Dee Speer is excited by President-elect Barack Obama's plan to encourage people to give back to their community.

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Hawaii scientist are ready and waiting to take advantage when policy changes.

 

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  “;I would love to see it,”; said Speer, who works for Americorps. “;That's my problem right now. I'm having difficulty finding people who are willing.”;

Obama is proposing to offer tax credits to anyone who contributes 100 hours of community service a year as a “;boost”; to service programs, including those in Hawaii.

Obama, a former community organizer, said on his Web site, change.gov, that he will develop a plan to give $4,000 for education to all college students who perform 100 hours of community service.

Currently, Americorps offers an award of about $4,000 in exchange for 1,700 hours of community service a year.

Obama's plan could send a rush of young people into community service in Hawaii, helping nonprofits and changing the service members themselves, said one former member of the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, which oversees the Americorps program in Hawaii.

“;This would be very timely in a time when our state budget crisis is about to squeeze out a lot of nonprofits,”; said Dennis Dunn, former vice chairman of the commission.

It would give more opportunities to nonprofits that are struggling to develop and maintain projects that help in low-income areas, he said. The formal structure of Americorps service can also make a difference for nonprofits as opposed to casual volunteers.

Besides the increase in community service, federal service programs such as Americorps and the Peace Corps are also designed to improve the members, through leadership and conflict-resolution training.

“;It would help to continue opportunities for career building,”; he said.

Speer, Americorps project program coordinator at the nonprofit Alu Like, said she is still short about 10 people for 20 available slots. Under Obama's community service plan, her applications would triple, she said.

Speer runs a program that sends full-time volunteers to run a Molokai camp for children of drug addicts and part-time members to help the poor, seniors and children.

She is working with the state on an agreement to provide additional staff for an upcoming homeless shelter on the Leeward Coast.

“;They want to give back to the community,”; she said.

In Hawaii, programs need the help.

“;Our homeless shelters come to mind,”; she said. “;I think that the schools will get more additional support.”;

Americorps funding has been “;very lean the last few years,”; she said. With Obama's plan, “;it's really going to take off. It's been limping along in Hawaii.”;

She also credited Americorps with giving recent college graduates experience while paying for their loans and helping undergraduates pay for school.