Welcome

Dear Friends of Service,

Montana has a long tradition of neighbor helping neighbor and it is this ethic of service and giving back to others that builds strong, vibrant communities. Through the Montana Commission on Community Service and the supporting Office of Community Service, national and community service programs are thriving across our state.

Since its inception in 1993, the Montana Commission on Community Service has grown to a highly recognized entity. Through the administering of the AmeriCorps State national service program and other community partnerships, the agency seeks to expand service opportunities for all Montanans.

Between 2005 and 2007, 284,000 volunteers dedicated 35.3 million hours of service per year across Montana. The estimated economic contribution of these volunteer hours to our state is $689 million annually. As a result of these efforts and the work of thousands of dedicated volunteers, our state’s U.S. ranking in volunteer rate has steadily increased from #13 in 2006 and #7 in 2007, to its current national ranking of #5 in 2008.

On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed into law The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, authorizing a dramatic funding increase for AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs. This legislation also establishes a goal of expanding from 75,000 government-supported volunteers to 250,000. With this financial support and a national call to service, there are tremendous opportunities for all Americans to do their part to address unmet needs and help their country.

I believe that the most important thing anyone can do is lend a helping hand. In the coming year and beyond, we will continue to empower individuals to answer the call to service. It is this commitment to service that makes Montana such a great place to live.

Thank you to all who give your time to serve your neighbors and communities.

Sincerely,

Governor Brian Schweitzer