Support the Hunger Banquet 2010

UlsterCorps: Volunteerism and Community Service in Ulster County, New York:

What is a Hunger Banquet?

The Hunger Banquet allows participants to experience firsthand how our decisions affect others in the world.

Guests draw tickets at random that assign them each to either a high-, middle-, or low-income tier-based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. Each income level receives a corresponding meal.

The first 15 percent represent those living in the high-income tier and are served a sumptuous meal catered by celebrated chef Samir Hrichi of Ship to Shore; the next 35 percent represent the largest demographic addressing hunger and food insecurity in our own community; our children. These guests will dine on an offering from the Kingston Consolidated school lunch menu; and the remaining guests, representing the 50% of the world population facing hunger and poverty daily, help themselves to small portions of rice and water. Although all guests pay the same price for admission, as in life we never know how fate is decided."

Sunday, March 28, 2010
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The Hudson Valley Hunger Banquet 2010 will benefit the following organizations:

Queens Galley, Family of Woodstock, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Ulster Corps, Angel Food East, Saint James Food Pantry, Rosendale Food Pantry, People’s Place, Chiz’s Heart Street, God Given Bread Food Pantry and Libertyview Farm hunger relief project.

- 12 organizations

- 1 Mission

– Thousands served.

For more information, to volunteer, or to purchase tickets, visit the UlsterCorps site.

Volunteers Needed at Women's Health and Fitness Expo

From Rokki Carr:

Hi Friends and Colleagues,

Anyone interested in a GREAT volunteer opportunity?

Do you know of school, church or community groups that need service hours?

Please have them contact me at: volunteers@womenshealthexpo.com

Your benefits include FREE admittance to Expo - before or after - your shift, along with seminars, entertainment, & the latest in fitness and health info. Please take a look and let me know.

www.womenshealthexpo.com

Saturday May 2nd Tech City Shifts: 6:30-9:30 7:30-10:30 10-1 12:30-3:30 3-6.

Duties would include:

• Registration
• Ticket /Entry Sales
• Directing guests through the Expo
• Working w/ Expo staff; via walkie-talkies, cell phone contacts

Victoria Langling

Volunteer Coordinator

9th Annual Women's Health & Fitness Expo

Saturday May 2nd 2009 at Tech City

volunteers@womenshealthexpo.com

Home email langling@verizon.net

Work 246-3036 x7333 M-TH

Home 339-3595 Cell 853-4221

A Critical Day for Your Volunteers - 27 Cents is Not Enough!

Image via WikipediaFrom Ruth Wahtera:

If you volunteer anywhere, depend on volunteers, or just believe that volunteers shouldn't lose money when they give time, read this message and take action.

"Ask your Senator to Co-Sponsor the GIVE Act

Under federal law, paid employees can be reimbursed 58.5 cents per mile when driving their cars. But volunteers can only deduct 14 cents per mile. This harmful discrimination against nonprofit volunteers must end.

The GIVE Act of 2008, (S. 3429) introduced on a bipartisan basis by U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and John Ensign (R-NV) and now co-sponsored by thirteen (13) other Senators, would eliminate the disincentives that prevent charitable volunteers from doing what they really want to do, which is to help the needy in their communities.

Unfortunately, momentum is building behind an alternative that is inadequate: S. 3246 (the 'Cardin/Snowe/Mikulski' bill), with its new companion bill, H.R. 6854, introduced in the House by Representatives Lewis (D-GA) and Ramstad (R-MN). While this alternative approach would make many of the fixes in the GIVE Act, it would only raise the charitable mileage rate to 27 cents a mile; (or 46% of the standard business mileage rate) as opposed to the GIVE Act's rate of 41 cents a mile, or 70% of the standard business mileage rate.

27 cents is not enough!

Nonprofit volunteers should not be treated as second class citizens, less worthy than business or government employees. Please take action. Support GIVE. "

And, thanks, Senator Schumer, for sponsoring Give.

Support the Give Act to Support Volunteering

Image via Wikipedia

Take Action Now!

From Ruth Wahtera:

The vitality of our community rests in large part on our volunteers. Many community volunteers are retirees on fixed incomes. They really feel the impact of rising prices. The Give Act, if passed, will ease the financial burden on all volunteers.

CCSNYS, an association of nonprofits, forwarded this request.

Why the GIVE Act Matters: This is an issue affecting REAL NONPROFITS including CCSNYS Members. Read more (including 2 of our members' stories) here.

What's At Stake:
The GIVE Act of 2008, introduced August 6, by U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY)John Ensign (R-NV), addresses the adverse impacts on volunteers of high gas prices and discriminatory tax policy towards nonprofits by eliminating the disincentives that prevent charitable volunteers from doing what they really want to do, which is to help the needy in their communities. We are pleased to report that Senator Schumer is working dilligently to make sure this bill is passed.

The GIVE Act, as introduced, would and

1. raise the charitable mileage deduction from 14 cents to almost 41 cents;
2. eliminate the need for nonprofits to seek new legislation every year by setting the charitable volunteer rate at 70% of the standard business mileage rate as adjusted by the IRS; and
3. exclude from any income tax consequence actual mileage reimbursements made to volunteers.

These features not only address economic pain being felt in America's communities, but also recognize the vital role the nonprofit sector plays in coordinating volunteer efforts to meet human needs.

It's Easy to Support the GIVE Act: Click here to take action

Ulster Literacy needs volunteer tutors

Sign Up Now for Fall Tutor Training Workshops

Can you imagine what life is like if you can't read? Ulster Literacy has a waiting list of adults who want to learn to read. If you can give an hour or two each week, sign up for the training now.

This workshop is to train adult volunteers to work in a one-to-one tutoring situation with adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. To be a tutor one needs to be a high school graduate or hold a GED. The workshop will include methods and materials, cultural considerations, and discussions concerning the typical needs of persons seeking literacy assistance.

Sept. 2008 Tutor Training
Tuesday 9, 16, 23
Thursday 11, 18, 25
6:30-9:30 on all dates

Oct. 2008 Tutor Training
Saturdays 4, 18, 25
8:30-3:30 on all dates

Please contact Ulster Literacy Association, 331-6837 or email info@ulsterliteracy.org for more information