9  December 2025

 

PRESENT: Kelsey Preecs, Janet May, Ninette Irabaruta

STAFF: Maureen Kendzierski, Michael Ashmore, Lucy Martin

Meeting started at 3:02

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Planning Committee for the Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference
    1. Potential Commissioners
      1. Ninette Irabuta
      2. Kelsey
      3. Mary Krebs
      4. Janet May
      5. Another commissioner also on GSA?
    2. Other people?
      1. Lisa Morin
      2. Volunteer Managers Network participants
      3. Meredith Eaton?
      4. Tom Meuser
    3. Recommendation to Grants Task Force on requirements for AmeriCorps grantee participation take the Volunteer Management Microcredential instead of attending conference
      1. Most of the subject matter for the MVLC is catered towards volunteer leaders rather than the corps members
      2. Better not to force corps members to participate and let it be a choice
      3. Capacity for the conference – frees up some space
      4. Truncated volunteer leadership training for AmeriCorps member – part of the member conference as a workshop? Or as a separate training?
      5. Require 17 hours of volunteer management for the AmeriCorps members
        1. Microcredential now costs $10 for each 3 session so $30 total
        2. Michael often goes and gives a talk about volunteer management to Resilience Corps
        3. Creating a resource with a list of possible ways to engage with Volunteer Management learning with hours associated with each option to help get those 17 hours
      6. Final Recommendation: AmeriCorps programs do not need to require
    4. Need to identify keynote speakers as far out as possible, develop the theme, fundraising
    5. Pick a date/time for the MVLC Planning Committee to start meeting
    6. Recruit volunteer to assist in logistics for conference planning
  3. Professional Development Fund open to Volunteer Managers Network and change in staff leadership for Network
    1. Service Programs Task Force is the reviewer of the applications
    2. Week before the Task Force meeting the applications are sent out and reviewed and decided upon – monthly basis
  4. Maine Service Fellows
    1. Executive Committee approved MSF Host Site Policy and Rubric for Selection
    2.  Call for Commissioners to review and score applications
      1. At least 2 Commissioners
      2. No limit on the number of people who can review applications
    3. End of Service for James Fagan at the end of December
    4. Deven Thapaliya will be ending his service term early at the end of the December as well
      1. Meeting with Maine Conservation Corps on how they handle early term ending
    5. Four sites are continuing for another term of 10 months of service
    6. Recruit a minimum of 2 Fellows but potentially 4 Fellows
    7. Funding requirements to fill needs of potential host sites and Volunteer Services Coordinator after end of the NOAA grant in 2029
  5. Climate Corps Network
    1. Climate Council Quarterly Meeting readout
    2. Meeting with GOPIF regarding potential Energy Navigator program update
    3. Higher Education Feasibility Study Quantitative study
      1. Pretest survey
      2. Disseminate survey
  6. Input from the Committee on Outreach Campaign/PSA’s for Serve Maine
    1. Anyone want to work on PSA/outreach in absence of PIO
      1. Kelsey volunteered to assist with this initiative
  7. Follow VM on socials like/share/comment

Meeting ended at: 4:02