Sending Memo Dec 7 2011

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Contents

In the News

  • Join the Pre-app-a-thon!!! Many students have recently expressed interest in becoming AFSers. For the next month, we are turning up the focus and resources to contact as many students as possible. Can you join the pre-app-a-thon and help reach out to students to encourage them to apply for a 2012 Summer or Fall Program? Learn more here.
  • No More Data-entry! Have you ever done a school presentation or Info Night and then spent time entering leads into a spreadsheet? Well, no more! We now have a simple process for you to mail us your leads and we will do the data entry for you!
  • Learn about NSLI Interviews This month's Sending Volunteer topic centers on the best practices for the upcoming NSLI Interviews. There is still time to sign-up!

Inspiring AFS Stories

Tips and Tricks

  • Sending Interview Packet: Here is a handy-dandy resource which outlines the steps for successful sending interviews. Refer to this for any remaining Spring 2012 program interviews.
  • Integrating Returnees Here is a flyer to share with volunteers and Returnees for ways to encourage their involvement with AFS.

Upcoming Trainings and the Monthly Volunteer Call

  1. Sending 101: Tuesday January 3rd, 2011 4:00-5:00 PST
  2. Sending 201: Tuesday December 13th, 2011 4:00-5:00 PST
  3. Representing AFS in High Schools: Thursday February 2nd, 2011 4:30-5:30 PST
  4. Mentoring Students Through The Application Process: Monday December 12th, 2011 4:00-5:00 PST

2012 Spring Programs

  • As you know, the final SH12 public application deadline passed on Nov 29th. However, if we have an applicant who is really motivated to study this spring, there are still programs (Ghana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Thailand) that might consider them. Those programs have been listed as "Contact Us" on the Compare Programs pages of the website. You can also check the Sending Matrix for the Original/Extended Program Close Date to know when the app transfer deadline is.
  • However, before we ask a stu to rush to complete the app, we should do an assessment of their viability as a candidate for this cycle. IMPORTANT: The questions below are not meant to disqualify the students, but they will give us a good idea of how long the app process will take and whether they can get it done in time to be considered for SH12. If the answers to these questions are not favorable, we'll advise the stu to apply for NH12 instead. Note that certain medical conditions will require the student to submit detailed information from more than one physician or medical professional and this additional screening may make it more difficult to complete the application before the deadline.

Please have the applicant answer the following questions:

  • Do you know the tuition for your preferred program? Remember that tuition does not include costs associated with domestic travel, visa application, and spending money while abroad so the total program cost will be greater.
  • Are you able to pay your $900 non-refundable deposit within the next few days? Are you able to pay the FULL tuition within the next month?
  • Are you flexible with your program choice?
  • Do you take any medications, either prescription or over-the-counter?
  • Have you been hospitalized in the past 2 years?
  • Have you ever been evaluated for a nervous, emotional, behavioral, or eating disorder? Have you ever visited a counselor or therapist for anxiety or depression? Do you have ADD, ADHD, or dyslexia?
  • Is your cumulative GPA (over the past 3 years) 2.8 or higher?
  • Do you have any allergies to pets that prevent you from living with them?
  • Are there any foods you cannot eat due to allergy or religion?
  • Do you require access to a religious services while abroad?
  • Do you currently have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your anticipated return? If you do not have a valid passport are you willing to pay the fees associated with expediting one?

Again, these questions are not meant to disqualify any candidates; if they meet the program eligibility requirements we want them to start their application right away. But these questions will provide a reality check to the stu and help us advise them whether it's better to apply for an SH12 program or to delay their participation until NH12.

Financial Assistance

Financial Aid: We are currently reviewing SH2012 Global Leaders Financial Aid applications. Award decisions are on a rolling basis, and it's always in a student’s interest to apply as early as possible. We will begin reviewing NH12 Global Leaders Financial Aid applications in mid-January.

Upcoming Merit Scholarships: In the next two weeks we will begin rolling out our merit scholarships for NH2012 programs. You will see the return of the Vaya a America Latina Scholarship, as well as a two other exciting opportunities! All the necessary details will be posed hereby Friday December 9th.

Group Programs for Educators and their Students:

Panama June 2012 Volunteers who know of students that might be interested in joining these groups, should contact Adele Byrne at AByrne@afs.org to see if the group leaders have space for any additional students. The Group Program to Panama is a 2 week program in which the group leader facilitates recruitment and preparation of the students. The program fee for students is $2365. Pre-Apps are expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2011; full applications are due by March 1, 2012.

The following schools and/or Teams are launching service groups to Panama in June 2012, and some of the groups have room for a few more students:

  • YES Prep Brays Oak Campus, Houston, TX: Sarah Straub, Group Leader/ Closed
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Indiana: Mercedes Muniz-Peredo, Group Leader/ Space Available for students from One World Team
  • Grand Blanc HS, Michigan: Susan Stockton, Group Leader/ Closed
  • Pilgram HS, Warwick, Rhode Island: Heidi Bennett, Group Leader/ Space Available for students from Mass Bay Team
  • Cleveland Team: Suzy Hyde, Group Leader/ Space available for students from Cleveland and NE Ohio Team's
  • Howard County Group, MD: Randy Young, Group Leader (to be confirmed this weekend)/ Space available for students from Baltimore Team and Capital Team's

China and Hungary 2013 Applications from potential group leaders will now be accepted for 2013 Spring Break to China Program, and for 2013 Summer Band Program to Hungary and Community Service Program to Panama on this link.

For questions about the Group Programs, please contact Jenny Davis at JDavis@afs.org

Orientations and Travel

  • Winter 2012 Travel for Sending Participants

Please find updated travel information for participants departing and returning during the SH12 cycle now available on the Wiki page- Private: Sending Travel

SH12 participants have begun receiving Travel Notifications with their international travel information and orientation information. They are asked to complete the Domestic Travel Reply Form (found within this notification letter) with their domestic travel plans, and return it back to the Travel Department at afs.sending.travel@afs.org, as soon as possible. Departures begin January 11, 2012 and continue through the end of March.

  • Pre-departure Orientation (PDO)

There is now an option to update student attendance at PDO's. Here are instructions for creating a PDO activity, assigning students, and updating their attendance. Be sure to create your winter departure PDO activity as soon as possible in Global Link.

Returning Students

Participants returning during from YPSH11 and SMNH11 programs should have received Return Travel Notifications. They are asked to complete the Return Domestic Travel Reply Form (found within this notification letter) with their domestic travel plans, and return it back to the Travel Department at afs.sending.travel@afs.org as soon as possible. Returns begin December 12, 2011 and proceed through February 25, 2012.

Resources

  • Questions and Comments about this Sending Update? Write to sendingteam@afs.org
  • Unsubscribe If you prefer to not receive the Sending Memo via email, please email sendingteam@afs.org, with 'Unsubscribe, Sending Memo' in the subject line.
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