Updated 08/26/2011. This AmeriCorps 101 presentation includes the 2010-2011 Ed. Awards amounts as well as updated policies and procedures.

1. Bonner
AmeriCorps
101

2. What is AmeriCorps?
• National Service Program that is funded by the
Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS).
• Federally funded; Locally implemented.
• Benefits the localities in which Members serve by
meeting critical community needs.
• Benefits Members by educating them about their
community, citizenship, and by giving them means to
continue their education.

3. What is AmeriCorps?
• A program of service not longer than 1
or 2 years that has many regulations
that must be followed by
organizations and Members.
• Members complete a Term of
Service.
• A Term of Service is a commitment of
hours to direct service and training.
• Members receive an Education Award
at the completion of their Term of
Service.

4. The National Service
Network
• Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the
Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS), which also oversees Senior Corps.

5. National Service History
• 1930: President Roosevelt created the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) during the depression.
• 1961: President Kennedy created the Peace Corps.
Since then, more than 150,000 Americans have
served in the Peace Corps.
• 1964: President Johnson created VISTA (Volunteers
in Service to America) giving Americans opportunities
to serve low-income communities domestically.
• 1960’s: The Foster Grandparent Program and RSVP
are created to enable older Americans to serve their
communities.

6. National Service History
• 1990: President Bush signed the National and Community Service
Act of 1990.
• 1993: President Clinton signed the National and Community
Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and CNCS.
• AmeriCorps serves over 2 million Americans each year through
two main streams of service:
• AmeriCorps
• Senior Corps

7. AmeriCorps Aims to
Meet 3 Different Goals
Getting
Things Done
Developing
Participants
Strengthening
Communities

8. Bonner AmeriCorps
• Funded by the Corporation for
National and Community Service
(CNCS).
• Administered by the Bonner
Foundation in partnership with The
College of New Jersey
• Offered at more than 60 Bonner
campuses.

9. Eligibility Requirements
• Must be 17 years of age or older.
• Must have a High School Diploma or
Equivalency, or must be working towards
the GED.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal
Resident of the U.S.
• Government Documentation
Required: State or County-Issued
Birth Certificate, unexpired U.S.
Passport or Legal Permanent
Resident Card

10. What do AmeriCorps
Members Do?
As part of the National Service Movement, Members take action and find
solutions to address community needs while learning new skills and
sharing talents to make a difference across the country.
• Educate communities about their environment
• Renovate and Rebuild Abandoned Homes
• Provide Mentoring During Non-School Hours
• Recruit Volunteers
• Bridge the Digital Divide
• Assist the Homeless
• Provide Support to People with Disabilities
• Support Immigrants through a variety of Human and Educational
Services

11. AmeriCorps is NOT:
A job
A job program
An internship
Free labor
A staff builder

12. AmeriCorps Members
DO NOT:
Do only clerical work
Answer phones
Perform janitorial duties
Supervise other Members
Manage paperwork or financial
issues

13. AmeriCorps Common
Myths
• Individuals who serve in
National Service programs
are referred to as
Members--they are not
volunteers, participants or
employees.
• AmeriCorps members
serve--they do not “work.”

14. What do AmeriCorps
Members Receive?
Half-Time Quarter-Time Minimum-Time
Members Members Members
900 Hours of Service 450 Hours of Service 300 Hours of Service
Education Award Education Award Education Award
$2,675.00 $1,415 $1,132
Two-year term One-year term One-year term
(minus one day) (minus one day) (minus one day)

15. Rules of Conduct
At no time may a Bonner AmeriCorps
member:
• Spend more than 20% of their term of
service in Training and Enrichment
activities.
• Spend more than 10% of their term of
service engaging in fundraising activities.
• Devote any of their service hours to
fundraising for any purpose other than
directly supporting their service activities.

16. Acceptable Service
Fundraising Provisions

17. Acceptable Service
Fundraising Provisions
1. AmeriCorps members can
spend no more than 10% of
their hours on fundraising
activities.
2. Members can raise resources to
support projects related to their
issue area/ site's direct service
activities.
3. Members cannot raise resources for
an organization’s general operating
expenses or endowment.

18. Acceptable Service
Fundraising Provisions
4. Members cannot fundraise for
their own living allowance.
5. Members cannot raise funds for an
organization's general operating
expenses or endowment.
6. Members cannot write a grant
application to any Federal agency
including the Corporation for
National and Community Service.

19. Acceptable Service
Fundraising Provisions
7. Members cannot engage in any
fundraising where the
beneficiaries are international. If
the goods or funds collected will
be sent to an international
community, the fundraising time
cannot be approved for
AmeriCorps.

20. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)

21. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)
1. Participating in efforts to influence
legislation, including lobbying for your
program;
2. Organizing a letter-writing campaign to
Congress;
3. Engaging in partisan political activities, or
other activities designed to influence the
outcome of an election to any public office;
4. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities
that are likely to include advocacy for or
against political parties, political
platforms, political candidates,
proposed legislation, or elected
officials;
5. Printing politically charged articles in a
Corporation-funded newsletter or discussion list;

22. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)

23. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)
6. Taking part in political demonstrations
or rallies;
7. Engaging in any efforts to influence
legislation, including state or local
ballot initiatives;
8. Voter registration drives;
9. Organizing or participating in protests,
petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
10. Assisting or deterring union organizing;
11. Impairing existing contracts or collective
bargaining agreements;

24. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)

25. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)
12. Religious activities, including engaging in
religious instruction; conducting worship
services; providing instruction as part of a
program that includes mandatory religious
instruction or worship; constructing, operating, or
maintaining facilities primarily or inherently
devoted to religious instruction or worship; or
engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
13. Activities that pose a significant safety risk to
participants;
14. Assignments that displace employees;
15. Placement of Members into internships with for-
profit businesses as part of the education and
training component of the program;
16. Providing assistance to a business organized
for-profit;

26. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)

27. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)
17. Raising funds for an AmeriCorps
stipend;
18. Raising funds for an organization’s
operating expenses or endowment;
19. Writing grant applications for
AmeriCorps funding or for any other
funding provided by the Corporation for
National and Community Service;
20. Writing grant applications for
funding provided by any federal
agencies;
21. Administrative work, unless it benefits
the Members approved direct service
activities; and
22. Activities providing abortion services
or referrals for receipt of such services.

28. Prohibited Activities
(cont.)
Activities that pose a significant risk
to AmeriCorps Members or others;
23. Internships with a for-profit business as a
part of the education and training component
of the program; and
24. Medical research;
25. Service that is paid through an hourly
wage other than Federal Work-Study;
26. Activities (service or trainings)
performed internationally;
27. Activities performed that serve or educate
about individuals residing outside the
US and US territories

29. Release from Term
• If a Member has a compelling personal circumstance and has completed at
least 15% of his/her service commitment, the Member may receive a
portion of the education award.
This means that the situation is absolutely beyond the
Member’s control (e.g. illness)
Documentation provided by Member is MANDATORY
• Compelling Personal Circumstances do not include:
(1) to enroll in school, (2) obtaining employment (other than moving
from welfare to work), or (3) dissatisfaction with the program.
• Member leaving for any other reason other than compelling personal
circumstance, will not receive an educational award.

30. Suspension
• The Program may suspend the Member’s term of service for
the following reasons:
1. Compelling personal circumstances (e.g. illness)
2. A violation of the Rules of Conduct
3. If during the term of service the Member has been
charged with a violent felony or the possession, sale or
distribution of a controlled substance.
• During the suspension from service, the Member will not
receive credit for service hours or benefits. The Member may
resume his or her term of service once the circumstances
supporting the suspension have been resolved.

31. Grievance Procedures
In the event that informal efforts to resolve disputes
are unsuccessful, AmeriCorps members, labor unions,
and other interested individuals may seek resolution
through the grievance procedures detailed in the
Member Contract. These procedures are intended to
apply to service-related issues, such as assignments,
evaluations, suspensions, or release for cause, as well
as issues related to non-selection of Members, and
displacement of employees, or duplication of activities
by AmeriCorps members.

32. Nondiscrimination Policy
Participation in AmeriCorps is based on merit and equal
opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race,
color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age,
disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status,
military service, or religious, community or social
affiliations.
It is also unlawful to retaliate against any person who, or
organization that, files a complaint about such
discrimination. Each campus and/or service site that
receives the services of an AmeriCorps Member agrees to
abide by Federal laws and CNCS policies on Equal
Opportunity.

33. Reasonable Accommodation
Programs and activities must be accessible to
persons with disabilities, and the Bonner
AmeriCorps Program at your campus must
provide reasonable accommodation to the known
mental or physical disabilities of otherwise
qualified members, service recipients, applicants,
and staff.
All selections and project assignments must be
made without regard to the need to provide
reasonable accommodation.

34. Drug-Free Workplace
Consistent with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, The
Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and The College
of New Jersey are committed to providing a workplace that
is free from the unlawful manufacture, distribution,
dispensation, possession, or use of controlled substances.
• The Member must notify the Bonner Program in writing,
within five (5) calendar days, if he or she is convicted of a
criminal drug violation in the workplace.
• Violations of the Drug-Free Workplace policy will result
in personnel action against the Member, up to and
including dismissal pursuant to The College of New Jersey
procedures relating to Member discipline.

35. Informed Consent
The staff of the Bonner Foundation, The College of New
Jersey, your Campus, your Site and the Corporation for
National and Community Service with your consent may:
• release your name, interests and any training you have
received.
• write a recommendation or give a verbal
recommendation for employment, etc. at the end of your
term of service.
• photograph you at your service site for recruitment/
promotional purposes (you may opt out by checking the
appropriate box in the Enrollment Workbook).

36. Enrollment
As you complete the Enrollment Workbook,
please remember to:
• Sign in ink and date on all required
signature lines (signature date must be on or
before your requested start date).
• Initial any cross-outs, overwrites, etc.
• Do not use pencil or correction fluid.

37. Enrollment Documents
Along with your completed Enrollment Workbook, you
must:
• Submit a legible copy of government-issued
citizenship, naturalization or resident alien
documentation (e.g. state-issued birth certificate,
passport, permanent legal resident card, etc.)
• Submit a legible copy of government-issued
photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
• Provide documentation of any legal name
change.

38. BWBRS
Once you are enrolled in Bonner AmeriCorps,
you are required to report regularly using the
Bonner Web-Based Reporting System (BWBRS).
• Create a Community Learning
Agreement (CLA) each semester
• Log your hours each week
• Sign your hour logs monthly along with your
site supervisor and campus administrator
• Log your Service Accomplishments at
the end of each semester.

39. Community Learning Agreements
• Create a new CLA each semester for your main
service placement
• Discuss goals with your community partner and/or
campus administrator
• Remember: COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY,
COMMUNITY!
• Use resume language
• Even if you serve at the same site for multiple
semesters, you need to create a new CLA each
semester with new goals!

40. Hour Logs
• Log Hour Entries into BWBRS
every week
• One log entry per site per
day (even if you went multiple
times)
• Log hours according to: CLA
service, non-CLA service (i.e. one-
time opportunities), Training &
Enrichment or Fundraising

41. Hour Logs
• If the time was spent in
fundraising (i.e. Relay for
Life), you must check the
box “this time was spent
fundraising”
• Entries may not exceed a 12
hour maximum per day
(or 16 with prior approval
from Bonner Foundation
Staff)

42. Hour Logs
eSignatures
Each month:
• eSign an Hour Log from BWBRS by month
(on “report page” choose the correct month
from the “show hours in” and click “update”;
then type your name at the bottom of the
hour log report)
• The Member, site supervisor & campus
administrator must all eSign logs on or
after the last day of service logged that
month
• The eSignatures must be signed in this order:
1. Member;
2. Site Supervisor;
3. Campus Administrator.

43. Timesheets
Hard Copies
Each month:
• Print out an Hour Log from BWBRS by
month (on “Report page” choose the
correct month from the “show hours in”
and click “update”; the print command is
under “available actions”)
• The Member, site supervisor & campus
administrator must all sign logs on or
after the last day of service logged that
month
• Signatures must be original and in ink
(no pencil or stamps accepted)
• Any written changes must be
initialed by the Member and Campus
Administrator

44. Evaluation
• At the end of each semester,
Members complete Service
Accomplishments in
BWBRS for their CLA.
• Your supervisor will conduct
an end of term evaluation of
your personal development
and the quality of your
service as part of your
Bonner AmeriCorps Exit
process.

45. Exiting
If (1) you have logged enough hours to complete your
term, or (2) you are withdrawing from your term:
• You must submit an AmeriCorps Exit Form to the
Foundation within 20 days of your last day of
service. Please be sure all hour logs are up to date
and fully signed.
• Exit Forms must be signed and dated on or
after your last day of service.
• Exit Forms are processed by the Foundation and
BWBRS will notify you once you have been exited.

46. Education Award
Once you have been officially exited from your
AmeriCorps term, you can begin the process of accessing
your Education Award.
Register with www.my.americorps.gov to access
your Education Award online. The online system allows
AmeriCorps alumni to request Education Award payments
to a qualified institution of higher education or a student
loan holder.
Members are also able to update their contact
information, view their account information and the status
of their Education Award payments.

47. Education Award
An Education Award can be used
to:
• Pay back qualified student
loans.
• Pay current educational
expenses at a Title IV
institution of higher
education.

48. Education Award
• An Education Award can only be used by the Member
who received it, unless the Member is over the age of 55
at the time of enrollment. Members 55 and over can
transfer the Education Award to a child, foster child or
grandchild.
• A Member has up to 7 years to use his/her Education
Award.
• An individual is eligible to receive the aggregate value of
up to two full-time Education Awards in a lifetime.

49. Resources
Need more information?
• Read through your Enrollment
Workbook
• Visit the AmeriCorps website:
my.americorps.gov
• Read the AmeriCorps pages on the
Bonner Network Wiki: http://
bonnernetwork.pbworks.com
• Explore BWBRS: www.bwbrs.org
(see your campus administrator for
login information)