The Final Stretch

Is this Laura's blog now? I do think it's pretty funny that the last page of updates is all Motivational Mondays only broken up by free Ice Cream day. With my supervisor out for the week and things a little slow at LINC, I guess I'll take on the heavy burden of making a non-Laura blog post.

Writing out this last quarterly report, it's started to hit me that we're in the last quarter for the July class. The last part of my VAD is only a couple sentences about sustainability; I imagine it staring back at me saying in a confused voice "Uhhhhh... sustainability or something, we'll figure this out later". Over the next few weeks, I'm hoping to become involved in writing out the project plan for our next VISTA and taking what I've learned to benefit them. I think there's a lot of value for future Beehive VISTAs, but the focus needs include more non-Beehive projects that can get you out to the community.

Back to my service, though, I'm trying not to become too complacent. My two biggest outcomes are already out for all to see: Beehive traffic has crushed any and all expectations while the Tax Van's time in K.C was a big success. There's still a few months left, though, so I don't want to become the lame duck VISTA leaving all the big projects to the next person.

Anyway, thought I'd just throw down the accomplishments section on my most recent quarterly report, because I'm always curious what everyone is doing.

· 8115 visitors to the Kansas City Beehive.

· Successfully e-filed over 140 returns using MyFreeTaxes.

· Helped Tax Van project by working on the ground, contacting site coordinators, and answering questions.

· Achieved Advanced level Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) certification.

· Led two tax workshops in the community, at Crestview Elementary and Georgian Court Apartments

· Facilitated a well-attended focus group in the community about technology use and useful Beehive content.

· Published relevant local content to the Kansas City Beehive

o Medicaid in Missouri

o Quality Healthcare Together (website with local patients' doctor ratings)

o City of Independence Health Fair

o Tax Filing Instructional Videos

o Avoiding Foreclosure Scams

o Finding Rental Housing

· Updated and expanded local content on:

o Kansas GED information

o Free Immunization for kids in K.C

o Food Stamps in Kansas

o Applying for Missouri Unemployment

· Created a tax van video to communicate the cause, shown at LINC commission meeting

· Uploaded hundreds of photos to the LINC website and recorded narration

· Shot and edited video for Pitcher and Fairmount Elementary Schools

· Attended the Missouri Homeownership and Preservation Conference

· Provided audio/visual assistance at LINC site coordinator meeting

· Designed and printed flyers for community events with LINC communications staff

-Tommy D in KC