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
Sunday, December 5, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, November 1, 2010
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Each month we as a group (AmeriCorps Downriver CARES) volunteers at some sort of service event. These events happen on Fridays typically in the early morning till early afternoon. Usually we meet up at Aquinas and ship out to wherever we are going for the day.
Below you'll find a list of this month's scheduled events. The list may change, and I'll try and update it if need be but sometimes time is the factor we all must abide by and to which we must submit.
11/05/2010 TEAM BUILDING No service event
11/12/2010 We are going to Gleaner's Foodbank at 2131 Beaufait in Detroit from 1pm-4pm.
11/19/2010 We are going to Alternatives for Girls at 903 W. Grand Blvd in Detroit from 9:30am to 2:30pm, which means we're meeting at Aquinas by 9am.
11/26/2010 HAPPY TURKEY DAY (US THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION) so we are off this day, but we'll see you in December.
Below you'll find a list of this month's scheduled events. The list may change, and I'll try and update it if need be but sometimes time is the factor we all must abide by and to which we must submit.
11/05/2010 TEAM BUILDING No service event
11/12/2010 We are going to Gleaner's Foodbank at 2131 Beaufait in Detroit from 1pm-4pm.
11/19/2010 We are going to Alternatives for Girls at 903 W. Grand Blvd in Detroit from 9:30am to 2:30pm, which means we're meeting at Aquinas by 9am.
11/26/2010 HAPPY TURKEY DAY (US THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION) so we are off this day, but we'll see you in December.
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