Funding for AmeriCorps

The future of the Corporation for National and Community Service is at stake as Congress struggles to reach agreement on a budget for the reminder of this fiscal year.  That means all AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA programs, without which we could not do the work we do to connect student learning with community need here at USM.  Please read the following message from Liz McCabe Park, Director of Maine Campus compact, and make a phone call TODAY to urge support for these critical programs!  -ATM

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,   Thanks to many of you who made calls to Congress last month to voice your support for national service programs, INCLUDING AMERICORPS and VISTA, the only federal program dedicated to service-learning. To date: --Over 2,700 people visited their local congressional office on District Day --Over 10,000 calls were placed to the Senate on Make the Call Day --Over 160 articles and op-eds have been published in support of service in papers across the country. --Over 300 Campus Compact presidents signed a support letter distributed to Congress --Over 200 Mayors, 350 University Presidents, 220 Private Sector CEOs have signed onto letters of support --Over 110,000 people signed onto an online petition  There is less than one week until the current continuing resolution expires on April 8, and the threat of a government shutdown is looming. Congress and the White House are working around the clock on a bipartisan compromise that will fund the federal government for the remainder of the year. We only have a few days left to convince Congress that funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service is an essential priority for communities and constituents. That's why we need to pick up the phones one more time and call the U.S. Senate TODAY,  April 4.  Please take a few minutes out of your day to call the offices of Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.  The message: " "I am calling to ask Senator Snowe/Collins to vote for a budget that funds the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Learn and Serve America Program."   1. Olympia Snowe: (202) 224-5344 2. Susan Collins: (202) 224-2523   Thank you for your support for National Service. PLEASE pass on this message to as many other people as possible!  For additional information, please visit: http://www.saveservice.org   With thanks, Liz 

--  Liz McCabe Park, Exec. Director Maine Campus Compact 220 College St., #2 Lewiston, ME  04240 207-786-8216 www.mainecompact.org 

Andrea Thompson McCall

 Director of Community Service Learning

 University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

 

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403