Major projects completed
- Provided support, including drafting of memos & official correspondence, facilitating informational meetings, and providing updates to impacted and non-terminated AmeriCorps & AmeriCorps Seniors program staff regarding the termination notice issued by the federal administration.
- Met with ASC staff and participated in ASC meetings to determine nation-wide responses to the federal AmeriCorps staff reductions and the termination notices. Coordinated with ED and PIO in ensuring that messaging was consistent.
- Used monthly AmeriCorps Technical Assistance and AC Planning Grant training meeting time slots to continue to provide updated information to program staff. All National Direct staff invited to participate.
- Supported ED and Financial Assistant in collecting information regarding expenditures in preparation for the close of the state fiscal year and end of the federal funding cycle.
- Hosted a number of planning sessions related to the Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference to coordinate the program and registration details. Sent ‘Save The Date’ memos to members of the Maine Volunteer Managers’ Network. Continued to seek sponsors for he conference.
- Continued to participate in NGA Policy Academy meetings and process, but worked to emphasize to DOL team members that the Volunteer Services Coordinator is the lead on this project.
- Submitted a 2 month No Cost Extension request for the CIF Training & Technical Assistance grant allowing for the us of funds beyond June 30.
Issues to be aware of
- Continuing (GPCOG) and new (MCC) AmeriCorps Competitive application announcements have been delayed by the reductions of staff at the Agency. There is no announced timeline for the funding decisions, and they have not been moved to “under review” in the federal database.
- New CIF and CSG cycle is scheduled to start July 1st. The federal agency is targeting June 20 for announcements of awards.
- Because only one new applicant was funded this year, new grantee training sessions will be in-person, possibly at the grantee site.
- The Volunteer Leadership Conference is scheduled for August 6th in Augusta and will take the place of the August Technical Assistance meeting. Registration will open in June.
- The Prog Dev & Training Officer will be out of the country for the first two weeks in July.
Major focus of effort in the new month
- Monitor progress of lawsuit asking for injunction of AmeriCorps program terminations and plan for potential consequences of various potential outcomes in order to best serve programs and commission goals.
- Continue to support AmeriCorps Operating & Planning Grantees, as requested, to support them during termination and closeout processes.
- Continue to support new ED in understanding VM standard practices, state policy, context of current work, and needed future planning.
- Finalize dates for summer new grantee trainings, including programmatic trainings and a fixed award financial training for program and fiscal staff.
- Support involved staff in developing next steps for the NGA Policy Academy grant, including participation in design thinking for conducting focus group meeting(s) with service programs and apprenticeship providers.
- Open registration for Volunteer Leadership Conference, communicate with potential attendees, and coordinate sponsorship outreach.
- Begin annual updating tools and links in all Grant Management writeboards in the Group Hub ahead of new grantee training.
- Support grant officer in updated funding contract template for AmeriCorps grantees.
Other activity
- Supported the Service Programs Task Force and provided support for the monthly Commission meeting.
- Ongoing non-termination Assistance to existing AmeriCorps grantees and other national service programs via email, teleconference & face to face.
- Procurement system management and initial entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including delivery orders, and contracts, as well as providing procurement card services for the office.
- Participated in MOCA start up meetings and continued work with MOCA colleagues on the MOCA Directory Working Group