8-4-2011

Dear FGP Project Directors and Staff,

At the 2011 National Volunteer Conference in New Orleans, Dr. Tan, Senior Corp Director, strongly suggested Senior Corps directors find a way to help Foster Grandparent volunteers "tell their stories".  The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors (NAFGPD) members decided nearly simultaneously to do a survey of Foster Grandparent volunteers nationwide to demonstrate the significant need for the stipend in todays economic environment. (Where the stipend was once given to offset the costs of volunteering, we are now hearing more and more of how it has become essential to helping seniors maintain their financial independence - not to be confused with being an independent individual.)

In today's critical budget climate, it is more important than ever to gather valuable feedback from our stipended volunteers.  This survey is an opportunity for all projects and individuals to have a voice in the process and to have their voices combined in one unified message.

Please note that information gathered in this survey is considered educational and will be used to assist with the continued education of our legislators during the upcoming appropriations discussion.  Survey results will also be shared with all project directors in the hopes that they will be used as an educational tool for your community partners and local stake-holders as well.

Survey Information:
It is suggested that projects distribute and administer the attached survey to all stipended volunteers at an upcoming in-service meeting.  You may wish to discuss this letter with volunteers prior to giving the survey in order to provide your grandparents with a greater understanding of the value and importance of completing this.  If grandparents are not present, please make every attempt to get their feedback as well.

After all surveys are returned to you, please compile the data and complete the enclosed Survey Collection Sheet to be returned by September 30, 2011.

Please mail or fax the Survey Collection Sheet to:
Denise Nelsen, NAFGPD
1510 14th Street
Rock Valley, IA  51247
Fax:  712-451-6889

NOTE:  DO NOT RETURN THE SURVEYS but please keep them on file.

If you have any questions, please contact: Kristen Tracy at ktracy@mtnstatesgroup.org or Denise Nelsen at dnelsen@rvrseniorvolunteerprograms.org or 712-476-2628.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in completing this information and returning in a timely manner.  NAFGPDs goal is to aggregate all of the data and return the results to you by October 31, 2011.

Thank you.
Your NAFGPD Survey Committee
Kristen Tracy, Eileen Bostwick, Carol Childers, Barb Horneck, and Denise Nelsen

Click here for a copy of the Volunteer Survey.

Click here for a copy of the NAFGPD Survey Collection Form.

Click here for the NAFGPD Stipend Survey Packet - including cover letter, survey and collection tool.

Dear FGP Volunteers,                                                    

You are cordially invited to join your fellow Foster Grandparent volunteers as a supporter of the National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors (NAFGPD).  By providing an annual donation of $1you will help National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors meet our goals.  Please click on link below for membership application.

http://www.nafgpd.org/files/FG_volunteer_NAFGPD[1].doc

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Gaudia Ray Sarna, owner and founder of Good Deed, presents HUGE check to NAFGPD at the annual meeting in New Orleans. Mr. Sarna is a partner to NAFGPD please view the Good Deed website.

http://gooddeed.org/ 

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NAFGPD Art Contest First Place:

Hattie McMillian and Finlay Kirkwood

NAFGPD Art Contest Second Place:

Julia Byerly

NAFGPD Art Contest Third Place: 

Justin Outlaw

Honorable Mention