November 2024

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, November 15, 2024

Maine Govt East Campus, 19 Elkins Lane Rm 110, Augusta, ME 04333
AND
Virtually using this link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/89856384304

All business meetings are open to the public who may attend either in person or using the link above.  

The parking lot for 19 Elkins Lane faces the former Eastside Wellness Center and Harlow Building. Entrance to Elkins is through the Williams Pavilion. Use Arsenal Street to enter the campus. 

This link shows the location of the building on the campus.

Map for Driving Directions 

Public Comment: Anyone who wishes to participate in the public comment using technology is asked to register by sending an email to Service.Commission@maine.gov by 5 pm on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Individuals who will be present in the meeting room do not need to register.

Agenda
Time Topic Leader
10:00 AM Public Comment Shorty
10:15 AM Special Presentation: Katherine Freund, ITN America  
Business Meeting
10:30 Call to Order Shorty
10:32 Welcome, Announcements, Agenda Adjustments
1. Introductions
2. Quiz Answer
3. Announcements 
    A.  Reminder: Protocols for hybrid business meetings
    B. Conflict of Interest awareness in Board actions
    C. Commissioner assignments to task forces (see list below under "Background")
    D. Other
4. Appreciation(s) 
5. Additions or Deletions to Agenda
6. Motion to approve Consent Agenda		 Proulx-Curry
Consent Agenda 
10:42 A. Business Minutes 
Moved that the minutes of the Commission meeting on September 20, 2024 be approved.
B. Executive Committee
Moved that the reports of the regular Executive Committee meetings on October 1 and November 5 be accepted.		       
Planning and Future Initiatives   
10:45 A. Foundation -
1. Annual Appeal and general update
2. GSA planning committee progress
3. Annual work plan approval		 Branham, Portela, Janczura
11:00 B. Recreate Finance Task Force and reinstate mission/charge (former one quoted here)
"The mission of the Financial Oversight Task Force is to educate and communicate to the commissioners the financial condition and activities of the Commission, as well as the financial resources needed to meet our mission."		 Shorty
11:05 C. Commission's organizational values and convictions - consider edits arising from retreat review. (See doc under "Background") Branham
11:20 D. Other  Shorty
Focus on Mission Responsibilities
11:25 A. Commissioner Ambassador Program: Overview and Assignments  Crofton
11:35 B. Commissioner Ambassador Reports on program visits Various members
Business Reports
(Reports submitted are posted.)
11:45 A. Public Policy
1. State legislative issues
2. Federal actions, implications, and States 4 Service work - update if needed		 TiltonFlood 
Fortin-Trimble
11:55 B. Grant Selection and Performance Task Force
1. Policy revision for action. Revision due to change in federal regulation.		 Guindon
12:00 C. Executive Committee 
1. Financial Report for Quarter ending 9/20/2024 (see doc under "Background")
2. December meeting guest		 Shorty
12:10 D. Communications Task Force
1. Report		 Lebson
12:15 E. Service Programs Task Force
1. Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference chair announcement
2. Other if needed		 Meuser
12:20 F. DEI Task Force
1. Update if needed		 Branham
12:25 G. Transition Task Force
1. Update from Sept and Oct meetings		 Shorty
12:35 G. AmeriCorps (federal agency) 
1. Update 		 Norden
12:40 J. Commission staff reports (items here are in addition to published reports)
1. Status of staffing issues in Commission office
2. Highlights from OIG October visit/presentation with Maine AmeriCorps grantees
3. Status of NOAA-funded Resilient Maine project
4. Maine Municipal Association partnership under Green Energy Learning Cohort grant		 Various staff
Business Wrap Up
1:00 pm A. Check-in on hybrid meeting experience
B. Reminder: Next scheduled business meeting is December 20, 2024.  Grant decisions and guest are on agenda.
C. Adjourn 		 Shorty
     
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: September 20

2. Executive Committee meeting:  October 1,    November 5

3. Grant Selection and Performance:  October 11 (includes proposed match policy revision)

4. Communications: no report

5. Public Policy: no report

6. Service Programs: meets later in month

7. Transition: Report at meeting

8. DEI: no report

Team Report:

Grant Programs Officer: Current

Program Development and Training Officer: Current   

Climate Corps Coordinator:  Current

Public Information Officer: 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.

Task Force assignments for board members

Commission Organizational Values and Convictions: Proposed edits for adoption

Commission Operations (office): Financial Reports for quarter ending 9/20/2024

Annual Meeting Calendar for Commission

MOU with Service Year for the Green Energy Learning Cohort

Climate Corps Progress Report to the Governor's Office on Policy Innovation and the Future (final draft)

Final policy on remote participation in Commission business meetings 

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, November 14, 2024!

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

This Month's Challenge!

Background: The federal AmeriCorps agency will release the latest data on Civic Health and Volunteering in America on November 19. But Colby College, in partnership with Maine Community Foundation and the National Council on Citizenship, beat them to it with their report on civic health in Maine. (It uses the same data collected by the Census in 2023 for release in 2024.) 

Question: Has Maine's position on the following points improved, stayed the same, or declined? The tables here show data from 2017 through 2021 meaning there is data before, during, and after COVID-19.

Percent of Maine citizens who report they volunteer (excludes informal helping/neighboring). Rank among all states is shown, also.
2017 2017Rank 2019 2019Rank 2021 2021Rank 2023 2023Rank
38.7% 9 35.7% 14 34.9% 4 ?? ??

 

Percent of Maine citizens who report they participate in a group, organization, or association.  Rank among all states is shown, also.
2017 2017Rank 2019 2019Rank 2021 2021Rank 2023 2023Rank
34.2% 12 33.0% 16 38.7% 1 ?? ??

Resource: This link is to the online data summaries for answers:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M9Fof0Nldj76V6Vz4yPGxJY5E0qt5FCeA2bAI0zXi5A/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.h6jko8rytpjl

It appears to be one of the sponsors' public google doc folders.. Use the menu on the left side of the screen to move around.

More info about the report with an overview of the civic health indicators,
        news summary:  https://news.colby.edu/story/the-state-of-civic-health-in-maine/
        report:  https://goldfarbcenter.colby.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Strengthening-Maines-Civic-Life.pdf