[rtpnet-tact] Fwd: CTC VISTA Project: Applying

[Judy Hallman]

To TACT and TechCoop lists:

I'm forwarding a message about applying for CTC VISTAs. Think about how 
your organization could benefit from a VISTA and start working on your 
job description. If cost is a problem, can you share a VISTA with 
another organization? RTPnet has benefited tremendously from the work of 
Americorps*VISTAs.  See http://www.rtpnet.org/rtpnet/vista.shtml for 
summaries of the projects RTPnet has had. There's a clickable (X's 
project) for each VISTA to the Part B for their project. The hard part 
is section 3 (Goals and Objectives) and part 9 (Tasks and Activities).

Advantages of the CTC VISTA project include reduced cost for VISTAs, 
reduced administrative work, and help recruiting and working with 
VISTAs. The gottchas are that the project is limited to 40 nationwide 
and there is only one recruiting cycle per year. See 
http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista/projectbasics.htm for the project 
overview, priorities, cost, application process, and timeline.

Peter Miller (see http://www.rtpnet.org/conf/tracks.htm#volunteer) plans 
to be here for the 2:15-3:45 breakout session, "Technology Volunteer:
CTC VISTA project" at the RTPnet conference May 20 (see 
http://www.rtpnet.org/conf/ ). Note that the deadline for early 
registration is April 15.

Judy Hallman (hallman at rtpnet.org, http://www.rtpnet.org/hallman)
Executive Director, RTPnet, NC (http://www.RTPnet.org/)

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [CTC] CTC VISTA Project: Applying
Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:38:00 -0400
From: Paul Hansen <paul.hansen at umb.edu>
To: <connect at ctcnet.org>

Hi All,
As you may know, we have recently posted the CTC VISTA Project 
guidelines for the 2005-06 program year on our website at: 
<www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista/projectbasics.htm>

I am glad to announce that the application is now available online at:
<http://cpcs.umb.edu/vista/application>

Currently it is available only in MSWord format but on April 15th we 
will launch our online application system. We anticipate that this new 
system will help make the process much more manageable so you may want 
to hold off on the application until it is up and running.

In the meantime, I would encourage those of you that are interested in
applying to get started with the first step in the process: the VISTA 
job description. I am glad to personally assist you in putting together 
an appropriate job description but here are two things you'll want to 
keep in mind from the start:

1) A VISTA's work should be focused on capacity building (organizational 
and program development) as apposed to direct service (system 
maintenance,tech support, etc.)

2) A CTC VISTA's work should contribute specifically (though not 
necessarily exclusively) to capacity building in one of the Project's 
priority areas:
     - community networking
     - community organizing and development
     - technology support to non-profit organizations
     - digital media support programs for youth

Drop me an email and we'll get the ball rolling. We're already beginning 
to get inquiries from some promising VISTA candidates!

Best, --Paul

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Paul Hansen
paul.hansen at umb.edu

Assistant Director, CTC VISTA Project
College of Public and Community Service
University of Massachusetts/Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393

http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista
617.287.7122 (v)     617.287.7274 (fax)