Multi disabled was homeless 8+ years no accessible affordable transitional shelters and fighting the broken systems and the failure of most funded advocates too! I DO WHAT I CAN.

PLEASE SIGN THIS SAW IT SUNDAY- FAXED proposed amendments to WDC ON MONDAY
http://homelessness.change.org/actions/view/accessible_housing_for_all

while THE BATTLE AGAINST VOC REhAB AGENCY DENIALS AnD CAP/ILC FAILURES GOES ON…. :>(
please help begin repair.

In the last decade or so, the concept of what an American is has changed radically overseas. From the Peace Corps days of JFK when millions of people throughout the third world were touched by our idealism, we have become this era’s Nazi.

At home, America still has a great crop of ex-PCVs, older, slower, more mature, but still filled with Shriver’s spirit. Many are reaching retirement and many would welcome an opportunity to serve mankind. They have skills and knowledge that many American NGO could use to great advantage.

What a contribution they could make were there an organization that could effectively match their talents with NGOs who could use them in a second career.

I have alot of ideas how to help America. I would love to have the opportunity to revolutionize the nursing home industry by putting the elderly, especially those who do not have families who are supportive or no family, children who no one wants to adopt and abandoned animals together in a rural type setting where everyone could help each other and have it staffed by carefully screened people who genuinely love all this population.

I think it would be so wonderful for the animals to have such loving care, the children to have the animals and be loved by the elderly and the staff. The elderly would benefit so much from feeling loved and needed. I think all three would thrive in this atmosphere. It has been a dream of mine for many years.

I am presently on Social Security. I would love the opportunity to serve my country and supplement my meager Social Security income. I am a trained Artist. I am an avid equestrian and gardener. I am a natural leader and proficient and articulate writer. If we who have retired can help America to be a better place for everyone. If we can help solve problems like illiteracy, mental illness, or other health areas we would be an invaluable asset.

Count me in, President!

Bless you for all that you do!

Sincerely,

Julie A. Woods

Earon S. Davis, J.D., M.P.H.
www.divineprimates.com

Dear President and Congress:

Service does not come easy to most people. We tend to always ask what’s in it for me? and too often what is claimed as selfless service ends up selfish service. Serve America has the potential to change that, to re-create a community value that acknowledges that we can benefit our communities and ourselves by service work – and not selling cheap plastic crap or new financial instuments, weight-loss miracle cures or get-rich quick schemes.

We need government to help heal our greedy culture by giving service work a higher priority and greater respect. In an extreme “free market economy” nobody takes care of the community or our planet. Human aspirations and health become “free goods” to be exploited rather than precious resources to be nurtured and conserved.

We do need freedom to create enterprises, and increase our standards of living and those of our children’s because that is human nature. But we seem to need some help in re-balancing our priorities from the economy and spirit of greed and acquisition to economy and spirit of compassion and assistance. Service America is a crucial step in returning America to the values that only seem to receive lip service of late.

Best wishes,

Earon S. Davis
Evanston, IL

Dear President Obama, ( oh dear, I do mean ‘dear’:-))

to be able to retire into continued community service (but now one could get paid, rather than volunteer another 20 years…) will be total blessing and financial relief for those of us that had never enough income to save and invest, but rather raised our children and made their lives as ‘easy’ as possible….

Thank you so very much for supporting the ENCORE!

Sincerely, indeed,
Ingrid Mueller
Venice, CA 90291

I know how important receiving help can be that is why I am supporting this bill, Serve America should be passed. Bring balance to our communities and provide the services so many people require to get ahead.

Thank you.

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT BILL THAT I HOPE THAT GETS PASSED. IT IS SO AMAZING THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LATER YEARS CAN FIND A PASSION OF A JOB THAT SUITS THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Dear Congress and President Obama:

The Serve America Act would open doors for people of all generations to help remake America with their unique skills, talent and commitment. I am excited about having more options – throughout my life – that make it easier for me to pitch in and make our communities a better place.

The needs are huge, but so is the talent that could be put to work to turn our country around. Please support the Serve America Act!

Thank you for your leadership.

It seems to me that the Serve America Act is more about government service than volunteer community service. When you thrust this government (remember what they have done to our money) into the middle of volunteer service, you are begging government regulators to determine for you and your children which services are “right” for you to be involved in and which are “wrong.” The government’s track record of honesty and integrity in matters involving how we live our lives and how we choose to use our time is, to put it mildly, abysmal. How can any one of us expect that bureaucrats are better able to regulate volunteerism in America and than they have been at regulating our miserable financial markets? They created our mess through Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. Now they want to throw debt (which our children and grandchildren will have to pay for) at volunteerism.

It’s a bad idea.

For most of us, a second career or work option is not a choice or luxury. We need to work for the income, to sustain ourselves and our families. It has come to that. But it is also true that most of us need something to do, something that has purpose, makes us want to participate in this world, gives us hope, keeps us going. The Encore legislation, through compensated service work opportunities recognizes both of those realities. It affords a new start, or to continue doing something we love in new ways and others benefit as well. Talk about “win- wins”! I never could imagine myself “retired”, I can imagine being recycled, repurposed! I fully embrace Encore service opportunities.

There are many of us who are looking forward to using our skills and strength to help others – please sign this bill so that we can move forward together and ensure that our community, not just the corporate world, has the benefit of what we have learned.

This is an important act allowing many Americans to contribute to the social fabric of our nation and to have meaningful work to do. Please support this legislation and the necessary funding.

Many great skills and talents are available from older Americans. Provide the conduits to channel this energy and the country will be stronger and richer.

President Obama and Members of Congress,
There is a reservoir of Human Capital wanting to play a meaningful role in our nations recovery. Make it happen.
Thank you,

Dear President Obama,
I was just retired early from my company after 24 years as part of a restructure. I am not ready, nor am I able to afford to stop working at age 56. As a “boomer” I was part of a generation who wanted to “change the world” and in some ways we did. But mostly we got caught up in climbing the ladder of success.

Now in our mid-lives we are being “retired early”, “bought out”, “right-sized” etc etc. by Corporate America. We are re-evaluating our lives, our values, our contributions to the common good. Your leadership is helping to galvanize us around service and action that can “change the world” or at least our little part of it. Thank you for that.

I hope you will sign the Serve America Act and help generate employment opportunities for boomers like me to start our “Encore Careers” in serving the common good. Give us work that provides MEANING as well as MEANS.

God Bless you Mr. President.

Yours truly,
Bruce A Calvert, Westminster, MD

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb….That’s where the fruit is ;-)

Dear President Obama,

Thank you for including ALL Americans in setting our country straight once again. We have years of experience and we care. We want to share that experience in our communities. We need to bring back the united family, clean up our neighborhoods and keep them safe, restructure ALL our schools (not just in the rich areas) for a safe, clean and productive environment. As a senior citizen I have much I can still do, with lots of experience to back me up. And, although I’ve volunteered thousands of hours through the years, (and still am volunteering), since my planned retirement funds have been depleted, I must find a way to earn some income. Makes sense to have some of those trillians of dollars go to people who have paid their taxes for many years, served this country and our communities in many capacities. Please help us to help keep going, doing the work we love. Thank you.

Jane Steinberg
What a perfect win-win situation! The nation needs the work we can do, and we need to do the work! I am collecting Social Security can afford to work for much less than I needed while supporting and educating my children, but I need to work. I’m beyond the age of looking for a second or even a third career, but I still have energy and talents that this country can use, if only to teach a child to read. There are millions of us. Use us!

This is exactly what’s needed for those of us who would have retired but having lost so much of our retirement money this last year we now have to work but if we cannot return to the professional positions (with that kind of salary level) then we want and I want to put my time and skills into making a difference and knowing I will leave a better world for my grandchildren. This is the time to put passion to work for a purpose that brings meaning to my life!

I’m ready, where do I sign up?

Please put our accumulated years of experience, expertise and integrity to work where it’s needed in our communities.

Carol Calder Povey

Dear President Obama – thank you for doing such a great job so far. Your presidency has rekindled my spirit of activism and desire to be of service. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV Nicaragua/Ecuador 1973-76), I welcome the Serve America Act. Please support and sign it. As I am now figuring out how to move forward after my mid-life career (and with my daughter raised and on her own), I was not sure how to proceed. This act could give me the opportunity to use my life skills and knowledge to continue my early service, and in my own country.

With my most sincere wishes for peace and the blessings of working together,
Sharon Elliott

Dear President Obama and members of Congress,

Please pass the Serve America Act. We want to help. Give us something worthwhile to do and millions of us will respond! We need something to sink our teeth into, something that will make us feel that we are helping in whatever small way to turn this country in a positive direction.

Give us a path to follow. Connect those of us who want to help with people who need us. We are teachers, computer programmers, accountants, attorneys, doctors, nurses, etc. who have years of experience and lots of skills and are not ready for the nursing home or the golf course. We want to move out of our cubicles into new careers that do some good and give something back. Please do all you can to harness this newly retiring generation before we are all too old! This is a natural resource that could do so much good for our country and the world.

Catherine Masi

Dear President Obama:

I support your determined efforts to move this nation forward to solvency, security, full employment, reformed health care, educational excellence, vibrant cities, and responsible stewardship of our resources and energy. In addition to the commitment that will be required of federal, state, and local officials to achieve these objectives, I offer to you the willingness and capability of myself and others of my boomer generation to be a viable force in getting the job done.

Many of us are involuntarily unemployed, under-employed, or retired but fearful of needing to get back into the workplace to restore the funds lost to the Recession. We are skilled, educated, and experienced and want to continue to make a contribution toward the revitalization of America. The Serve America Act will help us accomplish that goal. Mr. President, I urge you and Congress to pass this bill. Thank you and all that you do!

Peace and blessings to you, your family, and the nation.

Margaret Beecham
Hatfield, PA 19440

Dear President Obama:
The great challenges of our times must be addressed through increased service – by all citizens but particularly by those of us who have amassed experience, patience and vision from decades of work and rearing families.

The creation of national policy to encourage service and open the path to linking those who wish to serve with the opportunities to do so will yield obvious benefits. We are needed and we want to participate. This bill will be a start.

Marsha Kabakov
Next Chapter Puget Sound
Seattle, WA
www.nextchapterps.ning.com

I urge you to support the Serve America Act to encourage more people to be in service to others.

Sincerely,
J. Levin

Waste is a terrible thing. With the immense talent and experience elders can bring to your message of hope, we are HERE, ready, willing, open and able. Let us serve!

Mr. President –

This bill is an important step towards activating the largest workforce in the history of this great nation.

Along with myself, there are hundreds of thousands of other senior ready to give freely their time, talents and experience in service to our communities.

As a member of an organization for seniors called SHiFTOnline.org, I can say without hesitation that the numbers of volunteers here in Minneapolis/St. Paul alone are huge.

May God Bless you and the United States of America!

Socrates was an elder tutor; all great civilizations revere the wisdom of the elders. A new American century needs to include wisdom & experience in our vision.
Please vote for this initiative. Thank you.

I urge everyone to support this legislation. This is a gem of an idea in an already sparkling administration. I am one of many intelligent, educated, hardworking, mature individuals that long for a chance to put our experience and abilities to work for America. Please reserve a place for me in the opportunity line.

Prez,

This is a wonderful opportunity to use the exeperience of these taliented Americans. To keep contributing and helping, to be useful, it would be a shame to let this go.

In these and all times, it is a golden chance to keep the gold from our own human reserves working to help others.

Dear President Obama,

First let me say that I think you are doing a great job! You seem to have the right priorities in sight. Like you I believe that Work is the most important thing to a person. If we could get everyone working in this world they would not have time to start (or fight in) wars or hang out in gangs.

For many people, what they do is who they are. So it follows that if they do not work they are nothing. Work gives people a feeling of worth and purpose, whether it is for profit or not for profit. Yet there are those who have worked all they want to (or can) and are ready to enjoy the fruits of their labors. They should be allowed to spend their Golden years in comfort and not have to worry about their life saving going up in smoke, Social Security going Bankrupt or Medical Expenses taking all their income.

I believe that my (over 50) generation has a lot to offer in terms of values, work ethics and experience. Those of us who want to continue to work, train others and contribute to our work force need opportunities. Too many of us are prejudiced against because of our age. I hope you will sign the Serve America Act to help us find these opportunities to continue our working lives.

Sincerely,
William Manners

President Obama, Please sign and support the Serve America Act. There are many people in our country who would be willing to serve in a position to help others, and they need to serve. There are many epople who need to be served. Please, please sign this Act. Sincerely, Joyce Raby

Dear President Obama,

As an unemployed baby boomer from Riverside, Illinois I urge you to be prepared to sign the “Serve America Act” which I hope will provide opportunities for experienced and capable out of work 60-somethings to contribute to getting our country out of this financial crisis and back to work on projects which will benefit both the nation and individual. We are ready to get on with the next phases of our careers and only need the leadership from Washington to put us back to work.

Thank you. May God continue to bless you, your family and your team.

Mike Conrad
275 Bartram Rd
Riverside, IL 60546

President Obama, what a brilliant idea — to tap all of our passion and desire for service. I want Congress to pass this! Hey, I want a year’s fellowship!

Dr. Frederic Wiedemann
Longmont, CO

Dear President Obama,
Please support and sign the Serve America Act!
While there is no substitute for our individual sense of responsibility and compassion, government can indeed foster the conditions under which individuals and communities can collaborate to ease America’s most pressing needs. I feel that this act is very much aligned with the goals and ethic of your presidency, and that it’s a “good thing” for America. Won’t it be wonderful when America is once again known around the world for its spirit of service and consideration for the well-being of others!

Sincerely,

Ainslie B Kincross PhD AIA LEED AP
Boulder, CO

I have worked as a professional nurse for over 40 years. I continue to serve in the health care profession and do not intend to quit any time soon. Expanding the possibilities for all of us in Encore careers is important especially given the fiscal position we find our country in.
Loretta A. Carlson-Warren
Consultants in Holistic Health & Healing
Denver, Colorado

Dear President Obama:

I encourage you to sign this piece of Legislation for those of us baby boomers welcoming an opportunity to continue being productive in our ‘mature’ years.

There is a tremendous need for this and an overwhelming amount of talent searching for a way to continue being productive with the additional bonus of life-long personal standards including accountability, knowledge, wisdom, and the maturity these standards bring forth.

Regards,

Carol A. Kuwata
Human Resource Manager

Joe Wasylyk Seniorpreneur

Thank you President Obama for visiting Canada on your very first trip outside the USA after becoming President. I know that you have a very good working knowledge in Canadian affairs and as they relate to the USA. Recently Fox TV had a segment on their commentary show that made Fun of the Canadian Army in how they are participating in the Afganistan War.

Anyways, I believe that it is now time not only to remake America but to extend a friendly hand to Canada, because our people also need to transform education, reduce poverty, improve health care and protect the environment.

Encore careers and entrepreneurial projects can create compassion, sharing and caring results for BOTH countries despite the present hardline policies regarding International borders. I can see a future where Canada and the USA become trusting partners participating in joint-venture projects for the benefit of society as a whole.

In the meantime, it is very important to create a new paradigm for both learning and doing in order that both countries can have the opportunity to develop better citizens in this World.

Thanks for listening.

Joe Wasylyk
Seniorpreneur

Dear President Obama,
Given your many public pronouncements about the need for all of us to pick ourselves up and help, I doubt that I need to encourage you to sign this act. But, just in case…please do sign it.
I’m fortunate in that I have a lot of education and retired early. Now you have made me feel guilty about leaving my many skills unused, and with the additional prod of an unrealistic financial planner, I am jumping back into the game by starting three businesses with my husband. The one most in line with your exhortations is doing strategic planning for non-profits. Next, we’ll be building websites for small busnesses and clients who have been leery of getting their business a website. And last, a demo retail site celebrating all the fun we’ve had since we retired seeing America in our RV.
We have met some of the finest and most real Americans in U.S. campgrounds, and many of them feel like we do – time to give more back to the country. This program will provide a path for many of them that isn’t clear to them right now.
Don’t let the Republicans, old school Democrats and the medis get you down. I’ve managed a lot of change in my life, and both passive and aggressive resistance will fade as we help you to make a difference. Passing the Serve America Act will help may of us outhere who want to see you succeed and want to see America back on track after so many years of clouded judgement, spanning many administrations, but not yours!

Unemployment. Poverty. Family stress. Ailing mental and physical health. Businesses folding. Not-for-profits are provided services to fewer people. And the future, well, it has always been uncertain, but many are cynical. These are all indicators of a severe crisis. Americans, as well as our friends abroad, are hurt. Some are angry. No domain is left untouched—there is stress at home, crises at work, and distrust in the community.

The Serve America Act may not be the single silver bullet—nearly everyone will agree that one does not exist—but it is certainly loaded with hope.

Evidence is mounting that volunteerism (with and without stipends) and meaningful employment lead to critical benefits for individuals, families, employers and communities at large—reduced mortality, increased physical function, increased levels of self-rated health, muscular strength, reduced depressive sympotomatology, reduced pain, life satisfaction, better reading and math skills for children who were tutored, employers retain institutional knowledge, intergenerational transfer of knowledge in the classrooms and workplace, increase in social activities and social networks, etc. This Act has the potential to significantly impact our ailing economy and uplift the hopes of individuals.

We’ve heard a lot about hope. Now is the time to sign critical instruments, such as the Serve America Act, that actually does it.

With great sincerity,

Ernest Gonzales

After 20 years working as a media specialist in the health education field, my job was eliminated. I have found it difficult to find a job that would use my skills and experience. I am 57 years old and my two sons are in college so it is not affordable for me to go back to college. I would welcome the opportunity to serve our country in areas of great need and hopefully find my way to a new career.

I cannot emphasize how strongly and passionately I feel about implementing the “Serve America Act”. We need to instill in our young people a sense of pride and patriotism that has somehow fallen by the wayside. I would be eager to endorse a program of mandatory national service of all young people after the age of 18. This would make it mandatory that ALL qualifed teenagers be required to serve their country in some capacity for 2 years – a program that will require a high scool diploma and if they do not have one – they will get a diploma under this program. They will serve as mentors, tutors or wherever the program finds a niche that they could be of service. One of the great efforts of WWII was the GIBill – which made it possible for millions of young Americans to get a college education. We have too many “dummies” walking the streets and just “hanging out” which is another way of saying “getting into trouble”. I do not know this as fact, but I wonder where America stands in the world as to IQ? I doubt if we are in the top 10%. We have to return to our roots of innovation, originality of thought and pride in our country. The lackadaisacal attitude of too many young people – from throwing empty McDonald cups on the ground and whatever other trash they may have – shows a lack of respect for their community and for themselves.

I have worked in education all my life. It is my dream to shift to the non-profit sector where I can use the multitude of skills I have acquired to help more first generation kids get to college. However, without some kind of fellowship that will allow me to make the transition, that will simply remain a dream for me and many others who wish to be of further and greater service.

Dear President Obama,

Please support the Serve America Act. As a young social worker, I’ve seen first-hand the many social issues that plague our country – and the many opportunities that exist if we would just tap into the underutilized talent of our people, many of whom would like to enter into their own encore careers (or first careers for social impact) if they were just given a chance. This bill can be a truly effective investment in America’s future.

-Cal Halvorsen

I’m almost 60 and underemployed but i have pitched in to help bring about localization and sustainability in my community http://ecolocity.ning.com. A fellowship or some form of assistance would certainly go a long way to keep this work going. Even if i don’t benefit directly from this bill, it will help others like me to continue to be engaged in community building.

Dear President Obama,

By signing the Serve America Act, you would enable many more Americans to pick
up the slack and work to reduce poverty, do much needed social work and bridge many gaps.

Thank you and God bless you and your family,

Anita Morton

This will give boomers an opportunity to move beyond mundane, “work to pay the bills” type jobs and do something meaningful.

President Obama: Please sign this legislation to assist seniors in both sharing our experience, expertise and wisdom with young people and in building community across the generations.

Thank you.

Kathleen Clark
www.servantlawyership.com