The VISTA hotline rang today. Despite getting an information kit and a giant poster of Rosie the Riveter 2.0, I forgot that this week was special.

May 11-16 is AmeriCorps Week. A week set aside each year to raise awareness about national service.

What is AmeriCorps? It’s the umbrella organization for programs like VISTA, RSVP, Foster Grandparents, Learn&Serve, NCCC, CityYear, and a few others. VISTA is the oldest branch (started in the 60s by Kennedy after the PeaceCorps), and it’s the branch that I served under after college.

AmeriCorps Week hosts an annual PSA contest. The video below may not be a spoof of The Office, but it highlights the main reason that AmeriCorps was created. It got my vote.

Join a service project or at least watch some videos and vote. How will you serve?

Voices for National Service just released their wishlist for community service in America under the next administraton. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I don’t. It’s hard to be a conservative and Ameri*Corps VISTA alum.

Community service may be a strong campaign issue in 2008. John Edwards has One Corps, and this week Young Voter Strategies released information that the emerging group of 18-29 year-old voters have volunteered more than any other generation. In 2005, 70% of all college freshman reported that they volunteered weekly. If candidates hope to woo new voters, it’s a smart idea to add a community service component to their campaign. This is also a good bridge between the campaign vs. movement debate. Call me a bleeding heart or a Crunchy Con, but you can’t lose with helping the community around you.

While the Voices for National Service plan calls for expanding all Ameri*Corps programs and increased funding, they do have some much-needed ideas:

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