Things that are certain in life

If you live in Oberlin and consider yourself an Oberlin resident (does not always apply to Oberlin College students), there are multiple taxes you must pay.

1.  Federal taxes to the US government   www.irs.gov
2.  State taxes to the Ohio state government   tax.ohio.gov
3.  Regional taxes to the City of Oberlin collected by RITA  www.rita.to
4.  School district taxes to the Oberlin School District, collected by the state   tax.ohio.gov


Numbers 3 and 4 are being a real pain for me today.  Ah, taxes!  How frustrating you can be when you aren't simple.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Volunteer Opportunity

Welcome back to campus, students!  Good luck settling your schedule.  Here is a volunteer opportunity for this weekend:

A training session for interested volunteers will be held on Saturday, February 12 starting at 11:00 a.m. Come to First Church UCC Oberlin located on the northwest corner of Main and Lorain Streets.  Enter the Fellowship Hall of the church through the parking lot behind the building. 

A light lunch will be provided at the training, which lasts less than three hours.  Reservations are not necessary, but would be helpful so that we have enough food and training material on hand.  Please contact either Lori Taylor at taylorlori@oberlin.net or Linda.Slocum@oberlin.edu. You can learn more about the Interfaith Hospitality Network at www.familypromiselorainco.org.  

We hope to see you at the training. First Church’s hosting week starts February 13. Two other Oberlin host congregations, Mt. Zion Baptist and Sacred Heart Catholic, will have families in March.  There will be lots of volunteer opportunities this spring and we'd be happy to have you be part of it!

JUST LAUNCHED Apollo Outreach Initiative

The Apollo Outreach Initiative involves two Cinema Studies faculty members and Oberlin College students working with various age levels in the Oberlin schools to teach kids about making movies.  Check it out:


Greetings!

We proudly announce the launch of The Apollo Outreach Initiative* channel.

Here (http://www.youtube.com/user/ApolloOutreach44074) you can see an overview of our work over the last year and learn more about the larger project.

We thank all those who have and who continue to support us.

Rian Brown and Geoff Pingree

Co-Founders, The Apollo Outreach Initiative

Summer internship opportunity

This summer join the OurEarth.org community and become an intern in OurEarth.org's 2011 Environmental Leadership Program. This is a rare opportunity for you to develop as a leader and learn many of the skills that are necessary if you want to create significant environmental changes in the future. In addition to leadership training, you will work on a number of diverse environmental projects that will help the OurEarth.org organization and website expand, be in a team with students from other colleges, earn course credit, connect with OurEarth.org's large network of environmental professionals, and because OurEarth.org is still a young organization this is an opportunity to join on the ground floor of many up-and-coming initiatives. Lastly, for added flexibility, all work is done remotely so you can work from your home, campus, or anywhere else, yet you will still have very frequent contact with the OurEarth.org management and other interns via conference calls, email, webinars, and other electronic mediums.

      OurEarth.org is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization and grassroots initiative that aims to aid and develop environmental leaders, in part, by transforming the way environmental programs, activities, and information are found on the internet. A more detailed program description, the internship application, and further information about the OurEarth.org organization is available here:http://www.ourearth.org/students/. Finally, the program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. If you want to apply, act quickly since admission is done on a ROLLING BASIS and acceptances will begin to be mailed in February. If you have any questions, please contact John Ullman at (410) 878 - 6485 or jgu@duke.edu, to get additional information.

$52,212 in refunds!

For the Tax Clinic at OCS on January 29th, OBB tax counselors returned 

$52,512 in refunds to Lorain County residents

5 hard-working counselors assisted 20 people. 16 returns were prepared, and only 3 returns owed taxes.  The net profit to Lorain County is $51,292.

Thank you, thank you, thank you:

Beth and Bev for writing and signing off on all the VISTA paperwork

Claudine for giving the program such a brilliant beginning and returning today to serve as a tax counselor

Linda and Kathy for letting Oberlin Community Services be a part of this

Greer and Sam for the OBB technical, factual, and emotional support

Kevin and Megan for making their WT project to hang posters everywhere, research poverty, and educate their fellow citizens about taxes

Rachel for continuing her OBB journey after her private reading

Sheila for calling to volunteer when she saw the press release (and spending 38 minutes on hold to the IRS...)

Mary Anne for sharing her list of PR contacts with me

Two CSWSP openings!

#1
The City of Oberlin is seeking a Volunteer Developer Program Intern. The Volunteer Program Developer assists the City Manager and various department heads in developing a City volunteer program to assist City operations and services, including researching and writing policies and procedures. The Intern may perform other various administrative duties and provides additional support as needed or assigned.
The Intern shall utilize sound judgment, shall be committed to the mission, vision and values of the City and demonstrate ethical conduct, community stewardship, individual initiative and responsive service. The Intern shall demonstrate effective performance through clear, concise communication; collaboration; personal accountability; and responsibility.
Minimum Qualifications: The position may require successful completion of additional pre-employment procedures including but not limited to drug testing and background investigation. An individual who poses a direct threat to himself/herself or others in the workplace will be deemed not qualified for this position.
Distinguishing Features: Working under the immediate supervision of the City Manager's staff, standard assignments are well-defined and initially are reviewed as work proceeds; however, as the Intern’s competence increases, work is done more independently and reviewed upon completion and/or during conferences. Duties may also require the employee to be available for morning and evening meetings. The Intern may be assigned to a department on a project basis.
The work will require the ability to work independently, along with possessing interpersonal skills, initiative and diplomacy.
Rate of pay $8 per hour. NOTE: This position requires the student be enrolled in the FEDERAL WORK STUDY program.
Please contact Darlene Colaso (440-775-7205) at dcolaso@cityofoberlin.com for a complete job description, or you may go to the City website (under the Human Resources tab at www.cityofoberlin.com an download and complete an Employment Application). Position open until filled.

_________________________________________________________________________

#2

Oberlin Early Childhood Center
Oberlin College Work Study Job Description

Job Title: Accreditation Assistant
Responsible to: Executive Director
Hours: Flexible, must be able to work a minimum of 4 hours per week, may be able to work from home
at times.
Hourly Wage: Based on experience

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
Oberlin Early Childhood Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides early care and education to
100 children ages 6 weeks through 5 years of age.

JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for collecting surveys from families, compiling the information, creating a program plan, and
developing a program portfolio.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
OECC has been accredited through the National Association of Early Childhood Programs since 1995.
Since then the accreditation standards and process has been revised. There are three main components to
this position.
1. Collecting surveys from families and teaching staff
2. Compile results of survey and assist in creating a performance improvement plan
3. Develop a system for the center portfolio and begin to collect artifacts to show evidence of the
standard being met

ONGOING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Promotes a positive image by representing the center in a courteous, professional manner
• Adheres to all policies and procedures in the staff handbook and parent handbook
• Keep confidential all information regarding the Center including staff, children and families
• Promotes a team approach within the center
• Works in a family-centered partnership with the families served
• Practices safe work habits and contributes to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
•
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher (or other publishing programs)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Great organizational skills
• Dependable and punctual
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• Display sincere and enthusiastic interest in working with all children and families
• Act in a professional manner and maintain confidentiality of families

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills.
It is subject to review and change in accordance with the needs of
Oberlin Early Childhood Center.
January 18, 2011

Please contact: Jennifer Harris, Ph.D. - jharris@oberlinearlychildhood.org

Make my day

I just had an unexpected call from an OBB tax counselor from last year who saw my press release in the paper....and she just wanted to see if I needed any help at my tax clinics.  How AMAZING is that?  In my experienced tax counselors don't just fall from the sky (esecially in a college town where many tax counselors eventually graduate from college and move away), but this is about as close as you can come.  Amazing bit of luck!