http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter.asp Welcome to the AmeriCorps Communication Center. Here you will find policy updates and other messages that AmeriCorps staff typically send to grantees via e-mail, for easy access and continued reference. en-us Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST 0 http://www.americorps.gov/images/logos/ac_logo.gif http://www.americorps.gov 120 120 http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1682The fourth annual AmeriCorps Week is coming May 8-15, in less than two months. This is a perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the great work being done by AmeriCorps members across the country.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1679On Saturday, March 13, we will be undertaking production system upgrades between the hours of 3.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. The scheduled hardware and software upgrades will improve the overall availability of the application environment in the future. In particular, we are installing a hardware load balancer which will automatically allocate workstation based user requests to an active front end application server. This upgrade will result in better handling of user activity/connectivity should one of the application servers fail at any time.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalThu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1678We've received requests for the exact date of the announcement of the results of the 2010 AmeriCorps grant competition. The Corporation anticipates notifying commissions and direct applicants of the results of the grant competition on May 28, 2010. I hope you find this helpful for your planning purposes.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalThu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1676This is a reminder that we have scheduled three conference calls in the next weeks to receive your comments and answer clarifying questions on the Trust rulemaking. We encourage you to read the proposed rule carefully and use this opportunity to get your questions answered, and provide feedback that will be considered in shaping the final rule. AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalTue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1674We are pleased to announce the launch of a new way to access the online materials you use the most to get things done. AmeriCorps Connect is designed to serve as your one-stop shop for items that can be difficult to locate because they are housed on multiple web sites. AmeriCorps Connect is not designed to replace other Corporation websites such as nationalservice.gov, americorps.gov, and the Resource Center, but is designed to put the resources you use the most at your fingertips. The launch of this resource is part of our ongoing efforts to improve our web presence, and will eventually be incorporated in the comprehensive re-design initiative of all our main public websites, which is underway. All AmeriCorpsAmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalAmeriCorps VISTAAmeriCorps NCCCTue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1671Learn About Funding and Resources to Help Your Organization Feed Hungry Children This Summer on a Webinar on Thursday, March 4 2010. AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalMon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1668Notes from AmeriCorps State and National conference call on February 10, 2010 AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1660This email is a follow-up to questions raised on the AmeriCorps Update call on February 10 and provides clarification on submitting your request for approval of the alternative matching schedule.AmeriCorps StateThu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1661The 2010 allocation chart for AmeriCorps state Formula funds was sent to you on January 21, 2010. This memo contains guidance for requesting those funds.AmeriCorps StateThu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1662AmeriCorps State/National February 10, 2010 Grantee Conference Call Agenda and referenced documentAmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalTue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=16632010 territory formula allocation for the American Samoa and GuamAmeriCorps StateMon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1656Each summer, 18 million students are at risk of going hungry when the school year ends and school lunches are no longer available. For many children, school meals are the only complete and nutritious meals they eat, and in the summer they go without. This summer, the need will likely increase. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) can help to fill the summer meal gap for low-income children.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1654We understand many of you are having trouble accessing the Payment Management System to submit your quarterly cash transaction report (now called the FFR) because of the changes PMS made when it implemented the new report. It is now due 30 days after the end of the quarter instead of 45 days. HHS has informed us that PMS staff sent notifications to the certifiers (2nd level signatories) issuing them temporary user/password instructions. They sent the email twice, the second time in late Dec before the implementation of the new FFR. If you did not note that email with the password instructions, the system will not let you in because it does not recognize who you are. If your certification person is the same person that was on the last certification, that person already has a profile set-up with HHS and just needs the password that was sent back in Dec. If the person has changed, you need to access the form on the HHS website that allows you to update the certifier record. AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1655On Monday, February 1, President Obama will release his budget request for Fiscal Year 2011. As we have done in the past, we will be holding a series of conference calls to brief grantees about the President's budget request for the Corporation and its programs.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1657We are hosting a combined state commission/national grantee conference call in February. We've scheduled the call during the time when several of you will be in Washington, DC attending various events. If you are in DC, you are cordially invited to join us at CNCS Headquarters - we have reserved conference space on our 8th floor. In planning the call we tried to schedule it early enough to allow visitors to make evening flights home. AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1650The Omnibus Appropriations bill was signed by President Obama on December 16, 2009. Attached is the chart showing the final amounts for your 2010 Administrative, PDAT, and Disability grant allocations and the instructions for requesting the alternative match schedule for the Administrative grant.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalMon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1646In the past we have experience some system stability issues during peak time on application deadline dates. In an attempt to provide a stable and reliable system during the final AmeriCorps grant competition submission time, it will be necessary to bring the system down for a short period of time for server maintenance on Tuesday, January 26th 2010 from 9:00am - 9:30 am eastern. AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalFri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1616We are sending our guidance again because OMB has released additional information about new data checks in its reporting software and made a few minor changes to the guidance you received on December 18, 2009. On January 6th we will hold a conference call to update grantees on enhancements to the Section 1512 report on FederalReporting.gov made by OMB. Please read this memo carefully because data checks may prevent you from submitting if you don't follow the instructions below.AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalThu, 7 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1600Today we released the 4.0.2 version of the My AmeriCorps Portal and eGrants software. This mini release includes three improvements made to improve your user experience. The following is the list of bug fixes:All AmeriCorpsTue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1601In This Issue: Message from Acting Director Lois Nembhard; Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act Update; National Performance Measures: Opting into the Pilot, Step-by-Step; Timeline for Commission Feedback on National Applications; Serve America Act Provisions in Effect; Clarification: Same Project; Recovery Reporting Update; State Commission Admin Funding Update; Portal Release Notes; Dates to Remember AmeriCorps StateAmeriCorps NationalTue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST