Save the Date! Maryland AmeriCorps Conference

Michelle Obama will be a champion for national service.

While talking to a woman from GEDCO at the GHIA luncheon today (yikes, acronyms), I learned that Michelle Obama is going to take on AmeriCorps as a major advocacy issue when she moves into the white house.

This, in addition to the fact that Obama's transition website puts national service front and center with a pledge to increase AmeriCorps to 250,000 (from the current 75,000), is great news for VISTAs.

See a Newsweek interview touching on this here.

A Creative Way to Use Your Ed Award

The CA Education Program (CAEP), in a partnership with the Minnesota State Community & Technical College (MSCTC)-Fergus Falls, has developed a program for AmeriCorps members and alumni to be able to use their Education Award to participate in our 3-12 month Domestic Apprentice Program and Outbound Program for Americans. CAEP is now offering educational experiences by providing AmeriCorps members and alumni with a domestic or international placement in one of its 8 Agriculture-related fields:

• Agriculture
• Horticulture
• Enology (Wine Making) & Viticulture
• Equine
• Agribusiness
• Citrus
• Apiary
• Turf Management

Benefits of the Program:

- Opportunity to travel the United States and the world

•- Learn new languages and cultures

•- Gain academic internship credit and opportunity to take future classes at MSCTC

•- Gain validated skills and certification through CAEP and the United States DoL

•- Paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities both here and abroad

•- Ability to use your AmeriCorps Education Award to supplement the program fees!

Program Fees:

CAEP Domestic Apprentice Fee: $1,250 (includes course fee + $250 Deposit)

CAEP Outbound Program Fee: $1,250 (includes course fee + $250 Deposit)

Country Partner/Work Visa Fee (International Program) Additional fees that vary by country

Medical Insurance (International Program) $85/month

Travel Expenses Members are responsible for travel costs

*AmeriCorps member and alumni can now use their Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to participate in both CAEP domestic and international prgorams and in return will be paid a monthly stipend and room and board while in the program.

To learn how to use your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to participate in one of CAEP's programs, please visit www.caep.org or contact Eric Anderson (AmeriCorps Alum '00 & ‘01) at eric@cainc.org or at 1-800-432-3276 ext. 3351.