May 15 Meeting Minutes
PRESENT: Kelly Day, Diane Lebson, Chelsey Fortin-Trimble, Janet May (remote), Ruben Torres (remote), William Guidon Jr., Necole Janzcura, Celeste Branham, Jennifer Burke, Mary Krebs, Scott Adams
STAFF AND GUESTS: Lucy Martin, Maureen Kendzierski, Brittany Gleixner-Hayat, Amber Albe (Main Street Skowhegan remote), Kristina Cannon (Main Street Skowhegan remote)
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Amber Albe and Kristina Cannon from Main Street Skowhegan presented about their program with a slideshow
Key Takeaways:
- Program expanded from 3 members (2019) to 10.3 MSY (2025), delivering 370 programs to over 3,000 participants in 2025 alone
- 98% of participants reported increased outdoor activity inspiration; 94% indicated greater connection to nature and rural Maine
- Four members passed Maine recreational guides exam; one became Maine river guide; multiple members obtained wilderness first aid certification
- CANUE program launch: Five graduating high school seniors recruited for 450-hour service term plus 200 training hours, resulting in 9 transcripted credits and automatic matriculation to University of Maine at Farmington
Diane Lebson asked about the economic impact of the work and how they might measure that
Kristina Cannon described the economic impact study that they conducted this past fall which included future projections
Kristina Cannon discussed how Main Street Skowhegan is hiring a Business Engagement and Workforce Pathways Director
Chelsey Fortin-Trimble discussed the connection with University of Maine at Farmington system and the transferrable credits that they’ve created – automatic matriculation and 9 credit transfer from service
Have meetings with Thomas College and Kennebec Valley Community College coming up
Ruben Torres asked about top three lessons learned that they would give to other programs on how to grow and advertise themselves
Amber Albe recommended going into the schools and presenting on the AmeriCorps program and opportunities and encouraging educators to also champion service and the service opportunities. Important for in-person connection with students and educators alike. Kristina Cannon encouraged marketing and increasing marketing of the program. Have grown from AmeriCorps capacity building from 1.5 people to 23 people but also because they “say yes” and build trust with the community. Amber Albe also discussed how having young people as AmeriCorps members that are tech savvy is helpful.
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat asked if there were areas they were specifically looking to expand into and if they have any feedback for the Commission
Amber Albe in conversation with other rural communities Outdoor Sport Institute, Bethel Inlands Woods and Trails (western Maine) community activation through outdoor recreation are coordinating together to understand how the Main Street Skowhegan model can be replicated
Madison Recreation Department and many others have reached out
Kristina Cannon mentioned that changing to a fixed-price grantee was very helpful because it reduced the amount of reporting that was required. Having the ability to be flexible and get new ways of doing things from Kerry Ose and Brittany Gleixner-Hayat. Would not have been able to launch the program without the Rural program minimum of 3 AmeriCorps members as opposed to 8 members which is the regular AmeriCorps amount.
CALL TO ORDER
William Guidon Jr. (vice chair) called the meeting to order at 10:32 AM. After the introductions of Commissioners, staff, and guests. The protocols for a hybrid business meeting were covered after Public Comment opened. The chair did remind members that conflicts of interest should be declared as agenda items come up.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
No Commissioners answered the Commissioner’s quiz prior to the business agenda
APPRECIATIONS:
William Guidon Jr. appreciated everyone who assisted on Saturday for the Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism
Celeste appreciates Betsy, Diane, Vicki, and Luke for their annual appeal; Jennifer Burke for the sponsorship from Maine Credit Union League, Necole Janzcura for sponsorship from First National Bank and Maine State Credit Union, and Scott Adams for sponsorship from the American Postal Workers Union; appreciation for Lucy Martin for her co-chairmanship of the task force and Maureen Kendzierski for her assistance during the event the day of
Kelly Day wanted to appreciate Celeste Branham for the tribute to John Portela
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat wants to appreciate Diane Lebson and Celeste Branham for the new board member on the Maine Volunteer Foundation
CONSENT AGENDA:
Chelsey Fortin-Trimble had to leave early.
MOVED by Necole Janzcura to approve the consent agenda. SECONDED by Scott Adams
Vote on the motion (roll call): in favor – Adams, Branham, Burke, Day, Janczura, Krebs, Lebson, May, Torres Opposed – none. Motion passed.
MOVED by Scott Adams to approve the minutes from Executive Committee business meeting minutes from May 5th and Commission business meeting minutes of April 17, 2026. Jennifer Burke SECONDED
Vote on the motion (roll call): in favor -- Adams, Branham, Burke, Day, Janczura, Krebs, Lebson, May, Torres Opposed – none. Motion passed
PLANNING AND FUTURE INITIATIVES
AmeriCorps Commission Investment Fund Awarded
Riana Segerson mentioned that the expected timeline to hear about CSG and CIF is by June 1st
AmeriCorps Update
Riana Segerson updated the Commission that there is a voluntary participation in a survey from Office of Accountability and Financial Management Services
Office of Risk and Monitoring sent out a survey to sample Education Award recipients
Follow up with alumns regarding any changes in Education Award that they are requesting.
AmeriCorps NCCC are currently accepting applications for Team Leader and Corp members positions for Traditional Corps the application deadline for Team Leader is May 31 minimum age of 18 for volunteers it is 18-24 and due by June 30th. Reach out to Ken Goodson with any questions.
Funding Opportunities the Native Nations Operational Planning Grants deadline is May 20th with successful applicants being notified in early July.
Volunteer Generation Fund successful applicants will receive notice in July.
ASN successful applicants will be notified in mid-June and awarded by mid-August.
Janet May had to leave early
LD1433 Report – Feasibility of a Higher Education Corps
Lucy Martin gave a report out on the report created in response to LD1433 on the feasibility of creating a Higher Education Service Corps in the state of Maine (see report here)
- Comprehensive study completed through semi-structured interviews with public and private institutions, quantitative student survey, and validation session
- Key findings: Interest exists for flexible model working within existing institutional structures; recommended features include 4-6 hours weekly (56-84 hours/semester), financial stipends, professional development, transportation support
- Estimated cost: Approximately $50,000 per member for reduced-hour model; full statewide program would exceed $1 million requiring significant public-private partnership
- Report serves as knowledge base; Commission not actively pursuing as legislative priority given resource requirements
Volunteer Pipelines for SNAP/MaineCare participants
Aiming to get a VISTA volunteer to support this project through Ending Hunger Corps
Maureen Kendzierski discussed the initiative and how the purpose of the meetings are to make sure that each organization has the same understanding around HR1 SNAP requirement changes
New volunteers are going to have to access volunteer opportunities that are truly accessible
OFI only needs to validate volunteer hours once a year
Jennifer Burke asked when the timeline would be to bring the VISTA
Maureen and Britt responded that the placement would occur by July
Diane Lebson asked if ServeMaine would need to be reconfigured. Maureen responded that OFI will accept the ServeMaine hours but it is not going to be the replacement for the state of Maine’s verification hours
Helping agencies understand what opportunities volunteers can do that are virtual that they are currently doing for themselves
Kelly Day discussed how it is challenging to find community service hours and ways to do community service hours
FOCUS ON MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES
External Engagements in May
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat discussed her keynote address at Brunswick Area Volunteerism Collaborative. Participants included Bowdoin College, Tedford Housing, Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program, MidCoast Literacy, United Way of Midcoast Maine
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat also presented at the Bath Brunswick Resource Coalition
Service Enterprise Training Update
Maureen Kendzierski gave a description of what Service Enterprise is and how Volunteer Maine provides coaching and training at no cost to the organization and only charges for the diagnostic.
BUSINESS REPORTS
Public Policy & Communications Task Force.
Ruben Torres did not have any updates.
Grant Selection and Performance Task Force.
The Grants Task Force is going to receive the continuation applications and the staff reviews
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat is going to put together a chart of all the requests of funding
Executive Committee Task Force.
No further updates outside of the report.
Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism
No update.
Service Programs Task Force.
Maureen Kendzierski discussed how the new Maine Service Fellows will be funded through Gen Fund from this fiscal year because funding from the legislature would not be accessible until July
Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability.
Celeste Branham updated on the application submitted and that they have developed a partnership
In September having a showing of the Dawnland showing and a follow up panel with permanent Commission on the status of women and the permanent Commission on Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations
Need to plan the September retreat
Financial Task Force.
Jennifer Burke is still working with Luke Shorty on transfer of roles
Maine Volunteer Foundation
Celeste Branham updated that there is a new board member Joshua Stierman to the Maine Volunteer Foundation board who is currently the Director of Relations for the Maine Banking Association. Looking to expand the Board to 12-15 people from 4-5 right now.
Scott Adams asked about how to change the bylaws of the Foundation to increase the board seats. Celeste Branham responded that the Maine Volunteer Foundation would make that decision
Scott Adams asked about the Memorandum of Understanding between the Maine Volunteer Foundation and Volunteer Maine and Celeste Branham responded that the next MOU would be established this summer.
State Service Strategy Task Force.
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat thanked the Commissioners for their assistance with establishing listening sessions and asked if Ruben Torres and Pamela Proulx-Curry could assist with the New Mainer listening session.
Ruben Torres asked about timing for those listening sessions and mentioned that it wouldn’t be until later in June.
Maria Millard will be offering facilitation assistance and guidance for the sessions
Ruben Torres had to leave early
Commission staff reports.
Kelly Day asked about adding Ambassador Reports. Kelly Day will be attending the Volunteer Recognition Ceremony for Goodwill NNE coming up. Kelly Day would also like to know if we are having the RSVP/AmeriCorps luncheon in June
Brittany Gleixner-Hayat asked how it worked in the past to which the Commissioners responded that the Commission Board meeting usually would end early and that food would be a potluck style
BUSINESS WRAP UP
William Guidon Jr. checked in on the hybrid meeting experience and all members that were online reported it went well.
Next scheduled business meeting is June 26, 2026
Motion was made to adjourn the meeting
Jennifer Burke MOVED and SECONDED by Kelly Day and accepted unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:04 pm.