Join the Preserve WV AmeriCorps Team!

​ Updated 09/28/2023 - New Paid (One-Year) National Service Opportunities Available! The next cohort will start on Monday, October 16, 2023. Send your resume and cover letter to info@pawv.org to apply.  Scroll down to see the full list of opportunities (in alphabetical order).

Preserve WV AmeriCorps is the statewide national service initiative where AmeriCorps members help main streets thrive, cultivate cultural heritage tourism, and preserve beloved West Virginia history. Preserve WV AmeriCorps members serve directly with rural grassroots organizations and public agencies charged with preserving West Virginia history. Members’ service is site-dependent but generally involves historic preservation, communications, educational outreach, and volunteer management. 
Mary F. Shipper Library - Potomac State College
Archives AmeriCorps
Supervisor: Nicholas Gardner
1  Half-time (11 ½ months) Opportunity
The Mary F. Shipper Library at Potomac State College has served students, faculty, staff, and community members in providing access to current, trustworthy information. The Library is also the campus and community repository for historical information. The Library’s special collections include the rich 120-year history of the campus plus the history of Mineral County and the surrounding areas.  The Archives AmeriCorps member will assist with archiving the materials in the special collections and getting materials into the ArchivesSpace discovery system and on-going community history captures projects. Specifically, the member will:

  • Assist with processing materials, if not already processed, create metadata, and accession materials in ArchivesSpace;
  • Assist the library director in on-going community history capture projects, including communication with local genealogical and historical organizations;
  • Help serve the repository needs of local historians in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Mineral County’s seat; 
  • Assist with digitization of area yearbooks;
  • Identify items of interest to highlight on social media related to the collection on a weekly basis;
    Assist in tour activities; and
    Provide patron services.
This is a 20-25 hours/week opportunity. The AmeriCorps member will serve primarily from the library’s special collection room on its ground floor.
World Scouting Museum
​Museum AmeriCorps
Supervisor: Alex Bennett
1 Full-time (11 ½ Months) Opportunity
After operating for about 20 years in Las Vegas, Nevada, the World Scouting Museum recently relocated to 1615 Washington Street East, Charleston, West Virginia. The mission of the World Scouting Museum is to show the magnitude and the influence Scouting has had on individuals, families, communities, countries and the world; communicate the continuing significance of Scouting’s historical values and principles to present and future generations; and promote World Peace by acknowledging and demonstrating the similarities of youth in every country and culture. The World Scouting Museum strives to help teach about the values of Scouting, its effect on the world, the Messengers of Peace program, and to help inspire and offer opportunity for service projects for Scouts to achieve the Gold Award and Eagle Rank. 
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will serve on-site at the museum approximately 35-40 hours per week during regular operating hours and special events that may occur in the evenings and on weekends. The member will help the museum reorganize following its relocation and assist with patron services. Daily tasks will involve: 
  • Accessioning items in the museum collection;
  • ​Providing guided tours of the museum to guests;
  • Assisting with digital archival records; and
  • ​Moving materials to reorganize the museum and organize the collection that is in storage (must be able lift 50 pounds).
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
  • Attend a start of service virtual orientation and virtual meetings with the Preserve WV AmeriCorps team. Preserve WV may have some group in-person training and service opportunities that will be optional for the 2023-2024 term.
  • Attend Volunteer West Virginia's conference in Charleston, WV, October 26-27, 2023, and any other programming required by Volunteer West Virginia.
  • ​Organize one Civic Service Projects and participate in a second civic service project as defined below. 
    • ​One of the mandatory civic service projects will be to participate in a hands-on group project in which AmeriCorps members will do a hands-on historic preservation project (examples of projects range from inventorying a museum to repointing brick on a building). Overnight travel may be required for this project depending on the project locations. 
  • Complete bimonthly and quarterly reports.
  • Provide your own transportation for any mandatory, AmeriCorps-related travel, which will be reimbursed. 
AMERICORPS REQUIREMENTS
  • In order to qualify as an AmeriCorps member, candidates must 
    • Be a US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident alien.
    • Be at least 18 years old at the start of service.
    • Have had some college education or significant life experience.
    • Have not previously served more than 3 AmeriCorps State and National terms.
  • All members must commit to serving for 6 to 12 months.
  • Members will serve either full-time (1700 hours) or half-time (900 hours).
Accepted members must consent to and undergo FBI, state of service, and state of residence criminal background checks, as well as a national sex offender registry check. Preserve WV AmeriCorps does not allow anyone to serve who has a murder or sexual assault conviction or who is registered on a sex offender registry. 
SKILLS SUGGESTED FOR THIS PROGRAM
  • Demonstrable historical research abilities; 
  • Good written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking; 
  • Good organizational skills, required to work on multiple tasks for event coordination and volunteer management purposes; 
  • Comfortable working with different types of people; 
  • Responsible and able to be self-directed and take the initiative; 
  • Experience with historical resources, public history, or historic preservation (or ability to prove you can learn); 
  • Some leadership experience;
  • Computer experience: online research, email, Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Google Drive, and social media; 
  • Graphic design skills (Canva, Publisher, etc.) not necessary but appreciated. 
  • Must be willing and able to travel statewide for various trainings and for service at some sites. ​
AMERICORPS MEMBER BENEFITS
  1. STIPEND: Full-time members (1700 hours, approximately 40 hours a week) will receive a $20,000 annual stipend, and Half-time members (900 hours, approximately 20 hours a week) will receive a $10,000 annual stipend, paid in 23 equal installments on the 15th and 30th of each month.  Workers compensation insurance will be provided. Group health insurance is available for full-time members who do not have health insurance or do not qualify for Medicaid. A childcare subsidy is available for qualified full-time members. Unemployment coverage is not included. 
  2.  EDUCATION AWARD: AmeriCorps members will receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon the successful completion of their term of service, valued at $6,895 for full-time members and $3,447.50 for half-time members.  Members with uncompleted service terms or uncompleted hours, or who have not submitted all required program materials, will not receive an educational award. The educational award can be used for tuition at most colleges, technical, and vocational schools, or for the repayment of qualified, federal student loans. Members 55 or older may choose to transfer their award to a child, stepchild, or grandchild. AmeriCorps members are only allowed to receive educational awards for the equivalent of 2 full-time service terms.
  3. AUTOMATIC STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT & INTEREST PAID: Members’ qualified student loans can be deferred during AmeriCorps service, with the accumulated loan interest paid by AmeriCorps at the end of the deferred period.
  4. WV AMERICORPS TUITION & FEE WAIVER:  AmeriCorps members will receive a waiver for one semester’s tuition and fees after successfully completing a service term (or multiple terms combined) of at least 600 hours of service.  AmeriCorps members are eligible for up to 8 semesters of tuition waivers for undergraduate or graduate programs at public colleges and universities in West Virginia. This means that after you have accepted every other form of financial aid available to you (not including loans and work study), the WV AmeriCorps Tuition Waiver can be applied to cover your remaining balance of tuition and fees. You are not required to accept offers of student loans or work study assistance before applying the tuition waiver.
APPLICATION STEPS

Step 1: Submit an application on My AmeriCorps - Create a profile on the official My AmeriCorps website:  https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do 

​Once a profile is completed, view Preserve WV’s program listing, by simply searching “Preserve WV” in the Program Name Field of the Quick Search Box found on the AmeriCorps Search page: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do 
Apply using the “Apply Now!” button found on the Preserve WV program listing. 
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Step 2: Send in a Cover Letter - Submit a written cover letter to Danielle Parker, executive director at dlapresta@pawv.org.  The letter should directly reference the description of the position the applicant is applying to and speak to how the applicant's interests, experience, and career goals are a good match for that particular service opportunity. Position descriptions for all available service opportunities can be found below. If interested, applicants may use the cover letter to apply for more than one position. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to send a formal CV or resume to accompany their cover letter. 
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION?

If an applicant looks like a good fit for the Preserve WV program, program staff will reach out via email to set up a “get to know you” phone interview. After this initial phone interview, program staff will then pass along all application materials to the site supervisors of the individual service opportunities the applicant expressed interest in. 

If a supervisor believes an applicant is a good candidate for their site, the supervisor will reach out to set up an additional interview (either by phone, Skype, or in person). In order to be selected to serve at a site, you will need to be approved both by the program staff and the site supervisor.  

Following your interviews, completion of all application paperwork, and the checking of your references (from the MyAmeriCorps application form), program staff will make offers to selected candidates on a rolling basis. The program may be able to hold your offer open for a limited time if you are considering multiple options; please let program staff know if you have time constraints. Service opportunities will be filled on an ongoing basis throughout the summer (and, if necessary, the fall) until none remain open.    
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If you are accepted into the program, program staff will then let you know other steps required for enrollment (such as background checks and paperwork) and can (if necessary) provide helpful information for relocating.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY NOTICE
Participation in the Preserve WV AmeriCorps (or any other CNCS) program is based on merit and equal opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community, or social affiliations. You have a right to reasonable accommodation for disabilities. Programs must furnish reasonable accommodations for the known physical and mental limitations of qualified AmeriCorps members.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you may report such violations to the directors of your program of whom must establish and maintain a procedure for filing and adjudicating certain grievances. You may also file discrimination-related grievances with the Equal Opportunity Counselor of AmeriCorps at (202) 606-5000, ext. 312 (voice), or 1 (800) 942-2677.
Organizational Partners:
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