From milstein@pipeline.comFri Mar 15 21:07:04 1996 Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 14:26:33 -0500 From: Sarah Milstein To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Workers' Comp for Apprentices? Hi, everyone. I'm posting this for Lauren Augusta, the director of MESA. Although the following blurb does not address the question of obtaining Workers' Comp insurance for apprentices, she has been wondering about the logistics of that issue, particularly in California. E-mail her directly with any info you might have (mesa@hooked.net). Sarah Milstein _________________ Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA), a non-profit based in Oakland, CA, sponsors young international farmers for year-round live/work placements on US organic/sustainable host farms. MESA's international participants all have farming backgrounds and seek to improve their skills in eco-farming practices. > We work with reputable organic agricultural NGOs around the world, who help us select and prepare participants for the annual program. MESA has received United States Information Agency exchange program designation, which authorizes issuance of 12-18 month J-1 visas for our international farmers. > MESA is currently seeking organic host farms and CSAs to host incoming exchange farmers with various commodity interests from Russia, Lithuania, Honduras and Guatemala. In exchange for reliable and skilled farm assistance, host farms agree to provide room and board for their int'l farmers. Host farms also send a monthly $675 (or $800 room only) program fee to MESA. MESA, in turn, provides its international farmers with $300 (or $425 w/o meals) monthly stipends, full health insurance, orientations & educational seminars, domestic transportation, legal documentation and administrative support. > MESA is especially interested in seeking out small-scale, highly diversified farms and CSAs as hosts. Recognizing that its reasonable program fee may still be unfeasible for some farms, we are working on ways to offset the fee to a few qualified participants. CSAs, especially, have a tremendous resource in their members. > For more information about the program, or a host farm application, please contact: > Lauren Augusta, Executive Director 5337 College Ave., Ste. 508 Oakland, CA 94618 Tel: 510-654-8858 Fax: 510-845-0861 email: mesa@hooked.net > ************************************************************************** > From mesa@hooked.netThu Jun 27 21:50:44 1996 Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 09:49:30 -0700 From: Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Int'l exchange farmer needs new "digs" From: Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture Subject: Int'l exchange farmer needs new "digs" Hello Sanetters: MESA, a non-profit organization sponsoring young international farmers for live/work positions with US organic/sustainable host farms, is in need of a new 4-10month intern/work position for one of our participants whose pre-assigned host farm didn't work out. Jurgita is a friendly, hard-working 25 yr. old Lithuanian woman who has experience working with Vegetables, Flowers and Bees. Her English is somewhat limited but improving daily. MESA's exchange farmers work full time (up to 48hrs/wk) on their host farms, and host farms assign various tasks related to organic skills training. In exchange for their hard work, host farmers provide room& board and send MESA $675 monthly program fees (or $800/mo w/ room only). MESA uses the program fees to provide our exchange farmers with $300/month stipends (or $425 w/o board), full health insurance, domestic travel, legal documentation, coordinator visits and administrative assistance. Participating host farms have no payroll taxes or legal documentation concerns, and will enjoy a great cross-cultural and professionally rewarding program. If your farm is interested in finding out more about Jurgita and/or MESA's program, or if you can suggest any leads (especially in the Western US), please respond ASAP. We're hoping to locate a wonderful new host soon! Thank you. Lauren E. Augusta, Executive Director Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA) 5337 College Ave., Ste. 508 Oakland, CA 94618 Tel. #510-654-8858 email: mesa@hooked.net