Present: Celeste Branham, Ed Barrett, Jenni Tilton-Flood, Pam Proulx-Curry, Maryalice Crofton, and Stacie Haines
The members convened at 3:30 pm using the virtual meeting technology.
Next Meeting Date: The Commission calendar has a placeholder for a February OR March meeting. As there is no business that requires a vote the Commission for February the Executive Committee decided to utilize the March 17th meeting date. The New Commissioner Orientation planned for 17 February will proceed as scheduled, but will be held virtually.
Task Force Updates
Communications: The Chair announced that due to constraints on schedule and availability Communications TF Chair Zakk Maher requested to step back from the duties of chair. He will continue to serve on the Task Force. Jenni tilton-Flood will step into the role of Chair. She has a meeting with Communications TF staff lead Bryan Roche scheduled for next week.
Grants: Ed Barrett, TF Chair, reported that they will meet Friday as the next round of grants are opening up. The TF will be looking at the Strategic Plan and Minimum Living Allowance requirements as well. The Grants TF is in need of new members and reviewers. They hope to have 3-4 panels of 3 people to review grants this round.
Excellence & Expertise: Pam Proulx-Curry, TF Chair, reported that the TF did not meet in January and would be meeting soon. Their numbers are up and Pam was very confident in the experience and commitment of the roster and excited for the work ahead.
Climate Corps: Stacie Haines, TF Chair, reported on the passage of LD 142 through the Educational & Cultural Affairs Committee at the Work Session held just moments before this meeting. The bulk of the TF work the past month was focused on the LD and advocacy on its behalf. With the start up of the Public Policy TF there will be communication and shared work going forward between Climate Corps TF and Policy TF with regards to legislative advocacy. The TF Chair has a robust group but would be interested in more Commissioner Members on the TF.
MSF/MVF/DEI Subgroup: Celeste Branham, TF Chair reported for all 3. She has been working with Jake to recast the Maine Service Fellows advisory committee and to start up again in March with a robust and engaged new lineup. The Foundation will be meeting on Friday. The DEI Subgroup is developing Commissioner work and education as well as a Lunch & Learn Series and will be meeting on Thursday.
Strategic Plan: The Committee discussed the upcoming Strategic Plan work and evaluated the usefulness, success, and applicability of Real Time Strategic Planning. The general consensus was the an Asset Based, Real Time process that included and integrated stakeholder input ,and a strength finding rubric would serve the mission of the Commission well. Ensuring communication and documentation was applicable an easily understood but Commissioners was also noted as a priority. There will be an intentional outreach to the full Commission regarding the process audit will be included in the upcoming New Commissioner orientation.
Miscellaneous: LD 142 & LD 143 both passed in Committee and Testimony was provided during the Public Hearings by Commissioners Shorty & Haines. Executive Director Maryalice Crofton was in attendance at the Public Hearing to answer questions as needed and also at the Work Session.
There being no other discussion items, the members dispersed at 4:15 pm.