40 Under Forty

January 31. 2012 3:17PM

For Andrea Walsh Powers, volunteerism is what she does at work and on her own

Staff Report

Andrea Walsh Powers

Andrea Walsh Powers, 37

Home: Manchester
Birthplace: Manchester
Immediate family: Joseph and Francine Walsh, Indiana
High school: Trinity High School, Manchester
College degree: Plymouth State College, B.S. in sociology
Current job: Program officer, Volunteer NH, which promotes the tradition of volunteerism and ethic of service in New Hampshire. They support and sponsor National Service initiatives like AmeriCorps. They also provide training, recognition and are a central site for volunteers and volunteer programs to strengthen N.H. communities. A unique organization, VNH is both a nonprofit and a partner of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. Volunteer NH was written into law by the N.H. Legislature for the purposes of carrying out on behalf of the state the objectives of the National and Community Service Trust Act 1993.
Key past positions held: Training director, Volunteer NH
Volunteer activities: Serving her third year as a board member for the New Hampshire Association of Volunteer Administrators. Additionally, I enjoy supporting and participating in numerous nonprofit fundraising events including golf tournaments, 5K races and other charitable events.
Most admired person (outside family): My admiration extends beyond one person to recognize Veterans of the U.S. military.
Key current professional challenge: Like many nonprofits and businesses, the organization I work for is faced with challenging economic times. We are dealing with congressional budgetary cuts to National Service AmeriCorps funding. For a small state like New Hampshire, a reduction in funding will have a negative impact on our communities. Statewide, AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps National Service members serve in over 520 local organizations and provide more than 1 million hours of service valued at more than $21.4 million. A reduction in federal funding would reduce New Hampshire's capacity to effectively address many of our states pressing challenges. State service commissions like Volunteer NH provide innovative and cost-effective programming that brings a great return on investment.
Last major achievement: I recently had the unique experience of representing the organization I work for in meeting with a group of Ukrainian delegates. The group was part of the International Visitor's Leadership Program arranged by the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire promoting citizen diplomacy. The group was most interested in the unique partnership that exists between federal, state and the nonprofit status that make up Volunteer NH. We had great discussions on the operational structure and programming that make Volunteer NH such a unique organization.
Biggest problem facing New Hampshire: Fixing the current state of disrepair the N.H. State Park and Recreation system is in. Until a year ago, the plan that was put in place to maintain and sustain N.H. State Parks and Recreation system was failing. For nearly 20 years the park system ran a significant deficit every year, reaching $1.8 million by FY09. New Hampshire is the only state in the country that does not appropriate money from the general fund to support its state park system. Operating costs were funded solely by user-fee revenue. For a state that relies heavily on travel and tourism, allocating state funding seems like a good investment on so many levels. There is a 10-year strategic development and capital improvement plan that was created a year ago. It calls for new partnerships with private businesses utilizing volunteer groups and generating new funding streams along with a host of other innovative ideas. Revitalizing the state park and recreation system is vital to conserving New Hampshire's natural environment. It's good stewardship and critical to the travel and tourism dollars it has the potential to generate.
Favorite Place in New Hampshire: Franconia Notch State Park, Canon Mountain. I grew up skiing at Canon Mountain and spending time with my family and friends in Franconia Notch. It's still one of my favorite ski areas. In addition to the variety of trails, I appreciate the friendly small-town feel of the mountain. From fellow skiers and riders to the employees, there is just a down-to-earth attitude that exists at the mountain.
What book are you reading now? I'm currently reading “Optimum Health” by Dr. Andrew Weil. Health, and nutrition are an interest of mine and Dr.Weil presents a natural approach to prevention and manintaince of nutrition and wellbeing.
How do you relax? I relax and unwind by being active. Depending on the season, I enjoy skiing, golfing, hiking, cycling and spending time on the ocean.
Favorite radio station: I'm a fan of XM radio and the variety of stations it offers.

CONCORD - It may sound contradictory, but to be effective, major volunteer efforts need professional help. Or at the very least, coordination.

That is what Andrea Walsh Powers does as program officer for Volunteer NH.

Powers explains that Volunteer NH supports and sponsors National Service initiatives like AmeriCorps, but also provides training, recognition and a central site for local volunteers and volunteer programs to strengthen communities.

So it is a hybrid, both a nonprofit and a partner of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency.

In both functions, Powers said: “It makes such a huge difference.”

Powers also makes a difference personally by serving on the board of the statewide N.H. Association of Volunteer Administrators and is on the training and technical subcommittee for American Services Commission, a peer network of governor-appointed commissioners and staff.

Lois Meredith of N.H. Gathering of the Scottish Clans, who nominated Powers said that for the past 10 years, Powers has served on the Governor's Conference on Volunteerism and has been instrumental in developing a high-quality educational and affordable statewide conference on volunteerism.

Powers said New Hampshire has a tradition of service, established long before any federal program was established, performed without outside funding.

But she also said the federal AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members serve in over 520 local organizations and provide more than one million hours of service valued at more than $21.4 million. Powers worries that congressional budget cuts to National Service AmeriCorps funding will have a significant negative impact in New Hampshire.

Powers said: “I really believe in what I'm working for,” but she admits she was torn about a career choice after college.

She graduated from what was then Plymouth State College with a degree in sociology, but said an internship served in the White Mountain National Forest piqued her interest in another field.

“My other interest has been conservation and the environment,” she said. She considered the Student Conservation Association, which has an AmeriCorps affiliation. But faced with the possibility of seasonal, rather than full-time employment, she opted for her current career track. “Professionally, I'm pretty happy,” she said.

But her interest in the environment continues and she considers the biggest problem facing the state to be fixing the state park and recreation system's current state of disrepair. For nearly 20 years, she said, the park system ran a significant deficit every year, because operating costs were funded solely by user-fee revenue.

Powers is hopeful that a 10-year strategic development and capital improvement plan, created a year ago, that calls for new partnerships, with private businesses utilizing volunteer groups and generating new funding streams, along with other innovative ideas, will revitalize the state park and recreation system.