News from around the Northwest:

From the snowy mountains of Montana...

Susan tells us of her journey to visit the JVs so far this January.

From Montana to Yakima...

Jess sends an update to the office during her fall area visit to central Washington.

And occasionally we even get to hear from Alaska Area Director, Danielle, as she visits JVs out in the "Last Frontier."

Mandalas scattered across the table at orientation, Summer 2011.

Nearly half way through our year as Jesuit Volunteers, we have most likely fallen into our own patterns, habits, and lifestyles by now.  Day to day, we rise, work, spend time in community, make lentils, rice or beans, do zumba (if that’s your thing) and repeat the next day.  As I’ve aclimated to this schedule and become caught up in the details of each day, it’s easy to forget that I am a member of a program much bigger than myself, and much bigger than my immediate JVC Northwest community.

But one day last week, I walked into our humble, atypical-JVC Northwest, suburban house in Hillsboro, OR and paid notice to the mandala staring right at me as I opened our front door.  It has been there all year quietly representing our unique imaginations and interpretations but this time I noticed it, I really got thinking.

We hardly knew each other when we fit our creative, outer-space themed puzzle pieces together (lower right corner of photo).  Now I can see beyond the space craft, planets, northern lights, and stars, and can see all of us as individuals with unique gifts, pieced together to make this complete circle.  I then begin thinking about all of the other mandalas representing individual personalities and gifts hanging in the many communities all over the Pacific Northwest and am overwhelmed with humility.  We are many… and yet together, we are whole.  My day to day work this past week has taken on a bit of a new meaning as I keep in mind the larger community of Jesuit Volunteers I am so honored to be a part of.  All of you out there, even you JVs in little towns in Montana and Alaska– thanks for all of your dedicated work, unique personalities, and for expanding our mandala into one, huge and humbling circle.

But the longer answer is that we have this blog, jvcnorthwest.wordpress.com, to share all the great information about what’s going on with the organization: reflections from staff, updates on events and the organization, and shared tidbits from JVs and FJVs about their year of service.

Our other blog, jvcnorthwestamericorps.wordpress.com, focuses specifically on the incredible stories that current JV AmeriCorps members share from their placements and about their time of volunteer services. Be sure to check out both to stay up to date with all the happenings!

16 December, 2011

Hi Bonnie!

We received the donations from Seattle Prep today, and wow! They donated over 2,000 items to Urban Rest Stop and Wintonia – awesome!

This all started back at the Supervisor Meeting from your Area Visit, when Sarah and Ronni (supervisors for the Wintonia and Urban Rest Stop) met and took your idea of JVs working together to a new level.  They wanted us to create a sock drive together.  When we called FJV Brian Mack at Seattle Prep, he immediately got us involved in their annual Winter Holiday Drive, sponsoring both of our organizations.  The coolest part about this, of course, is that Brian was a JV in the Seattle Mercy House community back in his day as well, plus went to my alma mater of Santa Clara University!

Caitlin [Lanigan, current Seattle JV] and I were so excited to be part of the drive, and even got a chance to speak in front of the entire student body about our organizations and tell the story of how much the donations were needed.  It was so cool to be able to share the story of our clients to the larger community!

The drive ran for 3 weeks, and we just picked everything up today, and let me tell you, it is going to be an AMAZING Christmas thanks to these folks!  We were overjoyed to see the amount of socks, personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies and blankets that we will be able to give out to our clients.

I just wanted to share this story with the JVC Northwest office, so go ahead and spread it around! Attached is a picture of Caitlin and me at the Urban Rest Stop, sorting through our socks!

Yippee!!!!!

Love,

Kandace

Kandace and Caitlin sorting socks from the Holiday Drive.

You may or may not have experienced being “ruined for life,” but I imagine that you are in some way connected to this idea if you are reading this entry–perhaps you are a Former JV or are friends with one.  Likely, you know how much of an impact this service experience can make and how it can change lives, forever.  Why not invite others to consider beginning their own journey of transformation as a Jesuit Volunteer?!

As we look forward to welcoming the next group of committed Jesuit Volunteers to the Pacific Northwest, we rely on the support and assistance of so many in our extended community to help spread the word about this wonderful program. A personal invitation is the most effective way to encourage someone who may be considering a year of service into actually choosing a program and applying. Your direct, personal invitation can make all the difference.  If you know someone who would make a great JV, please reach out today and invite them to learn more about JVC Northwest!

The following are a few ways you can help:

- Brag about the great work of current or former JVs you know.  The personal stories of service are so inspiring!

-Make an announcement at mass, a student group, meeting or class

- Write a letter to students at your alma mater telling them about your service experience as a Jesuit Volunteer.

- Share our web site www.jvcnorthwest.org or encourage individuals to call 503.335.8202 to learn more!

The priority deadline for JV applications for the 2012-13 service year is March 1, so this is a perfect time to take action.

Thank you for all that you have done and will do to invite others to learn more about JVC Northwest! If you have ideas or questions please contact Leah Nusse, Recruitment & Marketing Manager at lnusse@jvcnorthwest.org or 503.335.8202.

January

• Jan 8th, FJVs gather in Seattle to cheer the Seattle University men’s basketball team to victory against Cal State Northridge at Key Arena.

February

• JVs attend their winter retreat to reflect on the value of social justice.

2010-2011 Anchorage JVs at the Shrine of St. Therese in Juneau, Alaska

March

• March 1, JVC Northwest received a record number of applicants for the 2011-2012 JV year!

April

• Throughout the spring application process, twenty-seven 2010-2011 JVs commit to a second year of service with JVC Northwest.

May

• JVC Northwest received a grant for $156,000 over three years to support the launch of the Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps program from 2011-2014.
• May 14, over 175 FJVs and supporters gather in Campion Ballroom at Seattle University to attend the 6th annual Seattle dinner.
  

  Campion Ballroom at Seattle University filled with FJVs and friends of JVC Northwest for a dinner celebrating 55 years!

June

• JVC Northwest named in the “100 Best Green Companies to Work for in Oregon” by Oregon Business.
• JVs gather for their final retreat of the year to reflect on all they have learned with Ignatian Spirituality practices.

July

• Tacoma, Wash. celebrates 40 years of JVs and hosts an event at St. Leo’s Parish!
• July 31, the 2010-2011 JVs conclude their year of service at their placement sites across five states.
  

  Portland Farewell BBQ with JVs and Staff

August

• Aug 8, 141 incoming JVs arrive at Camp Adams in Molalla, OR to begin their transformational year of service!

Welcoming the 2011-2012 JVs at Camp Adams

•  Aug 17th, JVs begin their first day of service at their placements.

September

• Sept 14th, FJVs and friends of JVC Northwest gather in Washington D.C. to learn about and support the on-going work of JVs in the Northwest.
• JVC Northwest staff members participate in the Bike Commute Challenge in Portland, OR, competing with other local companies and organizations to see who can log the most miles in the month of September.
• Area Directors embark on their first area visits to see how the JVs are starting off their year.

October

• Oct 22nd, Fr. Jack Morris, founder of JVC Northwest, celebrates his 84th birthday.
• JVC Northwest named one of “The 100 Best Nonprofits” in Oregon Business.

November

• Nov 21st, the Seattle FJV Advisory Committee had their first meeting to discuss connecting FJVs and upcoming FJV events in the area!

December

• Dec 7th, FJVs, Board and Staff Members, and friends of JVC Northwest gather in Portland, OR for the annual Advent Gathering.

Father Byrne with Executive Director, Jeanne Haster, at the 2011 Advent Gathering

• Dec 12-16, JVC Northwest staff members participate in “Challenge Week,” selecting something to give up or incorporate into their day.

What an incredible year of service, transformation, and blessings! Thank you to all who have helped make 2011 an amazing year for JVC Northwest!

The JVC Northwest office shines bright on North Williams Avenue during a rare sun break in December.

First in the office door is Melissa, Business Assistant extraordanaire, who always cheerfully answers the phone while juggling numerous other tasks.

In the midst of working with files, Clarissa, AmeriCorps Administrator, shows us some of the latest fashions: a reusable AmeriCorps logo bag and fabulous Davy Crockett hat.

Sarah, Administrative Assistant for AmeriCorps, shares her enthusiasm for AmeriCorps timesheets.

EnCorps Coordinator & Development Officer, Tom, negotiates with the copier. Sometimes, he wins. Other times, it wins.

Even JVC Northwest staff has to clean out the refrigerator sometimes! We have to set a good example for JVs, after all!

Whatever gets cleaned out of the kitchen goes to the compost!

And eventually ends up in the JVC Northwest Community Garden next to the office, where staff and community members tend to their garden plots in summer.

Back inside, we find the conference room where the magic happens every Wednesday as we gather for staff meeting...

and where we usually eat lunch together each day.

On the wall of the conference room, we keep the JV placements and names posted on a map of the five states where Northwest JVs serve.

In her office, Martha, Administrative Assistant, displays the many ways in which spirituality is expressed at JVC Northwest. Today, Martha highlights St. Homobonus, the patron saint of business people.

On the Program side of the office, Area Director, Susan, breaks free from her cubicle to spend some time at the work table.

Like any good Area Director, Anthony is ready to recruit agencies or offer resources to JVs at a moment's notice (and likes to make the occasional fashion statement, as well).

But no one in the office can compete with Area Director Megan's fashion statements. She refers to this one as, "AARP meets hipster."

Area Director, Bonnie, is slightly caught off guard when I surprise her during a phone check-in with a JV.

After a busy time on the road recruiting, Emily returns to the office (with her suitcase always nearby) to plan her spring travels and upcoming recruitment stops.

With a full cup of coffee always on hand, Area Director Jess speaks with agencies throughout the busy agency selection process.

And at the end of a busy day at the office, staff members head to the bike shed to hop on their bikes and head home!

Thanks for stopping by!

Our inaugural Jesuit Volunteer Encorps program year is largely in place, and is set to begin on January 7.  These past few weeks we have been speaking with individuals who have applied to the program, and to others who are just curious at this stage, perhaps checking things out for Fall 2012.  Each interview or visit this month, in person or over the phone, takes on special meaning in light of the Advent season.   There’s the general sense of waiting and expectancy, of course, (we’ve been “announcing” Encorps’ debut for more than six months now!).  But more specifically, I’m moved by parallels with the Feast of the Visitation.  Luke’s gospel tells this story of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visiting her cousin Elizabeth (pregnant at the same time with John the Baptist).  At the moment Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child “leaps for joy” in her womb.  Deep within her, she senses great and holy things to come.

As I listen to the stories of our Encorps applicants’ lives, hearing their hunger to grow in faith and generosity in community with others, there is a similar stirring.  Their varied journeys of fifty or sixty or more years have brought them to JVC Northwest!  Perhaps they’ll stay a long time in our Encorps community, perhaps they’ll move on soon, or discover this isn’t where they’ve been called at all.  But they are holy visitors nonetheless, carrying promises of justice, compassion and healing for the world.

[. . . ] the Mighty One has done great things for [us],

and holy is God’s name.

Here in the office, one way we like to keep the season sacred is by holding a Challenge Week.  Members of the staff choose different actions or activities to incorporate in their life during one week in December.  This year it will be December 12 – 16.  Here’s what we’re up to. What about you?

• Anthony will be hosting a viewing of “What Would Jesus Buy” and hand crafting gifts.
• Jeanne will be doing good deeds for neighbors every day like raking an older woman’s yard, baking goodies, etc.
• Sarah is giving up her Hulu habit for the week.
• Leah is making time for prayer and reflection on the meaning of the season.
• Danielle is also making time for reflection and buying local for Christmas.
• Tom will also be watching “WWJB” and writing an article to possibly publish!
• Bonnie will be turning off her personal phone for the week.
• Julia will be taking time for journaling and daily exercise to combat the average holiday reveler gaining a solid pound at each major holiday meal.
• Susan will be eating rice and beans for all meals, all week and writing each day about the experience.
• Jess will be praying with “The Unsheltered Heart: an at-home Advent Retreat” by Ron Raab from the Downtown Chapel and forgoing her coffee trips to Ristretto Roasters.

As one JV said last year, “I’ve never done anything hard that I later regretted doing.” With that, we encourage you to participate in Challenge Week either by joining with the staff or finding a challenge of your own.