Communications Officer: January 2022

Metrics: Media outreach and public relations

Please use the following link to view the December report -- access report.

Major projects completed

  • Produced and distributed owned media coverage around the service projects executed on MLK Day by Maine AmeriCorps programs, which was also distributed by the AmeriCorps federal agency on the top-level AmeriCorps social media accounts and digital platforms.
  • Collaborated with Program Officer for Volunteer Sector Initiatives to announce nominations for 2022 Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism, which earned media coverage in two newspapers, so far. This effort also included making updates to the four web pages with information on the awards.
  • Produced and "Volunteer Fare" newsletter for January.
  • Executed a second AmeriCorps recruitment content generation (photo/video) shoot, this time for Maine Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program's MLK Day of Service activity. 
  • Collaborated with Executive Director and Climate Corps planner to lay out, publish and distribute final version of Climate Corps report to Legislature.
  • Established design concept and layout of 2021 Annual Report.
  • Collaborated with Program Officer for Volunteer Sector Initiatives to reopen and promote Service-learning Workshop series due to a shift in schedule.

Issues to be aware of

  • Participation in 2022 Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) Public Education Program (PEP); receiving final report for 2021: It was recently announced that Suzanne Goucher, the long-time executive director of MAB, passed away unexpectedly. After speaking with a contact who also participates in the PEP program, it is going to take some time for things to stabilize. While there is not yet much clarity on how to get the final 2021 report and match values, there may be an opportunity to still earn match by working with broadcast companies directly.
  • Task Force scheduling conflicts: The Communications Task Force has had some trouble over the past couple of months finding a good time to meet, which has slowed progress on some initiatives and goals. Given some newly communicated scheduling conflicts with a Task Force member, the search continues for a new meeting time.
  • Announcement of Maine Service Fellows Gift - continued delay: A draft release has been written and approved in-house, however approval has not yet been granted by the doner. Roche placed a follow up call and left a voicemail with a new contact on Mon. Jan. 31.

Major focus of effort in the next month

  • Finishing production of Volunteer Maine's Annual Report.
  • Collaborating with Program Officer for Volunteer Sector Initiatives to announce nominations for 2022 Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism.
  • Tweaking plans due to MAB news: AmeriCorps recruitment campaign that targets potential gap year students as well as individuals looking for a change in career.
  • Tweaking plans due to MAB news: awareness campaign around results of COVID-19 volunteer impact report.
  • Tweaking plans due to MAB news: awareness campaign to improve Maine's civic health and its relationship to service and volunteerism
  • Rethinking plan to produce/update broadcast Public Service Announcements
  • Approval and distribution of Maine Service Fellows program gift to the Maine Volunteer Foundation announcement.

Other activity

  • Staffed Communications Task Force January meeting.
  • Staffed January Maine Volunteer Foundation Board meeting and began working with Board on follow-up action items.
  • Attended two Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference planning meetings to provide media relations and graphic design guidance.

Prepared by Communications Officer Bryan Roche