Major projects completed
• Continued supporting Executive Director hiring committee, participating in initial applicant review and setting up interview appointments while also hosting weekly hiring committee meetings.
• Continued supporting grant programs as they navigate changes initiated by new federal administration, including all of the Commission’s grantees and many other national service program staff.
• Hosted planning committee for the Volunteer Leadership Conference; including bi-weekly meetings, site visit & confirmation, revising website content, setting up for session proposals, and establishing Keynote speaker invites and a fundraising plan.
• Provided outreach and support to the potential applicants, including former Planning Grantees, considering application to the upcoming AmeriCorps Formula operational RFA and the Rural State RFA competitions before the window of support closes, include a site visit to Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership.
• Worked with OIT to finalize and fund the new Galaxy Digital volunteer matching platform Also met with representatives of the Galaxy Digital platform to explain changes to our predicted procedure for updating the existing platform license.
• Cohosted, with other agency partners, the kick-off of the National Governor’s Association Service to Workforce Grant and worked with to integrate this new funding with the existing work on the Green Employer Learning Cohort grant from Service Year Alliance in collaboration with the Prog. Officer for Special Initiatives.
• Collaborated with Public Information Officer on how to best assist programs with AmeriCorps Week and coordinated representation at upcoming career fairs at the high school and university level.
Issues to be aware of
• If the federal agency is flat funded, the pot of available formula dollars is unlikely to be fully requested during the formula competition opening in March. This may require an additional round of applicants at a later date.
• Volunteer Leadership Conference planning continues with an active planning team. The theme for the conference will be Stewardship and Engagement. The conference is scheduled for 6 August at Camp Chamberlain in Augusta. It will not be associated with the Education conference we affiliated with last year. Establishing Keynote speaker invites and a fundraising plan are major steps for the coming month.
Major focus of effort in the new month
• Continue to support ED hiring committee.
• Continue supporting Conference planning group.
• RFP release and Final outreach to potential applicants.
• Organize New Galaxy platform trainings.
• Annual Commission Investment Fund Report.
• Support for staff and programs participating in National & Community Service Day at the Hall of Flags and during AmeriCorps Week.
• Setting up initial focus group meetings for the Service to Workforce grants and supporting the new Volunteer Services Coordinator as she takes oversight of this project.
• Continued program development work with Planning Grant Cohort IV.
Other activity
• Hosted Maine Volunteer Managers’ Network meeting.
• Provided staff support to Prog. Officer for Special Initiatives as she gets up to speed on NGA and Green learning Cohort grant.
• Ongoing AmeriCorps Technical Assistance to existing grantees via email, teleconference & face to face.
• Supported Office Admin with procurement system management and initial entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including purchase orders, bids, and contracts.