Executive Committee Meeting

November 4, 2025

Committee members convened at 3:30 pm using virtual meeting platform. Executive Director, Brittany Gleixner-Hayat was present.

 

1. Commissioner Quorum and Attendance:

  • Present: Commissioner Celeste Branham, Chair Pam Proulx-Curry, Chair Elect Bill Guindon, Vice Chair Scott Adams, Commissioner Luke Shorty, Commissioner Kelsey Preecs
  • Absent: Commissioner Ruben Torres

2. Urgent and Timely Issues from Volunteer Maine Staff:

  • Government shutdown update; Impact on AmeriCorps
    • Executive Director Gleixner-Hayat reported that the government shutdown is affecting the timeline for the release of the annual AmeriCorps Notice of Funding Opportunity. Depending on when the government reopens and the NOFO is released, the Commission may need to prepare for a truncated timeline for running a competition.
  • Management Analyst I position posted
    • Executive Director Gleixner-Hayat reported that the position has been posted with call for applications through November 18th. Aim is to complete the hiring process as soon as possible.
  • SNAP benefits cut and MaineCare benefits – volunteerism gap filling?
    • Executive Director Gleixner-Hayat reported that she reached out to the Good Shepard Food Bank and to MaineHealth to discuss whether promotion of volunteer opportunities could help with eligibility requirements for MaineCare and in the case of Good Shepard to ask if they envision a sharp rise in food bank visits and consequently a need for volunteers. Good Shepard reported that they are not short of volunteers – it is more a case of availability of food. Maine Health is interested in further collaboration.
    • Chair Elect Guidon reported that there is a national crisis because there are people without paychecks, increased food costs, and insufficient donations - it is not necessarily a lack of volunteers. There are about 600 pantries associated with Good Shepard – but most pantries do not have the capacity to be part of Good Shepard. We also are in drought conditions and normally we would have fruit and vegetable donations but because of a low harvest that is not the case this year.
    • Chair Proulx-Curry noted Maine Equal Justice did a presentation for Maine Immigrant Rights Collation looked at upcoming changes to SNAP Maine Care and Medicaid and suggested it’s a good resource.
    • Maine Ending Hunger Corps is launching a map with a list of food banks/pantries. Commissioners deliberated whether ServeMaine.org should highlight/link to the map and it was agreed that because this is an emergency it is a wise thing to link and promote on our page.

3. General updates and planning:

  • ServeMaine.org
    • Executive Director asked Commissioners to support the roll out of ServeMaine.org by reaching out to organizations to encourage them to list their opportunities on the ServeMaine.org website.
  • Commissioner recruitment
    • Commissioner Shorty has a scheduled meeting with Thomas College students on November 12th. Chair Proulx-Curry is following up on two contacts to inquire about their interest. 
  • Move to MOCA, State Statue Move
    • Executive Director Gleixner-Hayat reported that the MCCS statute has been moved to be a subchapter under MOCA and provided Commissioners with the link to the new location.
  • State Strategy Task Force Standup
    • Executive Director Gleixner-Hayat developed a draft process document outlining the steps for arriving at a state strategy. It will be reviewed by the task force and then sent to the Commission for feedback.
  • Gov. Service Awards Start up
    • Commission Shorty reported that the membership of the task force is set, the BaseCamp is set up, and the first meeting will happen soon.

 4. Task Force Updates

  • Finance
    • Last meeting was cancelled. Suggestion for moving to quarterly meetings. The move to MOCA has resulted in a major delay in processing invoices as accounts and access to them is transferred over
  • Public Policy/Communications
    • Meeting with Speaker Fecteau is upcoming.
  • Service Programs
    • Commissioner Preecs reported that the task force is ready to support the roll out of ServeMaine.org ad a key priority for the Commission.
  • IEA
    • Commissioner Branham requested feedback on the IEA task force-led invitation of Penthea Burns from Wabankai Reach to the last business meeting. Commissioners were unanimously supportive and appreciative.
  • Grants Selection & Performance
    • RFA process is ongoing and there may be a motion presented at the next Commission meeting.