November 4, 2016
Public Information Materials
This month, I have updated and created brochures and displays for the Commission. We sent to bid a new AmeriCorps sponsors/grantees brochure and it should be printed soon. I am also close to completing: a recruitment brochure encouraging people to join AmeriCorps in Maine; a replacement National Service retractable banner; and replacement tri-fold displays for the Commission and VolunteerMaine.
During the Blaine House Conference on Service and Volunteerism I interviewed five individuals representing a broad range of volunteer managers. I plan to use the video footage to create an updated, “Volunteers in Maine” video.
Social Media & Web Communications
Other ongoing projects include updating our social media accounts (twitter and facebook) and distributing e-bulletins to our AmeriCorps and Senior Corps partners. Our top October tweet (a photo from AmeriCorps Opening Day) earned 1,269 impressions and in October we gained 16 new followers. On the MCCS AmeriCorps facebook page our most popular October post (a photo of a LearningWorks member) had 998 views.
Additionally, I’ve released 1 edition of “Volunteer Fare”, the e-newsletter for VolunteerMaine.
Supplemental Funds
I have supported our Formula-funded programs that have received supplemental funds for outreach. They have hired a videographer to produce several AmeriCorps videos. The outcome will be 3 videos of varying lengths and an audio PSA. The videographer is Galen Koch and you can see samples of her work here: http://www.galenkoch.com/multimedia/
I am creating a style guide to ensure program materials have a common “look and feel”. This is a document that includes suggested fonts, colors, proper use of the logo, and editorial guidelines. The intent is to have consistent branding on materials and communications to increase recognition of AmeriCorps in Maine. A guide I am using as a template is the Massachusetts Service Alliance style guide: http://www.mass-service.org/site/assets/docs/MSA_Graphic_Style_Guide.pdf
Radio Ads
I sent six scripts (two each for VolunteerMaine, Senior Corps and AmeriCorps) to Commissioner Ross Cunningham to be recorded by a professional voice actor. We are re-using past VolunteerMaine scripts and I wrote new Senior Corps and AmeriCorps scripts.
Program Marketing
I surveyed all of the Maine AmeriCorps programs about their outreach activities during the 2015-2016 program year. I am still waiting on results from one more program and then I will compile and analyze results.