Program Development & Training Officer
Major projects completed:
- Provided two-part New Grantee Finance Training for Planning Grantee finance and program staff members and provided individualized support for all three grantees in addition to hosting the monthly Planning Grant Technical Assistance Meeting
- Updated and provided the semi-annual Site Supervisor Training for supervisors of grantee programs. The meeting followed the Monthly AmeriCorps Technical Assistance Meeting
- Presented an afternoon, in-person workshop for GPCOG’s new cohort of members on Skilled Volunteerism and the role of local volunteerism in AmeriCorps programming
- Coordinated with Governor’s Energy Office and MDOL staff in response to award of National Governor’s Association Grant on creating service to workforce pathways; in particular, the interface between Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, Licensed Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
- Scheduled and hosted first of the AmeriCorps Maine Volunteer Leadership Conferenceplanning meetings with selected commission & public representatives
- Made additional corrections to the online Certificate course in anticipation of opening it for the winter session
- Provided training and technical assistance data to PIO in support of Annual report drafting
- Did outreach to multiple agencies exploring application to the spring formula competition including Hurricane Island School and the Cultural Alliance of Maine. Met with representatives if Riverview Psychiatric Center to provide information on incorporating service & volunteerism in their supervised release program. Met with organizational leadership of agencies housed in Portland’s Equality Community Center
- Represented Volunteer Maine at MOCA Staff Leads meeting in MC’s absence and participated in MOCA staff meetings
Issues to be aware of:
- The Penobscot Nation determined that they would be unable to meet the capacity requirements of supporting an AmeriCorps program. Chief Dana reached out to explain the decision and to formally withdraw from the grant
- VM will be opening an extra formula competition to allocate funding returned by the Penobscot tribe
- VM is purchasing an upgrade of the Maine Ready Disaster Volunteer matching platform to add a “blue skies” component to serve as a statewide platform for agencies and people seeking volunteer opportunities. This was supposed to be completed in December, but OIT reviews have slowed the process, and it will not be final until February
Major focus of effort in the new month:
- Supporting Executive Director hiring committee
- Completing review of Certificate course to ensure that students have no difficulties in accessing all course components
- Revise Planning Grantee Curriculum and update Planning grant writeboard content to reflect changes.
- Supporting programs as they navigate changes initiated by new federal administration
- Planning for Volunteer Leadership Conference, scheduled for August 6th at Camp Chamberlain; including bi-weekly meetings, site visit & confirmation, revising website content, setting up for session proposals, and establishing Keynote speaker invites and a fundraising plan
- Supporting the potential applicants, including former Planning Grantees, intending to apply to the upcoming Formula competition before the window of support closes
- Finalizing the setup of the new Galaxy Digital volunteer matching platform
Other activity:
- Prepared Federal Financial Report but was unable to submit because of problems with the federal data management system. AmeriCorps provided an extension on the due date of the filing.
- Hosted Maine Volunteer Managers’ Network meeting
- Provided staff support to Service Programs Task Force and hosted their first meeting with the Climate Corps Coordinator
- Ongoing AmeriCorps Technical Assistance to existing grantees via email, teleconference & face to face.
- Supported Office Admin with procurement system management and initial entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including purchase orders, bids, and contracts. has context menu