Governor Creates Cabinet Position for Volunteerism

From Offices of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
For Immediate Release: Contact: Aaron McLear
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Colleen Ripchick
916-445-4571

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces First-in-the- Nation Cabinet Position for Service and Volunteering

Governor Schwarzenegger today took first-in-the- nation action to encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state's departments and agencies. The Governor signed an executive order to establish the new position of secretary of service and volunteering. The secretary will be a member of the Governor's Cabinet.

"Government can give direction, it can provide an impetus, but real change has to come from each and every one of us. I want to move civic engagement to the highest levels of state government, which is where it belongs," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Californians' desire and will to serve are there in abundance. We must do everything we can to harness this incredible resource."

The executive order below, signed today by the Governor, will raise the profile of service in the Golden State to a national level; improve coordination of vital volunteer activities statewide and support local service efforts; encourage more Californians to become involved with service and volunteerism; help California respond to natural disasters and emergencies; and give California's volunteers a voice at the highest levels of state government. This is all without adding any new net costs to the state budget.

"I'm a big believer in uniting people to create change and achieve a positive legacy in their own lives, in their communities, in their state and beyond and it is through the act of service that this goal can be attained. Today as we elevate service, we elevate our fellow Californians to be 38 million strong," said First Lady Maria Shriver.

California's volunteers have a positive multi-billion dollar impact on the state's economy every year. In 2006, volunteers contributed approximately 858 million hours of service to the California economy-a value of more than $17.4 billion. A one percent increase in the number of Californians who volunteer would equal approximately 365,000 new volunteers contributing 48 million hours-equal to nearly $1 billion in service to the state.

The Governor's action gives volunteerism a stronger voice and greater visibility and will encourage millions of Californians to make their valuable skills available. As demonstrated by the thousands of concerned Californians who stepped forward to volunteer during last year's wildfires and the San Francisco Bay oil spill, a stronger, more coordinated volunteer force will make California even better equipped to respond to resident's everyday needs, as well as wildfires, floods, heat waves, winter freezes, mudslides, earthquakes, disasters and emergencies.

Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver are committed to strengthening California 's volunteer force. Under their leadership, CaliforniaVolunteer s launched CaliforniaVolunteer s.org, which features the largest and most sophisticated statewide online volunteer matching system in the nation.* Since the launch, the number of monthly web-based referrals of volunteers from CaliforniaVolunteer s' local partners to non-profits has increased by nearly 500 percent. Maria Shriver serves as the honorary chair of CaliforniaVolunteer s.

*(BREATHE LA local volunteer partner organization is the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles. Find out more about BREATHE LA Volunteer Opportunities.)

"I commend California for taking civic engagement and volunteerism to a new level by announcing a cabinet level secretary of service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps and other service programs provide a wonderful avenue for strengthening our communities while addressing our pressing needs in education, environmental protection, public health, and the environment. This new position will help to ensure that California 's volunteers are fully integrated at the highest levels into the state's efforts to build a better California ," said Senator Hillary Clinton.

"Service to one's country and community is the most noble of things an American can give. For a state the size and influence of California to elevate service and volunteering to such a prominent position in government says a lot about the state's people and about the priorities of Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver. I'm impressed and applaud California for working to harness and spotlight the selfless time and energy given by its volunteers," said Senator John McCain.

" America is a great nation precisely because Americans have been willing to stand up when it was hard, to serve on stages both great and small, and to rise above moments of great challenge and terrible trial. At this defining moment in our history, the Governor's decision to elevate civic engagement to such an important level reminds us that the call to serve is one that transcends partisanship and has the power to unite this generation around a common purpose," said Senator Barack Obama.

For more information on events, programs and volunteer opportunities through CaliforniaVolunteer s, including the California Volunteer Matching Network (CVMN) which connects Californians to meaningful, high-impact volunteer opportunities in their communities through a dynamic online volunteer matching system, please visit CaliforniaVolunteer s.org.

The Governor also today announced the appointment of CaliforniaVolunteer s Executive Director Karen Baker as the secretary of service and volunteering.

"Karen Baker does a fantastic job managing CaliforniaVolunteer s," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "By elevating the state's volunteer profile we will make it easier for people to figure out where to go and what to do when they want to give their time or their resources."

Karen Baker, 46, of Sacramento , has served as executive director of CaliforniaVolunteer s, formerly known as California Service Corps and the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism, since 2005. From 2002 to 2005, she served as a managing partner for Valley Vision, a non-profit committed to building civic engagement while addressing regional issues and, from 2000 to 2002, was director of innovation for Share Our Strength of Washington, D.C., a national anti-poverty non-profit. Prior to that, Baker served as director for program coordination and special projects for the Corporation for National Service, now known as Corporation for National and Community Service, from 1995 to 2000 and as deputy director for AmeriCorps VISTA from 1994 to 1995. From 1990 to 1994, she was executive director of Chrysalis, a Los Angeles based non-profit serving homeless people. Baker earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of California , Los Angeles . This position does not require Senate confirmation. This position receives a compensation of $175,000, however due to the budget deficit, she will voluntarily not accept an increase in compensation and will remain at her current compensation of $130,332. Baker is a Democrat.

The mission of CaliforniaVolunteer s is to increase the number and impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteerism. CaliforniaVolunteer s administers the AmeriCorps portfolio in California, Citizen Corps, and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning, developed and maintains the California Volunteer Matching Network on CaliforniaVolunteer s.org and guides policy development to support the non-profit and service fields.

The full text of the executive order is below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER S-02-08

WHEREAS the State of California has a long tradition of volunteer service and civic engagement that has inspired millions of people from all across our great state to actively contribute their talents and time to assist others and serve the greater good of society; and

WHEREAS in 2006, 6.47 million Californians volunteered in their communities, performing more than 858.5 million hours of service valued at over $17.4 billion to California's economy; and

WHEREAS CaliforniaVolunteer s, then the California Service Corps, was tasked by Executive Order S-04-06 with ensuring the coordination of volunteer activities related to disaster response and recovery, including necessary training, equipment, and transportation provisions; and

WHEREAS through CaliforniaVolunteer s and local volunteer organizations, more than 10,000 Californians responded to California's call for volunteers to help those affected by the Southern California Wildfires; and

WHEREAS since 1994, more than 69,000 men and women have committed a year of service to California communities through AmeriCorps and these men and women have provided such services as tutoring at-risk youth, restoring vital watersheds, and building homes for the homeless; and

WHEREAS volunteers play an important role in helping state agencies and departments provide services to Californians and supporting the significant contributions of the state's public servants; and

WHEREAS volunteers help address critical issues that affect all Californians, such as environmental protection, disaster preparedness, anti-poverty efforts, and mentoring at-risk youth; and

WHEREAS state government cannot solve all of the many challenges facing California and must effectively and efficiently engage more volunteers to address community needs. The enhancement and better coordination of the public and private sectors in support of volunteering is vital to improving California ; and

WHEREAS service and volunteering efforts in California must be strengthened through improved collaboration to reach their maximum potential; and

WHEREAS changes to the current structure of CaliforniaVolunteer s will help increase the positive impact of volunteering and service in California ; and

WHEREAS CaliforniaVolunteer s can be strengthened without the need to add any new net costs to the budget, by redirecting positions and funding from other agencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California , by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of California , do hereby issue this Executive Order to become effective immediately:

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

1. Executive Orders S-04-06 and S-24-06 are supplemented by this Executive Order.

2. CaliforniaVolunteer s will be headed by a Secretary of Service and Volunteering, who shall be appointed by, and who shall serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Secretary of Service and Volunteering shall be a member of the Governor's cabinet.

3. The existing CaliforniaVolunteer s Commission will continue to serve as California's "State Commission" for purposes of the National and Community Service Trust Act (42 U.S.C. § 12501 et seq.) and its implementing rules and regulations.

4. CaliforniaVolunteer s shall be the lead agency under the California Emergency Services Act (Gov. Code, § 8550 et seq.) for the coordination of monetary and in-kind donations during times of disaster. It will cooperate with the Office of Emergency Services in fulfilling these duties.

5. The Secretary of Service and Volunteering will collaborate with private organizations to increase investment and participation in service and volunteering.

6. The existing Governor's Mentoring Partnership, established as the California Mentor Council by Executive Order W-132-96, shall be part of CaliforniaVolunteer s, including its staff and all its power and duties.

7. All state agencies and departments are hereby directed to cooperate with and assist CaliforniaVolunteer s in carrying out its duties and increasing volunteer opportunities within state government.

This Executive Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

I FURTHER DIRECT THAT, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given to this order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 26th day of February 2008.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California