Regular March 3rd meeting was postponed until Wednesday, March 10
Present:
-
Susan Hawthorne (chair), Dale Rowley, Veronica Kupferman
- Staff: M. Ashmore, K. Preecs
The meeting opened at 1:30 pm by teleconference.
Agenda
Is anyone new in attendance - No
Adjustments to agenda: Meeting will be shortened due to members with other obligations
Brenda Zollich’s report on Training Effectiveness- continued from February meeting.
MA detailed role that GTF has taken in relation to the Report, including changes to RFP format in content, in particular, addition of grant start-up work plan. Narrative changes, especially in evidence section also made.
MA also described changes over time to start-up training and ongoing challenge of late hiring of staff due to need to wait for grant funds and grant period to start. Changes in approach includes increased emphasis on including pre-award funds to get staff hired prior to training.
Changes as a result of the report also include increased emphasis on solving problems or answering questions at the time they are asked, rather than pulling together group trainings on common topics or pointing grantees to where to find the answers rather than giving it directly (teaching them to fish rather than providing the fish and chips)
Task force reviewed current training of grantees and available resources, including:
Review of training tools in the group Hub – writeboard-based training documents with live links
SH-Are these tools available to applicants or only grantees? The Writeboard tools are for post application support because we don’t have universal access to these materials and if we offered it to trainees we give them a differential advantage in the competition, which is not allowed
Discussion of what items on website for applicants would be useful. Continued need for online course for potential applicants. Commission is building it, but it is complex and has taken longer
SH – clearly there is a need for something at forefront to assist programs, especially for small agencies
IF we have an AC training tool online would facilitated or on own be better?
VK – suggested the inclusion of short videos used as intros for sections of RFP. Very short but helpful, addressing common questions.
Service Enterprise Cohort Status
No update
Additional VM trainings and status
- Maine Ready update – Medical Reserve Corps has been removed at their request
- Large number of new registrations up 400 or so in the last month
- KP shared information on Upcoming County EMA training and described recent training for MEMA PIOs and for York Hospital. KP also noted her outreach to other groups – Masons, Clinics, etc.
- MA described use of unfilled AmeriCorps positions to meet Vaccination needs.
- MA will be meeting with MEMA and CDC regarding liability and other protections for agencies and volunteers called to service in times of emergency
Report on Virtual Volunteer Managers’ group
KP reported progress so far. Group discussed Volunteer Management needs in the education world. Many students are required to do service and there are volunteer needs. There is a barrier because schools lack VM coordinators. A Network available to existing VM’s is helpful but there is a great need for advocacy around volunteer service capacity among agencies. Thinking about launching something more towards the fall – conference may be the best kickoff.
MA – low attendance int eh past from school personnel. Is there a way to icentize school participation? Conference track?
SH – noted huge need; requires identifying who is available and what hats they wear. Many VM’s in schools have multiple roles.
VK – perhaps research into what is actually happening in schools, is there a way to find out? DOE created interest and momentum during late 1980s, especially with the work on civics and community connection. Can we work with DOE – need for school volunteers? This would be a challenge in the current environment. Our role will likely be to offer training.
VK – when we are back to allowing volunteers, there will be an increased need over pre-pandemic period.
Fall Conference planning initial discussion
Biggest need is startup of Committee
E&E rep needed for committee. Sue is in; she volunteers C. Adamski. Other names were shared
Is the conference virtual? Decision not yet made. SH believes that in-person might be better. Missing human networking human connection. Network is critical component.
VK – virtual breakout room conversations in 2020 allowed for greater 1:1 time with others. Do we get more people with virtual? Lots of people don’t have money to travel. Can we do hybrid?
SH – likely to get more people in the second year of a virtual conference.
MA – suggested thinking about ways to use VGF funds to sponsor events that create networking activities (i.e. Greendrinks process).
Other
- No submitted Professional Dev Fund applications
- Submit Conference planning names to Kelsey
- Possibility of surveying existing school VM’s to see how they might suggest reinvigorating the practice.
Meeting closed at 2:25