This is a post from a class demonstration where I showed some of our new VISTAs how to navigate the field reporting interface.

Accomplishments: showing new VISTAs how to navigate the site

Challenges: it's really, really hot (but we had some nice air conditioning)

Here's a link to my project.

Comment from Victoria Edwards on June 20, 2007 - 4:25pm

Did you ever play with Duplos?

A strange series of events in Lowell, MA: (tagline) the end of the world is near. After several dozen pints of booze at the Brewery Exchange, our group of VISTA members had become a pack of ferocious lizards--eating, drinking, dancing, slithering tongues all over the floor. I was certain that the vicious beasts would have gone on a spree of destruction in Lowell until the booze stopped flowing. Thank god they are paid so poorly! Otherwise there would have been no end to the terror.

Comment from Victoria Edwards on June 20, 2007 - 4:29pm

dear hunter
i think i love you

Comment from Sil Greene on June 20, 2007 - 4:37pm

Don't forget the bull riding. Thursday. Be there and ready for savagery. I'll bring the limes, you bring the tequila.

Comment from John Van Houdt on June 20, 2007 - 4:38pm

sure you're getting off easy...you mooch!

Hey Everybody,

This is my first Field Report. I have to give one of these every two week--biweekly, it's called--so I'll try to make them bastions of quality information for the masses. See you in two weeks.

Yours,
Karl

woohoooo!

Comment from Meegan Kelly on July 13, 2007 - 9:49am

Hey digital storytelling people! Win $5 million for your org!

I posted this on the wiki under 2007 grant opportunities, but here it is again...all you folks that do stuff with software and stuff...and tell stories and stuff...check it out.

Knight Foundation Announces Second Year of News Challenge

The Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has launched the second year of its five-year, $25 million Knight News Challenge, a contest in which up to $5 million will be awarded for innovative ideas that employ digital means to transform community news.

The contest, which is open to anyone, aims to use digitally delivered news and information to enhance physical communities and improve the lives of people where they live, work, and vote. Winning entries must use digital media and deliver news or information on a shared basis to a geographically defined community. Most entries are open-source and must share the created software and knowledge. In addition, this year the News Challenge Web site will allow entrants to invite public comment that will help improve their entries.

"Jim and Jack Knight fostered community through their newspapers," said Knight Foundation president and CEO Alberto Ibargüen. "The Knight News Challenge hopes to discover innovative ways of using cyberspace to bring communities together."

Comment from Sarah Pierantoni on July 15, 2007 - 10:09pm

sweet, thanks for posting that. it sounds awesome. SO Meegan, how are you? Hope all is well in Asheville. I had a blast with you at orientation, and hope to keep in touch. things are crazy here. drop me an email sometime....peace, sarah

Comment from Sarah Pierantoni on July 15, 2007 - 10:09pm

sweet, thanks for posting that. it sounds awesome. SO Meegan, how are you? Hope all is well in Asheville. I had a blast with you at orientation, and hope to keep in touch. things are crazy here. drop me an email sometime....peace, sarah

Once upon a time I flew into Boston. I had to wait four hours at the airport before I could go home. I was so tired when I woke up the next day, and I was sadened to discover that I hadn't shaved my legs. I looked like a monkey.
love
victoria

Comment from Sil Greene on June 20, 2007 - 4:38pm

Cute monkey. What species?

Comment from Victoria Edwards on June 26, 2007 - 10:48am

the black and white kind

test

This past week, the corporation paid for me to go out to a VISTA Leadership Training in Minneapolis as part of my preparation to be a VISTA leader. I found it pretty informative with lots of useful information. I may only use about 10% of it, but that 10% will be a VERY effective 10%. What i found most helpful was the 'Distance Leadership' workshop. In it, we generated opportunities within distance relationships between VISTA Leaders and Members.

I have posted all images I took from that workshop as well as the attached the typed up notes from Jean (posted in this post as well as downloadable at the end of this post).

Accomplishment(s):

• attending and successfully completing the VISTA Leadership training
• meeting other VISTAs
• getting good ideas and dialogue going about issues pertinent to VISTAS
• convening an 'open space' roundtable discussion of online tools
• participating and taking picture notes (see pics) of "Distance Leadership Thinktank" workshop

Resource(s) Generated:

• distance opportunity ideas for VISTA Leaders (click images to view more):

From Distance Lead...




• distance opportunities for VISTA members:

From Distance Lead...




• list of online tools

From Distance Lead...

These are also the notes which Jean kindly sent me - Thanks Jean!

*****************NOTES******************

Leading From A Distance: A Think Tank – Thinking Output
Minneapolis Leader’s Training Conference 2007

Opportunity Thinking: Opportunities for Remote Leaders
• Travel
• You set the timetable
• Ideas across borders/spread ideas
• Develop Communications Systems
• Resource accumulation/categorization
• Cross collaboration & Connecting Resources
• Allows time for Leader to fulfill site responsibilities
• Archive DJ / Knowledge orchestration
• Learn about/manage systems mechanics/engineering
• Face-to-face Project / Identity
• Develop expertise in variety of project areas
• Pollination of Leadership skills / styles
• Diversity of needs forces leadership development
• Learning about a diversity of communication styles
• On-line community development opportunities
• Utilize difference types/styles of conflict management with the variety of member personalities
• National Recognition of VISTA’s & organization
• Help a wide range of individuals
• Give VISTA members the opportunity to feel part of something bigger
• Learn different training skills to meet needs
• Strong case for funding: far reach / bigger impact
• Storytelling for capacity building & Education
• More resources to pull from
• Opportunity to become a very skilled communicator
Thinking Cue Time Frames
Immediate
• Time to process situations and issues don’t have to respond immediately
• Develop telephone conference skills
• See necessity of holding an early service retreat
Mid-Term
• Recognition of Accomplishment
• Reports (Quarterly, Monthly)
Long Term
• Documentation & Archiving everything
• Identification of Resources

Opportunities for Members with remote Leaders
• Develop/take initiative
• Develop/ practice discipline
• Have free reign
• Practice and develop creative use of modes of communication
• Create skills/discipline that increases long term job opportunities
• Take ownership of their project
• Learn from the different ways each project adapts to different context
• Access to resources
• Tapping into the variety of communities, cultures, etc.
• Learn to collaborate with different communities and cultures
• Share resources – increase the whole pie
• Learn to see big picture, system levels viewpoint
• Understand on different levels how organizations operate
• Experience independence
• Opportunity to develop own leadership skills
• Opportunities for individual innovation
• Higher visibility w/own project
• Synthesizing
• Travel Opportunities
• Learn/practice new ways of using technology
• One-on-one connection w/ community
• Take responsibility & Accountability
• Feeling like they (member) are part of something bigger
• Less competition between VSITAs
• Better / deeper understanding of a community
• Better experience as an advocate
• Strengthen networking skills
• Access to different communities / points of view
• Credibility in instances of self-promotion
• VISTA’s access is wider
• Greater avenue for expanding knowledge base & awareness
• Change/influence in lifestyle plan
• Personal Growth
• Independence
• Cultural Exchange
• Expanding comfort zone
• Changing personal viewpoints
• Instill a sense of adventure
• Self-reliance, confidence building
• Ambassadors at local community level
• Liaisons too
• New areas for recruiting
• New sites
• Local working knowledge
• Self-Challenge
• Building personal skills & knowledge
• Become an effective self-educator
• Viewpoint that allows reflective, constructive perspective of VISTA Leader & Team
• Reaching more people
• Affecting larger community
• Building off other’s successes

Challenges for VISTA Members w/remote Leaders
• Lack of experience and confidence
• Loneliness
• Maintaining larger picture
• Clashing personalities w/distance leader
• Develop sense of being abandoned
• Time Management
• Lack of resources
• Boundary setting

Challenges for remotely located VISTA Leaders
• Not being able to see progress
• Not being able to get full disclosure from members
• Note seeing project happening
• Not being able to support detailed needs
• Note easy to fully comprehend project
• Technical difficulties / too much use of technology
• Not being taken seriously
• Community sense
• Member becomes Leader and former peer members don’t buy-in
• Full awareness of members, prevent “out of sight…”
• Conflict resolution from a distance – escalation sensitive
• Travel limitations
• Inability to share power, let-go, release control

Strategies/Tactics: Maximizing Outcomes in Distance Leader Situation
• Setting a pace / time management support
• Creating an agenda / plan
• Make initial/early contact with each member
• Familiarize yourself w/ member work plans
• Create a Needs Assessment – to discern the individual needs of each member
• Set Up Conference calls
• Set the Vision
• Create/Share useful templates / plan documents
• Clarify long term goals w/each member
• Create an email listserv
• Have meet-ups @ sites maybe w/community members served
• Schedule meetings w/site supervisors
• Ensure organizational integration for each member
• Create a Welcome Packet w/contacts, welcome letter, housing assistance, community resource map etc.
• Online Community
• Keep Vs / funders connected and informed with Newsletters
• Life After VISTA Creating a Portfolio
• Connect members to local VISTA alumni
• Get local businesses to donate goods / services
• Eat, sleep and rest
• Make VISTA site / VISTA MySpace
• Process what we learned here and then draft a plan

More Strategies/Tactics
• Be available: site visits, office hours, be annoying in a caring way, identify and share the best ways to contact you, the leader, pre-set check-ins, conference calling etc.
• Building Team: Convenient meeting places, encourage members to visit one another, creative use of resources, getting team to know “teammates” activities (3 questions on Monday, answers on Friday)
• Needs Assessment, Progress Reports --- using information to have personalized conversations
• Regular social activities
• Look for relevant training opportunities that all can attend
• Communications: newsletters, blogs, chat rooms
• Encourage collaboration on project events and use some other members as volunteers during events
• Sardine version of on-site visits
• Service Projects as teambuilding
• Use summer facilities on campuses for reduced rates
• Link VISTAS: Book Clubs, Chain Letters – Flat Stanley (Travelocity Gnome)
• Scavenger Hunt Activities
• White Elephant –silly gifts
• Write letters
• Make phone calls weekly – use means outside of computer to communicate
• Create Welcome Materials / Sustainability Plans, Life After VISTA and Good-Bye packet.
• “Tool-Kits” for service ----an information packed resource
• Connect remote VISTAs to other teams (local) for immediate sense of community.
• Create / Use Statewide networks providing resources that target VISTA position in holistic sense: Living Stipend tips, Education Award information, Health Coverage, Project Explanations
• Motivational Speeches
• Get different varieties of feedback using different methods, adopt feedback (monthly, quarterly, end of service)

I am so excited - an idea I had back in April at the NTEN Conference has finally come to fruition!!!

For the past two weeks, I have been trying to get a hold of VISTAs who are ending their service this week and conducting and editing exit interviews. Editing the interviews down from over 10 minutes or so each to 30 seconds wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I am happy with the results. Click the map below to check out the wise words of the VISTAs who are moving on to bigger and (maybe) better! Also, I have included the process by which I did this C.O.T.C. - style. (Creation on the Cheap!)

C.O.T.C. Info -

• To make calls - used "SkypeOut" - it is only $30 for a year of calls! Wow!
• To record said calls - used Pamela - FREE!
• To edit the mp3 that is exported from Pamela - Audacity - FREE and super easy audio editor.
• Created the map with Google's MyMaps using Project HQ's Gmail account - FREE - while logged in to Google, go to maps.google.com and click on the MyMaps tab. Here's a helpful how-to: Google Maps User Guide

It's my last day as a CTC VISTA. Kinda crazy, actually. June 15 - TODAY - is my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of living in Boston. I got offered a job as a communications peep - a $25,500 RAISE from this year. Haha, not bad. Check me out at MLAC!

Bye bye VISTAs - I had a great time this year. When I have kids - I am forcing them to do AmeriCorps - that's how much I loved you!

hey everyone, its been a while. I think i start every blog with "its been a while since i wrote a blog" haha. well i'm a busy man. It's not easy working full time, making such a large sum of money and trying to find places to spend it all. HEY i think the greatest thing i did this year was go to the Sundance film festival. i met a funder from Adobe and spoke to him, showed him some stuff from Reel Works. a couple of months later he invited us to apply for a fifty thousand dollar grant. i'm still crossing my fingers. we should hear the news this month. another cool thing i've been doing is helping kids make movies. I've helped produced about twenty short films this year. I think. Well some are still in the works. regardless show us some love at listenup.org. A few of our films are in a contest for cool prizes, including mine. please write a review and rate our movies. (especially mine) it would be much apreciated. here's the link. Mine is called "The Beginning" i wrote and shot it, in one day. its cool i guess.

http://www.listenup.org/community/org.php?org=7bc96f311c8e6a38ac5a296e3f...