Serene Ambition : Weblog

Featured Blog Posts

Conversations on the Web

Serve America Act: Request for Public Input

Monday May 18 2009

Now that the Serve America Act has been passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, the Corporation for National and Community Service is looking for public input on how to attract people of all ages to serve, promote more service programs focused on [Read More]

Written by eldering at News

Tagged with: public_input serve_america_act

Youthful Idealism and Boomer Resignation: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Wednesday Apr 22 2009

By Jim Selman | Bio

There was a wonderful article in USA Today by our new First Lady extolling the importance of ‘youthful idealism’ in these uncertain times. I couldn’t agree with her more and am happy to see her taking on this kind of generational motivation as part of her platform on behalf of the new Administration. Her call brings to mind JFK’s challenge to our generation: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. This appeal to our higher selves and the innate desire to contribute is[Read More]

Written by eldering at The Great Turning

Tagged with: eldering first_lady idealism responsibility serve_america_act

Serve America

Wednesday Mar 25 2009

What made America strong in the past (citizens actively helping their neighbours) could possibly make America strong again. There is a bill moving through the Congress, the Hatch-Kennedy Serve America Act, that is bringing Republicans and Democrats together. The Act puts a whole new perspective on national and community service: government would provide infrastructure support to community groups recruiting and training volunteers. This has the potential to impact a vast number of local organizations that respond to community needs and individuals who are looking for new careers.

Sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the measure would provide $5 billion over five years to be distributed to people of all ages who volunteer in the areas of health care, energy, education and the environment in the form of minimal living expenses and an educational stipend.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing March 10th on the Serve America Act, and supporters hope to pass it before Congress recesses in April. A Senate committee signed off on it last Wednesday, and it could come up for a full Senate vote next week.

[Read More]

Written by eldering at News

Tagged with: community_service serve_america_act