• Article Photo. Maple Unit AmeriCorps members celebrate their induction Friday morning at IBSSS campus.
    Maple Unit AmeriCorps members celebrate their induction Friday morning at IBSSS campus.
  • Article Photo. Vinton Mayor John Watson welcomes new inductees, encourages them to consider Vinton as a home.
    Vinton Mayor John Watson welcomes new inductees, encourages them to consider Vinton as a home.
  • Article Photo. Team Leaders Megan Alara, Joy Whitt, Kelly Van Sickle, Barbara Hogan & Anya Ruvinskaya pose for pic
    Team Leaders Megan Alara, Joy Whitt, Kelly Van Sickle, Barbara Hogan & Anya Ruvinskaya pose for pic
  • Article Photo. Two Averys are together one Maple 1: Avery Baile, left and Avery Kufta. The team also has a Bailey.
    Two Averys are together one Maple 1: Avery Baile, left and Avery Kufta. The team also has a Bailey.
  • Article Photo. Mayor John Watson is now an honorary AmeriCorps member; he posed with campus director Dan Milnes.
    Mayor John Watson is now an honorary AmeriCorps member; he posed with campus director Dan Milnes.
  • Article Photo. Maple 7 Team Leader Kelly Van Sickle leads her team in the Maple 7 Cheer during induction Friday.
    Maple 7 Team Leader Kelly Van Sickle leads her team in the Maple 7 Cheer during induction Friday.
  • Article Photo. The AmeriCorps Pledge...
    The AmeriCorps Pledge...
  • Article Photo. AmeriCorps Maple Unit members recite the official pledge during induction.
    AmeriCorps Maple Unit members recite the official pledge during induction.

AmeriCorps NCCC members in the new Maple Unit have already become a family, said new Maple member Avery Baile.

Baile, a member of Maple 1, was chosen to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Class 16A Maple Unit Induction Friday morning in the auditorium of the Iowa Braille School. 

Vinton Mayor John Watson joined Campus Director Dan Milnes and National NCCC Director Mikel Herrington in the ceremony. 

The 84 new members officially became AmeriCorps participants with the induction ceremony. The seven teams in the Maple Unit will begin their service next week, traveling from Vinton to Ohio, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota, as well as other places in Iowa. 

Mayor Watson also received a lapel pin and notebook signifying his status as an honorary AmeriCorps member. Milnes bestowed that honor on the Mayor after he spoke to the new inductees. 

Watson urged the new inductees to become involved in their communities once they have settled down. He also invited them to consider making Vinton their permanent home once their AmeriCorps service is finished.

"We'll make room for you," he said. 

Watson also told the young people that it is very good for Vinton that whenever they leave and wherever they go, they will have gone there from Vinton, and that they will remember Vinton for the rest of their lives.

Milnes spoke briefly about the relationship between the city and AmeriCorps, and praised local leaders for their response to the Flood of 2008, which occured as the very first AmeriCorps team leaders arrived at the IBSSS campus. 

Milnes also urged the inductees to strive to "be legendary," reminding them they they will make a difference in every place they work. He also charged them to maintain their professionalism and take care of each other. 

Herrington told the new inductees that along with building and improving communities, the purpose of AmeriCorps is to build future leaders. He urged them to remember their own personal development as they serve communities in many ways over the next nine months. 

Another new Maple member, Matthew Baker, told his peers that the nine months of AmeriCorps service will pass very quickly, and soon be only a memory. He urged them to make the most of each day in the program.

The seven team leaders were presented the certificates for each of their members. Each team leader led a team cheer as he or she received those certificates.