AMERICORPS MEMBERS IN KANSAS CITY FOR TRAINING

Area AmeriCorps staff members left for Kansas City Wednesday to participate in training and have new members sworn in by President Bill Clinton.

The Cape Girardeau staffers will be among 400 AmeriCorps members from Kansas and Missouri attending the Kansas City convention, part of a 25,000-member nationwide event with similar conferences in 1,100 communities.

AmeriCorps is a corporation for national service conceived by Clinton over two years ago. The president then touted the plan as a domestic version of the Peace Corps that would allow students to obtain grants and repay them with service to the country.

In addition to a rally today, the president will swear in new members of the AmeriCorps program via satellite. Clinton will administer the oath from the East Room of the White House about 1 p.m.

AmeriCorps member Eileen Holman said Friday's conference provides a variety of training workshops. She said although the conference wasn't mandatory for AmeriCorps members, officials "strongly suggested" attendance because of the vital training sessions.

Area members going to the event include Holman, Diane Simmington, Gloria Black, Maria Palmieri, Amantha Tyler, Kelly Ploesser, Stephanie Drummond, Rebecca Snyder, Tim Rabey, Jeanine Jepsen, Michael Harris and Dr. Johnny McGaha.

Also attending the convention will be Missouri Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, who has coordinated the AmeriCorps project at the statewide level. He will be featured at an awards breakfast Friday morning in Kansas City.