PRESENT: Celeste Branham, Pinny Beebe-Center, Kate Tagai, Rep Morgan Reilly, Libby Hite, Orion Breen, Maryalice Crofton
The committee convened by videoconference at 4:30 pm.
FUNDING PROGRESS.
The good news conveyed had to do with the agreement of the Legislature to fund LD 1974, an act to establish a Maine climate corps, $30,000 of which is earmarked for the Maine Service Fellows Program. There are many people to thank for this effort, but principal among them is Representative Morgan Rielly who initiated this legislation and shepherded the bill to its signing on Monday.
Funding for two positions is now in hand. A third donation is expected in June. That should allow a pilot program to launch over the summer. It also makes completing the guidelines and operating elements by end of June a necessity. Given the work ahead, the committee may need to meet more frequently.
SITE SPONSOR APPLICATION
The final review of the Sponsor Site Application was concluded with only minor suggested changes. It is now ready for use.
SERVICE FELLOW HANDBOOK with DRAFT OPERATING POLICIES BUILT IN
The Committee decided to review the draft Handbook for Service Fellows in a different manner. It is in a partially completed draft state. Today or tomorrow, Maryalice will share a Google doc version with all members so that they can review the handbook at our own pace. Committee members will have comment rights and are asked to leave notes as they review. Comments will be compiled 24 hours before the next meeting for a collective discussion and reactions.
Because we have to move this process along, given the possibility that we will launch a pilot project, the next meeting will be May 24th to review the handbook specifically. That review will take a minimum of two meetings, which is why the pace of our meetings is accelerating.
The meeting ended at 4:57 pm.