Legislation

| Share |

It’s Déjà vu! The Corporation for National and Community Service Budget Request is Off Track Again

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 20:56

In June 2011, Paula Beugen wrote a guest Hot Topic for Energize titled, “Is the Corporation for National and Community Service on the Right Track for Volunteerism?”  She cogently cautioned that CNCS’ proposed budget was not supportive to the vast majority of volunteer-involving organizations in this country, particularly by the programs they slashed or reduced. We are once again on the brink of eliminating what some of us feel are the most important elements of the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (Serve America Act).

Why We All Need to Take a Ride on VolunteerSpot's #TinyCars Campaign

Submitted by Cara Thenot
on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:22

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, VolunteerSpot launched a “Tiny Cars” campaign to fight for support of H.R. 387: Charitable Driving Tax Relief Act of 2011.  Passage would mean an increase of the measly $.14 per mile tax deduction rate for charitable driving unchanged by the U.S. Congress since 1997. That’s compared to the 50 cents per mile deduction for business use of a personal vehicle in 2011.  And the new bill would also no longer count such reimbursement to volunteers as gross income.

April 24, 2011: International News From the Field

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Sun, 04/24/2011 - 00:00

24 April: Last chance to advocate for FY11 volunteering and service-learning!  Let the White House and Congress know your disappointment that most anything that is not stipended service has been slashed from the Corporation for National and Community Service budget.
__________________________________

Enormous thanks to Paula J. Beugen, Minnesota colleague who has long served as our field’s legislative watchdog, for the following summary of what is happening on the Hill. A federal government shutdown was averted on April 8, 2011 when a seventh short-term continuing resolution was passed by Congress. Subsequently, a FY11 spending plan was passed in time for the April 15 continuing resolution end-date. FY11 ends September 30, 2011.

According to an April 12, 2011 article by Suzanne Perry, in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, "In addition to specific funding cuts, all non-defense programs would be trimmed across the board by 0.2 percent." Later in the article Perry wrote, "The budget for the

Volunteer Recognition During Tough Financial Times

Submitted by Lindsay Liprando
on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 00:00

National Volunteer Week in the US and Canada (April 10-16, 2011) is fast approaching. Many organizations provide recognition during this week through banquets or gifts such as lapel pins or tote bags…but what do you do when the budget’s been slashed and you can barely afford a pizza party, let alone a banquet?

As wonderful as parties and special gifts are, there are many meaningful ways to provide low-cost (or no-cost!) recognition. One great resource for ideas is Energize’s Collective Wisdom area on volunteer recognition. Another is Bill Wittich’s book, 77 Ways to Recognize Volunteers. At only $5, this e-book can fit into any budget, and it provides tips for both formal and informal recognition that you’ll use all year long. Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite tips from this book.

If you have a creative recognition idea that you’d like to share, be sure to post it in the comments! We’ll also add it to our Collective Wisdom pages.

Excerpted from 77 Ways to Recognize Volunteers

Copyright © 2012   Energize, Inc., 5450 Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia PA 19144, 215-438-8342, Fax: 215-438-0434