June 2021

Notice

The mission of Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, is to foster and inspire community service and volunteerism to address critical needs in the State of Maine.

NOTICE: Regular Business Meeting

Friday, June 18, 2021
As authorized under Sec. G-1. 1 MRSA §403-A, the Commission will convene using technology. Commission meetings are open to the public and livestreamed. Members of the public can access the meeting through this URL -- LINK TO LIVE STREAM. A request to make a public comments may be submitted by email to Service.Commission [at] maine.gov any time before 6:00 pm on June 18, 2021.

Agenda

Time	Topic	Leader
10:00	Public Comment Period	Branham
10:15	Call to Order	Branham
10:17	Welcome, Announcements, Agenda Adjustments 1. Introductions 2. Quiz Answer 3. Announcements and Appreciations 4. Additions or Deletions to Agenda 5. Motion to approve Consent Agenda	Branham
Consent Agenda
10:20	A. Business Minutes Moved that the minutes of the Commission meeting on May 21, 2021 be approved. B. Executive Committee Moved that the report of the Executive Committee meeting for June 8, 2021 be accepted. C. Grant Selection and Performance Moved that the report of the Grant Selection and Performance Task Force meeting for June 11, 2021 be accepted. D. Communications Task Force Moved that the report of the Communication Task Force meeting for June 9, 2021 be accepted.	Branham
Focus on Mission Responsibilities
10:25	A. Maine Volunteer Foundation - Briefing on current Foundation activities B. Status LD1010	Birney Crofton
Business Reports (Reports submitted are posted.)
10:30	A. Executive Committee 1. Officer elections for 2-year terms -- Proposed slate 2. Proposed dates for annual board retreat 3. Other	Branham
10:40	B. Grant Selection and Performance 1. Other	Barrett
10:45	C. National Public Policy Committees of states 1. States for Service 2. America's Service Commissions	Portela Crofton
10:50	D. Communications/Public Policy 1. Briefing on content plan for coming year 2. Other	Tilton-Flood Roche
11:00	D. CNCS Update	Cheesman
11:05	E. MCCS Staff 1. Volunteer Generation Fund briefing 2. Staff thoughts on creating Maine Climate Corps 3. Respond to questions about items in staff reports 4. Other	MCCS staff
Planning and Future Initiatives
11:15	A. Report of initial findings: Impact of 2020 and COVID on Maine's Volunteer Sector	Sarah Goan, USM/DIP
11:40	B. The Commission's Role in ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion Invited Special Guest to brief Commission	Guest Presenter
Business Wrap Up
12:15 pm	A. Reminder: Complete meeting evaluation -- link to be sent Monday B. Next meeting (September 2021 )	New Chair

Reports & Drafts

Meeting Schedules

View Calendar Notices Here

To facilitate board communication and assure compliance with the requirements for public notice, all Volunteer Maine meetings and work sessions will be posted on this site's Calendar as well as the State of Maine Legislative Calendar.

Task Force chairs are asked to check the dates/times/locations for their groups and notify staff of any changes.

As Volunteer Maine adds new staff and commissioners, we hope this central posting will help us all avoid "double booking" and, at the same time, make communication with partners smoother.

Minutes

1. Business meeting minutes: May 21, 2021

2. Executive Committee meeting: June 8, 2021

3. Grant Selection and Performance: June 11

4. Communications: June 9

5. Excellence and Expertise: June 2

6. Financial Reports: None (Next quarter report due July 15)

MCCS Team Report:

Grant Programs Officer: Current

Program Development and Training Officer: Current

Communications Officer: Current

Program Officer for Volunteer Initiatives: Current

Background

These items are either background for some of the discussions and/or at the Commission meeting or information on national or regional issues that may impact the Commission.

LD722 - LINK to Maine Legislative bill tracking site. Select "Text and Disposition" to read bill; "Status in Committee" will show committee action.
LD1010 - LINK to Maine Legislative bill tracking site. Select "Text and Disposition" to read bill; "Status in Committee" will show committee action. There is also a committee amendment.

Commish's Quiz

Commissioner Quiz

More than a contest, this is part of the "in-service education" for Commission board members.

Commission Members should: email their response before 5 pm Thursday, June 17, 2021!

Send your answers to Service.Commission@maine.gov. All correct answers will be well rewarded at the meeting.

This Month's Challenge

An important research report was published by Service Year Allliance in May. "Service Years and Bridging" investigated how service years do or could be a strategy for civic renewal. If the term "bridging" is unfamiliar (it's recent), it refers to the act of using one's skills, attitudes, and motivation to produce inclusive outcome in the community where one resides. It's a shorthand for the role someone who is culturally competent and civically active can play in helping community members coalesce around solutions to local challenges.

This relates to Commission grant-making, Maine Service Fellows, and youth service interests because all of those strategies balance meeting community needs with developing an ethic of service and related skills that the person can use for the rest of their life. The report is here: LINK.

So, this month's question is has two parts:

What terminology surprised researchers because it is both not understood and not used by service year programs (including AmeriCorps)?
and
What barriers were identified as interfering with the ability of program leaders/directors to give equal attention to member development in the areas of cultural competence and civic engagement?

Hint for part 2: The list starts with "The barriers hindering programs from building upon the basic service year model ..."