Public Comment Period (Tilton-Flood): No members of the public requested an opportunity to speak.
Present: In person - Jenifer Tilton-Flood, Edward Barrett, Susan Hawthorne, Matthew L’Italien, Zachary Maher, Luke Shorty. Remote - F. Celeste Branham, Julia Fiori, Maggie Garvey (proxy for Susan Cheesman), Robert Meinders, Jessica Nixon, Pamela Proulx-Curry, Nathaniel Rudy
Guest: Ron Holmes, Volunteer Maine Foundation
Call to Order: Commission Chair Tilton-Flood called the meeting to order at 10:09 a.m.
Welcome, Announcements, Agenda Adjustments (Tilton-Flood): Commissioners introduced themselves and stated what seats they held on the Commission. Staff were also introduced. Commissioner Branham offered an invitation to any Commission member who would like to join the Maine Service Fellows Task Force. Executive Director Maryalice Crofton noted that the Commission may be interested in an ongoing debate amongst Washington D.C. think tanks as to whether service or job corps programs are the best way to impart skills to young adults.
Consent Agenda: There were no concerns about the consent agenda. MOVED by L’Italien to approve the agenda. Seconded by Barrett. Vote on the motion: Tilton-Flood, Branham, Barrett, Fiori, Garvey, Hawthorne, L’Italien, Maher, Meinders, Nixon, Proulx-Curry, Rudy, Shorty. Opposed – none. Motion passed.
Items approved by the motion were minutes of the Commission meeting on September 10, 2021, and the reports of the Executive Committee meeting for October 5, Communications Task Force meeting for September 20, Research and Evaluation Task Force for September 24, and Excellence and Expertise Task Force meeting for October 6.
Planning and Future Initiatives
A. Maine Volunteer Foundation (Holmes): The chair invited Ron Holmes, Treasurer of the Maine Volunteer Foundation board, to update the Commission on the Foundation’s goals and recent progress. Holmes said that the Foundation is still searching for supporters who will fund the Maine Service Fellows project. At the present, the Foundation has secured $36,036.04 in funding, including a recent donation from Central Maine Power (CMP). Additionally, the board recently held elections; Bill Birney retained his position as President.
B. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Exploration (Branham): Commissioner Branham explained that the Commission’s DEI team within the Executive Committee has identified intermediate long-term goals for grants, hiring, and grantee reporting data. The team also met with a DEI specialist from the Minnesota Commission for National and Community Service. Branham noted the DEI team will draft an updated DEI statement for the Commission; though important, this statement will be insufficient without the consistent execution and maintenance of its principles. Crofton observed that such trainings will be useful to grantees as well, given that members of marginalized groups may leave AmeriCorps service early if they are made to feel uncomfortable. Alternatively, they may lack access to the resources that make service a feasible option. Commissioner Proulx-Curry added that well-meaning individuals may have blind spots and becoming aware of those opened up learning about the critical needs of marginalized groups. Commissioners Barrett and Fiori affirmed the need for reflection around implicit bias and blind spots. Commissioner Rudy said that racism is a condition in Maine and reinforces ongoing marginalization.
Business Reports
A. Grant Selection and Performance Task Force (Barrett): Commissioner Barret noted that applications for competitive grants will be due soon and that the relevant RFP will be coming out in a few weeks. Analysis showed the task force is able to meet formula grant obligations for the next few years. Additionally, Barrett mentioned that the task force will use ARPA funds to increase stipends for AmeriCorps members; however, there may be administrative difficulties if federal funds decrease after the stipend amount is raised; perhaps the task force could limit the number of members in the future to avoid this issue. The task force currently has a problem of scarcity, as there are many more eligible grantees than formula funds available.
B. Excellence and Expertise Task Force (Proulx-Curry): Commissioner Proulx-Curry invited Program Officer Kelsey Preecs to speak for the recent Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference. Preecs said that conference attended gave very positive evaluations to their sessions and that everything flowed smoothly.
C. Communications and Public Policy Task Force (Maher): Commissioner Maher explained that the Commission’s work with the Maine Association of Broadcasters has led to match donations of approximately $100,000 at the end of the second quarter.
D. National Public Policy Committees of States (Crofton, Maher): Crofton briefed the Commission on work of a set of commissions developing an ASC paper about AmeriCorps reauthorization. Some of the positions are the same as the advocacy group, Voices for National Service, but not all because of states’ unique responsibilities. Reauthorization is not active in Congress. This is preparation for an expected move next year.
E. AmeriCorps (federal agency) update (Garvey): Proxy Garvey noted that the AmeriCorps federal agency has been included in the President’s budget for the first time in four years, it has produced a new strategic plan. Additionally, the CDC has given the AmeriCorps federal agency funds for a new public health initiative, including $4M to expand VISTA site locations. In her concluding remarks, Garvey mentioned that the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will soon vote on whether to confirm Michael Smith as the CEO of AmeriCorps federal agency.
F. Commission Staff Reports: Crofton noted that since the Commission has ARPA AmeriCorps formula funds for the next three years. Commission Support Grant AFPA funding is still a mystery. CNCS has not released any information despite the fact the appropriation was made months ago. Executive Committee and Crofton discussed priorities for those funds which would be over and above the base allocation to Maine. The decision is to support a Climate Corps Coordinator position and additional spending on training after the Commission Support Grant is bolstered on January 1, 2022.
Communications Officer Bryan Roche stated that AmeriCorps induction ceremony is still scheduled for November 15th, 2021 as an in-person event at Capital Park, though he is still waiting for an exact headcount of attendees.
Focus on Financial Responsibilities
Quarterly financial reports were posted with the agenda. The Commission clarified that an additional $6,000 listed for training and technical assistance revenue was not an unexpected surplus, but rather a transfer of money from a different grant.
Business Wrap Up (Tilton-Flood): There being no other business to address, Tilton-Flood MOVED to adjourn. SECONDED by Barrett. Vote on the motion: In favor –. Tilton-Flood, Branham, Barrett, Fiori, Garvey, Hawthorne, L’Italien, Maher, Meinders, Nixon, Proulx-Curry, Rudy, Shorty. Opposed – none. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m. The next meeting will be on November 19, 2021.