VISTA supervisors are more than the average boss.

The following is a list of useful tips and web links generated by Matt Crichton, VISTA leader of the CTC VISTA Project and Karen Zgoda, a former VISTA now working with CTCNet.

Direct Supervision Duties

1. Talk to your VISTA often and share your needs, expectations, and how to best utilize him or her. Recognize that supervision involves communication and training.
2. Supervisors are responsible for the overall direction and support of VISTAs. VISTAs are eager to learn new skills. What are your expectations for the VISTA? How will the community benefit from his or her service? Do not take for granted that the VISTA understands the big picture.
3. Have a full and working knowledge of the VISTA proposal, its goals and objectives, and the VISTA work plan.
4. Hold regular meetings with your VISTA. This should be quality time (no interruptions) in order to problem-solve as a team.
5. Regarding problems, look at the situation and ask if the VISTA has been receiving the proper instructions, supervision, training, etc. to get the job done. Talk to your VISTA. Ask the VISTA if there is anything you can do to assist.

Special duties to consider in regard to VISTAs

1. Provide each VISTA with a copy of his or her work plan, expectations and objectives, and Member Assignment Description.
2. Provide quality on-the-job orientation, including an agency profile, immediately following the VISTA's Pre-Service Orientation (PSO).
3. VISTAs must be trained to perform all necessary duties as listed in the work plan if they do not already possess those abilities and skills.
4. Introduce VISTAs to the community through the use of media, letters, or personal introductions to local officials.
5. Immediately report to the Boston office any change in status of the VISTA, i.e.- early terminations, arrests, AWOL, hospitalization. If you have a problem or concern about a VISTA's performance, contact the project leaders immediately. We can help you resolve problems. However, we cannot do so unless we are aware of the problem.
6. Ensure that VISTA volunteers serve the project on a full time basis, that they do not work or receive compensation for another full or part-time job, and that they do not receive supplemental allowances from the affiliate.
7. If rent and living expenses are an issue, be sure you know agency options for legally subsidizing your VISTA's housing.
8. VISTAs require a continuous supervisor. Contingency plans are advised in the event of supervisor role interruption. Contact Liz or Peter if the VISTA's direct supervisor plans to leave or is otherwise replaced.
9. You must attend and participate in Supervisor's Training when requested.
10. Supervisors should arrange for travel and hotel arrangements for VISTA attendance at the CTCNet national conference in June.
11. Supervisors should be prepared to assist VISTAs with career planning.
12. Progress reports and additional documentation as required by the project should be filled out as requested - generally in April and October. Deadlines are FIRM.
13. End of service forms must be received by Liz 2 MONTHS prior to the VISTA's last day of service.
14. Promote interaction, reflection, and closure at the end of the VISTA's year of service. Formally acknowledge this event with a graduation ceremony or special event.

Additional Responsibilities of CTC VISTAs

1. Meetings (for Boston-based VISTAs)
2. Producing reports as requested
3. Planning and participation in annual CTCNet conference
4. Membership and participation in CTC Vista Project email lists

Problems with your VISTA Member?

1. If after trying generally recommended approaches, you are still having problems, talk to us. Call Peter or Liz to discuss the issues. We are available to help you resolve the problem.
2. You cannot terminate your VISTA without talking to the VISTA Project Staff. You cannot fire a VISTA. If things seem irresolvable, we can decide together if a transfer (to another program), temporary administrative leave, dismissal, or some other option is the best solution to the problem.

Types of Service for AmeriCorps *VISTA Members

Helpful when creating/revising Part Bs

CTC VISTA Project Supervisor Resources

1. There is an email list specifically for VISTA supervisors: vista@ctcnet.org
Send an email to Peter Miller (peterm@igc.org) if you are interested in this.

2. We provide individualized assistance to supervisors in developing program workplans, application forms, and completing reports and are available for individual assistance to any CTC Project supervisor on any aspect of their program's involvement.

3. We are planning to develop post-PSO individualized teleconference sessions with supervisors and VISTAs together to go over all the expectations. We have started to hold quasi-regular in-person meetings for eastern Massachusetts area supervisors and are exploring periodic teleconferences for supervisors outside the area.
4. We are encouraging and making special efforts for CTC VISTA supervisors to attend AmeriCorps-sponsored supervisor and leadership programs such as the NSLI.
5. We want to extend UMass/Boston Community Media and Technology program offerings and resources to supervisors in the same way we have begun to provide these to VISTAs.

Helpful Supervision Web Links

AmeriCorps Member Development Plan
AmeriCorps Member development plan, stated outcomes, and activity plan.

AmeriCorps Resources for Supervisors
Recruitment material, manuals, handbooks, forms

AmeriCorps *VISTA Member Manual

AmeriCorps *VISTA Supervisor Page
Roles and responsibilities, glossary of terms, AC web-based recruitment system, housing info

Becoming a Better Supervisor - A Resource Guide for Community Service Supervisors
Becoming a Better Supervisor: A Resource Guide for Community Service Supervisors was developed to help front-line supervisors in all kinds of community service programs. The guide was drawn from three major sources of information: a comprehensive needs assessment; views of AmeriCorps supervisors who participated in Supervisory Skills Workshops; and literature of specialists in the fields of supervision, management, and community participation.

Free Basic Guide to Management and Supervision
Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD | Applies to nonprofits and for-profits unless noted otherwise. Free Management Library's guide is basic, yet comprehensive, in nature to be useful to new managers and supervisors. Note that many organizations struggle, not from lack of advanced information -- rather, they never really master the basics. This guide will help you master the basics. Each topic includes references to Web addresses that provide additional, advanced, free information. These Web addresses are spelled out in the text of the guide. Therefore, the reader might best benefit from this guide by printing it out for continued reference.

Montana Tech Corps Member Handbook
Montana Technology Corps Member Handbook, very useful information related to supervision on pgs. 16-30.

NSRC Sample Forms - Evaluation Collection
National Service Resource Center sample evaluation forms collection.

Overview of Training and Development (for new instructors, learners, supervisors)
Free Management Library's Overview of Training and Development (for new instructors, learners, supervisors, etc.). Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD | Applies to nonprofits and for-profits unless noted.

Staffing and Supervision of Employees and Volunteers
Free Management Library's On-Line Organization Development Program Module #10: Staffing and Supervision of Employees and Volunteers. This module is in the organization development program. However, this module can also be used by anyone as a self-study exercise to learn more about staffing and supervising employees and volunteers.

The Key to Supervisory Success - Resource Connection Newsletter
Special issue of the Resource Connection devoted to starting up National Service Programs. Be sure to check out the article on The Key to Supervisory Success.

For more information on VISTA and other AmeriCorps programs, visit the web site at www.americorps.org.

For more information about becoming a volunteer at LTC or any of the Consortium's community technology centers, call Felicia Sullivan at (978)458-5400 X 11 or apply online at www.lctc.org/go/vol/apply/index.shtml.