Get to the Point 1

March-April 2011 Volume XVII Issue 5

Get to the Point: The NCCC News

An NCCC Atlantic Region Publication

Atlantic Region Perry Point

 Get to the Point 2
Upper left clockwise:Moose 5’s Joseph DiCerbo & Claire Howe hammer in Delaware. Marcus Thibault of Raven 1
scrapes at the VA. Preparing for lead paint at Habitat is Moose 2’s Maria Medina. Raven 4 is logging it up at
Kayam Farm (Hannah Easley & Owen Haller). While Buffalo 2’s Patrick Skovira pulls out some weeds.
Center: A few corps members at an ISP during CTI
(want your photos to be on the cover page– start posting to Picasa!...who knows your team could be next…)

Featured above (right to left): Macy Lytle, Nathan Bishop & Erin Bruhn

Strengthen communities
and develop leaders through Living In-Tents: Phoenix 1
direct, team-based national The first round Phoenix team has been busy fighting fires, building houses and
and community service generally using our fire clothes, high-heeled boots and beards to impress the
locals. As your team’s fire-people have probably already informed you, we had a
Inside this Issue: great time getting trained in Kinston, North Carolina by Steve Hubner and other
cooler-than-us wild land fire fighters. Highlights of that week were watching the
Phoenix 1 Update 2 planes full of fire retardant put out a wildfire just down the road, playing with drip
torches and watching Macy teach us how to do ‘I’m a star’. (ask your Phoenix
members, your PT will never be the same)
Alumni Spotlight 3
Since then the ten of us rode up to Virginia driven by the warm, sunny weather
and cheerful, belated goodbyes of our dear Phoenix forty. Our first day in the
Trivia Corner 3 swamp was deceptively hot and clear as we set up our tents and ate the first of far
too many MRE’s. We quickly met and introduced ourselves to the 3 seasonal
Specialty Roles 4 firefighters who live at the Swamp with us; Bobby, Melissa and Adam. They are
young, quirky and bizarre, we liked them right away. After a tour of the
compound we were left on our own to figure out our life under tents, beneath a
CAP Zone 6 large, yellow, rain tarp. After the first night we quickly learned the methods of
staying warm shrouded in thin sleeping backs and even thinner Nylon tents.
AmeriMeals 6
The heat and bright turned to cold and bleak for the next two weeks till now but
Hulk’s PT 7 there have been several notable highlights that have kept us motivated and excited
to be a part of this composite group. Our first highlight came with the first clear
day when we burned 40 acres of the understory of a local refuge. Ideally the plot
AmeriCount 7 of land would have been better burned on a drier day but our trainers thought it
Down would be a good slow burn to get us acquainted with fire behavior and
suppression. The thrill of casually walking through the flames only increased
Rod’s 8 when we burned 70 acres of dry grasslands the following week. (69 acres
Ruminations prescribed and 1 acre spot fire) There is no good way to describe the thrill of
standing next to 20 foot high walls of flame that suddenly shift with the wind
leaving you running on adrenaline to escape what we can only reason to be the
Shout Outs 9-11 most intense heat we have ever experienced. But what we are doing is not simply
for entertainment - it is for the good of dying breeds of birds, trees and the
well-being of a land ravished by our ancestors. It is an accomplishing feeling
being members of the first wave of change to come in hundreds of years.
I’m a member of the National Civilian
Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Tomorrow we leave for Maryland where we will work with our good friend Fred
program. N-triple-C members are 18 to Adams digging fire lines and burning more land if the weather stays clear. We are
24 years old and spend 10 months halfway till completion of this round so we are eager to burn as much as possible
getting things done for America while before we have to go back to the Point. Phoenix 1 asks all NCCC members to
developing their own leadership skills.
please throw your cigarettes in the dry brush, grill recklessly outside in good
We serve on teams to help communities
prepare for and respond to disasters, combustible leaves and light whatever you can on fire. We really can’t get enough
build homes, and help the environment. of this.
Get to the Point 3

Alumni Spotlight: Samantha Troemel

Samantha Troemel, served as a Corps Member in Class XVI at the Atlantic Region- Recently, we caught
up with Samantha Troemel to find out her impressions on her service year and what she is doing
currently. Samantha served as a Corps Member on the Raven 7 & Saint Bernard’s Project Composite Team
in Class XVI.

How did you find out about AmeriCorps NCCC? I found out about NCCC from a
girl I went to college with. She did it the year before me in Denver.
Samantha Troemel, Class XVI Raven 7
What was the best part of your year? What are you doing now? The best part & Anderson Cooper
of my year was composite, getting thrown in with 10 people you don't know and going
to New Orleans (NoLa). Great experience, very real world I’m currently working full time for family services of
Northeast WI. I'm the LGBTQ coordinator for the Sexual Assault Center and I'm also a behavior management
specialist for a residential treatment program. I'm living ALONE which was a must after AmeriCorps. Also,
my Raven 7 team is planning a group trip to New Orleans (NoLa) in September to work with habitat and bunk
in a hotel room as one big happy family.

Any suggestions for Class XVII? Don't get caught up in the small stuff, see the big picture. This is going
to be a year you always look back on and smile.

Samantha Troemel pictured abover with her team Raven 7 on a few of their projects. Timothy Stowell our Induction Speaker in on this team too!

The Trivia Corner: From Laura & Melissa (CRSTL/POSTL)

Sudoku Missing Pairs
v _ _ lat _ _ n

h _ _ dw _ _ e

_ _ rses _ _ e

a__a__a

Trivia
It is one of the most bizarre houses in the world. The
owner was convinced that if she stopped adding rooms
to the house, she would die. Her mansion contains 160
rooms and is located near San Jose. What is its name?
(http://www.triviacafe.com)
Get to the Point 4

Getting things DONE … for… CAP & Media

Upcoming Events:

APRIL 8TH-
Moose 5-City Year in Philadelphia should be very excited to see the difference in programs!
APRIL 13TH-
Raven 5-2 EVENTS IN 1 DAY! Awesome! Do some great CAP-ping in Pittsburgh
Raven 7- Green Mountain College will be so excited to see AmeriCorps! Nice Work!
APRIL 10TH-
Raven 1 & 7 / Moose 3 & 7 / Buffalo 5– FreeState Youth ChalleNGe Career Fair!
APRIL 14TH-
Buffalo 1, 3, 5 & 6 / Moose 1, 2 &7 / Raven 1 & 4- Join Laura CRSTL in Balitmore for all
sorts of events! Job Corps’ & Public Schools’ Career Fairs! Let’s bring your “A” Game!

Congratulations:

Moose 1, 2 & 3 / Raven 5 & 6- for their recent media hits! Excellent Work!

Raven 2 & Moose 1– HAVE COMPLETED ALL 3 OF THE REQUIRED EVENTS! AWESOME!
Special Thanks:

Raven 2 & Raven 7 & Moose 1 for allowing the CRSTL to tag alone on your great event

Raven 7’s Ariel Keeton– FIRST Completed Application of the Round!

Specialty Role Updates

We are putting together out “Where Are Our Teams...” bulletin board and need a team photo from
your team. Make sure it is a fun one that shows the work you are doing at your project.

4 8 8 11
Days Until Days Until Days Until Days Until
Buffalo 2 GTTP CAP Paperwork Media Paperwork Moose 2 GTTP
Get to the Point 5

CAP Zone: Submitting an Application

Step 1:From the applicant home page click on “Search Listings” in the column on the left. This will
take you to the “Advanced Listing Search” page where you will select AmeriCorps NCCC in
the “Program Type” drop down menu and click the big red “Search” button.
Step 2: On the “Search Results” page select AmeriCorps NCCC – example-Fall 2010 listing.
Step 3: Click the “Apply Now” button.
Step 4:Complete the application certification. If you are under 18, please select the PRINT link,
have your parent/guardian sign the form and mail it to:
AmeriCorps NCCC at 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20525

Note: The “Apply Now” button will not appear if you do not have a complete application

AmeriGourmet: The Cooking Corner

Almost Lasagna
1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked (or other similarly
shaped pasta-like small shells)

1 pound Ground turkey (or beef, chicken, sausage or

tofu crumbles)

1 jar Pasta Sauce (26 ounces)

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1 pound Ricotta cheese

2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 cup Veggies (diced zucchini, matchstick carrots, etc.)

salt and pepper

Brown meat/tofu and drain well, if necessary. While meat/tofu is cooking, stir together eggs, ricotta, grated
Parmesan and salt and pepper. Mix cooked meat/tofu, macaroni, sauce and veggies. Add ricotta mixture
and blend well.

Coat a 9-by-13 baking pan with cooking spray or olive oil and spread half of macaroni mixture evenly over
the bottom. Top with a cup of mozzarella and a healthy sprinkle of grated Parmesan. Add the remaining
macaroni mixture and top with another cup of mozzarella and another sprinkle of Parmesan. Cover with foil.

Coat a 9-by-13 baking pan with cooking spray or olive oil and spread half of macaroni mixture evenly over
the bottom. Top with a cup of mozzarella and a healthy sprinkle of grated Parmesan. Add the remaining
macaroni mixture and top with another cup of mozzarella and another sprinkle of Parmesan. Cover with foil.
Heat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake the casserole for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10 to
20 minutes until the cheese on top is lightly browned and bubbly. Serving 6-8
Get to the Point 6

In the Corner with The Hulk: Physical Training

Long Spike (a good game to play with another team or large group of people)
This game is an adaptation of kick ball. You will need a kick ball for this activity
and a way to divide or realize the division of the play area.

One Team (B) will be behind one dividing line in two single file lines
______________________________

X X

X X (Team B)

X X

X X

The other team will be spread out in front of the Team B’s line with the kick ball. Team A will pitch the
ball. Pitching can either be done by one person each time or alternating. Once the game is on things can
get a little chaotic so it’s best to alternate.
________________________________ _______________________________

X X X X X

X X (Team A) X X

X X X X X X (Team B)

X X

Game Play:
A member from Team A will pitch the ball. A member from either line (right or left) of Team B will kick or
spike the ball back to Team A. That individual will either run to the line behind Team A or go to the end of
the line of Team B. In order to get a point ,the member of Team B who returns the ball must run to the line
or barrier behind Team A and back without getting tagged by the ball. You can play to ten or alternatively
you can play without points. To play without points each time a member from B successfully goes to the
barrier behind A and back they will gain a member from A.

The AmeriCount- Countdown

15 16 23 224
Days Until Days Until Days Until Days Until
Return to the Point Spring Break Round 2 Deploy Graduation
Get to the Point 7

Rod’s Ruminations: Facebook

I have way too many Facebook friends. Let’s be honest, you all do too. So, this week-
end I engaged in an annual event I alternately call my “Yearly Facebook Audit” or my
“Great Facebook Purge.”

This whole process is roughly analogous to the way a herd of animals is systematically thinned
to keep the group strong. I feel like, over time, my Facebook “herd” gets bloated and full of people I
never talk to or check in on. So, why am I their friend on Facebook? I’m tired of my news feed is
clogged up with comments and events that I have zero interest in. Do I need to know how my
roommate’s cousin (who I met at a house party one time three years ago) did on her recent Bio final?
No. Do I find the comments about the crazy weather lately left by the weird guy I used to work with at
my high school job amusing or useful? No. Does the recent breakup endured by the cute girl who sat
next to me in my senior year psychology class mean anything to me? Absolutely… that one does! But
yeah, the rest of those people need to be cut. It’s for the good of the herd. So, on a semi-annual basis, I
scroll through my Facebook friends and de-friend the ones I feel like I don’t need to communicate
with in the future.

Also, if a person invites me to a bunch of random events, they might get ousted too. No, I do
not want to attend your goofy roommate’s intramural tee ball championship game. I am halfway
across the country in AmeriCorps…thanks for noticing. You’re cut.

An alternate approach is to just never let it get to this point by screening your friend requests
and contemplating how much interaction you really plan on having with the person in the future. STL
Laura Mack has pioneered a strategy similar to this known as “Facebook Purgatory.” In this process,
when she receives a friend request she will either accept the person or just not respond to the request,
thus leaving the person in no-man’s-land until she makes a decision one way or the other. This plan
allows one to contemplate an applicant’s Facebook friend potential for an extended period of time
without uncomfortably denying them or being forced to accept them in a snap judgment.

Oh, and speaking of Facebook, please feel free to search for

and join the newly created “Rod’s Ruminations” group on
Facebook. This was brought about by a few members of the
illustrious Badger 4 team from last year, who wanted access to this
year’s Ruminations.
Get to the Point 8

Go Ahead, Make My Day...Give me a Shout Out

BUFFALO 1- Thanks for the shout-out Agent Copper! I hope your spike is going great!
Shout out to Rachel, Allen, Caleb and Amelia for the great night at Buffalo Wild Wings! –Megan

BUFFALO 3-Got some throwback gear so when we take on any willing victims in a game of soccer or
ultimate, we are going to look so official, cause we're fancy huh
B3!B3!!B3!B3!B3!B3!.....

BUFFALO 4-C-C-C-Combo breaker.

B4 would like to give a shout-out to our new unit leader. Lead the
charge Sharon!

BUFFALO 5- Oh, the weather outside is frightful (below freezing, sometimes rainy), but the [camp]
fire is so delightful (especially when used for roasting steak and veggies), and since there’s no
place to go (literally, we were in the middle of the woods), let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (it
did snow for a second, but we’d actually prefer that it didn’t snow anymore).

BUFFALO 6-Buffalo 6 had a BLAST helping out Moveable Feast this week at DIVAPA-
LOOZA!! Shout out to all the Buffalo’s at their SPIKE sights.

MOOSE 1-Shoutout to Moose Deuce- Moose 1 loooooved beating you at kickball on our team date- name the time
and place for the re-match!
Shoutout to Moose 6- Grandpa and Momma miss you Josh! Also keep it strong Tommy! –Rebekah and MJ
Shoutout to all Phoenix Team- Shhh.. the fireman is comin’! Remember to P,O,P,C. – from Stephanie and Mike

MOOSE 2-Many thanks to Glen and to everyone else that worked hard to get us a shower!

MOOSE 3-Terrell, keep up the good work on Phoenix 1. Can’t wait to get you back on the team.
Jacob Brewer and Michael Wesley, I Love You – Bethany
Hey Cowboy ;)
Green Team…keep it moving, happy plunging! Halfway there.

MOOSE 4- dear jj,

happy after birthday !
love moose 4
MOOSE 6-Moose 6 would like to send a whole lotta Moose Love to our gone but not forgotten member on Phoenix 1…Rachel Lantz in all
her awesomeness! Tommy eagerly awaits the firetarian’s return because being vegietemporarian is not easy in her absence.
JJ would like to thank everyone for the birthday love sent his way! Additionally, he is worried that he might have left his front door
unlocked and the burner on when he left during transition.
From Moose 6 to Moose 1 (with love)….Josh says, “Yeahhhh Moose 1! ‘Hi Momma!’” (and that was awkward for TL to write). Harley sends a
shout out to Jay, Rebekah, MJ, and the rest of Moose 1! The swaggle moose keeps his beady eyes on the calendar awaiting the reunion of
moose 6 and moose 1. JJ would like for Katie to explain this swaggle moose concept when she has time.
Moose 5 - what is this about a mulch pile bunny funeral that I heard about? Apparently Moose 6 never should have left you alone in Dele-
ware.
Karla sends a shout out to Roxx, Megan, and Evan on moose 3! Woop! Woop! LOL!
(Continued on page 9)
Get to the Point 9

J’s Quote of the week: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. ~ Aristotle
MOOSE 7- Team Work, Makes the Dream Work.

RAVEN 2-Our team has mastered caulking at habitat for humanity

ALDI is awesome and has saved our grocery budget

RAVEN 3-Raven 3 worked with a group of students from Brown University and Middlebury College all week. The
volunteers were excellent workers and many members of Raven 3 bonded with the students. They had a great time
working while simultaneously listening to music and dancing on the job. The re-store workers had the opportunity
to meet a local who claimed to have Jean Latiffe’s treasure map from the battle of New Orleans. The local was ex-
tremely certain that there was gold buried under the re-store and he came well prepared with a metal detector and
all. However, he did not take into consideration the number of metal objects that are stored within a warehouse.
While the treasure was not found that day, he continues his hunt and promises to split the proceeds with New Or-
leans Habitat for Humanity. Raven 3 is extremely excited for Jasmine Thomas to join them later this week. Raven 3
wishes Peter Donovan the best of luck working in DC and would like him to continue with his “Danny Boy” wake up
calls. Raven 3 would also like to let Erin Bruhn know that we miss her a whole bunch and hope that firefighting is
going well, and that they plan to start a fire in the bayou so you get sent down here immediately, if not sooner. All
is well on Painters Street, and everyone is looking forward to the 4 day music festival that awaits us at the end of
the week.

RAVEN4-To all those making pizzas everyday in their green shirts: I’d rather be talking to you all than the chickens. Your ridiculous stories keep me sane.
To the team vagabond: Up up & away has become our team anthem. We can’t wait for your voice to complete the morning chorus.
M2: stay clear of bicycles
R4: You are my butterfly

RAVEN6-This one’s for you Paul…Alabama ArkanPaul, I do love my ma and pa, not the way that I do love
Paul….Oh home let me come home, home is whenever I’m with Paul. Oh home, let me come come, home is when-
ever I’m with Paul. We miss you, come back soon!

Also, a thank you to Jen and Michelle for coming out and volunteering at Raven 6’s community day.

RAVEN7-Raven 7 learns more about one another every day. Gillian enjoys her new nickname Plum Gilly
almost as much as Sophia enjoys her new nickname Sofa. Colin shared a dark memory from his three
years of bad luck…the worst of it being when he tried to get a Dr. Pepper out of a vending machine but
got a Diet Sprite instead. Zac managed to fall into the trunk when trying to sit in the back seat. Nicki
and Dominique are in competition over who can chip away the most linoleum floor tiles. Ariel contin-
ues to hold her own among the boys when it comes to original internal aromas. Rob likes hiding in
bushes and seizing opportunities to scare the pants off Kitty. Carl proved an inspirational performer in
his first iCarl and continues to battle apathy on a daily basis. Julian watches over it all with his multi-
tool in one hand—wait where did he leave that? — and a can of foam in the other, I mean on the other,
oh wait now its on the chair, ya that stuff is never coming off.

PHOENIX 1-Phoenix 1 had a great time burning 69 acres of grassland, plus one acre where we saw our first wildfire. We
had a great time with Habitat for Humanity too!
Get to the Point 10

Buffalo 2- I’m yearnin’ for you! Much love, Angela

Buffalo 7- I’m burning for you! Patrick
Moose 5- I miss you guys a lot. My new team is “alright”. Macy
Moose 6- Laura and Bethany, stay posi! Rachel
Raven 3- I miss you guys you guys a lot, even though you neglect me. PS LeeAnn, you’re still my favorite. and yellow
bug! Erin
Raven 4- please don’t eat the chickens. Jake
Raven 6- Have fun in DC, hope you’re learning relaxing, and playing plenty. Paul

STLS– Melissa and Laura have spent their time, driving shuttles, doing office work and arguing over the fact that they
are not clever enough to write good shout outs...so this week’s shout out is to that affect– Melissa: blah blah unclever
comment Laura: blah blah unclever semi-ditzy comment Melissa: sings some more Bruno Mars Laura: unclever clever-
ness Melissa: I would like to shout out to all Green Team that I miss your FACE! Laura: I miss faces too… I mean green
team! Ps, if you friend me on the book of face I might MIGHT accept...as you know it’s questionable
OH & Also– GREEN TEAM MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA POTLUCK UPON YOUR ARRIVAL!