As a VISTA I’ve received endless opportunities including going to The National Conference on Volunteering and Service as a NCVS e-Reporter for VISTABuzz. I am far too excited about this for words, I get to be in the same room as so many of my heroes, making this service nerd’s dream come true. So in honor of my departure for the National Conference on Volunteering in Service I have come up with a list of 5 Reasons Why Being a VISTA at NCVS rocks!
1. VISTA MeetUps
This gets the number one slot on my list because it is the one thing I am most excited about! I love meeting AmeriCorps members and hearing their stories it was one of the many reasons I started #americorpsmonday.
Now at NCVS I get to meet them face-to-face. We are having MeetUps EVERYDAY and I will be at EVERY SINGLE ONE enthusiastically waving at everyone who comes in/passes by. The excitement kicks off with our first MeetUp on Sunday, June 27 at 11:00am in the Hilton Hotel Lobby so make sure to come down. We also have a MeetUp on Monday at 11:00am in the Hilton Lobby as well as on Tuesday and Wednesday at 11:00am in the VISTA Coffeehouse. I can’t wait to see you all there!
2. VISTA Video Reporters
Did you know that in honor of their 45th Anniversary VISTA has chosen video volunteer reporters to capture stories of VISTA serving all over the United States? Did you know I am very excited to be one of them? Watch my video about serving in Michigan at the VISTA Coffeehouse on Tuesday and Wednesday.
3. NCVS e-Reporter
NCVS is going to rock because I’ll be there. Not only that but I will be giving you the latest news, opinions, and reflections from a VISTA point of view as a NCVS e-Reporter. If your attending NCVS listen and share, if not feel the magic at the conference and join me virtually at:
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/vistabuzz
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/vistarobyn
4. FourSquare
You’ll have to forgive me, I just got a Smartphone two weeks ago and so I am pretty new at FourSquare but it is pretty cool, right? Well VISTA is having a competition for you FourSquare users: Be the first to check in at 
the VISTA Coffeehouse Photo Gallery Opening and Reception, the first to check in a the Measuring Poverty session, or become the mayor of the VISTA Coffeehouse by the last day of the conference and you will win a prize, and they will be awesome prizes, trust me.
- 5. TweetChat
For those of you who are not attending NCVS you can still get the conference experience on Twitter. Follow me and other VISTAs with the hashtag #VISTANCVS and join us for the TweetChat at 4pm on Monday, June 28. We’ll answer any question you have and you can tell us what you want us to report back on!
I leave tomorrow and I cannot wait! It will be four days of being completely surrounded by service ROCKSTARS making this nerd one very happy person!
Remember to join me on Twitter and on Facebook to take part in the NCVS awesomeness!
…and now cause mob! I hope you’ll get the Vista’s to “REPRESENT!”
Of course the cause mob! I am so excited! I’ll make sure to spread the word!
I’m so jealous of you! How did you get connected with the VISTA Video Reporter gig? Is that something that any VISTA can do? I would love to tell some stories about what’s going on in the Chicagoland area; there’s so much going on.
Keep doing good,
Mike
Mike,
I had to apply to become a VISTA Volunteer Reporter but I’m sure they would love to get some of your stories about VISTAs in Chicago. Send me an email at stegmanre@gmail.com and I’ll forward you the information to get involved.