Commissioners authorize letters to President and congressional delegation in support of AmeriCorps

Barnstable County Commissioners on April 23 authorized the county administrator to draft and send letters of support for AmeriCorps to the President of the United States and the Massachusetts congressional delegation.

The motion directed the administrator to prepare and send letters that emphasize AmeriCorps’ local contributions — including environmental restoration, community resilience and youth development — and to add any additional recipients the administrator determines appropriate.

During discussion commissioners and staff highlighted examples of local AmeriCorps service: environmental habitat restoration, disaster response assistance and the program’s role in introducing young people to public service and leadership skills. One commissioner said the county’s AmeriCorps volunteers have been "instrumental here on Cape Cod in solving real problems in our communities." Another emphasized that many federal and local officials are AmeriCorps alumni and urged the board to make a forceful case for the program’s continuance and funding.

Motion and vote record

- Motion: Authorize the county administrator to draft and send letters of support for AmeriCorps to the President and the Massachusetts congressional delegation (and other recipients as appropriate). - Mover/Second: Mover and seconder not specified in the audio record. - Vote: Passed by voice vote (recorded as "Aye"). Outcome: approved.

The board asked the administrator to include specific Cape Cod examples of AmeriCorps work in the letters and to send the letters promptly.