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VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery Recognition Ceremony
AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service To America (VISTA) summer associates and yearlong members were honored at a two-hour ceremony August 12, the graduation date for the first eight of the Cedar Rapids summer associates due to graduate by September 12 from VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery.
David Eisner, CEO for the Corporation for National and Community Service -- the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps other programs -- addressed the group after lunch.
There are so many of you," Eisner said, surveying the packed conference room. "I love looking at a group that represents so many aspects of service."
In addition to the VISTAs, also present were members of Foster Grandparents, AmeriCorps state and National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
He told the members that the work they have done in Iowa "is as good and strong as work done anywhere."
There are eight VISTA members who began their service on June 4, 2008, with Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed. After mid-June flooding, they quickly adapted to focus on flood recovery. Front row, from left to right: Melissa Dawson, Thelma Rutherford, Angela Lindaman and Kristin Weber. Back row, from left to right: Ron Jackson, Katie Graham and Alice Rogers.
Jennifer Heitz was unable to attend the ceremony.
Lunch was served indoors then eating outside under a large tent. What's a VISTAs favorite food? Free! Among those in the buffet line are, from front to back, Melissa Dawson, Angela Lindaman and Leslie Thomas.
Guests included community leaders and members of the Community Corrections Improvement (CCIA) staff and board and Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed board. Clockwise are, starting at the lower left, Bill Hoekstra (CCIA), Shari Konarske (Weed & Seed), Chuck Larson (CCIA board) and Cedar Rapids Police Chief Kenneth Graham, who moved to the city about two weeks before the flood.
The large conference room at the William G. Faches Center was packed with AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) members and other guests waiting for the ceremony -- and picnic -- to begin. Among those seated in the front row are, from left to right, VISTA members Deb Calloway, Amanda Green, Peyton Smith, Thelma Rutherford.
VISTA member Katie Graham talks about her experience on her last day as a summer associate. Originally assigned to Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed, Katie said her assignment, and those of the other seven original summer VISTAs, changed no more than four times after the flood hit. She thanked her fellow VISTAs for what they taught her and all the hard work they put into her devastated hometown.
"We wouldn't be the same place we are as a city if you hadn't been here," Katie said.
VISTA Leader Jimmy Kelly got animated when discussing the work of a VISTA.
"It's not the cleanest work but it's definitely gratifying work," Jimmy said.
He likes to visit the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to see the stacks of files on houses waiting for workers to muck, tear out and rebuild.
"Our jobs won't be over until those files have been addressed in one way shape or another," Jimmy said.
He encouraged others to volunteer on clean up sites, if only for a day.
Summer associate Lesley Shafer said she had so much fun this summer. She acted as office manager for the VRC and helped to organize work crews heading out into the field.
"I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to support -- the field teams especially," Lesley said.
What's better than free food? Free stuff, of course. VISTA members Angela Meisterling, Christine Marcotte and Jay Davis pick up Tshirts and more after the ceremony.