Why choose UCAN VISTA Coalition?

• We have a great VISTA Team that works together to support all members' projects, plays together, creates together
• The Umpqua River is prime fishing and rafting territory
• The coast is an hour or less to the west
• The snow is an hour or less to the east in the wintertime
• The VISTA project sites are dedicated to helping their VISTA members succeed
• There are many scenic hiking and biking trails within an hour's drive
• Our VISTA Team members are great cooks and love pot lucks.
• Our VISTA Team has members of all ages and backgrounds which promotes diverse thinking and creative brainstorming.

Our team started in Douglas County in 2003 with just six people and now consists of 18 VISTA members placed with fourteen different organizations in both Douglas and Josephine counties. In August we will place our first two members in Coos County. Members end up with something of a dual identity - as part of both the VISTA team and their host organization. As a team, we meet quarterly to do trainings, plan team volunteer projects/events, and do random fun activities. Members that are geographically closer will likely meet more frequently. One of the biggest goals of the team is to be a support system for all of the members, so team meetings may change over the year to provide training and networking opportunities that will be most helpful for everyone. The second goal is to help all of our organizations become more collaborative in their approach to providing services. One of the nicest things about working in small communities is that everyone in the non-profit community knows one another, but many of the organizations still operate very independently. The VISTA partner agencies would like to explore creative new ways to develop collaborative projects that will benefit citizens in our communities.

At each individual organization, the work of VISTA members varies quite a bit, but there are a few things that are universal. Most importantly, VISTA is the program development branch of AmeriCorps, so VISTA members do what is called "indirect service," meaning that they don't work directly with our organization's clients, but instead, build programs to help their host organizations serve more people. For example, where an AmeriCorps volunteer might be a tutor in an elementary school, a VISTA will create a whole tutoring program for the school. So VISTA is a bit more on the administrative side - and very good experience especially for people who want to go into the non-profit field or any form of program development. VISTA members are asked to start with the host-site's vision and from that idea and some basic guidelines, create a program. That can include getting partners on board and coordinating their roles, creating the literature, brochures, manuals, etc, sometimes writing grant requests, raising the money, getting publicity, organizing events, recruiting volunteers - you'll likely do a little bit of everything. Some people love that - others prefer the regular AmeriCorps program, which is working directly with those served by the host-organization. There are definitely advantages in both, so it's just good to know what your own preferences are. Most of all, to be happy in VISTA, it helps to enjoy taking the initiative and being very self motivated!

Douglas, Josephine, and Coos counties are all economically depressed. The area was hard hit by the decline of the timber industry, and nothing has yet replaced it; unemployment hovers at about 10 percent, with all of the associated social issues. There is a real need for the work that AmeriCorps*VISTA does. On a brighter note, southern Oregon is beautiful for hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, etc - that's actually what draws a lot of residents here. And, the cost of living is not as high as in the larger cities, which makes the VISTA stipend a bit easier.

Recruiting and Placement Process

We typically do one and sometimes two phone interviews, before making a decision about our applicants. We then notify the member of our selection and when the applicant accepts one of our positions, we notify the state office for the Corporation for National and Community Service and register those selected for the pre-service orientation. All members with our team who will start in January will be selected by December 5th. They will attend pre-service orientation from January 21-24, 2008. We will hold a welcome event for new members on January 25th, and then we have a two day orientation for new members on January 28 and 29. The first day of service at the host-site will be January 30th.

We encourage new members to move to Oregon prior to attending the pre-service orientation so they can look for housing, apply for food stamps, and learn a bit about the community where they will live.

The Corporation for National Service reimburses members who relocate for mileage to the service site and provides a $550 relocation allowance. CNCS also pays all costs related to pre-service orientation and makes all flight and hotel arrangements.

Americorps*VISTA Positions Currently Recruiting

NOTE: All members with our team who will start in July were selected May 10th. They will attend Pre-Service Orientation July 7-10, 2008. We will hold a Welcome Event as well as an orientation for new members for new members on July 14. The first day of service at the host-site will be July 15th.

Phoenix School (Roseburg, OR) - Develop program structure for the Phoenix alternative school to effectively utilize their garden to provide produce for not only student consumption, but to the UCAN Food Shares program for distribution to families in need throughout the county. Help arrange a variety of service learning projects for student groups at the school.

Douglas CARES (Roseburg, OR) - Help with grant writing and fundraising. Douglas CARES provides supportive services to child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members.

Project Literacy Umpqua Region (Roseburg, OR) - Work with staff and volunteers to develop outreach strategies and materials both for volunteer recruitment and for community education. Help with grant writing and fundraising. Project Literacy is an adult literacy program.

Douglas County Homeless Youth Coalition (Roseburg, OR) - Work with staff and coalition members to establish procedures and resource referral systems for a Homeless Youth Drop-in Center currently under development. Develop resource coordination and delivery systems, help with fundraising, grant writing, and develop a plan for information outreach.

Douglas County Museum (Roseburg, OR) - Work with staff to develop outreach materials and increase community participation in and support of the Museum. Will work with two other VISTA members who are developing hands-on educational programs to supplement classroom curriculum.

UCAN Transitions - Confidence Clinic (Roseburg, OR) - Work with staff to develop the infrastructure for a craft outlet in the Confidence Clinic to showcase and sell art work and crafts made by Confidence Clinic participants and alumni. Develop training resource partnerships to help Clinic participants learn business skills. Income from the boutique will help fund Confidence Clinic programs

South County Resource Center (Myrtle Creek, OR) - VISTA member will work with staff and community partners to increase availability of resources for residents of South Douglas County who find it difficult to travel to Roseburg. Will include developing

ADAPT (Grants Pass, OR) - VISTA member in Grants Pass will build on the materials created by a previous VISTA member to continue development of a mentoring program for systems involved youth. VISTA will recruit and train volunteers, help with grant writing, and develop collaborative partnerships in the community.