Volunteer Positions

Peace Corps
April 24, 2008

For Immediate Release Contact: Bart Kendrick

202.692.1819

Peace Corps Calls for Experienced Educators

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2008

The Peace Corps is encouraging experienced educators and teachers to use their skills as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

As part of its on-going effort to bring more skilled and knowledgeable Volunteers to the field, the Peace Corps is reaching out to mid-career and retiring professionals who are interested in new and challenging teaching opportunities and are considering alternatives to traditional retirement. Currently there is a high demand for skilled teachers with classroom and teacher training experience.

Peace Corps education Volunteers introduce innovative teaching methods and encourage critical thinking in a variety of classroom settings overseas. They may also work in curricula or materials development, and train teachers informally or formally in conversational English, academic subjects, or instruction methodologies. The most competitive candidates have: a minimum of three years of classroom experience; advanced degrees in teaching, education, TEFL, English, primary or secondary education, or linguistics; or teacher trainer experience. Other relevant experience includes working with adult literacy programs or writing for literary magazines or newspapers.

To learn more about teaching opportunities with Peace Corps, call 1.800.424.8580 or visit: www.peacecorps.gov/minisite/education?cid=preduc

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 47-year legacy of service at home and abroad. Since 1961, over 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield would LOVE to have retired teachers come into any of our 3 units to volunteer in any capacity they choose: You can read to the kids, share your experiences, be a dinner buddy with the kids or teach something you love to teach! We have art, computers, book clubs and more! No schedule needed- you can come once or regularly or just drop in! Please call Cindy Dodson at 417-862-9249 ext. 104.

NRTA Volunteer - Writer's Corps
2/25/08

It’s time for community members and leaders, along with current and prospective REA members, to know about the impressive contributions that retired educators make to support education and help others.

Introducing the…
NRTA VOLUNTEER
WRITERS’ CORPS

Do you enjoy writing?

Are you interested in helping uncover and convey motivating stories about retired educators?

NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community is testing a new volunteer opportunity that we are calling the NRTA Volunteer Writers’ Corps. Through this project, we are hoping to spotlight many of the achievements that celebrate the incredible impact of retired educators and school personnel in their communities. The articles will be shared with NRTA’s network of Retired Educators Associations (REAs) for use in newsletters and websites.

Position Title: Writer

Description: Members of the Writers’ Corps are asked to make a one-year commitment with an individual goal of writing a quarterly article (approximately 500-1000 words) that will be shared with REAs for use in newsletters and websites.

Outline of Responsibilities:

Ø Develop article ideas
Ø Interview and research subjects
Ø Draft articles
Ø Vet articles with NRTA staff for editing

Outcome:

Ø Collectively, the Writers’ Corps will produce 12-15 articles during the first year of the program.

Training and Support Plan:

Ø Writers will be part of brainstorming process to develop article subjects.
Ø Writers will be directed to relevant online NRTA and AARP resources.

Time Commitment:

Ø 5-10 hours per month depending upon production schedule and article subject, and availability for semi-annual consultation with NRTA staff member.

Desired Traits:

Excellent writing and editing skills

Refined listening, interviewing and researching skills
Email, word processing and Internet knowledge
Ability to meet deadlines

If you are interested or have any questions, please email Rebecca Villarreal: rvillarreal@aarp.org.

Applicants are asked to submit the following (via email or postal mail) by March 17:

Ø Two paragraphs outlining your background and qualifications.
Ø Three writing samples. Published writing samples are appreciated, but not required.

Send to: Rebecca Villarreal, NRTA
c/o AARP Illinois
222 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 710
Chicago, IL 60601

Thank you for your interest!

Hello:

I am the state coordinator for ASSE International---a high school foreign exchange program. I am looking for individuals like you who have a very strong interest in other cultures and languages to work with our exchange students and host families.

ASSE International provides students from other countries the opportunity to come to the United States and live with an American family. This helps bridge the gap between countries and allows the students to grow in ways that will help them in their future endeavors. ASSE International has been fully listed with CSIET (Council on Standards for International Educational Travel) for 23 years.

Incoming students are between 15 and 18 years of age who have been screened by ASSE Representatives abroad. They have their own spending money and insurance. All the family has to provide is love and a willingness to open their home to the student.

When you become an ASSE Representative it’s vitally important that you attend a full day training session where you will receive all the materials that you would need to be the best. I would be interested in talking with you more about this excellent opportunity to open your world to another culture. You will also be given a stipend of $500 for each student placed along with the opportunity to earn other bonuses and trips for early placements.

Please let me know if this might be something you are interested in or if you know of someone who would work well with teens and families.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Shannon Cockrum
ASSE Area Coordinator MO & Southern IL
RT 3 Box 330
Gainesville, MO 65655
(417)679-0263 Office
(417)679-0262 Fax
www.asse.com
Friendship is the golden ribbon that ties the world together!!!

Baby Boomer Volunteers Bring Great Knowledge to the Peace Corps!
1/3/2008

Are you looking for a different way to share your skills and experience and avoid traditional retirement all while living and working in a developing nation? Peace Corps may be the answer. Founded by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps was created to provide education and technical training to citizens of other countries and to foster cross‑cultural exchange. Since 1961, over 190,000 Volunteers have served in 139 countries around the world. Peace Corps is looking for experienced individuals to share their knowledge and skills in fields as varied as: education, health, agriculture, the environment, community and youth development, business advising, construction and skilled trades, NGO development, and information technology.

Volunteers in Peace Corps work with local governments, schools, youth, community members, health centers, local non-profits, and entrepreneurs to address changing and complex needs. Volunteers have a unique experience living and working in a community and focus on connecting with locals by providing guidance and skill transfer, as well as cultural exchange. Many older Volunteers find their age to be an asset while serving overseas. They have the unique opportunity of sharing a lifetime of work and wisdom with people of developing nations who respect and appreciate age.

Peace Corps is a 27-month commitment and provides a living allowance, full medical and dental care, transportation to and from the assigned country, as well as readjustment funds on completion of service. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, in good health, and US citizens. There is no upper age limit for Volunteers.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and have the experience of a lifetime working with others. For more information copy and paste the link below into your web browser.

www.peacecorps.gov/minisite/50plus/?cid=rettchrs

Manor Thrift Shop
1/3/2008

The Manor Thrift Shop in Liberty, Missouri is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support Immacolata Manor, a residential facility in Liberty, Missouri serving women with developmental disabilities. The Thrift Shop has volunteer opportunities for individuals who would enjoy working in a retail environment. The shop receives donations of clothes, books, toys, furniture and household items for resale. Volunteers are needed to receive, sort, and market the items which have been donated. The Shop is open Monday through Saturday with some evening hours. Further information regarding the Shop and Immacolata Manor is available at www.immacolatamanor.org or you can contact Bruce Holloway, Development Director at bholloway@imanor.org or by phone at 816-781-4332 ext 226.

Thank you.

Bruce Holloway

I am the district wide coordinator for volunteer recruitment for Youth For Understanding. We are a foreign student exchange program. I work in the district office in Des Moines and our district covers the Midwest and Colorado .

We are in dire need of volunteers who understand about our kids, families and the schools they attend. We would like to reach retired or soon to be retiring teachers with information about this need. Can you advise me on the most appropriate avenue to us to reach these retirees?

Everyone in my own family are or were teachers. I want to reach them but do not want to be intrusive or bothersome. Attached is the information we would like to share.

Mary Wennerstrum
District Coordinator
Recruitment & Development
Youth For Understanding
8230 Hickman Rd #300
Des Moines, IA 50325

Office:866-493-8872
or 515-276-6301
wennerstrum@yfu.org
www.yfu-usa.org