Are you ready? National AmeriCorps Week 2010 is poised to be bigger and better than ever! It's the 15th anniversary of AmeriCorps, and May 8-15 is a time to recognize and celebrate those who have served in, staffed or managed an AmeriCorps program and those organizations and communities that support national service.

Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., has created a $1 million scholarship program exclusively for AmeriCorps alumni and staff. This National Service Scholarship Program is designed to honor those who have served their country and community by allowing them to continue their education.

Discover the new vision of AmeriCorps Alums, the national network of civic leaders who served in the AmeriCorps program, from Executive Director Amity Tripp. AmeriCorps Alums represents the 550,000 alumni of AmeriCorps National Service, who together constitute a powerful force for change in this country. AmeriCorps Alums helps alumni continue to "get things done" by connecting alumni, advancing their commitment to service, supporting and advocating for AmeriCorps programs and building the capacity of alumni to be agents of change in their communities.

At the conclusion of 2003 and leading into 2004, I began to search for opportunities that would allow me to transition out of my career in finance. I wasn’t quite sure what I would end up doing. After researching my options, I settled on a position as an AmeriCorps member with Hands On Atlanta, a non-profit organization focused on addressing critical needs of the Atlanta community.

AmeriCorps alums live next door to you. They work with you, shop where you shop and might even go to the same yoga class as you. Some have “Ameri-marriages” (two former AmeriCorps members getting hitched!), “Ameri-babies” (kids of those AmeriCorps members), and “Ameri-love” (an undying fondness for the AmeriCorps program they served in). Any way you slice it, there are more than 500,000 AmeriCorps alums out there in the world, and they are the leaders of tomorrow… making change and continuing to ‘get things done.’

YOU could create the next logo and slogan for the entire organization!

The Alums are asking AmeriCorps members, Alums and their communities to design and submit a new logo and slogan to coincide with the new mission, vision and strategic plan of the organization. Plus, AmeriCorps Alums is offering great prizes and incentives for chapters who get the most entries!

Here are the details:
AmeriCorps Alums Design for Change
Change. It’s what we’re about. And it’s time we listened to those who are making it!