Community Resource Guide For Helena VISTAS Volume 1. July. 2014 | Page 22

Phase 5 Transferring Capacity: 11 to 12 months in
The last phase of your VISTA Life Cycle is a point of divergence for your
professional and personal lives. In your professional life the focus turns away from
you and your work with the organization and on to the long-term health of the
project(s) you have been working on, and what needs to be done to help someone
else carry them out when you are gone. On the other hand, in your personal life the
last phase of VISTA life Cycle is a time to focus on yourself, reflect on what you
have learned from your year in Helena, and what you will do next.
Professional Development Areas
Create a legacy binder for the incoming VISTA: This is a record of what you’ve
done and how someone can replicate your work. Include step by step instructions,
contact persons, helpful tips you’ve learned along the way, timelines, important
documents, etc. If a VISTA will be filling your position it is nice to include
information (activities, restaurants, other VISTAs to contact in the area) about the
city you have been serving in. It is also a good idea to include basic organization
information such as: mission and vision, history, key players, etc.
Sustainability planning: It is important to ensure that the organization will be able
to function smoothly without your presence. Make sure members of the
organization know who will be taking over the duties that you have been
preforming. It is also important that the organization has a funding plan to ensure
future functionality and growth.

22