WELCOME TO MY weB-LOG

Hello and welcome to this exciting little piece of data. I will be capturing a quick view of what a member does on a daily basis in a first year, full term AmeriCorps position.
I will be writing up digests of my daily interactions within my position and participating in service events on Fridays and some Saturdays.
Hints and tips will also be provided, based on my thoughts and observations.
Feel free to give me feedback at steve.oetting@yahoo.com.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Life of a First Full Term AmeriCorps Member: I created an Alumni Survey

The Life of a First Full Term AmeriCorps Member: I created an Alumni Survey

Click here to take survey

I created an Alumni Survey

Though the date may be 12/5/2010, I finished up some simple changes to the survey Matt and I designed.
By taking the changes Joe made, I then took that text (for the most part) and entered it into a Basic Survey on SurveyMonkey.
It is a total of 10 large questions which should take less than 15minutes.
If you're an alum, make it happen and take the survey!
See the link in the following post.

DECEMBER EVENTS

12/3 Operation Good Cheer
It was pretty awesome to unload trucks and know the toys were going to make a child's Christmas better.

12/10  TRAINING AT CFE
We're going to be doing Grant Writing training, I'll be presenting to our group about my experience at the Michigan Roundtable Diversity and Inclusion Youth Leadership Summit, and we'll round it out by getting a grad school prep training by an AmeriCorps Alum, Jess Herzfield.
The event will be from 9-2 in CFE's Excellence Hall.


12/17
Outer Drive/Walter White
Don't have the full details as of yet, but I do know our group will be split into two smaller groups.


12/24
Christmas Eve- Agency is closed.


12/31
New Years Eve - Agency is closed.

11/29-12/4

11/29
You guessed it, I worked on Care Paths again.  Yes, it is really quite an exciting life.  But that is not all I have done today.
I entered in some new variables for a Care Path database.  No, it is not difficult to do, but it is an odd sensation trying to recollect how to do such a thing when you have not done so in quite awhile.
I decided to send Matt to the Cultural Competency event put on by ArabDetroit, as Joe will only pay for one ticket.
I e-mailed Lisa Horvath again about my LST, YAR, and ART certificates.  These certificates are an important means to show not only that I am trained to facilitate groups in these areas but that I am qualified to do such a thing.
I even had the time to e-mail Jordan O'Neil based out of the Grand Rapids Red Cross, to setup a Disaster Preparedness training in January.  As January is coming up, I knew it was time to contact him.  We were originally supposed to go earlier this term, but were unable, and if I do say so, I have been looking forward to it myself.  I received a response within a short period of time from Jordan saying I would need to speak with his supervisor, so I will e-mail his boss soon.


11/30
I entered data again today from more Care Paths and AmeriCorps Teen Surveys.
I e-mailed Joe about an alumni list for our program, so as to contact them to fill out our Alumni Surveys.  His response was to put it up on Facebook first and see what responses we can muster there.
The importance of typing accurately:
 If a form is not filled out correctly, I have to contact a supervisor for clarification.  This was the case for one of the Care Paths I came into contact with today.  I received a Closure Form stating the client was "deceased or to sick to continue services."  Now bear with me, as this is not a critique, merely an example of what writing the wrong thing can cause.
Because the form said the client successfully completed the program, I was curious how the client could be deceased and do so.  This brings me to my earlier point; because of this I had to contact a supervisor in JJ to get clarification.  His response was that the client is very much alive.  My postulation is that it is a template response, as certain case workers have such.
We also had CFE's first building meeting while I have been there.  It was not a real exciting meeting, but a very basic one with introductions, discussion of our holiday party, and of procedures to guard against the entrance of people who should not be in CFE.
I placed another Office Depot order, too.


12/1
Today was a great day for an hour of training.  I started off my day with Care Path data entry.
I created my goals for the term which I need to give to Joe.  These goals are long in number, but I will write them here:

Goals for Supervision

1          I plan on creating a peer mediation group.  This will be based around the 40 point assessment used in the School-Based Department, along with taking into mind the protective and risk factors for youth.  The plan would be to get a Teen Coalition to want to train, train them, and then set the program up at their individual school. 
            If it works, the thought we then be to introduce it to other schools we have teen coalitions.
 2          I want to create and then pitch the idea of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to TGC.  I will first create a BCP for CFE to present to Pam Cinpak and show the importance of it.
3          I need to continue my schooling.  There is no way around it, so I need to get moving.
            A         I need to look into graduate studies schools. 
            B         Decide on a degree or 2
            C         Apply to the degree program or 2
4          I would like to shadow other programs once a month.  Specifically, I want to shadow a JJ casework like Monique or Phil.  I need to contact them still, but with your permission I will contact them and let you, along with Heidi, know what days this will be.
            I would also like to do the same with United Way 211, if at all possible.  I have talked with Luke Brown about this possibility, and he seems to be okay with it, if you and Heidi are okay with it.
5          I would like to help facilitate a School-Based or JJ group.  I would like to try facilitating an Integrated (LST and ART) or LST group.
 6          I would like to learn more about SPSS and the other programs we use in CFE.

I mentioned earlier that I had a great training today and that is quite true.
Through Kaboom! I participated in "Online to Offline."  This training was about utilizing Social Media to get participation in your area of service.  It is ideal for those seeking to enhance their volunteer or mentoring programs.  Within it's bounds it teaches one the basics of utilizing social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr for the betterment of your service.

It talked about ways to generate strength in causes such as through:
Petition writing by using Care2 or Change.org; the generating of Volunteers through VolunteerSpot; and by Fundraising using CrowdRise or Facebook Causes.
Because of this training, I ended up emailing TGC's PR person to ask if TGC Tweets.  The answer is "no, but who knows, maybe some day."

12/2
I created a new series of variables and database for, what else, Care Paths.
I also redrafted my time sheets and an MNR, while also placing them on OnCorps.

12/3
After our Team Meeting at AQ, we had an hour drive to Operation Good Cheer in Waterford, MI.  At this service event, were not the only ones present.  There were quite a few volunteers at this annual event.  If you were unaware, Operation Good Cheer is designed to distribute toys to underprivileged children throughout MI.  With this in mind, we unloaded multiple trucks, not only emptying them, but also separating them into where they were headed.
At the end of the day, we were all quite tired, but it was a great feeling knowing we helped to make a child's holiday better.
Joe also gave Matt and I permission to attend CFE's Holiday Party which is on 12/17 in the middle of that event.  

12/4
I attempted to join the AmeriCorps Alumni Detroit Chapter, as I have completed a summer term. 
I did this through the website and also managed to view the first session of training on how to become an Alum Chapter Leader.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuHQUjijzY0
http://www.slideshare.net/AmeriCorpsAlums/ameri-corps-alums-overview
http://www.slideshare.net/AmeriCorpsAlums/ameri-corps-alums-resume-and-interview
http://www.slideshare.net/AmeriCorpsAlums/education-award
http://encorps.nationalserviceresources.org/whatsnext/index.shtml
http://edaward.org/
I also was able to get a copy of the Conflict Resolution materials AmeriCorps uses, so on Monday I will print them off and review them to try and incorporate them into the foundation of the curriculum I plan to write for a peer mediation group.

11/22 & 11/23

11/22
I had a very busy day.  Today I found out on a trip to pick up forms from AQ that our technical name for the program is Downriver CARES, as opposed to Downriver Cares.   CARES is actually an acronym.
I began the creation of a list of names to be given to Heidi/Deb.  Now this list isn't your average list; it's a list of names of individuals who happen to have Care Paths and there is something different about them.  Basically, I gave them a list of names of Care Paths that have posed a problem, because there was missing information.
 
11/23
Today, I emailed Susan about the display of a splatter paint sheet at Walter White Community Resource Center.  She accepted and will be displaying it there.
I asked Joe why we do not have t-shirts that are based around our program.  What I mean to say is to have t-shirts with Downriver CARES on them.  The answer as you may expect in this day is the same:  We don't have the funds to afford that many shirts.
I even was able to place an order for canned air, so that some day I can clean out my computers at work.
When I went to the clinic to get my 1st shot of 3 in the Hepatitis B series, I got the shot but not any receipt of it, so I had to call the clinic and request a receipt.  I was informed I should have been given paperwork of some sort, though our Billing office will get a payment request soon enough.

11/24
I took the day off.

11/25  TURKEY DAY = NO WORK

11/15-11/20

11/15
I got my Hepatitis B shot today.  Actually, it was the 1st of 3 shots, but the closest place to get them is Dearborn, so I spent nearly 2 hours of work time waiting for a shot which took less than 2 minutes.
It was at a free clinic, which was quite busy, so I would suggest avoiding busy times, such as Monday mornings.

I also got to input more Southwest Care Paths.


11/16
Even though one has worked with a program for what seems like a great deal of time, it does not mean one truly has an understanding of the program or software.  For example:  I had to show my coworker how to open up SPSS v.15.  Now, she works with 17, so she goes through a different process than I do to open the software.  This leads me to the point I am getting at; she was unable to open the software without my assistance.
You may compare this to my inability to open Microsoft Office Word on the computer I use at a cubicle once a week as I could not on 11/17.  MS Word was installed on my computer, but I had to search for it on the computer I use as it was not in the Programs list on my start menu.
In the end, I had to get assistance from my supervisor Heidi.
The moral of the story, though, is one should always be willing to learn more and expect to be flabbergasted at times by the work or service one may do or in which one is involved.
I again worked on entering SW Care Paths.


11/17
I have already told you of the adventure I had attempting to find MS Word.
I again entered Care Paths, but today Matt and I finished up our vision of the Alum Survey Joe requested we create.  I typed it up and sent it to Joe.
I also had the idea of reviewing a training session over JAIS and even found one.


11/18
Today was an important day.  We went to the New Member Celebration in Lansing.
Yes, this means we, as in Downriver CARES, along with every other MI AmeriCorps member met up in Lansing and had a very long day.  To get down to the short and the sweet of it it, there were two workshop sessions.
I shorten this as the day was long but these workshops were the main point of it, so please forgive my overlooking of things.
In Workshop 1, I attended a session all about becoming Community Leaders.  It was put on on by Jeanine Yard, who you can find on Facebook.
I have a copy of the handouts, but the most important to thing to think about is "What does being a community leader mean?"
If you can answer that question than you'll be able to be an effective leader in a community.

In Workshop 2, I went to Leadership Compass put on by CityYear.  This workshop is designed to teach one how to be placed into 1 of 4 types of leaders.  It also was designed to prepare those on how to effectively deal with those least like themselves.  To put it in good terms, it was a beginner's workshop.


11/19
Today, we went to Alternatives for Girls.  At this site, we cleaned play rooms and kitchens.  Some cleaned dining rooms, while others put up holiday decorations.  The staff was happy to have us and incredibly excited to have so many of us.


11/20
Yes, this is a Saturday, and yes my day began at 730am, and yes I went by myself, but I went to the Michigan Roundtable Diversity and Inclusion Youth Leadership Summit.  AND IT WAS AWESOME.
This is a great summit for people in our type of program to attend.  I realize we do not all deal with youth such as teens, but it was a great day for teens such as for those we have in out Teen Coalitions, along with staff members in School-Based, Juvenile Justice, and Community Resource Centers
There were 5 different workshops to chose from, and I decided on attending the Sexual Orientation.  Other choices were based on racism or immigration.
What one needs to know about this day:
Facilitators are trained by the MI Roundtable and given the title of interns to develop such presentations.  In the presentation I observed, adults were separated from the teens, so as not to influence them, so there were to semi-separate workshops going on at one time.
What would happen:
The interns would give an introduction to a topic and then play a video clip.
After the clip, the interns would pose 3 questions and have each smaller group reflect on them and share experiences.
In the end, it was a rewarding experience and I am going to be doing a presentation on it during our training day on  12/10/2010.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

11/8-11/12

11/8
I began this week by doing a random assortment of tasks.  They all related to what I am required to do in my position.
I found some needs assessments for Lisa Horvath.
I also began work on researching info for a grant.
Not to mention, I also  worked on entering Care Path info.


11/9
I entered Needs Assessment Surveys today.  I also went over more Care Path surveys.
Most importantly, I worked on a table of information requested by our grant office.  Even though the grant was canceled as far as TGC pursing the grant, the information still needed to be turned in as it was requested.


11/10
Today I entered more Needs Assessments and Parents surveys.  As the names of the documents imply, they are assessments of the needs of our clients and surveys of parents (of our clients or our clients) in relation to a program they are part of.
I also did some correspondence, including an e-mail to Joe Spain.


11/11
Today, Matt and I went to visit Joe to talk about the survey that will be sent to alums from our program.  After speaking with Joe, Matt and I picked up our new AmeriCorps attire.  I got my new t-shirt and placed an order in for my hooded sweatshirt.
After, I also worked on entering SW Care Path forms.


11/12
As our Friday event, we went to Gleaners of SEM.  At this event, we were told of the good work Gleaners does.  You can even become a fan of them on Facebook.  As far as the service we provided, we were split into 2 big groups.  One sorted apples and then bagged them, while the other group selected items to be shipped out to sites Gleaners provides food to.
By the way, my team also selected the most food, so congrats to us all.

11/1-11/5

11/1
Today, I posted our November events on the blog.
I again entered Care Path forms.
I also came up with the idea of creating and facilitating a peer mediation curriculum.

11/2
Today, I attended the 3rd session of Motivational Interviewing.  To me, it was the second time I attended as they only require attendance at 2 of the three.
At noon, I finally had my monthly supervision with Joe where we talked about what he'll need me to do.  For the most part, I will be doing and running the Training Committee with Matt.  To begin with, we're required to create a survey to be sent to alums from our program.
I again worked on entering Care Paths today.


11/3 & 11/4
I entered more Care Path info today as I did on 11/4, but on 11/4 I went to the New Member Lunch and interacted with the new members.


11/5
I brought plates and forks to the team building event we held at Roosevelt Lanes.  I was inadvertently late due to the team building event because part of my carpool was late, which means that when I arrived I started the party.
It was a good time with all of the new members and old members interacting, especially because Joe grouped us by lane.

10/25-10/29

10/25
Today, I consolidated 6 databases of Care Path info into 4, which I know doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it does have a huge difference on the work we have to put into reviewing data.  Granted, we will have to add more databases eventually, but this has helped to properly situate data per our Director's orders.

10/26
Today, I began comparing Tammy's list (from Juvenile Justice) to our list of clients who have need for Care Paths, as they are segments of plans designed to show care for our clients.
I was also able to order a fan for the second mini-cubicle I use once a week.  This begins the slow process I will endure to prep both cubicles to being at the same professional level.  By this I merely mean one of the two cubicles I use is under resourced, so I am slowly getting it to the same level as the one I primarily use.
I also contacted some of our Juvenile Justice case workers for copies of certain Care Paths.


10/27
I entered even more Care Paths today.
I also attended a Zimbra Training with Matt today.
In the training, we learned how to manage our E-mail system used by TGC.


10/28
I went to Joe's office for my monthly supervision.  He was unable to attend, due to a site issue, so I ended up going back to CFE, with a quick stopover at Renkim to pick up my check to pay for a training next month.


10/29
I went to Aquinas today at 7:30am so as to get my supervision in with Joe.  He was behind schedule, so I was unable to meet with him prior to our monthly staff meeting.
But we had our monthly staff meeting at 8am where we did an ice breaker and then shipped out to Ann Arbor.  In Ann Arbor, we served at a Michigan Ability Partners site.  At the site, we did a great deal of painting and lawn care.

10/18/2010-10/22/2010

Yes, it has been awhile since I last posted on here and as you may have guessed, my position in which I serve is not what you would call amazing.  By this, it is simply meant that I do not have a position requiring me to do "new and exciting" things everyday.  In all honesty, it is an office position requiring me to spend a great deal of time at a desk.
Because of this, I tend to have very little to say once I have initially described whatever it is that I have done.

10/18
I worked on Bridgeway Care Paths, by entering the info into databases.
I also reviewed the Education Award pieces on OnCorps.

10/19-10/21
I spent most of my time this week entering Care Path data into the databases.  This data consisted of both the Initial forms and Updates.  I won't delve too deeply into what these forms require, due to the confidential nature of the materials, but suffice it to say the reason I am reviewing these forms and entering the data is to provide the director of my program proper info as to whether this program should be continued.


10/22
After a last minute change in the event, we went to Cody HS in Detroit.  Initially, we were to go to Ruth Ellis, but that event fell through, so we met up for 2 shifts at Cody HS.  At this event, we participated in multiple services.  Through working with City Year, we helped to clean up and paint parts of the high school.
I volunteered for the 2nd shift and was able to bond with some of the newer members while painting some benches in front of the high school and bathroom stalls on the second floor.