There are currently 10 VISTA positions open for the 2010 Energy Program (training begins April 11)

What is RurAL CAP’s VISTA Energy Program?: Members of RurAL CAP’s VISTA Energy Program receive training on energy conservation, efficiency, and home energy usage, and then work in their communities to share the knowledge, apply for grants, and perform other activities that can help reduce energy costs.  VISTA Members are sponsored by an organization or Council in their village, RurAL CAP, and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). VISTA members must currently be residing in the rural community they wish to serve in.

What is the VISTA Position?: VISTA Members work full time in their villages for one year, with office space provided by a local sponsoring organization or Council.  A local Site Supervisor will oversee a VISTA Member’s day-to-day work, mentor the Member, and guide the Member to ensure that projects are appropriate for local conditions.  RurAL CAP and CNCS provide Members with a monthly stipend, benefits, training, and program management support.

Priority will be given to rural communities who currently need support on existing energy projects, such as looking into/planning renewable energy projects/options, EECBG projects, developing a community energy policy, community energy education, and so forth.

For complete program information, please refer to the letter to Councils and the Position Announcement.

If you have any further inquiries after reading through the material, please contact Chris Weatherly by phone at 1-800-478-7227 ext 7360 or by e-mail at cweatherly@ruralcap.com

Thank you!

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) announces that in a unanimous vote of the Board, Andrew Ebona of Juneau was recently re-elected President of the Board of Directors for the fourth consecutive year.  Mr. Ebona, a well-known Alaska Native leader, will serve his seventh term as RurAL CAP Board President, bringing his extensive experience to a demanding leadership role.  A long-time member of the RurAL CAP board, Mr. Ebona also served as President in 1983, 2004, and 2006 through 2009.

Fun, culturally relevant activities to help build babies’ brains
Guides describing activities that help build babies’ and young children’s brains are now available in Yup’ik. Copies of Mikelnguut Ayagmek Elluarrluki Anglivkallrat are available free of charge from Best Beginnings, (907) 297-3300 or www.BestBeginningsAlaska.org.  The activity guides contain fun, culturally relevant activities to help babies’ brains grow in ways that will help them succeed in school and in life. There are three guides: infant (birth to 18 months), toddler (18 months to 3 years), and preschooler (ages 3 to 5).

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) has launched an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded program to help Alaskans who are struggling to manage mortgages, rent, loans, credit card debt, and at risk of losing their home. A website www.housinghelpnowalaska.org, has been developed to provide basic information on the foreclosure process, predatory lending practices, rescue scams and tenant’s rights. A hotline phone number, 1-888-643-5725, offers free credit counseling and legal assistance.

RurAL CAP and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium are soliciting proposals for community environmental demonstration projects that are innovative and address approaches for enhancing human health and the environment of Tribal communities in rural Alaska. Click the "Read More" link to download documents and related information.

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) announces the following staff who have recently completed the Family Development Credential program.  The Family Development Credential Program is a national professional development course and credentialing program developed by Cornell University to provide frontline workers with the skills and competencies they need to empower families.