Volunteers of the Liberty
County LTRC repairing a roof.
AmeriCorps* VISTA Project
Disaster Recovery
Texas Conference of Churches
What’s Inside?
Description of Project 2
What is AmeriCorps*VISTA? 3
Map of Sites 4
Description of Sites 5
Timeline 6
Stories 8
Budget and Funders 10
Board Members 11
Letter from the Directors 12
Annual Report
October 2008 - September 2009
TEXAS CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES
DISASTER RECOVERY AMERICORPS* VISTA PROJECT
Letter from the Directors
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Thank you for your support of the Disaster Recovery VISTA* (Volunteers in Service to America) Project.
With your assistance, we have helped many communities recover and have initiated preparedness actions in
counties all around Texas so they may be better prepared for future disasters.
The Disaster Recovery VISTA Project is unique within the world of VISTA. Although disaster work is new for
VISTA, it fits very well, as the majority of survivors who have continuing unmet needs are at or below the
poverty level.
During this project year, October 2008 – September 2009,
our VISTA Members have assisted their organizations in
gathering $2,706,626.90 of resources, all of which have
gone to help disaster survivors, concentrating on the
elderly, disabled, and families with children. Homes have
been repaired, utilities re-instituted, social services
provided, and lives have been restored because of the
work done by these dedicated VISTA Members. They are
our heroes!
As our project grows, we are in transition, focusing much
more on mitigation and preparedness against future
disasters. Recovery remains very important, and should a
new disaster appear, we will be there to help communities
recover. But we also know that by educating community organizations on how to prevent damage and
prepare for disaster, we could do so much more. After all, preparedness and mitigation against future
disasters saves lives and prevents loads of misery and expense. We would be pleased to be able to report,
in the future, on the savings of “avoided disasters.” We believe in the reality of that future.
So we look toward the future, fortified with the hope that we can make a difference. We thank you all for
your part in what has been and will be done by this wonderful
group of people.
Marianne Lawson and Bonnie Mallott
Co-Directors
!

Accomplishments:
During the past year
VISTAs and their sites
have been working hard
on disaster recovery and
preparedness.
Total Value of Assistance:
$2,736,626.87
Value of Indirect Service:
$2,062,084.96
Value of Direct Assistance:
$674,541.91
Homes Repaired: 178
Total Volunteers Recruited:
3,400
Total Volunteer Hours:
96,909.25
Total Number of Cases:
803
Number of Closed Cases:
205
Percent of Cases Closed:
25.53%
Disaster Acronyms
LTRC - Long-Term Recovery
Committees are set up in
communities after a disaster
to help address the unmet
needs of survivors.
VOAD - Voluntary
Organizations Active in
Disaster organize service
providers in the community
to prepare for disaster.
VISTAs and their
supervisors at the
March 2009 Annual
Meeting
What is the TCC Disaster
Recovery AmeriCorps*VISTA
Project?
The Disaster Recovery Program
began in the wake of the 2005
gulf-coast hurricanes. From its
inception, the program has
strengthened long-term recovery
organizations by increasing their
capacities to respond to both the
needs of the disaster-affected
communities they serve and help
those communities prepare for
subsequent disasters. The Disaster
Recovery Program operates under
the sponsorship of the Texas
Conference of Churches, the state’s
largest ecumenical network.
Initially, the co-founders of the
Disaster Recovery Program
traveled to disaster-affected
communities across Texas to
provide short-term consulting and
assist FEMA, Church World
Service, and the State of Texas
representatives in setting up Long-
Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs).
In June 2006 the Program was
awarded an AmeriCorps*VISTA
grant by the Corporation for
National and Community Service
(CNCS). This funding supports the
deployment of 20 VISTA Members
and one VISTA Leader to work in
disaster recovery organizations
around the state. VISTA Members
help these local organizations with
developing systems and
infrastructure and with identifying,
mobilizing, and coordinating
resources desperately needed to
assist communities in the long-term
recovery and preparedness
process.
The program recruits and
deploys VISTAs in ways that are
most helpful to each individual
community, so sites have the option
to employ VISTA Members as
organizers, membership and
funding developers, community
developers, volunteer managers,
casework supervisors, training
developers, etc. The Disaster
Recovery Program offers resources
and networking opportunities,
information about relevant
resources, and technical assistance
to the VISTAs and their sites that
further aid in capacity building.
VISTAs got a chance to
perform direct service on Benefits of Service
National Day of Service
September 11th
Segal Education Award or
End of Service Stipend
At the end of their term,
each VISTA receives a
$4,725 education award to
pay off student loans or to
put toward future higher
education expenses. VISTAs
may opt to receive a
$1,500 cash stipend
instead.
Living Stipend
Each VISTA is paid a
modest living stipend bi-
weekly during their service.
Health Care Benefits
VISTAs qualify for free
What is AmeriCorps*VISTA? health care benefits.
Childcare Assistance
In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson created Volunteers in
VISTAs with children qualify
Service to America, or VISTA, as part of the War on Poverty. Today
for childcare assistance
VISTA is one of three national service programs under the during their year of service.
AmeriCorps umbrella. What sets VISTA apart from other Student Loan Forebearance
AmeriCorps service opportunities is its approach to addressing
VISTAs do not have to pay
poverty. VISTAs do behind-the-scenes work to create and expand on their student loans
programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and during their year of service.
communities out of poverty. Since its inception, more than 140,000 Federal Job Access
VISTAs automatically get
Americans have served through VISTA.
one year of non-competitive
status for federal
How do VISTAs Help? government jobs following
VISTA members of all ages commit to serve full-time for a year at their year of service.
a nonprofit organization or local government agency. With passion,
commitment, and hard work, they strengthen organizations that serve
those most in need.
The capacity building services that VISTAs provide help organizations
to become more sustainable, so they can continue to serve the needs of
the community long after AmeriCorps*VISTA support has ended.
The VISTA program is not only designed to fight poverty with
volunteers; it’s designed to benefit the volunteers as well. VISTAs get a
living stipend that is equal to poverty level in their community. This allows
VISTAs to experience hardship similar to that of the individuals they are
helping. The VISTA program also gives members many training and
networking opportunities that will better prepare them for their next steps
in life.
 1 The Project’s main office is located in
Austin. The two project co-directors,
VISTA Sites VISTA Leader, and a statewide VISTA are
officed there.
3 VISTAs at Texas Impact in Austin track
legislative changes to disaster funding and
work on disaster preparedness and mitigation
education.
6
5 El Paso LTRC began in the wake of severe
flooding in late 2006. They are now in the
5
process of becoming a VOAD.
4
1
2 7 The VISTA at the Houston Food Bank who
3 7 10
9 works to prepare the Food Bank and its
8
11
12 agencies for future disasters.
13
9 Houston Galveston Institute is a center
for mental health. They help address the
14 2008 - 2009 Sites
mental health needs of hurricane survivors.
Previous Sites
14 11 Jesse Tree is a faith-based organization
serving Galveston County. They became
involved with disaster recovery after Hurricane
We have had VISTAs at 21 sites, 18 of which are still operating. Originally, most of our sites
Ike.
were Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) aiding in community disaster recovery. We are
currently shifting our focus towards preparedness. Our past sites include: Center Restoration 13 Brazoria County LTRC works to help
Center, Tyler County LTRC, Jasper/Newton LTRC, Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Brazoria County residents recover from
Response, Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization, Southeast Texas Food Bank, and Mid Texas damage caused by Hurricane Ike.
VOAD.
2 Central Texas VOAD in Austin, TX works to
prepare Central Texas to respond to local
disasters and to aid refugees from coastal
disasters.
4 Highland Lakes Hill Country LTRC began
after a flood to help residents and
businesses that did not qualify for government
funding. They have now become a VOAD.
6 AidMatrix is a national nonprofit that has
developed a web-based solution to help
get assistance from donors to disaster-affected
individuals, communities, and organizations.
8 Independence Heights Assistance
Ministries in Houston is working both to
help residents recover from past storms and to
prepare the neighborhood for future disasters.
10 Liberty County LTRC is currently focusing
on repairing the damage to 156 elderly,
disabled or single-parent households caused by
Hurricane Ike.
12 Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and
Development in Galveston helps residents
repair their homes from the damages caused
by Hurricane Ike and promote preparedness.
14 Faith Communities for Disaster Recovery
is working to help residents affected by
Hurricane Dolly repair their homes and
prepare for future disasters.
 In July the In 2007 VISTA events
Center TCC went July 23,
Restoration Hurricane Dolly hit TCC events
through a re-
Center and the visioning. The southern Texas
Hurricane Soon Natural Disasters
Jasper/Newton board decided Central causing $1.05 Billion
Katrina struck after the LTRC joined the to continue to Texas VOAD, in damages. Project events
August 29, hurricanes of In June
project to focus on peace VN TeamWork, September 13th,
2005, costing 2005, two TCC received become our and justice, but Aidmatrix, Hurricane Ike hit
1,836 lives and Presbyterians an Mid
first sites. In also focus on On the Independence southeast Texas. It
$80.2 billion in asked the TCC AmeriCorps* The Brazoria
August the developing first of the Texas VOAD Heights was the largest
damages. to form an VISTA grant. and Liberty Jesse Tree, County LTRC.
Texas regional year El Paso Assistance hurricane ever
Hurricane Rita ecumenical This grant County LTRC Inc. joined Houston Food
Interagency/ networks, rural LTRC and Ministries, observed in the
arrived disaster allowed the December Bank, and
Interfaith church Southeast joined at the and Faith Atlantic Basin. It
September 23, recovery co-directors end of July. 15th and Episcopal
Disaster ministry, Texas Highland Communities resulted in the largest Houston
costing 120 program. TCC to put up to Texas Diocese of
Response and interfaith Interfaith Southeast Lakes/Hill for Disaster evacuation of Texas in Galveston
lives and $10 then began 20 VISTAs in Texas Food Impact Texas all
the Tyler dialogue, and Organization Country Recovery all our history, 112 Institute was
billion in developing the LTRCs across Bank joined joined on joined in
County LTRC disaster joined the LTRC joined in deaths and $32 our most recent
damages. program. the state. the 22nd. February.
also joined. recovery. TCC Project. mid-August. joined. March. billion in damages. site to join.

Aug Sept Jun Jul Aug Jul Aug Dec Mar Jul Sept Dec Feb Jul

2006 2007 2008 2009

In 1963,
President Kennedy
spoke of a
domestic volunteer
program modeled
after the newly President
Texas established Peace February The VISTA Clinton signed the
Council of Corps. In 1964 National
25th, 1969 the Literacy Corps
President Lyndon Community Service
Churches Council changed In the 1970s was developed to
B. Johnson its name to the In the Trust Act which
VISTA merged create literacy
started focusing declared a “war
Texas Conference with Peace Corps 1980s the councils and developed
on promoting on poverty” and of Churches and VISTA focus AmeriCorps and
A group and the senior expand adult
signed the changed to merged the
peace and established itself service programs education. One-
of Protestant Economic programs creating
as an ecumenical and the ACTION encouraging quarter of all
addressing Opportunity Act AmeriCorps*VISTA
pastors met to community of agency was citizen VISTA members
poverty. This of 1964 creating to focus on
form the Texas Orthodox, born. VISTA participation focused on
VISTA and Protestant, and and strengthening
focus continued recruited trained increasing literacy
Council of fulfilling President community poverty-related
Roman Catholic professionals to rates throughout
through 2007. Kennedy’s dream. programs.
Churches. denominations. serve. self-help. the US.

1953 1960 1963 1964 1969 1970 1980 1986 1990 1993 2000 2005 2009
Carolyn in Brazoria County
“In just one month I've
completely changed my view on
information. Now I constantly
look for opportunities to learn.
It's not easy changing your
mindset -- learning to ask
questions is difficult, but it's
essential. The more I know, the
greater impact I will have in
Brazoria County, and that is
enough to motivate me to keep
studying.”
Paul in Liberty County
“I met a mother of 8 children,
the youngest a 2-year old with
a half-developed brain. Her
husband finds odd jobs when he
can, but work has been scarce.
The entire family congregated
only in the few small rooms in
the front portion of their home
because the rest either had
severe bug infestations, holes in
the ceilings & floors, or mold
damage.
After having lived in Mexico
and Morocco, I thought I had
seen it all, but I was wrong. The
‘third-world’ is in our backyard,
and the challenge is knowing
that places such as this exist
without public response. For
now, a little help is on the way,
but the challenge continues
while waiting patiently for cases
such as this to be resolved.”
A volunteer ascends a tree at a
Cleveland home to cut down
limbs in preparation for the tree
to be taken down.
Precious Treasure
Bacheller, Hurricane
Ike survivor.
Patricia Flores and
her Granddaughter,
flood survivors.
L I BE R T Y CO U N T Y
A 93-year-old man whose home
was endangered by a large
tree leaning over his house
after Hurricane Ike was helped
by the Liberty County LTRC.
They partnered with Southern
Baptists Convention of Texas
Disaster Relief to aid 17
residents with hazardous trees.
G ALVE S T O N
On September 13, 2008, a
retired nurse named Precious
Treasure Bacheller fell victim
to the ravages of Hurricane
Ike. Several feet of water
destroyed most everything
she owned. Texas Episcopal
Disaster Relief recruited
volunteers who repaired and
rebuilt her home.
H IL L CO U NTRY
The “rain bomb” that drenched
Marble Falls in June 2007
flooded the home Patricia
Flores shares with her
granddaughter. The flood
destroyed about 150 homes
and businesses.
The Highland Lakes Hill
Country LTRC raised almost
$100,000 and started helping.
HOUSTON
As part of Gail Torosian’s
disaster preparedness work for
the Houston Food Bank she has
developed three workshops
that she will facilitate for Food
Bank partners on writing a
disaster plan, using networking
Gail, a VISTA at the to plan for a disaster, and
Houston Food Bank organizing volunteers for a
disaster.
TH E VALLE Y
After Hurricane Dolly swept
through southern Texas, many
families had to live with blue
tarps on their roofs, mold on
walls and other damage. Faith
Communities for Disaster
Recovery helped Maria
Maria Medrano, a Medrano and others get CDC
Hurricane Dolly
survivor funding to repair their homes.
AUS TIN
Selena at Texas Impact is
researching ways to prepare
for and even prevent all kinds
of disasters, from hurricanes to
house fires and H1N1. Her
goal is to compile this
information into user-friendly
Selena presenting formats to disseminate to faith
at Advocacy Camp
communities.
Mardie in Houston
“My six months as a VISTA
have been simply outstanding. I
got the warehouse together
with the help of exchange
students from Wisconsin. I have
had the opportunity to develop
several forms of distribution.
I've made contacts with several
organizations that will help us
further our disaster work. Being
a VISTA has afforded me the
chance to work even more
closely with the community.
Attending LTRC meetings has
opened my eyes to the real
pain that people are still
feeling after Ike. It lets us know
how much recovery we will still
have to do. I would like to
thank you for the opportunity
to heal the community.”
Luke in Galveston
“Ms. Johnson tells us
September 11 now has a
completely different meaning
for her as that is the date she
evacuated the island and left
her possessions to the ravages
of Hurricane Ike. ‘My car was
Iked,’ she said, and as soon as
she said this, I knew I would
also use Ike as a verb for the
rest of my life. Much friendlier
than other 4-letter words, but
perhaps with a much harsher
meaning.”
 Disaster Recovery Project Expenses
October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 Disaster Recovery Project Staff Texas Conference of Churches
VISTA Project Supervisor Salary $40,762.04 October 2008- September 2009 2009 Board of Directors
VISTA Project Supervisor Payroll Taxes $3,097.92
Project and Site Supervisor Travel (Long Distance) $9,086.11 3% Marianne Lawson Mardie Page President of the Board Pastor Melinda Veatch
Project and Site Supervisor Travel (Local) $543.42 Project Co-Director Independence Heights
26% Presbyterian Church USA,
Total VISTA Supervisor Expense $53,489.49 Assitance Ministries Executive Presbyter Fort Worth
VISTA Leader Living Stipend $13,380.00 Bonnie Mallot Richard Schempp
VISTA Leader End-of-Term-Stipend $1,200.00 Project Co-Director Maria Pena Presbyterian Church USA, Mrs. Pam Neumann
VISTA Leader Travel + Meals $3,384.35 Independence Heights Lubbock Roman Catholic Church,
Total VISTA Leader Expense $17,964.35 9% Jaclyn Remick Assitance Ministries Austin
VISTA Member Living Stipends $102,170.26 62% VISTA Leader Vice-President of the
VISTA Member End-of-Term-Stipends $2,400.00 Denver Pierce Board The Reverend Robert
VISTA Member Travel + Meals $23,329.17 Hassan Alwy Jesse Tree The Reverend Mark Williams
Total VISTA Member Expense $127,899.43 AidMatrix McNeese Roman Catholic
TCC Administrator/Bookkeeper Wages $2,060.00 Lindsey Smith Cumberland Presbyterian, Church
Telephone: Cell Phone & Conference Calls $2,756.81 Karen Baptiste Statewide VISTA Austin
Office Supplies $490.18 Project and Site Supervisors Hill Country Highland
VISTA Leader Bishop Joe S. Vasquez
Advertising & Public Relations $29.23 Lakes Donna Talmage- Treasurer of the Board Roman Catholic Church,
Parking $13.49 VISTA Members Mr. Robert Goodrich
Gibson Houston
Total Administrative Expense $5,349.71 Administrative Costs Luke Blount Faith Communities for United Methodist Church,
Texas Episcopal Disaster Disaster Recovery Lubbock
Total Annual Expense $204,702.98 Bishop James A.
Relief and Development
Tamayo
Gail Torosian Pastor Ron Heimsoth Roman Catholic Church,
Carolyn Gibbs Houston Food Bank Evangelical Lutheran Laredo
Disaster Recovery Project Funders Texas Episcopal Disaster Church of America, Fort
October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 Relief and Development
Adam Walke Worth
The Reverend Dr. J.
El Paso LTRC Andy Fowler
Paul Graham Reverend Charles United Methodist Church
3% Liberty County LTRC
Selena Xie Kutz-Marks Killeen
Texas Impact Disciples of Christ, Austin
CNCS Indirect Grant Morgan Hargrave Ms. Irene Jackson
39% CNCS Direct Grant Texas Impact The Rt. Reverend United Methodist Church
Church World Service David Reed Irving
58% Alex Hebert Episcopal Church, San
Hill Country Highland Antonio Bishop Jim Dorff
Lakes LTRC
United Methodist Church
Reverend Elizabeth San Antonio
Evelyn Jones Turner
Independence Heights Episcopal Church, Austin
Corporation for National and Community Service Indirect Grant $119,150.26 Assitance Ministries
Corporation for National and Community Service Direct Grant $80,203.01 Bishop Ray Tiemann
Church World Service $5,349.71 Kate Lester Evangelical Lutheran
Houston Galveston Church of America, Seguin
Total Annual Giving $204,702.98 Institute

Prima Mosi
Note: The CNCS Indirect Grant refers to all funding that does not go directly through our office. These funds Central Texas VOAD
include both VISTA and VISTA Leader living stipends and end-of-service stipends.