Southlantic CTI Newsletter

Jerry Keys of Delta 7

2 SOUTHLANTIC CTI | MARCH 6, 2014

TABLF OF CONTENTS

In this

ISSUE CTI PHOTO CONTEST

See what made the winning entries such

great photos

Honorable mention photos

SOUTHERN REGION REFLECTIONS

Get into the mind of a FEMA corps team

leader.

Insight from a 2nd year CM

The power of CAPing

GALLERY

CTI in review

ATLANTIC REGION REFLECTIONS

A first year Corps member recalls the impact

of ‘Presidents Day’ Day of Service

Presidents Day gallery

OLE MISS ROPES COURSE

Team Leaders and Corps Members alike

share their experiences

GALLERY

Camp Lake Stephens gallery

1st ROUND PROJECTS

Take a look where your traditional teams

will be serving

04

05

07

11

13

16

18

I will get things done for America to make

our people safer, smarter and healthier.

I will bring Americans together to strengthen

our communities.

Face with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with conflict, I will seek common

ground.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this

year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps Member and

I will get things done!

Eric Kranz of Delta 3 speaks with High School Students about

AmeriCorps NCCC

I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an

AmeriCorps Program.

NCCC members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things

done for America while developing their own leadership. We

serve on teams to help communities prepare for and respond to

disasters, build homes, and help the environment.

To learn more, visit NationalService.gov or call 1-800-942-2677


ERIK

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

C ongratulations Class XX! As you come to the end of CTI training, this is

the beginning of the greatest year of your life! As a newly inducted

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Member, you are

now part of an organization deeply rooted in the values of commu-

nity service and civic engagement. You are part of a national movement on a

mission to strengthen communities in the Atlantic and Southern Regions as well

as other states affected by disasters while developing leaders to serve in our

great United States of America. You will complete service for communities and

organizations that will reap the benefits for years to come. Your footprint will be

that of rebuilding physical structures, improving environmental conditions, but

most importantly restoring the faith that there are good-hearted young people

who care about those in need.

This year will be full of many accomplishments and sometimes challenges, but

remember you are never alone. You will always have the support of your

team, which will soon become your extended family. The Atlantic and South-

ern Region Staff will also render support to you every day, often behind the

scenes, but none the less completely focused on YOU! Last, but not least, you

have the strength and support of your fellow corps members representing Class

XX that will make this a very successful service year for all!

On behalf of the Atlantic and Southern Region Leadership team, as well as At-

lantic Region’s family back in Perry Point (soon to be Baltimore), we are so very

proud of you for following through on your commitment to serve and we are

always here to help you “GET THINGS DONE”!

Safe Journey!!!!

LaQuine Roberson & Donald Clark

A LETTER FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS


PHOTO CONTEST FE ATURE

SABREE KOONCE, R IVER 6

EDWARD RICH, R IVER 2 SHEA MILLER , DELT A 3

CONGRATUL AT IONS TO T HE

S O U T H E R N R E G I O N ’ S

R A C H E L L E

MCCLELLAN F O R W I N N I N G T H E C T I

P H O T O C O N T E S T

CONGRATUL AT IONS TO T HE

A T L A N T I C R E G I O N ’ S

O R L A N D U S S A N T O S I I

F O R W I N N I N G T H E C T I

P H O T O C O N T E S T

ORLANDUS SANTOS II , RAVEN 1

ERIK WRIGHT, RAVEN 4

ALA

N F

OLZ

, M

OO

SE 3

Orlandus captured the “A” in action well ! You can

also see the type of work Victor is accomplishing by

viewing the cleanliness of the back fence compared

to the piece he is currently scrubbing.

McClellan captured multiple ele-

ments that highlight the Southern

Region Campus. The picture cap-

tures the Southern Region Campus

from a unique angle as well as the

flag frozen in time all of which com-

pose a great shot!

MARCH 6, 2014| SOUTHLANTIC CTI 5

SOUTHERN REGION REFL ECTIONS

Q&ANDY

Why did you apply to be a Team Leader?

As children, our generation was told to work what

we love. The TL position allows me to get closer to

that goal—where work is play, and play is work. This

program co-develops my formal education/work

experience with my passion for coordinating people

and resources beyond the workplace. At this stage,

figuring out the skillset to become an all-purpose

project manager seems to be the most direct and

applicable route to becoming a freelancer. My year

as TL is an important step toward that goal.

What was TLT/CTI like?

TLT has been a series of training sessions designed

to illuminate the different challenges our teams will

f a c e w i t h t h e c o m i n g y e a r . T h e

trainings coordinated by NCCC and FEMA staff strike

a balance of broad theories and specific advice

taken from years of experience in order to prepare us

for high-stress environments. For example, one day of

training will involve talking about our “feelings” in

order to get a handle on our ego so that we can

respectfully process our past and not project our

problems onto others. The next day will involve

scenario role-playing so that we can get familiar

applying philosophy with situations in the field. A big

take away for me is learning to not apply any

rigid formula to my work as a leader; that to be

successful I should yield to things I cannot change,

stay consistent with things I believe I can change,

and be willing to admit that I am wrong.

I've learned throughout CTI that the role of TL

among Corps members can be framed as a specialty

role with additional training, as opposed to a true

indicator of one's aptitude or maturity. As a society,

we place much emphasis on celebrity and hierarchy,

giving leadership roles disproportionate esteem. But

TL and CM are absolutely co-dependent, even if they

are not equal. The TL is more effectively thought of as

a focal point by which third parties (e.g. sponsors,

staff) can concentrate the flow of information and

directives. This gives the TL a new sense of

responsibility and opportunity to mentor, comparable

to finding a new sibling or padawan.

A Southern Region FEMA Team Leader reflects on his

motivations and hopes for this year.

WITH ANDY OH


SOUTHERN REGION REFLECTIONS

As a second year Corps member

going through CTI again, being here

means being more engaged and mo-

tivating my peers as much as I can to

step out of their comfort zone.

I've also improved my knowledge

and memory about the resources

available to Corps members during

the whole year. The more I do some-

thing, the more I remember it.

CTI is about having many opportu-

BY MAYO CAMPOS

Still growing... nities to make connections with indi-

viduals and people from all walks of

life. Some you'll keep in contact with

forever, and others you'll remember

for a lifetime. Each person has a place

in this program and CTI is a great way

for people to find out how important

each person really is.

It's amazing and surprising what the

year can bring, and CTI is a small

glimpse of what your next 10 months

can be like.

A TALE OF TWO TABLES We got out of the van.

Four of us up against an entire high school.

It seemed like apathetic high school students didn’t want to hear about “serving their community”

We set up the tables, hung some posters,

Jamal started dancing,

Tatiana started getting LOUD

Michelle brushed off her Minnesota charm…

BAM!

Four lowly Corps members turned SUPER RECRUITERS.

67 conversations, 45 e-mail sign-ups

We were on our way to recruiting America’s next generation of leaders...


CTI G ALLERY

↑ Incoming FEMA Corps members Elias Buzzell (Right( and Samantha

Clark (left) check-in at the Jackson Airport

→ Corps member explores “The Attic” Art Gallery iin Downtown

Vicksburg

↓ Besides providing many work opportunities, Camp Lake Stephens

also offered up their lovely fire pit. Hometown stories and s’mores were

a few of the many things shared over the camp fire by participating

Corps Members.


CTI G ALLERY

→ Southern Region Team Leaders Daniel

Padilla (top) and Andrew Oh (below) during

Team Leader introductions at the first

community meeting of CTI.

↑ Corps members during in-processing

↓ Wild land firefighting is an opportunity

available for Atlantic and Southern Corps

Members, but first one must be able to pass

the PACK test.

→ Delta 7’s Nicole Yetke getting familiar

with the 15-passenger van


CTI G ALLERY

↑ Upon compiling their team reveal puzzle, the new Buffalo 3 rejoices

the unusual fact that a majority of their pod mates became their

permanent team while simultaneously welcoming new teammates.

→ Delta Unit Corps Members at chainsaw training.

↓ Finding lifelong friendships is one of these amazing attributes of

NCCC. Though our time in CTI is short it is technology that makes it

easy to stay connected during spike round.


CTI G ALLERY

← Corps members join hands for a diversity

photo.

↑ Hope Martindale & Rachael Schnoor get

a little bit closer while learning the process of

recognizing and assisting someone who is

choking during the American Red Cross CPR

& First Aid course.

↓ Trading jokes outside “Chapeltorium”

Drew Pinchback and Kyler Thompson make

the best of a break between training sessions.

←(Bottom Left) What a change a fresh coat

can make! Justine Keys and Mayra Guzman

give a wooden fence a new coat of green

during Presidents Day of Service.


ATL ANTIC REGION REFL ECTION

GARDENS, GRUB AND

GETTING THINGS DONE!

After a week of sitting in meetings and listening

to presentations, it is safe to say that everyone was

ready to get some actual work done. Not knowing

exactly what to expect but knowing that we were

being sent somewhere to help out was all that was

needed. The hour drive from Vicksburg to Jackson

was a groggy, when-am-I-going-to-actually-wake-up

kind of ride that was welcomed when it came to an

end.

Beneta Burt, the Executive Director of

Mississippi Roadmap to Health Equity, Inc. greeted us

and gave us a quick orientation of their organization

and the work we’d be doing for them. Their mission:

to advocate for changes within community

organizations that impact peoples’ everyday lives; to

change institutions so that they will support the

community’s efforts to be healthy. Our job: to get

things done.

Our temporary team was assigned to help

out at the gardens of Brown Elementary School and

Rowan Middle School. Mariel, a FoodCorps Service

Member, was overseeing the work we were doing.

She gave us our tasks and we were off to work.

Throughout the day we got to hear about Mariel’s

experience as an AmeriCorps NCCC member.

Comparing experiences gave us a sense of

connection right away. She also told us about the

work she was doing with FoodCorps, teaching health

classes to the kids and running the gardens. Her

appreciation for the work we were helping her do

was probably the biggest plus of working with her.

Physical and dirty, the work had us putting in the

sweat part of the blood, sweat, and tears before we

knew it. We quickly learned that fire ants and shards

of glass were around and not to be messed with.

Between being on our hands and knees to weed and

bending over to put everything into garbage bags

we all had some well-deserved sore back by the end

BY LUCAS MOORE

RAVEN 3

of the day. All in all our team weeded 23 raised beds,

added and replaced bricks on 11 of the 23 garden

beds, added new soil on 5 of the raised beds, and

filled 30 garbage bags with straw, weeds, dead

plants, and trash.

When all the NCCC members got back to the

Roadmap facility, we were treated with a surprise

dinner. Lasagna, chili, cornbread, and salad were the

thanks that the people of Roadmap had to give us.

All deliciously made we had a great time enjoying

the food and getting to know the still new fellow

members of AmeriCorps NCCC. The people of

Roadmap gave us all a verbal thanks as well. We

thanked them back for letting us come out and

helped them clean up after the meal. The day of

work, the meal, and the good company all made for

a pretty good first day of service.


DAY OF SERVICE G ALLE RY

THE POWER OF “ALL HANDS ON DECK”

← Qwamella Manning of Delta 5 painting a picnic

area at the Jackson Zoo.

↑ Sponsor s shares appreciation for AmeriCorps

NCCC volunteerism

→ Buffalo unit members scrub clean trailer homes that were used as evacuation

sites during Hurricane Katrina.

↓ Cameron Tingkang of Delta 1 (left) and Christian Hunter of Delta 5 get their

hands dirty painting at the Jackson Zoo.


“My fear wasn’t new to me I

have had it for years but I chose

to overcome it surrounded by

people who I knew would not

judge me for my fear, but would

be happy that I took on my fear

head on.”

“Ropes course

lead to emotional

bonding with my

team that I didn’t

expect. I

cherished every

second.”

Ropes Course at Ole Miss

CAM P LAKE STEPHENS

“We took team bonding

to new heights, literally!

Flying squirrel style!

#Challengecourseswag

ROSE WISE RAVEN 2

For the past two years, the Southern Region has had the pleasure to partner with Camp Lake Stephens and Ole

Miss. This year the Atlantic Region was ecstatic to participate in the tradition. Freshly formed teams anticipated time

out of trainings and were ready for some bonding time. Throughout a week long period, all six units rotated in and

out, spending one day at the ropes course and another doing mini-service projects throughout camp.

HOLLY SCHNEE FOX 4

DA

NIE

L D

EIT

SC

H D

ELT

A 7


Ryan Lundstrom of Delta 4


CAM P LAKE STE PHENS

↑ The first step off that platform is the hardest, Nicholas Klute showcases the exhilaration of

participating in the zipline.

← Can’t stop, won’t stop! Jerry Keys of Delta 7.

“I wish we hadn’t

dropped Jake for the

trust fall. A good

bonding experience

other than that

though.”

“That was like the most fun I’ve

ever had...I thought trust falls

were just something you only

see on TV, but it’s actually a

thing.”

“The ropes course

really allowed me to

push myself further

in getting over my

fears and bond with

my team in a fun

and challenging

way.”

ALE

X C

AR

RO

LL MO

OSE 2

JOSH SUISO COAST 1 MAURICE REDD RIVER 3


CAM P LAKE STEPHENS G ALLERY

↑ Pushing through the drop into cooler temperatures, Eric Poencet

and Ethan Reber prepare to relocated brush and gardening

materials.

→ (Top Right) Frankie Stroud of Delta 4 mixes paint

→ (Right) In preparation for their painting endeavors, Joanne Pohl

and Kirsten Jacobse don the newest chic item in fashion and safety,

oversized trash bags.

↑ River 5 poses for a victory shot after clearing “that much” debris

during a demolition project at Camp Lake Stephens

← Isaac Martin of Delta 2 shown painting the exterior of a supply

room


CAM P LAKE STEPHENS G ALLERY

↑ River One Team Leader Elizabeth Reitzell

setting up plants during a greenhouse project

←(Top Left) “Mama Buffalo” aka Buffalo Unit

Leader, Sharon Kellogg, steps out with her unit

members Ta-jah Gordon and Kristen

Beierwaltes to help “get things done!”

←(Left) Michelle Desch of Delta 4 plays tug-of-

war with the Camp Lake Stephens dog

→ Christian Hunter (left) and Rebecca Schmitz (right) of

Delta 5 undergo construction tools training led by OPS STL

Darin Bontriger

↓ Showcasing the wide variety of project available,

Lauren Meyer and Francisco Orellana make sure every

kitchen item is squeaky clean.

After a unique and first run of two campuses combining

for the time period known as CTI (Corps member training

institute) Atlantic Region is set to return to their homeland

where the moose, raven and buffalo roam. FEMA Fox unit

will be staying in the Southern Region to continue FEMA

specific training.

Where in the Atlantic Region will you be? Round 1, Week 1

BUFFALO 1 Moonachie, NJ

Volunteer Center of Bergen County –Disaster

Services

BUFFALO 2 Hookstown, PA

Raccoon Creek State Park –Environmental

Stewardship

BUFFALO 3 Bath, ME

Habitat for Humanity 7 River - Energy Conservation

BUFFALO 4 Garden City, N.Y.

NECHAMA - Disaster Services

MOOSE 1 Catonsville, MD

Great Kids Farm - Infrastructure Improvement

MOOSE 2 Baltimore, MD

Baltimore County EPA & Sustainability

Environmental Stewardship

MOOSE 3 Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Recreation & Park - Environmental

Stewardship

MOOSE 4 Camden, NJ

Camden Children’s Garden—Urban and Rural

Development

MOOSE 5 Rockaway, N.Y.

St. Bernard Project, Friends of Rockaway - Disaster

Services

RAVEN 1 Camden, N.J.

Camden City Garden Club - Urban and

Rural Development

RAVEN 2 Marshfield, MA

MA Audubon Northfield Infrastructure

Improvement

RAVEN 3 Toms River, NJ

Jersey Cares – Disaster Services

RAVEN 4 Deep River, CT

Incarnation Center

PHOENIX 1 Suffollk, VA

US Fish & Wildlife - Disaster Services

With CTI coming to an official end for most,

traditional NCCC teams finally get to depart onto

the most anticipated part of the program, SPIKE!

Our fellow FEMA units have the

pleasure of spending more time

together in the warmer weather

for FEMA specific training.


TRADITIONAL CORPS

FEMA Corps teams

Coast 1 & 2 will be

deploying to the

Washington, DC

area.


To our Atlantic Region friends, we hope you’ve enjoyed your

stay and expect to see y’all again real soon!

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