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Pre Commitment Information
Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA)
wants to ensure that your future with AmeriCorps*VISTA service is
positive and that you have all the information you need to make a
well-informed decision regarding your commitment to serve. Accordingly,
we are providing you with the following overview of AmeriCorps*VISTA
service.
When selected for service, you will receive an
AmeriCorps*VISTA member handbook that will explain in more detail these
and other guidelines, benefits and restrictions to your service.
History and Philosophy
Established
in 1964, Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) is now administered by
the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS is an
umbrella agency for a number of federally funded volunteer programs,
including the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Foster
Grandparent Program (FGP), and the Senior Companion Program (SCP).
AmeriCorps*VISTA was founded on three basic tenants:
• That
private citizens can, on a voluntary basis, contribute to the solution
of the nation’s poverty related problems;
• That the full-time
presence and personal involvement of volunteers brings an added
dimension to public and private institutions working to alleviate
poverty; and
• That the skills and energies of volunteers are most
effective when the volunteer lives and works in the same community with
the low-income people they serve.
For over 35 years, members have been actively serving in
low-income communities by mobilizing people, businesses and
organizations with the goal of creating sustainable, healthy
communities. There are approximately 8,000 VISTA members serving
nationwide, approximately 125 of which serve in Montana.
Your Role
Your
efforts will focus on mobilizing community resources and increasing the
capacity of low-income people to solve their own problems. You will
serve with a local organization, usually private non-profit or public
agency, on an assignment determined and defined by MLSA, the
organization you will be serving with, and the low-income community they
serve.
Policy Overview
1. As
an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you will pledge to serve on a full-time
basis for a term of one year. Some positions follow a standard 40
hour/week schedule; others will require you to be available to the
community at all times without regard to regular working hours, except
for periods of approved leave.
2. AmeriCorps *VISTA service is a 12 month service
opportunity. Therefore, VISTA members may not be employed either full or
part-time during their year of service.
3.AmeriCorps *VISTA members are prohibited from
participating in political campaigns for voter registration drives,
providing transportation to polls, lobbying and pro or anti-labor
organizing or taking any action with respect to partisan or nonpartisan
political activity while on duty or perceived to be on duty as an
AmeriCorps *VISTA member.
4. Whether or not the VISTA member agrees with a position
on a passionate subject, it is best that they disengage from politics
during their service year. Also, VISTA members cannot use the VISTA
network to invite cohorts to a rally, attend political press
conferences, develop campaign materials, work on a campaign, etc. If
you have questions about whether a particular activity would constitute
prohibited political activity, please contact the MLSA VISTA Project
Coordinator.
5. AmeriCorps*VISTA members may not give religious
instruction, conduct worship services, proselytize, or engage in any
other religious activity as part of their duties. Members may
participate in religious activities outside of their official duties.
Member Benefits
1. You
will receive a gross monthly subsistence allowance of approximately $
10,296.00 over the course of the 12 month service year. It will be paid
in 26 installments which translates roughly into $396.00 every two weeks
before taxes. This allowance is subject to Federal Income Tax
withholding. You will receive instructions for direct deposit at your
Pre-Service Orientation (PSO). Direct deposit is required for all
Montana VISTA members.
2. You are authorized to take up to 10 days of personal
leave and 10 days of sick leave. Personal leave is not allowed during
the first 3 months of service, or the last 30 days of service, without
prior approval from your site supervisor and MLSA.
3. Prior to PSO, you must choose which end of service
option you would like to receive. Your options include either a
$5,350.00 Education Award or a year end cash stipend, which accrues at
the rate of $125 per month served. The cash stipend is subject to
Federal Income Tax withholding and FICA (7.65%) at the time of payment.
4. You are eligible to enroll in group life insurance for
which a biweekly premium of approximately $2.07 is deducted from your
biweekly subsistence allowance. An enrollment form will be included with
your PSO registration information.
5. You can also enroll in the AmeriCorps*VISTA contracted
health benefits plan (for yourself only). There is no charge to you for
this benefit. However, there are some limitations and exclusions. The
health insurance does not include dental or optical care, nor does it
pay for costs related to pre-existing conditions, except for the cost of
maintenance prescriptions. For more information on the health benefits
plan visit http://www.americorps.sevencorners.com
6. If eligible, you may receive up to $400 per month per
child for childcare reimbursement. Childcare benefits are contingent
upon having a child under the age of 13, meeting the income requirements
and needing assistance in order to serve as a member. Applications will
be available at PSO.
Pre-Service Orientation
After
your application is approved through the CNCS Montana State Office, you
will be required to attend a Pre-Service Orientation (PSO). PSO is
typically a three (3) day event designed to provide you with a basic
orientation in several critical areas of AmeriCorps*VISTA service. PSO
is for new AmeriCorps*VISTA trainees only; you should not bring any
family members, friends or pets. Additional training, including
On-Site-Orientation (provided by sponsor) and Early Service Training
(sponsored by CNCS) is typically provided within the first three months
of your service year. PSO and EST will be provided at the expense of the
Corporation for National and Community Service and will normally require
overnight travel.
Relocation Information
If
you will be relocating to a new city in order to perform your service,
please review the following information aimed at making your transition
smoother.
• Transportation Options
Commercial
Carrier-AmeriCorps*VISTA members authorized to travel by air will
receive a prepaid ticket and $15.00 each way (from home to destination
and return) for miscellaneous travel expenses such as taxi fares,
parking fees, etc. If costs exceed $15.00, you will be reimbursed for
actual expenditures after providing receipts. All travel provided will
be at the lowest rate available.
Private Automobile-AmeriCorps*VISTA Members authorized by
the CNCS-Montana State Office to drive will be reimbursed at the rate of
$.375 per mile plus $10.00 for every whole multiple of 100 miles.
Mileage is computed on the basis of the Rand McNally computerized
mileage guide. MLSA recommends that you have reliable transportation
while serving in Montana.
• Relocation Allowance-A relocation allowance is
authorized by the CNCS-Montana State Office on initial assignment. This
is intended to assist with initial moving-in expenses (security deposit,
utility deposit, etc.). $550 will be included in your first biweekly
allowance check and is subject to income tax withholding. If you have
not had an account with Northwestern Energy, the primary utility
provider in Montana, you may be subject to up to 120.00 deposit for
service.
• Baggage Shipment Allowance- Volunteers who relocate to
Montana will be authorized a baggage reimbursement of personal effects
shipped from your home of record to your project site. You are eligible
for $25.00 per 100 miles relocated, not to exceed $500. In order to get
reimbursement, make sure the receipt you submit includes the weights of
the parcels you have sent. Receipts must be submitted to the Montana
State Office within thirty days of your PSO. Submit all receipts
together. Reimbursement will be for the actual amount of receipts
submitted to the state office up to the amount authorized. The same
baggage reimbursement will be available to you when you return to your
home of record at the end of your service.
• Housing
You are responsible for finding
affordable housing in your new location; however your future site
supervisor and VISTA Leader will be available to help you with this
task. Please be in touch with the project to ensure that a temporary
housing situation is secured for you upon your arrival.
Questions
Please
direct inquiries about your service and/or benefits to your MLSA VISTA
staff.
VISTA Project Coordinator: Aubrey Laverty - alaverty@mtlsa.org
Phone number:(406) 442.9830 Ext.
21
Toll Free: 1.800.666.6124
As previously stated, AmeriCorps*VISTA is a one-year
commitment to service. Completion of service is one year from the date
that you enter service. Entry into service begins the day after you
successfully complete your Pre-Service Orientation. Re-enrollment or
extension beyond one year is not automatic but may be granted if you
have served in an above average manner.
For more information regarding AmeriCorps*VISTA log onto
www.nationalservice.org
or www.americorps.org
Thank you for your interest, and we commend you on your
desire to serve your fellow citizens.
“Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor will
often be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a
great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes
to those who serve their fellow man.” President Lyndon B.
Johnson
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