June 9, 2017
Grant Selection and Performance
June 9, 2017
PRESENT: Ed Barrett, Beth Lambert, David Wihry, Nicki Pellenz, P. Fitzpatrick
The meeting began at 8:30 am by teleconference.
Agenda:
1.AmeriCorps Formula Applications
RSU 14 and Goodwill MLC Continuation Application Reviews/Approval by the full Grants Task Force.
Discussion Items:
A.Supplemental Funds Request for RSU 14 for $ 5,000 CNCS Share - Approved by Grants Task Force
$2000- videographer fee for one video aimed at improving recruitment of rural sites for AmeriCorps.
$2000- consultant fee for increased outreach at colleges throughout ME, NH, VT, and MA. These schools include Brandeis, BC, BU, Burlington, UNH, etc. The aim is to both target programs that have strong community service and education, as well as career fairs.
$1000- Contract fee for AmeriCorps Alums presence at outreach events, including ME, NH, and VT State-sponsored events, program trainings, and service projects.
B.Supplemental Funds Request for Goodwill MLC for $ 5,000 CNCS Share-- Approved by Grants Task Force
The MLC is requesting an additional $5000 in Formula Supplemental Funds to be used towards
outreach to support recruitment efforts. Member recruitment and Successful enrollment continue to
be a challenge nationwide. These funds will be used for activities including Job Fair registrations,
involvement of and collaboration with AmeriCorps Alums Chapters in outreach, presentations, events,
and publicity efforts, and for staff time and travel associated with recruitment, presentations, and
media efforts.
The MLC is not requesting additional formula funds for up to 2-3 additional AmeriCorps members as
offered by the Maine Commission based on the program's successful recruitment rates.
C-Additional Host-Site Requests for Goodwill MLC -Approved by Grants Task Force
Mano en Mano is a non-profit that up until now, has served migrant farmworkers in Millbridge, ME.
They are expanding their programming this fall to Portland, ME where they have recently opened a
new office and hired on staff that will be developing an educational program to serve ELL students
and their families. Building this program from the ground up in Portland, they are very excited to
adopt the Check and Connect mentoring program of the Multilingual Leadership Corps with the
students that they are serving. This will be the foundation of the work that they do in their
programming.
Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine has clubs serving ELL Youth in Greater Portland and
Lewiston/Auburn. Placement of a member in these clubs would allow for direct mentoring
opportunities utilizing Check & Connect during after-school programming hours. Boys and Girls
Clubs in New Hampshire, and across the US, have already adopted Check & Connect as a mentoring
model.
2.A meriCorps EMDC Application/ Full funding Decision - Approved by Grants Task Force
Executive Committee asked the Grants Task Force to consider recommending that the EMDC proposal be funded out of the unallocated Formula dollars. This recommendation would be for action at the June meeting.
Because new Task Force members were not part of the assessment review in December 2016, the proposal has been posted for them to read prior to June 9. The RFP from last fall was also posted as this proposal had to meet a more rigorous set of requirements than the current Rural AmeriCorps proposals.
3. AmeriCorps Rural Competition Applications
A. Maine Youth Alliance - This application was not approved for funding by GTF reviewers due to budgeting and financial strength concerns . David Wihry asked to be excluded from the decision making process due to a conflict of interest.
The full task force agreed with the decision. Ed asked if the applicant would be getting any feedback from the Commission.
It is the Commission's standard procedure to contact the unsuccessful applicants, provide them with a copy of the peer and GTF reviewer comments.The applicant can also request to schedule a meeting with M. Ashmore to go over their application and discuss what can be done differently to improve their application for future competitions.
B. United Way of TriValley Area - Approved by Grants Task Force
Minor budget clarifications/updates were needed. M. Ashmore will be meeting with United Way to go over the clarifications.
4. Signed Conflict of Interest Forms -were not required as the two members that have not provided them have not joined the call today.
5. Highlights from the 2017 Atlantic National Service Conference June 5-7 Baltimore
CNCS updates: According to America's Service Commissions' Senior Policy Advisor, the new fiscal year starts in October 2018.
The White House put forth a FY18 budget that proposes to eliminate support for national service; however it's up to Congress to make the funding decisions. We should know more about the future funding plans by August when Congress markups are done. The advisor thinks that AmeriCorps programs have support from the Congress, however budget cuts or reductions are to be expected in the long-term.
The meeting ended at 9:20 am.