A leading advocate for national service and former national director of AmeriCorps at the Corporation for National Service, Bill Basl, is formally endorsing the candidacy of John Mues to serve as the next U.S. Senator from the State of Montana.
With his endorsement of John Mues to be elected to the U.S. Senate, Bill Basl issued the following statement:
“Of the many important qualities associated with successful service in the United States Senate including character, experience, and leadership is the ability to inspire others to serve and protect the freedoms unique to our democracy. While steeped in traditional Montana values, John Mues also sees the importance of hard work, care for those in need, respect for the earth we share, and bringing people together to help solve the problems and challenges we all face each day.
John simply doesn’t look to others to serve. He has done that throughout his life. In serving his country as a naval officer in hot spots around the world and as a public school teacher on the Ft. Belknap Indian reservation John places high importance on those who step forward and help solve problems rather than simply talk about issues. He prioritizes service to country and community as a key element of character that I hope voters consider when they vote for John for the US Senate.
In my experiences as National Director of AmeriCorps from 2012-2016 under President Obama, I’ve seen first-hand the changes that take place when people place public interest above personal gain. Whether you have served our country in national military service or national civilian service, or volunteer to help your neighbors, tutor children, serve as a sports coach, or volunteer for your local fire department, I urge you to support John Mues as those values that caused you to serve our country are the very values that John will carry for you as the next U.S. Senator from Big Sky Country.”
About Bill Basl
Bill Basl was appointed by the White House as the Director of AmeriCorps in June 2012 at the Corporation for National and Community Service and served in this capacity until December 31, 2016. Prior to this appointment, during the past 40 years, Bill worked in a variety of capacities for the state of Washington. He served as the initial Executive Director of the Washington Commission for National and Community Service established by Governor Mike Lowry in 1994 to implement and expand volunteerism and national service initiatives including AmeriCorps. In 1983, prior to being named to this position, Bill founded the Washington Service Corps which was the first statewide youth service initiative in the nation designed to address priority local education and human service’s needs. Bill was reappointed to this position by former Governor and former Ambassador to China, Gary Locke and in 2005 by Governor Chris Gregoire. He served as a member of the Governor’s Small Agency Cabinet. He has assisted agencies and organizations nationally and internationally to expand and strengthen national service.
Bill supported the State Department in promoting national service, requested by Italian government and civic service leaders to assist in developing new service initiatives. He is the co-founder of Service America, a national program that placed cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with AmeriCorps members to address critical community needs. He has developed the Leadership Forum for National Service Executives at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs, which offers graduate level course work designed to meet the needs of senior leaders in national service from throughout the country. He has served as a board member and immediate past Chair of America’s Service Commissions.
From 1970-72, Bill served as a VISTA Volunteer in Walla Walla, WA, helping migrant farm workers establish their own businesses. In Spokane, where he was a VISTA Volunteer Leader, he helped form a regional legal services network. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Bill received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. In 2011 The White House named Bill a Champion of Change-Service Innovator.