Red Cross recruits people for new positions

Iowans are being recruited in eight cities statewide for new positions within the Red Cross through a partnership with VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America. Kelli Starcevich, the VISTA coordinator at the Central Iowa Red Cross chapter, says people are needed to recruit and train volunteers to provide a variety of help during disasters. They’d go into the community, tell people about the volunteer opportunities within the Red Cross, then bring those recruits back and train them to be disaster relief volunteers. Positions have already been filled in Oskaloosa and Sioux City, but VISTA workers are needed in Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown, Dubuque, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs and Davenport. Starcevich explains the qualifications needed for the job. You need to be at least 18, have a four-year degree or three years of related work experience, good public speaking skills and someone who’s done volunteer recruitment. She admits it’s not a job to apply for if you want to get rich. VISTA workers get a monthly living stipend of $740 and have a few other options that include also getting $4700 at the end of service to apply toward student loans. Call Starcevich at (515) 243-7681 for more information or surf to “www.americorps.org”.