Core Goal 5: Promote Professional Development

OSM/VISTAs and their communities should both benefit from a year of service. OSM/VISTAs attend trainings, present at professional conferences and take on challenging projects. This can transform ACCT OSM/VISTAs into professionals and long-term assets for their sponsors.

Miranda Shoemaker reflects on her time as an OSM/VISTA

OSM/VISTA Miranda Shoemaker works with volunteers to monitor water quality for the Armstrong County Conservation District

“I’ve had a fantastic experience as an Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team OSM/VISTA with the Armstrong Conservation District in western PA. It is really a great program to enter after college. It allowed me to take the theory that I had studied in college and connect it to real world situations/work. It was a real eye-opener to how much I did not know and what wasn’t covered in a college course! It forced me to change my way of thinking about environmental work. I learned the real way of doing things and how the “system” works. All of my life I have grown up in Appalachia and I thought, as most of us have thought at one time or another, that I wanted to move away. After this experience and really being involved with the community, I have a much better opinion of where I am from. I have pride in my community and I truly identify with the community and know I belong here!”
-Miranda Shoemaker, Armstrong Conservation District, Quarter 3, 2010

Debby Ludwig forms new partnership while studying at the Tree Academy

OSM/VISTA Debby Ludwig works with the Leetonia Shade Tree Commission

 

OSM/VISTA Debby Ludwig with Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation (OH) acquired useful skills while attending the Ohio Division of Forestry Tree Commission Academy training. She is now helping develop an urban forestry Master Plan for the Village of Leetonia. While attending the Academy, Ludwig was asked to participate in the Middleton Township community revitalization meetings. “Over the course of our meetings we realized that it would be good to develop some sense of community spirit and pride,” said Ludwig. “I look forward to working with this group on the first Middleton Township Community Festival this summer.”