January 16, 2015
Present: [in person] Bonnie Bagley, Ed Barrett, Celeste Branham, Kathy Billings, Janice Daku, Gordon Liu, Mark Hews, Ron Holmes, Susan Lavigne, John Portela, Nancy McKechnie, Eileen Smart, Barbara Wentworth
Public Comment: Joely Ross of Goodwill Industries Northern New England briefed the Commissioners on a series of workshops conducted with AmeriCorps members and beneficiaries/participants in the AmeriCorps programs.
Eleni Margaronis announced that the United Way of TriValley Area's joint project with the Commission has been funded by Lerner Foundation. The one-year effort will adapt Service Enterprise materials and curriculum from their current nonprofit focus to accommodate public sector agencies. The research on traits of a high performing public sector Service Enterprise was completed in summer 2014 by Reimagining Service so this Maine project has a very strong foundation. United Way of TriValley will develop a working group from four municipal agencies representing four very different towns. The press release announcing the grant and project will be distributed after the Commission meeting today. Commissioners congratulated Ms Margaronis.
The meeting was CALLED TO ORDER at 10:08 am by Chair Ron Holmes. Introductions and the quiz recognition (correct entries from Daku, Barret, Wentworth, Holmes) followed. The new Planning and Research Associate for the Commission was introduced. Pelin Fitzpatrick has worked for a major market research firm in New York City after completing her MBA at University of Hartford. She lived in South Dakota just prior to coming to Maine. She will work 3 days a week and is starting with some data assessment projects as well as MCCS financial tasks.
Eileen Smart announced her office has decided to sunset the Maine VISTA Project operated by the Commission and launch another VISTA project through a Maine nonprofit. The new manager of VISTA has not been selected. She also announced that staff assignments in the tri-state CNCS field office have been realigned. Because she lives in New Hampshire, she will begin working with New Hampshire based National Service programs. The new Maine CNCS program specialist from the field office will be Elizabeth (Libby) Hight who lives in Maine. In fact, Ms Hight is originally from the Augusta area.
There was a brief discussion among Commissioners about the VISTA project change. Because VISTA is non-competitive and sponsors operate at the discretion of CNCS, moving projects is usual practice. MCCS has operated two VISTA projects - one from 2005-2010, and the MVP from 2011-2014. Branham noted that Commission officers wanted to meet with CNCS regional staff to discuss the process used in this decision. Lavigne asked that the MCCS response to the CNCS VISTA monitoring visit be shared with the entire Commission after officers and other Executive Committee members finish editing.
There were no changes to the agenda.
Planning and Future Initiatives
A. Lerner Proposal results (Hews, Guest)
Nothing further to report beyond what was shared in the Public Comment period.
Focus on Mission/Responsibilities
A. Status update for online courses (Zeutenhorst)
Pam gave a "tour" of the course and the material. The first major cohort of students is taking the CMV course. They are largely VISTAs but include someone who will be qualified to proctor the course in the future. The next session will open for registration in February and run during May/June. Those taking the course are surprised at the depth of the content. It goes beyond a simple slide presentation and includes readings, journaling, quizzes, and submitting assignments. The certificate is presented only after the student passes the tests and completes all assignments.
Business Reports (Reports submitted are posted.)
A. Commission Meeting Minutes. (Holmes)
The November minutes were reviewed. No corrections were requested. Moved by Portela to approve the minutes as posted. Second by Bagley. Vote to pass was unanimous.
B. Executive Committee. (Holmes)
The Executive Committee minutes for December 2014 and January 2015 were reviewed. No clarifications or corrections were requested. Moved by Portela to approve the minutes as posted. Second by Branham. Vote to pass was unanimous.
C. Board Development. There was no business for board action.
D. Resource Development. (Hews)
The Commissioner contributions led to a match of $590 by the anonymous donor. On another matter, Resource Development and Executive Committee have authorized an application to the Maine Community Foundation to increase by 12 the number of certified Service Enterprise trainers/facilitators. This is a one time activity and would result in Maine having a solid core of leaders dispersed across the state who certified to lead organizations through the process.
E. Grants Task Force (Billings and Ashmore)
1. Maine AmeriCorps Rural Pilot. An overview of this new grant program had been distributed with the meeting agenda. The task force recommends there be no policy changes until the end of the grant period for this pilot. One clarification made is that, under the pilot model, grantees would only have one opportunity to participate in the Rural program and then apply under the usual requirements - including being part of a coalition or set of partners.
2. AmeriCorps Competitive Cost Reimbursement Grant applications. The task force recommendations were presented as motions addressing each submission.
a) RSU 14/REAL School. Task Force members expressed support for the RSU14/REAL School application. REAL School has elected to attempt to expand their program after a single formula cycle and enter into the State Competitive application process. RSU 14 is requesting 23.56 MSY distributed over 48 AmeriCorps positions with a federal share of $305,006 matched by $197,725 in local share at a cost per member of $12,946.
Moved by Billings that the RSU 14/REAL School application be moved forward for submission to the national competition with the condition that indirect calculation in the budget be corrected and recommended improvements to the narrative portion be made prior to submission. Second by Portela. Vote in favor: Unanimous.
b) Maine Conservation Corps Continuation. Task Force members also expressed support for the Maine Conservation Corps application. MCC is making a significant change in program focus by choosing Economic Opportunity as a primary program outcome, measuring the number of individuals who complete MCC service and, within one year, gain employment, enter postsecondary education, or begin military or national service. The Conservation Corps is requesting 35.03 MSY distributed over 86 AmeriCorps positions with a federal share of $455,409 matched by $1,097,550 in local share at a cost per member of $13,001.
Moved by Billings that the Maine Conservation Corps application be moved forward for submission to the national competition with the condition that the applicant re‐write the Need section to strengthen the application (within the required page limitations) and add necessary information to the budget narrative prior to submission. Second by Daku. Vote in favor: Unanimous.
3. AmeriCorps Competitive Fixed Price Grant applications.
a) Island Institute Island Fellows AmeriCorps Program. The Island Institute has also decided to make the move out of the Formula pool into State Competitive, though without expansion of the existing program. The have chosen to expand their target outcomes beyond education by electing to apply as a multi‐purpose intermediary focused on developing overall community capacity. Island Institute is requesting 10 Full‐time Fixed Price MSY (10 AmeriCorps positions) with a federal share of $130,000. Fixed price applicants are not required to declare local share. Cost per member will be $13,000.
Moved by Billings that the Island Institute application be moved forward for submission to the national competition with the condition that the applicant reduce the submitted application to no more than the required number of pages and add more concrete descriptions of member activities to strengthen the application prior to submission. Second by Portela. Vote in favor: 12. Vote against: 0. Abstain: 1 (Branham).
4. AmeriCorps State Competitive continuation applications.
a) LearningWorks AIMS HIGH AmeriCorps Program Continuation. Task Force recommends reducing the size of the LearningWorks grant due to continued poor enrollment. The Task Force recommends giving the program latitude to reduce the program to the funded level in the manner that makes the most sense in terms of the program design but expects that there will be significant reduction in the number of minimum‐time positions, as this is the slot type with the greatest enrollment deficits.
Moved by Billings that LearningWorks AIMS HIGH program be reduced from the requested level of 54.46 MSY to not more than 40 MSY, resulting in a reduction from the requested $724,931 to not more than $532,000 Federal Share, to be matched by at least $228,000 in local funds. The task force recommends submission of the continuation application pending changes to the budget and related adjustments to the narratives as appropriate to the recommended reductions in grant scale. Second by Portela. Vote in favor: 12. Vote against: 0. Abstain: 1 (Lavigne).
b) Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor AmeriCorps Opportunity Collaborative. EMCC has informed the Commission that they will no longer sponsor the current AmeriCorps program due to financial hardship. They are prepared to support the program and the current members through the end of this grant year. Since the announcement by EMCC, three local agencies hosting AmeriCorps members in the program have stepped forward to offer support in continuing the program. The Commission is working on identifying a primary sponsor and completing the work necessary to transition the program to a new sponsor; however, an application has to be submitted by the federal deadline or the program cannot be continued.
Moved by Billings to authorize submission of the EMCC request for termination and a secondary application to accompany it as a placeholder application for a new fiscal agent who will submit a plan to assume fiscal and programmatic oversight prior to the announcement of year three funding. This secondary applicant would be reviewed by the Grants Task Force using the criteria used to review all new applicants. Second by Bagley. Vote in favor: unanimous.
5. Supplemental Requests. There were no supplemental requests made available to the continuation applicants.
6. Operation AmeriCorps. Of the three local governments that expressed interest, none decided to pursue an Operation AmeriCorps application. They prefer to submit applications directly to each program type.
F. ASC Public Policy Committee. (Holmes) There was no report.
G. Public Information and Education/ Public Policy. (Portela)
The MCCS bill is still in the revisors office. There is a change in date for the Legislative Awareness Day. Due to a cancellation, we were able to move the date to May 12. Finally, the Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism will be presented on April 21. The Young Maine Volunteer Roll of Honor is accepting nominations through March 13 and the nominees will be guests at Portland Pirates. Commissioner assistance is needed at all events.
I. Excellence and Expertise. (Hews)
At its meeting last week, the task force reviewed items in the Strategic Plan and set priorities for action. Service Enterprise and professional development will be the priority strategies for work.
K. MCCS Staff. (Crofton)
Introduction of new staff happened earlier. Pam's employment has been extended beyond March 31 to assist with supporting the VISTA members. Both VISTA Leaders complete service by early April. There were no requests for clarifications from Commissioners.
J. CNCS field office. (Smart)
Mayors Day recognizing National Service will again be coordinated in Maine by the CNCS field office. A letter from Wendy Spencer will be sent to mayors who participated last year.
There being no further business, Moved by Portela to adjourn. Second by Branham. Vote in favor: Unanimous.