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, March 20, 2026

Maine Govt East Campus, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME  04347 DMR Room 118, Marquardt Building

AND
Virtually using this link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/81734605546

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

DMR Room 118 is on the first floor of the Marquardt building.

This image of the location shows the building on the campus. Marquardt is building number 11.

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, February 12, 2026. Individuals who will be present in the meeting room do not need to register.

Agenda

 

Time

Topic

Leader

10:00

Public Comment

Proulx-Curry

10:10

AmeriCorps Program Briefing: N/A

N/A

Business Meeting

10:10

Call to Order

Proulx-Curry

10:12

Welcome, Announcements, Agenda Adjustments

  1. Introductions
  2. Announcements 
        A. Reminder: Protocols for hybrid business meetings
        B. Conflict of Interest awareness in Board actions
  3. Appreciation(s) 
  4. Additions or Deletions to Agenda
  5. Motion to approve Consent Agenda

Proulx-Curry

 

 

 

 

Consent Agenda 

10:25
  1. Business Minutes 
    Moved that the minutes of the Commission meeting on February 13, 2026 be approved.
  2. State Service Strategy Minutes 
    Moved that the minutes of the State Service Strategy Task Force meeting on March 12, 2026 be approved.

      

Planning and Future Initiatives   

10:35
  1. Update on federal issues
    1. AmeriCorps Formula Allocation Notification

Gleixner-Hayat 

Focus on Mission Responsibilities

10:40
  1. April 1st – Save the date! National Service Recognition Day

Gleixner-Hayat

10:45
  1. Ambassadorship Program

Gleixner-Hayat

Business Reports
(Reports submitted are posted.)

10:55
  1. Public Policy & Communications Task Force
  1. Update, if needed.

Torres
 

11:00
  1. Grant Selection and Performance Task Force
    1. Motion to acknowledge and appreciate the work of the peer reviewers, Sophia Doremus, Debra Bare-Rogers, and Ben Levak.
    2. Motion to approve submission of GPCOG’s renewal application to the AmeriCorps National competition requesting $475,000 and 19 MSY.
    3. Motion to approve submission of MCC’s continuation application to the AmeriCorps National competition requesting $1,234,000 and 49.36 MSY.

Guindon

11:15
  1. Executive Committee 
    1.  Update, if needed.

Proulx-Curry

11:20
  1. Governor’s Service Awards
    1. Call for volunteers on May 9th!

 

Shorty

11:25
  1. Service Programs Task Force
  1. Update, if needed.

Preecs

11:30

F. Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability
1.  Update, if needed.

Branham

11:35

G. Financial Task Force
1. Update, if needed.

Shorty

11:40

H. Maine Volunteer Foundation
1. Update, if needed.

Branham

11:45

I. State Service Strategy

  1. Update on Facilitator Recruitment
  2. Today’s Goal – Defining Strategic Questions for Data Collection
    1. What are the key strategic questions we need answers to?
    2. What data or information would answer those questions?
    3. Who do we need to talk to to get that information?

Proulx-Curry, Gleixner-Hayat

12:45
  1. Commission staff reports (items here are in addition to published reports)
    1. Board member questions about published staff reports.
    2. Other (if needed)

Various staff

 
     

Business Wrap Up

12:50
  1. Check-in on hybrid meeting experience
  2. Adjourn 

Proulx-Curry

 

 

 

Background Documents

Grants Task Force Report to Board:


GPCOG March 2026
MCC March 2026

Reports & Drafts

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: February Board Meeting Minutes

2. Executive Committee meeting:  Minutes, February 3, 2026

3. Grant Selection and Performance:  Report at meeting

4. Public Policy: Report at meeting

5. Service Programs: February Minutes

6. IEA: Report at Meeting

7. State Service Strategy: February Minutes

Team Report:

Public Information Officer:  Vacant Position

Grant Officer: Vacant Position

Program Development and Training Officer: Vacant Position

Program Officer, Special Volunteer Initiatives:  Current

Volunteer Services Coordinator: 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.

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, March 19, 2026!

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

This Month's Challenge!

Question: The Maine Climate Corps Network recently received a grant from what funder?