In this issue:

Front Page ...

Editor's Intro

Next Community Technology Review Due for March 24: VISTAs in the Bylines -Melissa Daigle

Page Two...

Perkins Loan Forgiveness -Brenda Jackson

VISTA Non-Competitive Eligibility: Explained -Brian Harvey, Alumni Coordinator

Page Three...

The Future of the CTC VISTA Project -Dan Schackman

Advisory Board Updates

Page Four...

Updates from Harold in VA &
Mary Grybeck in Seattle

The Future of the VISTA Project

Dan Schackman

Here are some notes from the monthly meeting of the MetroBoston group, held March 5th in Lowell, MA. Peter Miller shared more details about the one-year renewal of the Project (beginning in August, 2003). A formal email announcement will be made later
this month.

40 slots:

• The equivalent of 10 slots will have to be fully paid (10 x $10,000 = $100,000). Six sites have already volunteered.

• 30 slots at higher site fee (sites have been contributing $1500 to the $10,000 or so living stipend cost—Corp. for Nat'l Service provides the rest of the stipend and benefits, and the CTC VISTA Project provides Ed awards and end-of-service stipends). Generally, new sites will be required to contribute $2500, sites that have already had VISTAs and/or are renewing current VISTAs will pay $3000.

• We're moving toward a "business" model of 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 shared costs if program gets renewed beyond 2004: 1/3 from site, 1/3 from Corp. for Nat'l Service, 1/3 from a hoped-for corporate sponsor.

• VISTAs wanting to renew will be given priority. Unclear whether the emphasis will be on new or exisiting sites. Peter Miller said an advisory board will help with the selection process.
  

Ed Awards

There is a possibility that there will be no Ed Award starting in August. Current CTC VISTAs will get their Ed Awards, and even be able to switch from stipend to Ed Award in the tenth month of service this year if they want to. The CTC VISTA Project will continue to offer half-scholarships to Community Media and Technology classes at UMass Boston - also available to be taken on-line, so technically it's available nationally.

Working w/CTCNet LDIs

Peter is working with CTCNet to include supervisor training in the Leadership Development Institutes that they host a few times a year, though CTCNet's LDI funding is running out. Hopefully CTNet can get renewed sponsorship (AT&T is our current sponsor) with a strenghtened LDI program. The LDIs are two-day management training seminars held in different cities each time. There is no registration fee, and meals are provided, but travel and hotel costs are up to the participants to pay for. There are usually 30 participant slots at the LDIs. According to this plan, CTC VISTA site supervisors would be given priority in signing up.

Project Priorities

Peter is also creating priorities for the new CTC VISTA year, in the hopes of strenghthening the program to make it more viable for future renewal. He sees this as a "bridge" year to the program's longterm sustainability.

The areas of emphases for sites and VISTAs to focus on are:

• Developing volunteer programs
• Earned Income Credit resource center development
• VISTAs working on/contributing to Community Technology Review journal and "First Tuesday" program
• Regional organizing

Advisory Board Updates

Last Fall, VISTA Alum, Karen Zgoda, started to organize the CTC VISTA Advisory Board. In January, we met (via conference call) for the first time. The minutes from that meeting can be found online (see the last item in gray sidebar). Since then, the ten members have met twice more. On March 20th, at 2 p.m. (EST), we'll be meeting again. If you are interested in joining the Board or would like more info, contact Melissa Daigle.

Next Meeting's Agenda:

• Preparations for June Conference
• VISTA survey/Project Evaluation
• April Newletter