Program Development & Training Officer -- November 2020

Program Development & Training Officer

Major projects completed – November 2020 

  • AmeriCorps: Provided new staff training to GPCOG program in addition to start-up support to both GPCOG and new USM program.
  • Provided ongoing technical assistance to all grantees, assisting with eGrants enrollment processing, OnCorps troubleshooting, and recruiting in anticipation of January start dates for some programs.
  • Volunteer Generation Fund. Offered Service Enterprise Orientation for programs considering January February cohort, including formula AmeriCorps programs required by contract to participate.
  • E & E: Worked to re-establish the Excellence and Expertise Task force, facilitating Commissioner participation, establishment of chair and organizing public membership and setting agenda for initial meeting.
  • Other: Presented as panel member in a Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth & South Portland library collaborative session titled “It’s YOUR Chance!: Volunteering During the Pandemic and Beyond”.
  • Started process of transitioning Medical Reserve Corps into REDI disaster management platform. Also participated in the SMCOAD planning for use of the the REDI software for remote VRC training.

Issues to be aware of –

  •  As noted above, Volunteer Maine will be hosting a Service Enterprise cohort beginning in January. December work will include finalizing participant agreements and supporting the organizations as they complete the Service Enterprise Diagnostic (SED).
  • Program officer will continue to support other staff in completing OIG response, grant technical reviews and in managing some OnCorps and eGrants support functions due to staffing and leave considerations.
  • The Governor’s Climate Council will release its report detailing approaches to addressing climate change in the state. Draft reports indicate it will include a recommendation to form a “Climate Corps”. Clarifications regarding the intent of the proposal and resulting outreach will become a focus of program planning work in the coming months.

Major focus of effort in the new month –

  • Completing Service Enterprise agency MOUS and SED signups.
  • Supporting AmeriCorps application grant reviews, including staff appraisals and commissioner reviews. Updating AC contract templates to reflect updated policies and incorporating details/language noted as needing updates in prior agreements.
  • Providing guidance to key staff in establishing the AmeriCorps Member conference committee.
    Completing a No Cost Extension to extend the work of the USM Data Innovation Project supporting programs’ development of data plans and improvements in data quality.
  • Outreach and corrections needed to finalize VGF reporting and invoicing.

Other activity –

  • Ongoing AmeriCorps & VGF Technical Assistance to existing grantees via email, teleconference & face to face.
  • Primary staff for Procurement system management and initial entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including purchase orders, bids, and contracts.