1. Alliance VISTA September Cohort Meeting
Welcome!

2. Training Agenda Welcome Opening Circle Group Photo
VISTA Elevator Speech
VISTA Reporting
Announcements
Closing
Hello everyone, welcome to our second cohort day. Today is a relaxed overview etc, please participate and add in your own expertise.

3. VISTA Elevator Speech
Talk to your neighbors, introduce yourself to those you don’t know. Use the form above to introduce yourself.
EXAMPLE: My name is Samie Burnett and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader serving at and hosted by Minnesota Alliance With Youth. As VISTA Leader, I build capacity within my organization to close the opportunity and achievement gaps in Minnesota by supporting VISTA members in partner organizations. I provide relevant trainings, professional development opportunities, and support each VISTA with their unique member needs.

4. 2018/19 VISTA Host Sites
Congrats, have everyone introduce themselves and their site and if they have experience with VISTA, any burning questions?

5. CNCS State Office David Kreft VISTA State Office
Contact info:
Develops, manages and monitors VISTA programs
Supports supervision of the VISTAs and intervenes in emergencies or difficult situations
Connects VISTA sites to resources and offers technical assistance
Monitors compliance for the project
CNCS State Office staff help develop, manage and monitor VISTA programs in their state and often in other states for large & national projects.
Staff support your supervision of the VISTAs and intervene in emergencies or difficult situations.
Staff are also responsible for connecting you to the resources most appropriate to meet your needs.
The CNCS State Office can schedule a conference call or webinar to bring members from multiple sites together for meetings
The CNCS State Office can also set up conference calls so VISTA members can talk about issues without supervisors present

6. Intermediary customization option: Describe the number of sites, VISTAs, and leaders for your project overall
The Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS, improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. VISTA is a program of CNCS and each state has a CNCS State Office to support your project’s success. This graphic illustrates how single-site projects and projects with multiple sites may be structured.

7. VISTA Reporting Monthly Reflections Periodic Reports
Reflect on the challenges and successes of your month
Due the last day of each month
Periodic Reports
4 Periodic Reports and an End-of-Year Supplement
Due dates for Periodic Reports can be found in your Training Calendar (First report is due October 12th!)

8. Monthly Reflections
Monthly Reflections are your chance to share the stories of your service!
Monthly Reflections include:
Stories and challenges this month
Professional Development updates
Personal and Sick time (including specific days)
Due on the last day of each month

9. Periodic Reports Submitted 5 times a year
4 Reports and one End of Year Supplement
Provide updates on the progress made on the Host Site Capacity Building and Anti-Poverty goals

10. Performance Measures
Performance measures are the quantitative parameters we use to track the progress and successes of your Project.
Performance measures are one of two categories:
Capacity Building
Anti-Poverty
All Sites have Capacity Building performances measures
Refer to your Host Site’s Performance Measures Handout to see if your project also uses Anti-Poverty PMs

11. Capacity Building & Anti-Poverty Performance Measures
Capacity Building PMs:
The Capacity Building PMs set a goal for the number of organizations and additional activities that the VSITA connects with or utilizes to build capacity for their Host Site.
Anti-Poverty PMs:
Anti-Poverty PMs set a goal for the number of students who complete a VISTA-supported education program, and the number of students who complete a VISTA supported education program AND demonstrate improved academic engagement.

12. …performance measures to create…

13. …your Periodic Reports!

14. Personal and Sick Time

15. Capacity Building Performance Measures

16. Anti-Poverty Performance Measures

17. Periodic Reporting FAQs
All data submitted in periodic reports must be high quality and verifiable. Providing enough information and context is key.
Please be clear in listing organizations that received capacity building services – bullet points/numbering help!
Additional Activities include: leading trainings, meeting potential partners, writing curricula, developing resources and handouts, creating infographics, appeal letter and LOI templates, etc
Organizations must not be preexisting – they must be new
If your site has Anti-Poverty PMs, speak with your supervisors about how to approach those objectives

18. Accommodations Reasonable Accommodation Definition
Any change in the work environment or in the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability or medical condition to participate in the application process, to perform essential functions of a job, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of service that are available to individuals without disabilities. 

19. If you request an accommodation the following steps will happen:
a review of your service description will be done
a determination of difficulties that your disability causes in your performance of essential service functions
brainstorming of accommodations that can be provided
A requirement of the ADA is that all parties communicate in good faith regarding accommodations 
Any medical information is kept confidential unless disclosure is needed to process the request. If a disclosure of medical information is needed, recipients of information must maintain the requirements of confidentiality.

20. Closing Announcements
PD Plans are in!
Outside employment forms
Reasonable Accommodations
We are still recruiting for PFs!

21. Closing Announcements
Site visits will start in October
Next VISTA Cohort meeting is Thursday, October 11th
First Monthly Reflection is due September 28th
First Periodic Report is due October 12th

22. Closing Thoughts What thoughts are still sitting with you from today?
Are there anymore questions that you want to ask?