Wrapping Up Your VISTA Year

Workshop Objectives

• Group problem solving and idea sharing• Identify priorities• Work on strategies for a successful transition • Share Green Book best practices• VISTA recruitment

Find your group

1. My project will be continuing after one year

2. My project will be continuing after 2, 3 or 4 years

3. My project is wrapping up after three or four years

4. I’m going to do a second year!!

Discussion question:

What is your top concern about the upcoming transition?

What are your top three accomplishments this year?

1. Identify three aspects of your work that you would like to live on.

VISTA =Relationship Building

Host site staff

Community Partners

Volunteers

Program participants

Literacy Council Staff

Future VISTA

2. Identify key individuals/groups with a stake in your project.

What do stakeholders need?

3. Identify needs of key stakeholders.

Communication

• Information• Simplicity• Clarity

Continuity

• Transfer of relationships

• Awareness of transition plan

• Clarity of roles

Acknowledgement

• Reflection• Recognition• Appreciation• Celebration• Closure

Strategies • Plan ahead!

• Get others involved

• Communicate with your supervisor

• Empower others to take leadership

• Leave a helpful green book

• Collaboration & Communication

Collaboration

Who do you identify as key individuals who will help to keep the priorities identified alive?

How do you foster greater collaboration between different groups to ensure these priorities don’t hinge on your participation?

Communication

How and when will you start to communicate about the transition to different stakeholders?

What information will they need?

Green Books

• How many of you felt you had the information you needed to ease your transition into the position last fall?

Discussion questions

What information that was particularly helpful to you when you started your VISTA position?

What information would have been helpful to have?

What will be different next year?

What has been particularly challenging for you when thinking about completing a Green Book?

Large group sharing

Transition strategy tips

Green Book wisdom

Stellar Green Book examples