PRESENT: Kristen Grant, Ivan Fernandez, Kate Klibansky, Tom Meuser, Kelsey Preecs, Janet May, Julia Van Steenberghe
STAFF: Michael Ashmore, Lucy Martin, Maureen Kendzierski
Meeting started at 3:00
Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions
a. Maureen Kendzierski was introduced as the new Volunteer Services Coordinator and the group reviewed the agenda and TF purposes.
2. Service Fellows Update --- tabled from March meeting
a. Funding update. MK, LM, and MA confirmed that the funding for the Maine Service Fellows from the Resilient Maine NOAA grant are still accessible
b. Recruitment and Project updates. MK reported that the last two fellow positions needed to be filled by May/June of 2025 and the timeline for recruiting new host sites starting in June of 2025. Kelsey expressed interest in getting county EMA’s interested in being host sites.
c. Suggestions for additional sources of funding for Maine Service Fellows. The TF clarified that the maximum number of fellows is 20 and that host sites were expected to contribute $1800 as part of the program but could raise additional funds for housing stipends or supplement the living allowance. Discussion around additional funding included finding donors that are sympathetic to the purpose of the MSF, approaching Maine Calling for media coverage once the full cohort for 2025/2026 was placed, and seeking state funding once again for both the MSF and the Climate Corps.
3. Climate Corps Network
a. Green Employer’s Learning Cohort Training Fund update. The amended budget for the Green Employer’s Learning Cohort Grant was accepted and a call for funding applications was sent out to Climate Corps Network programs with a deadline of March 28th for professional development opportunities relating to green/climate jobs occurring before the end of the grant cycle. Applications were reviewed and funds were awarded to Maine Conservation Corps, Maine Resilience Corps, Thompson Lake Environmental Association, and University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Policy for professional development opportunities for their members.
b. Action steps/participation for TF members. TF participants offered to identify additional potential partners
c. Solidifying criteria for Climate Corps Network participation. Lucy brought forward the need to clarify the definition of “member” in relation to participation in the Climate Corps Network where programs that wish to be part of the Network need to have at least two “members.” The clarified definition of member was agreed upon by the task force as: “any participant that engages in a service capacity for the organization/participating program including interns engaged in service-based projects, volunteers that commit to specific tasks whether or not they are stipended, fellows that engage in service projects, and Corps members from other Corps programs.”
Lucy brought forward the need to clarify the definition of “full-time” in relation to participation in the Climate Corps Network where programs with “full-time” members needed to pay those members a living wage. The clarified definition of full-time was agree upon by the task force as: “any member that is dedicating at least 1700+ consecutive service hours annually to the organization.”
d. Recommendations to increase value of the Network - Tabled for next meeting
4. Volunteer Leadership Conference Planning Committee (tabled/information to be sent out in an email). Updates from the planning committee include: call for proposals has been opened – please share around; 1 confirmed plenary speaker and another request out; and the committee is discussing possible panel topics such as natural resources/climate space and people who have had long-term experience in volunteer management group of funders.
Meeting ended at: 4:01