VISTA Volunteers

AmeriCorps VISTA, is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. Today, nearly 7,000 VISTA members serve in hundreds of nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the country.

VISTA members commit one year of service to the organization which they are assigned. In exchange for a year of full-time service, they receive a modest living allowance along with health insurance, training, and travel and relocation expenses. At the completion of service, they will receive either a $1,200 stipend or an education award of $4,725 that can be used to help pay for further schooling or vocational training or to pay off qualified student loans.

With the help of the The Initiative Foundation, a group dedicated to the improvement of life in central Minnesota, RREAL has been assigned three VISTA volunteers since its inception to help develop programs and build the organization's capacity in order to better carry out its mission.

Meet RREAL's VISTA Volunteers:

Graham Wright was a VISTA member from 2006-2007. He holds a PHD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Before bringing his talents to RREAL, he worked at Kodak as a senior scientist for ten years . Graham has been instrumental in the research and development of the industry standard air heat collector, the RREAL SPF.

Graham is currently working with the Hunt Utilities Group on various projects and has started his own business called Wright On Sustainability. graham@rreal.org

Tim Ollhoff began his VISTA membership in 2007 and has decided to renew his position for 2008-2009. He holds an MSW from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Tim served on the RREAL Board of Directors from 2005 to 2007. Tim worked as a Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services for ten years before bringing his talents to RREAL.

While serving as a VISTA volunteer, Tim has had a hand in many different projects. He has been a dedicated grant writer, has researched various aspects of the production and marketing of the RREAL SPF, and has looked into RREAL's potential to take part in the emerging carbon trade sector. He has also helped develop RREAL's youth and community outreach program in the central and northeastern regions of Minnesota.
tim@rreal.org

Tina joined the RREAL team in 2008. She is currently enrolled in the Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership program at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Her time at RREAL will be spent looking into creating a Solar Heating HVAC curriculum, developing the private donor and fundraising program, and building upon the informational resources available at RREAL's website. tina@rreal.org