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"I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble."

This quote from Helen Keller describes why many people get involved in AmeriCorps. Often called the "domestic Peace Corps," the federal program links people who want to serve their communities with groups that deliver and enhance vital services in towns and cities across the U.S. In Oswego County, AmeriCorps members work in libraries, parks, schools and similar agencies that benefit children and families.

Oswego County's AmeriCorps program is administered by the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau, directed by Kathy Fenlon and administered by Kathy Andolina. Over the past nine years the county has received more than $2.5 million in federal grants for AmeriCorps services. 415 individuals have served as members; many of them have returned to serve two terms.

The rewards are two fold: Children are tutored, mentored, and served in summer recreation programs, after-school programs, at parks, libraries and other agencies. AmeriCorps members earn a stipend, gain valuable work experience, and earn an education award that can be used to pay college tuition or student loans.

Here are a few ways that AmeriCorps impacts our community:

Over the past year 38 people tutored 133 students, mentored 242 youth, and supervised out-of-school activities for 3,647 children and teens across Oswego County.

They worked at the Fulton CYO, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, Camp Fire USA's Camp Talooli, Camp Hollis, state parks at Sandy Island Beach and Selkirk Shores, and the Safe Haven Museum in Oswego. They worked at libraries in Constantia, Fulton, Oswego, Phoenix and Pulaski, and in every single school district in Oswego County.

As part of their commitment to AmeriCorps, each member designs and carries out their own "outreach project." AmeriCorps members and volunteers cleaned up a nature trail at Merrill Park in Parish, cutting grass, removing trees, and raking; Hannibal school students collected food for a church food pantry during the school year; and teens in Phoenix volunteered as "book buddies" and read to children at a local day-care center. Others collected pet foods and school supplies, visited adult homes and assisted living facilities, installed playground equipment, and trained folks on using computers. Over the past year, 1,300 volunteers were involved in the outreach projects of 38 AmeriCorps members.

Many AmeriCorps members are young people, full of idealism about how they can impact their community, but there are no age restrictions. AmeriCorps workers are often retired. Applicants need to have a GED and be at least 17 years old. Some sponsoring agencies require additional work or educational experience.

AmeriCorps members work full- or part-time, depending on their interests and the needs of the community agency. There are still a few openings for current positions. They include the APW school district, Fulton CYO, Palermo Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, and Pulaski High schools, and Hillside Children's Center in Oswego. The positions involve tutoring and mentoring youth or working with parent volunteers.

AmeriCorps members bring skills, dedication and personal experience to their service agencies. They learn teamwork, responsibility, and the personal satisfaction of accomplishing positive change in their community.

If you'd like to become involved, call the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau at 349-3451 or visit the Oswego County AmeriCorps Web site at www.oswegocounty.com/youth/Americorps.html