Assemblymember Cahill Builds Community with UlsterCorps

Volunteer network seeded by state grant secured by Assemblymember Cahill

July 15, 2010

Left to right, UlsterCorps President Rik Flynn, Co-Director Nancy Pompeo, Assemblymember Cahill, UlsterCorps Board Member Laraine Mai, Co-Director Beth McLendon at their July 13th meeting in Assemblymember Cahill's district office in Kingston.

Kingston – Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D- Ulster, Dutchess) met on July 13 with directors of UlsterCorps to hear about the far-reaching impact the group has made. UlsterCorps, founded in 2009 with a local initiative grant secured by Assemblymember Cahill, is a county-wide resource dedicated to fostering a culture of collaborative volunteerism.

“During its first year of operation, UlsterCorps has worked successfully to gain the trust and appreciation of hundreds of volunteers and organizations throughout the county,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “In addition to the many groups they have assisted, their strength lies in an ability to congregate long-standing residents with new additions to our area. If you want to become a part of a community, volunteerism is a great way to do it.”

UlsterCorps assists in identifying and bringing together prospective collaborators, recruiting needed volunteers, and disseminating project information. In 2009, UlsterCorps engaged over 25 agencies and helped to launch over 35 events. Through its use of information technologies, UlsterCorps can quickly reach out to its 2,000-member list and provide services in a cost-effective and expedient manner.

“One of UlsterCorps’ goals is to help agencies and groups assess how they approach volunteerism,” said Board Member Laraine Mai. “Smaller entities may not have a volunteer coordinator or network in place to provide extra help when needed. UlsterCorps exists to provide a no-cost network of short and long-term assistance, as well as help train these same groups to build a sustainable volunteer network of their own.”

UlsterCorps’ recent success stories include providing volunteers to build mini-homes for Haitian hurricane victims, gleaning and delivering fresh produce to food pantries directly from area farms, and creating the “Harvesting a Lifetime” living oral history project with local schools.

UlsterCorps was represented at the meeting by President Rik Flynn, Co-Directors Nancy Pompeo and Beth McClendon, and Board Member Laraine Mai. Assemblymember Cahill and the group discussed the state of volunteerism in Ulster County and identified ways to help UlsterCorps remain viable and healthy by constantly refreshing their ranks with new members.

For more information, please visit UlsterCorps.org, an interactive forum where readers can find news about volunteer actions around the county, explore a calendar of events, post specific needs and share information about their volunteer experiences.

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