2011 - 2012 Member Selection Timeline:

June through August – Recruitment: advertising and interviewing.
Late August: Making final decision on candidates.
September 6th: “Drop dead date” If a member has not been chosen by this date, the organization may lose the allotment.
September 19th & 20th: Orientation in Montpelier.  All members required to attend.
September 21st: Members will start their term of service at their site. Supervisors should conduct an on-site orientation for the member beginning on this day. Members will serve through August 17th, 2012 (unless otherwise agreed with VHCB).

Important 2011 – 2012 VHCB AmeriCorps Information:

• Program Year Dates: September 19, 2011 - August 17, 2012
• Full-time member living allowance will be $13,702.
• The education award for full time members is $5,350.
• Full-time positions require 1,700 hours of service, for an average of 35.5 hours per week for 11 months.  
• Other benefits include health insurance, federal school loan forbearance, and various training opportunities.

For Sponsors:

• Cash match is $5,892.
• In-Kind match is $6,000.

The VHCB AmeriCorps member recruitment process is as follows:
Sponsoring sites are responsible for recruiting the member at the organization.  We suggest running ads, posting on Craigslist and other online resources, word of mouth, advertising locally, etc. VHCB AmeriCorps will also advertise and put out general announcements for the program. In addition, VHCB AmeriCorps will list all positions on the National AmeriCorps Recruitment website, where candidates can apply online. Candidates may submit applications to the VHCB AmeriCorps office, or directly to the site to which they are applying. When we receive an application directly, we forward them to the appropriate site(s).
Candidates can download the application materials from VHCB AmeriCorps website: www.vhcb.org/acorps, or may apply online at www.americorps.gov. A complete application consists of the application form, résumé, and 2 written references.

Once you have received applications from candidates you are interested in, the next step is to interview potential members and check at least two phone references. Once you have chosen a candidate, you need to send all the applicant’s materials (complete application, interview notes, reference check notes, sex offender registry check) to the VHCB AmeriCorps office before you offer the position. VHCB AmeriCorps will review the applicant’s materials for final approval.  Only after you’ve received a final approval from VHCB AmeriCorps, should you offer the candidate the position. Call us to discuss any issues, red flags or with any questions that you might have when considering a candidate at any time.

When interviewing, you must inform the candidate that any information that s/he discloses in the interview process will be shared with VHCB AmeriCorps. You should obtain the candidate's signature on the Candidate Disclosure Form (available on our website) and retain this form with the other interview documents.

Once you have VHCB AmeriCorps’ authorization, you can inform the successful candidate that you would like to select them. If they accept, make sure to have them sign an Intent To Commit form and send it over to VHCB AmeriCorps.  Once we receive the Intent To Commit form, we will send the member a Welcome Packet via email with information about the program, the orientation and enrollment paperwork.