin

Assistant Resource Manager Christine King

Residence Coordinator Sarah Lyke

Logistics Assistant Richard Price

Updated 2013-2014 Calendar (subject to change)

Fire Management Teams The Southwest Region Campus will form and train three or four teams to support our highly successful fire management program again this year. These teams will conduct fuels mitigation, fire management projects, and have the ability to respond to wildland fires. The sponsoring organizations are responsible for the health of wilderness areas throughout the Southwest Region. They will provide basic fire-fighting, fire behavior, and incident command system training that will qualify Corps Members as Type II wildland fire fighters. Type I firefighters with more experience and training (hotshots and smoke jumpers) typically conduct initial attack on fires, although it is possible for Type II crews to respond as well. The project sponsors for each of the teams will provide qualified leadership for any fire response. This means that we need 30-40 dedicated and physically fit Corps Members – both males and females – who are committed to receiving basic wildland firefighting training. Firefighters must possess mental and physical discipline, endurance, and maturity. In addition, they must be able to work well within a team, follow instructions carefully, and be capable of working within a strict command structure while responding to fires. The frequency of fire assignments is totally dependent on weather and fuel conditions and it is possible to have a very wet season resulting in limited or no fire activity. Therefore, wildland firefighters must always be flexible and able to do non-fire project work (usually running chain saws, dragging/hauling brush, and/or using a chipper on fuel reduction projects) as well as remain fire-ready and able to respond quickly when called out. While fuel reduction can be tedious, it is critical and compelling work in the fire-prone Southwest. The fire management teams will perform two regular “spike” projects during the year. The teams will receive their basic wildland fire training and be assigned to fire management projects for two rounds; each of the three teams will serve at the same project twice. As previously mentioned, all training and Red Card certifications will be provided by the host sponsor. All interested applicants need to consider the following:

• Being on a fire management team may preclude you from other disaster response • You must be able to pass the Pack test at the arduous level (carrying a 45-pound pack 3 miles in less than 45

minutes). The Pack test will be conducted in November. • You will be expected to maintain rigorous physical training at all times • Fire deployment may require you to respond during nights, weekends, holidays and scheduled breaks. If

necessary, approved personal leave may be cancelled for fire response. • The training for wildland firefighters is specialized and only occurs once during the year. Therefore, we

cannot replace firefighters during the year. Once selected and trained, you will remain on that team unless compelling reasons (illness, injury) require NCCC to reassign you. If you are an alternate, you will be expected to activate if needed.

Corps Members who are selected for fire management teams may be required to change units for their permanent team assignment. Units are our four “subdivisions” of the Corps. If you have strong interest in trying out for a fire management team, you must email Karen at kphillips@cns.gov by September 27, or as soon as possible if you receive this after that date. The formal selection process will occur after you arrive on campus. There will be a mandatory informational meeting during an evening early in CTI – check your schedule upon arrival. Soon thereafter, there will be an interview and a physical baseline of a 1-mile run and as many push-ups and sit-ups as you can do in 2 minutes. Final selection will be based on interview results and appropriate physical capability.

So, you’re doing what for the next 10 months? Family and friends can subscribe to The Traveler, our campus newsletter! The Southwest Region AmeriCorps NCCC campus puts together and distributes a newsletter to external stakeholders and friends of the program three or four times a year. If you have family members or friends who would like to receive this, let us know and we’ll add them to the list! Just send an e-mail to Heather Dirck, the Community Relations Specialist, at hdirck@cns.gov with the information below. If e-mail is unavailable, you can also leave a message for Heather at 303-844-7420. You can sign up as many people as you’d like! We look forward to sharing news about NCCC and national service, information about where our teams are serving, and spotlights of members, alumni, and projects.

o In the subject line, please put “Newsletter subscription” o In the body of the e-mail, please put:

o Name of person subscribing o “Relationship” of “Corps Member Name” (for example:

“mother of Joe Smith”, or “friend of Kate Brown”) o E-mail address (preferred) – the newsletter will be sent as

a pdf (Adobe Acrobat) attachment If an e-mail address is not available, include the

mailing address and a hard copy will be sent.

Our campus also has a Facebook Fan Page! Anyone who “likes” our page will get ongoing updates on campus events, project locations and accomplishments, news articles about our projects, and other updates. This page is different and separate from the “AmeriCorps NCCC Fall 2013: Denver Campus” group site mentioned in the Welcome Packet and in the introduction to this document.

The “AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region” page is intended for a broader, longer-term audience that includes current members as well as their family and friends, alumni, project sponsors, and other friends of the program. Please consider “liking” the page yourself, and suggesting it to anyone who you think would be interested in staying up-to-date on our campus activities and getting a taste of your upcoming experience!

http://www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsNCCCSouthwest

Getting Excited? Can’t wait until October 7? This should make it worse. Check out these videos made by some of your predecessors on some of their projects. While you don’t know yet which projects you’ll do, where you’ll travel, or who will be on your team, your adventure in AmeriCorps NCCC will be just as exciting. Enjoy!

Waldo Canyon: Burn Restoration

Colorado Springs, CO

Hurricane Sandy Recovery

New Jersey

J. Austin White Cultural Center

Eudora, AR

Hello Incoming NCCC Team Leaders and Corps Members: Every NCCC team leader and corps member needs to complete FIVE STEPS to prepare for potential NCCC deployment to a disaster situation with the American Red Cross (ARC).

1. Register in the ARC’s online Volunteer Connection system. Takes about 5 minutes 2. Register in the ARC’s online Education Center, called SABA. Take about 5 minutes. 3. Complete a class in the Education Center called “Disaster Services: An Overview” Takes about 60minutes 4. Complete a class in the Education Center called “Feeding Fundamentals”. Takes about 30 minutes. 5. Email your training completion certificates to Training Staff at NCCC.. If you do not send the completion

certificates, you will be required to complete these assignments on campus again. Takes about 1-2 minute

Please follow the directions closely on the attached sheet. There are a number of steps to each item which will help ensure that the forms and classes are completed as accurately as possible. If the forms are not completed correctly, you will need to fix them so best to do it as accurately as possible the first time. In addition, you will receive additional American Red Cross training on campus including first aid

training/CPR/AED and an introduction to helping in an emergency shelter. Not all corps members will be

deployed to a Red Cross project, however since we do not know which teams will be selected for those projects,

it is important for all teams to be ready in case they are called to respond.

We will be watching for your completion certificates by email or bring a hard copy to our office when you get

here. Thank you.

Lynette Murphy and Kara Holwick

303-844-7442 303-844-5816

Training Staff NCCC Denver Campus

ATTENTION: ADD THIS TO YOUR “TO DO” LIST BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

This packet describes five steps to complete before coming to campus. If you do not have access to a computer, you can complete them on campus, however we strongly encourage you to do them before arrival if possible. All five are required

by the Denver NCCC Campus.

Disaster Workforce Administration Guide to Registering with the American Red Cross

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July 2013 Dear AmeriCorps NCCC Class of 2014: The American National Red Cross and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps have over a long relationship in the development and support of national service volunteers for national disaster relief operations. There are currently five NCCC campuses in the United States and each campus has a Red Cross host chapter that is its liaison for deployment to relief operations. Your host chapter is the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross. The purpose of this document is to guide you through the registration process for becoming American Red Cross volunteers. The first step will be to create an account through our online system, Volunteer Connection. The second step will be to register for the online components of your Red Cross training. Step 1 Volunteer Connection

To register on Volunteer Connection, please visit the following website: http://tinyurl.com/og5r77q Once on the website, please complete the following fields: First Name Last Name Address Type (please enter your home address) Street Address Apt/Suite (if applicable) City

State Postal Code County Email At least one phone number Date of Birth How did you hear about us? Please select “Referred by AmeriCorps” Select a Username Select a Password Verify your password Click “Submit”

Once you click submit, you will be shown an intake path (series of steps) for completing your registration with Volunteer Connection. Please note that we do not need to you complete all of the steps below. Complete only those that are necessary and follow the prompts given to do so.

Submit Application - DONE above Register for Orientation - SKIP Update Your Profile - COMPLETE Read and Agree to Red Cross Policies - COMPLETE Initiate Background Check - SKIP Attend Orientation - SKIP

Disaster Workforce Administration Guide to Registering with the American Red Cross

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Volunteer Interest Indication - SKIP Background Check Completed Successfully - SKIP Referral to Department of Interest Issued – SKIP (will be completed by the ARC chapter) Referral to Department of Interest Approved – SKIP (will be completed by the ARC chapter)

Step 2 Training Registration Your next step is to register for your online trainings. The two courses for which you should register are “Disaster Services: An Overview” and “Feeding Fundamentals.” Please follow the guide step-by-step and it should answer any registration related questions. To register for the two online courses:

First, using Internet Explorer, go to the website https://classes.redcross.org and click "new user." Please complete the following fields in order to create a Saba username and profile: First Name Last Name Address 1 City State

Zip/Postal Code Country Main Phone Number Email TimeZone Select a Username (we recommend using your personal email address) Password Confirm your password Click “Save”

Please be sure to save your username and password in a place where you can reference it easily as you will have to access Saba in order to register for and/or take American Red Cross trainings.

Once you create your account, go back to https://classes.redcross.org and enter your username and password to log in to the Saba LMS system.

Once you’ve logged in, you will see four boxes in the center of your screen. In the upper right hand box, entitled “Catalog Search” click “Advanced Search.” On the next screen, enter the following:

Zip code: 80203 Radius drop down: 5 miles Course Format: Online only Start date: today’s date End Date: today’s date Course Title: Disaster Services

Disaster Workforce Administration Guide to Registering with the American Red Cross

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Click “Search Learning Catalog.” On the next screen, next to “Disaster Services: An Overview,” click “Register.” On the next page, where you see the course for which you are registering, click “continue shopping.” This will take you back to the “Advanced Search” screen. Again, enter the following:

Zip code: 80203 Radius drop down: 5 miles Course Format: Online only Start date: today’s date End Date: today ’s date Course Title: Feeding Fundamentals

Click “Search Learning Catalog.”

Next to the “Feeding Fundamentals” course that will appear, click “Register.” On the next page, where you see the course for which you are registering, click “place order” on the next screen to confirm.

Steps 3 & 4 Complete 2 Trainings Your next step is to complete the two trainings:

From the Home page, in the center of the screen you will see four boxes with one titled “Current Enrollments” in the lower left corner. In that box you should see the names of the two courses for which you just registered. First, next to “Disaster Services: An Overview” click “Launch Now.” This should start the course. Follow the prompts as directed.

Please note: you may be prompted by a security warning from Internet Explorer asking whether you want to view “only the webpage content that was delivered securely?” If you see this prompt, click “No.”

Second, complete the “Feeding Fundamentals” course. Click “Launch Now” and then following the prompts as directed.

Please note: you may be prompted by a security warning from Internet Explorer asking whether you want to view “only the webpage content that was delivered securely?” If you see this prompt, click “No.”

Step 5. Tell NCCC you have completed the classes *************** Once you have finished these classes, email your personalized certificate of completion to Lynette Murphy at lmurphy@cns.gov or Kara Holwick at KHolwick@cns.gov. . You can save the document as a PDF or take a screen shot of it, or if that doesn’t work, send your name, class name and date of completion in the email. If you have trouble, contact Lynette Murphy at 303-844-7442 or Kara Holwick at 303-844-5816. We look forward to meeting you. Best wishes, Luzon Kahler Disaster Workforce Engagement Manager, American Red Cross Colorado & Wyoming Region