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Dear RSVP Director,
In the last few days you've
probably received an application for membership
in a new organization calling itself the Senior
Corps Association of America. Let me first
assure you that this has nothing to do with the
National Association of RSVP Directors (NARSVPD).
We have not endorsed this association; know
little about their organizational or management
structures, or how they plan to represent you.
While combing all three
associations (NARSVPD, NAFGPD and NASCPD) has
some appealing possibilities and works well on
the state and local level, let me bring up some
of the major concerns and considerations as we
address this issue on the national level:
First, the terms "National Senior
Service Corps" and "Senior Corps" have no basis
in law and are not mentioned in either
authorizing or appropriations law. In fact, FGP,
RSVP and SCP each have three separate line items
in every appropriations bill. There is no
appropriation line item for "Senior Corps", and
to advocate for a single line item could very
well result in all money for FGP, RSVP, and SCP
being allocated into one pot, with CNCS
determining what, if any, part of the pot each
program gets.
The single most important
function of the RSVP, SCP and FGP National
Directors Associations is to make sure that all
three programs are adequately funded by Congress
from year to year.
Evan Knisely, DC representative
for FGP has expressed grave concerns about each
of the three programs losing its independent and
strong voice with Congress because they are
merged into an organization that has no basis in
law; has no name recognition with Congress or
the administration; and calls itself something
with which Congress is not familiar. Alan
Lopatin, DC representative for RSVP/SCP has
said, "Cooperation between the 3 associations
has always been preferable to any other mode of
operating. The Hill does not want the
distraction of disputes about details. They
just don't have the time. Folks on the Hill
want to be helpful when it comes to RSVP, SCP
and FGP". There is no such thing in law as
"National Senior Service Corps" or Senior Corps"
- those program titles are the invention of a PR
firm paid by CNCS to homogenize the terms used
to describe the senior programs so they fit into
the "AmeriCorps" mold.
We encourage you to continue your
membership with NARSVPD. We are proud of our
accomplishments. RSVP's federal funding has
increased nearly 42% from $34.9 million in 1996
to $59.685 million in 2006. We maintain the
services of a DC representative and have a board
that is focused on the critical issue of getting
money for RSVP.
Your current national
associations have 60 years of experience
collectively building relationships with members
of Congress and speaking on behalf of RSVP, FGP
and SCP. We have created individual identities
for these programs in the minds of legislators,
and we have established "heroes" who champion
the individual programs. These legislators
identify with each program. They don't care
about "Senior Corps"; they don't even know what
"Senior Corps" is. They each have a favorite
program which has somehow struck a chord with
them and carved a special place in their hearts.
We cannot emphasize this point
strongly enough: The three current associations
are poised to go to the Hill together with David
Eisner in the next month to work with Congress
to lower the age and increase the income
guidelines for stipend volunteers. We need the
full support of our members to effect these
changes through independent legislation, which
is difficult to accomplish. It is imperative
that members of Congress understand they are
negotiating with three associations that
represent the FGP, RSVP and SCP programs across
the country. Confusion on this issue will
sabotage our chance to get these two changes
made now, instead of waiting 10 years for
AmeriCorps to gain enough Hill friends to allow
reauthorization to happen without opposition.
We value your membership. Please
let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Melodye Kleinman
NARSVPD President
310-454-9974
310-351-0024
Message from the President Archives
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