Orientation

MVS Household Orientation

I. Finances
One or more MVSers needs to accept responsibility for the monthly report and for checking account duties.

A. Monthly Financial Report • Sent to Newton
• Add up cash drawer
• Send insurance check to Commission on Home Ministries (CHM)
• Monthly activity report

B. Checking Account • Names on Checking account (for signing checks) (whose names are on the account?)
• Balancing checkbook
• Keeping money in cash drawer

C. Bills • Electric - Commonwealth Edison
• Gas - Peoples Gas
• Long Distance Phone**
• Local Phone - Ameritech
• Newspaper
• *Rent* - Pilsen Mennonite Housing (PMH)
• *Health* Insurance $20 per person to MVSO
* You will not get a bill for these.
**We have not been paying the federal tax portion of the long distance phone bill. A form letter must be sent with each bill when federal tax is not paid. At the end of the year, the sum of withheld taxes should be paid to a charity of choice.

D. Job Payment
•A minimum of $600? per month, payable to "Pilsen MVS" by employer, brought home by VSer.

II. House Activities

These activities are encouraged, but they are not written in stone. As a unit changes, needs of the household also change.

A. House Meetings

The unit meets together on a regular basis (once a week is recommended). At these meetings duties (such as cooking, cleaning) are discussed and also other issues that may be of concern to any household member.

B. Chores

Cooking responsibility is scheduled according to the desire of the housemates. House cleaning is divided among the household members (i.e. living room/hall, kitchen, groceries, yard, trash etc.). House upkeep is decided by the household.

C. Monthly Unit Outings

The household is encouraged to spend together one activity per month. Each member is given $10 for this activity.

III. Telephone and Email

A. Our number is currently listed in the phone book under Menno, VS.

B. Each volunteer is responsible for paying their own long distance bills. Local calls are paid by the unit.

C. The unit's email account is [email protected]. It is easy to set up additional free accounts through Juno or other providers.

IV. Local VS Information

In addition to the paid VS staff headquartered in Newton, the unit is run by four bodies:

1. Pilsen Mennonite Housing (PMH)

Meets quarterly.
All VSers are welcome to attend meetings, but One VSer must attend to represent household.
PMH owns the house
Rent check goes to Greg Newswanger

2. MVS Support Committee

Meets monthly,

3. Lincoln United Methodist Church – Supporting Congregation

4. Oak Park Mennonite Church – Supporting Congregation

V. Community

A. Transportation

Bus Passes

Our most common form of transportation is the CTA (City Transit Authority). CTA Passes can be purchased at machines in El stations (currency exchange at the corner of Blue Island and Loomis?). Work places may occasionally offer a bus pass depending on the situation.

Bicycling in Chicago

Private automobiles

B. Groceries

They can be bought at Casa del Pueblo (on Blue Island near 18th Street) or at Jewel (on Cermak near Western) or at Dominicks (Ashland and Archer). A good place to buy fruit and veggies is Delray Farms (Cermak and Paulina).

C. Food Co-op

The Pilsen MVS house is a member of the Pilsen Food Coop. Orders are filled out and dropped off at 1818 Cullerton (Janet Shaw). Distribution is usually every 4 weeks on Wednesday night at Lincoln United Methodist Church. MVS needs to provide a person to help with the distribution every month.

D. Recycling

The Pilsen House has been recycling plastics, tins, aluminum cans, glass, newspaper. They are put into blue bags and deposited with the trash.

E. Mail

Needs to be forwarded or write "return to sender" and put it in a mail box.

VI. House Orientation

Where things are: Dumpsters, basement key, cash drawer, fire extinguisher, key to front gate.

VII. House Insurance

We have renters’ property insurance through Mennonite Mutual Property Aid (MPA) to cover theft. If you have expensive equipment (such as computer), you should have it itemized on the property listing. Call Eldon Martin at MPA if there are any questions.

VIII. Health

Review pages 16-18 MVS Handbook:

MVS does not rely on conventional coverage, but on a form of self-insurance

Unit pays first $200 of medical expenses for any single illness or injury.

Expenses above $2O0 for a single diagnosis are totally covered.

MVSO pays for expenses above $700 up to $2800 total; Above $3000 submitted to inter-Mennonite major medical pool, up to $400,000.

Medical bill payment procedures vary somewhat. Provider may bill directly to MVS Central, but bill is usually paid by MVS unit, then submitted to MVSO for reimbursement. Keep copies of all bills.

Outpatient Providers

1. Dr. Michael Clark (see Oak Park Church directory) has so far been willing to treat Pilsen MVSers for free at his medical office.

2. Alivio Medical Center (Affiliated with Mercy Hospital)

Juanita Valverde, MD, Family Practitioner
2355 S. Western Ave.
6501200

3. Erie Family Health Center

1656 W. Chicago
666-M88

4. Winfield Moody Health Center (Affiliated with Northwestern Hospital)

1276 N. Clybourn Ave.
337—1073

5. Women’s Health Resources (Affiliated with Illinois Masonic Hospital)

1003 W. Wellington
525—1177
(Recommended by Marge Shenk)

6. Bridgeport Medical (Affiliated with Chicago osteopathic Hospital)

Patricia Higgins, DO, General Practitioner
3201 S. Wallace
326-1615
(Recommended by Jan Wiebe)

7. Chicago Dept. of Health

Neighborhood Health Center, Lower We3t Side
1713 S. Ashland
943- 2460

IX. Orientation Materials:

MVS Handbook*

"Guidelines for MVS Support Committees"*

"Memo to Cooperating Agencies"*

"MVS Personnel Process Guidelines"*

Pilsen Phone Numbers for MVSers

CTA Map- Obtain from El station

Chicago City Map- post on wall of unit?

Neighborhood Map?

*available online at www.geocities.com/jonathanandreas

Pilsen MVS Home

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