OLYMPIA- The Volunteer Center and Olympia Federal Savings are pleased to announce the Be the Change Contest. Volunteers and volunteer groups will have a way to “Pay It Forward” by first volunteering in the community to assist the causes they care about and as a result of that volunteerism, winning the opportunity to designate a cash award for the charity of their choice.

One group will win a year of free Web site hosting. The contest is part of the Volunteer Center’s Summer of Service inspired by Pres. Obama's United We Serve initiative. A list of Summer of Service opportunities and events can be found at www.volunteer.ws. Project ideas must be submitted to frieda@volunteer.ws by Sept. 11, 2009.

Prizes will be awarded based on creativity, innovation, and community engagement as decided by a panel of community members. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

First Prize: Community Changers: Awarded to the group with the biggest community impact, winners of this award must explain how their project made a difference. Winner receives $250 toward their favorite nonprofit organization’s NEXT project

Second Prize: Group Dynamics: Awarded to group that engages the largest number of volunteers. Winner receives Web site hosting for a nonprofit organization from GCI Ad Agency.

Third Prize: Building Bridges: Awarded to the group that engages the most volunteers of diverse backgrounds i.e. age, race, socio-economic background. Winner receives $100 donation to favorite nonprofit organization.

Fourth Prize: We Are Family: Awarded to most creative volunteer project involving family members. Each of three winners will receive prizes of $50 donated to their favorite charitable organization.

What’s a creative idea? Want some thoughts on how to be innovative? Need a jumpstart for your community building brainstorm sessions? Consider these ideas:

Bring your church, civic, school group or family. Or just bring your friends. Spend one summer morning restoring habitats and helping baby trees grow strong. These activities are part of Eco-Impact Day, a Volunteer Center sponsored activity taking place at three sites in Thurston County from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a picnic celebrating our work from noon to 2 p.m. We can accomodate up to 250 volunteers and some venues are family-friendly. This is a great way to raise another generation of volunteers or build team spirit for your group. For more information or to volunteer, please call Blake at 360-741-2610 or send him an e-mail at blake@volunteer.ws.

Thurston County nonprofit organizations can receive volunteer help for hands-on projects as part of United Way of Thurston County’s 17th annual Day of Caring on September 25. Day of Caring is an annual event where hundreds of volunteers from throughout Thurston County join local nonprofit and other community organizations to work on service projects. Participating organizations are matched with volunteers who give their time, talent and services to change our community for the better in one day. Not only does Day of Caring have a significant impact on the needs of local nonprofits, it also enables volunteers to meet new people, work as a team and gain new experiences. Day of Caring also kicks off United Way’s annual campaign which raises funds to meet local health and human service needs. This year, United Way has partnered with the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties and The Evergreen State College to bring Day of Caring to a new level! In the spirit of true collaboration, Day of Caring is coordinating with Evergreen’s "Community to Community Action Day" to offer both fun and meaningful opportunities for youth, individuals and families to engage in community service. To sign up to host a project, go to http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/volcenterlmt/agency/. The deadline for applications is August 1. For more information contact: Ami Forsberg, Day of Caring Coordinator 360-943-2773, x13 or aforsberg@unitedway-thurston.org

On June 22, 2009 President Obama called for the United We Serve Summer of Service. To celebrate this call to service, The Volunteer Center would like you to put on your sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and come out to volunteer for the environment! There will be opportunities to help the Nature Conservancy, clean up Tumwater Falls Park, preserve trails for the Woodland Trails Greenway Association, and many more ... Everyone is welcome! This event is family friendly. Youth will be able to participate in volunteer projects with parent/adult supervision. For more information or to register, please contact Blake Marzloff at blake@volunteer.ws 360 - 741 - 2610

Join Capitol Land Trust at McLane Point on lower Eld Inlet to control the spread of invasive English Ivy. Meet at McLane Elementary School 200 Delphi Road SW Olympia, WA 98502 Due to limited parking we will be car-pooling to the site, a short distance away. Tools, gloves, snacks and hot beverages will be provided. Please be prepared for rain (but keep your fingers crossed for sun!). For more information, please contact Noah Silber-Coats at noah@capitollandtrust.org or (360) 943-3012.

Starting this Saturday, March 7, SPS Habitat will be having a regular open house on site at 1800 Fairview Street in NE Olympia (between Miller and Ethridge Streets, very near the Olympia Little Theater on Miller). These open houses will take place between 9:30-11am on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. It will be an opportunity for everyone in the community to see what the progress is with our Phase III homes, to meet some of our families who are currently working so hard to earn their sweat equity hours, and to meet some of the fantastic volunteers from throughout the community who are largely responsible for creating the Fairview Cottages development.

If you’re one of our financial supporters, this is a wonderful time to see exactly where your donations are going: modest, solid, extraordinarily well-built structures in a cottage community of 15 homes. And if you’ve considered making a donation but have not done so, this is an opportunity for you to ask questions and be reassured that those funds are being put to a very good use: enhancing the lives of families as well as the community as a whole. An added bonus on March 7th only: because this is our first such open house: our Executive Director, Curt Andino, and his wife, Ali, will be baking cinnamon rolls - a product which made them famous in their previous life in Syracuse, NY. Curt was the director of a jail ministry which had a regular fundraiser and these treats became must-haves for many of the attendees. We’ll even have some coffee to keep you warm!

Opportunity for Community Engagement Volunteer Host Homes Needed May 6-9, 2009 For three days in May over 500 student participants from around the state will take over the Capitol and run a mock legislative session. In order to ensure all students, regardless of their financial situation, are able to participate in the Youth Legislature Program, YMCA Youth & Government offers opportunities for local families to host students during their stay in Olympia. This eliminates the cost of expensive hotel stays and offers a unique experience for volunteers and participants alike. Host families are asked to provide the following support: • Sleeping accommodations for Wednesday, May 6 – Friday, May 8. (If necessary and requested, students can bring sleeping bags.) • Greet students at your home on Wednesday, May 6 between 9:30 and 11 p.m. • Breakfast for students on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings prior to 8:00 a.m. • Share dinner with your students on Friday, May 8, between 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. Students’ advisors will provide transportation to and from all events as well as all meals not specified above. As always, our goal is to help young people grow into responsible, productive, and caring adults. Your ongoing support is very important in this process. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. For more information on this event please contact our office at 360-357-3475 or check out our website at www.youthandgovernment.org

From Todd Smilth, City of Olympia VIP Coordinator:

The South Sound chapter of the Surf Rider Foundation and Olympia Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program are sponsoring a work party at Priest Point Park on Saturday, January 17, from 1-4pm. We’ll be removing Ivy, Holly and other invasive species on and around the shoreline of Priest Point Park. Meet at the playground parking lot on the west side of Priest Point Park. Please note that this event includes a ¾ mile roundtrip walk down and up an easy/moderate trail. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy boots or shoes. Volunteers under the age of 18 are welcome, but must have signed parental permission. Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tools and refreshments will be provided. No need to sign up in advance. See you there!

Explore local organizations and volunteer programs in a fun new way. Meet with volunteer-based agencies for three minutes each and choose your favorites to follow up with. Sponsored by the Friends of the Tumwater Timberland Library.

The Tumwater Timberland Library is located at 7023 New Market Street, across the street from Tumwater High School. For more information about this and other Tumwater Timberland programs, please call 943-7790.

OLYMPIA – In a community struggling to respond to and recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process even more difficult. Before traveling to the disaster area to help, learn where and when your skills will be needed. Discuss with volunteer organizations how your needs for food, water and shelter will be met while you are volunteering. When volunteering, don’t become part of the disaster. Follow these guidelines:

1. GET TRAINED Most disaster organizations require a level of training to be sure their volunteers are qualified to supply the services the clients need. Though it is sometimes possible to train you in the moment, it is not the most effective way. Signing up with a disaster-based organization before a disaster is the BEST way to be a great volunteer later.

Several important preparedness trainings are already scheduled in the community.