A true commitment to helping others: May is Older Americans Month. From May 9-15, we took the chance to celebrate the skills and efforts of Maine AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Pictured: Aroostook RSVP volunteers during a 2020 food drive to support those impacted by COVID-19. Read on for program profiles and impact stats. |
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Volunteer Fare: Your Volunteer Maine monthly update
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Happy May, everyone! It's time again for your monthly update from Maine's service commission. We have plenty of info trainings, resources, funding opportunities and open AmeriCorps service positions. Plus, an update on the Governor's Service Awards, a roundup of service-focused legislation and some stories of service. Enjoy! |
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Register by June 4: CMV 101 online course spring session
The world needs more volunteer leaders! Get your start or brush up those skills by enrolling in our virtual Certificate in Management of Volunteers (CMV) 101 course.
The course will run virtually for seven weeks, June 9 - July 19, 2021. Learn more and register on our website -- access all the information here.
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Save the date! June 21: Virtual Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism ceremony
For this year's Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism program, we wanted folks to honor and celebrate the volunteers who used their skills to help move Maine forward out of the pandemic. Well, Maine, you stepped up in a big way!
We're pleased to announce we'll be holding a virtual celebration on Mon. June 21. Don't fret! We're planning on a return to in-person recognition in 2022. Please keep an eye out for more details in the coming days.
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June 18: Volunteer Maine Commission regular business meeting. Access more info here.
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Multiple deadlines: Browse open AmeriCorps positions on Service Year!
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June 1: RecoveryCorps Volunteer Recovery Coach -- view on Service Year
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June 1: Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program Environmental Education Energizer -- view on Service Year
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June 7: Maine Conservation Corps Trail Construction Guru (Field Team Member) -- view on Service Year
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Does your board need a boost? Maine Association of Nonprofits is hosting a webinar June 2 on board roles and responsibilities. Learn more and register here.
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Apply - Heart & Soul Seed Grant program: "The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization." (courtesy, Heart & Soul Website). Access the application here.
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Are you familiar with Service Enterprise? We're Maine's hub for this nationally-recognized volunteer management training. Points of Light, who administers Service Enterprise, put out a new video to help explain the benefits of training. Watch the video here.
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AmeriCorps Alumni! Are you interested in continuing to serve your community here in Maine? Volunteer Maine is looking to coordinate AmeriCorps alumni to assist when emergency strikes. Training and team building provided! Sign up today on Maine Ready -- access here.
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Committee members wanted!!! Want to help us organize Maine's only statewide educational event focused on engaging citizens in volunteer service? Join the Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference planning team. Just email Kelsey from our team at Kelsey.Preecs@maine.gov -- please spread the word!
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Big AmeriCorps News from the White House: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and AmeriCorps are partnering up to create Public Health AmeriCorps. This $400 million investment, over five years, will enable recruitment, training and development of a new generation of public health leaders. (Courtesy, AmeriCorps federal office) Learn more on the AmeriCorps federal website.
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More news from Washington! It truly is an exciting time for National Service as three additional service-driven bills are being discussed. Here's a snapshot of what's going on:
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CORPS Act reintroduced by bi-partisan sponsors: The CORPS Act (Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service Act) proposes an $8 billion investment in national service programs, members, and state service commissions over a three-year period in order to contribute to the nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CORPS Act will also enable national service to contribute to recovery by growing a more diverse group of participants and local nonprofit programs, improving the quality of service experiences through increased living allowances and education awards, stabilizing existing programs, and targeting COVID-impacted communities and economic recovery projects.
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Inspire to Serve Act reintroduced: The Inspire to Serve Act will strengthen the commitment to National Service by using recommendations from last year's Inspire to Serve report published by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Originally introduced in March of 2020, Inspire to Serve will also refund National Service efforts around service-learning and youth service. The Senate bill has a companion bill in the House. If you would like to view the Inspire to Serve report, click here.
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The Civilian Climate Corps Act: Currently in the Senate with a companion bill in the House, this act if passed will direct AmeriCorps to utilize existing National Service programing as a vehicle to establish a new Climate Corps. The role of AmeriCorps would focus on underserved areas and impacted communities.
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There are two bills in Maine’s legislature that impact service and the Commission. Rep. Morgan Rielly of Westbrook is a true service champion and both are his ideas.
LD 1010: Maine Service Fellows
LD1010 would establish the Maine Service Fellows (MSF) program and, through a public-private partnership, launch the first class with at least 10 Service Fellows. The bill has a host of co-sponsors but, most impressively, is supported by the youngest Republican, Democrat, and Independent legislators in the House: Rep Carlow (Buxton), Rep Rielly (Westbrook), and Rep Warren (Scarborough). Other House sponsors are Speaker Fecteau and Representatives Cloutier (Lewiston), Matlack (St. George), and Riseman (Harrison). In the Senate, the sponsors are Senator Baldacci (Bangor) and Senator Moore (Calais).
The program is not an AmeriCorps affiliate. It is modeled on the service corps of other states like Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Corps. MSF will focus on small, rural communities struggling to recover from COVID. After the first 3 years, the emphasis will expand to other priorities in those locales. Host communities will have simplified applications, reporting, and financial management requirements.
To learn about the program and the bill, use this link. You may wonder what chance it has of becoming reality. Well, it passed the House May 19 and is on to the Maine Senate for action. Feel free to thank your legislators who supported it. And, if any of the sponsors are within your reach, please thank them for being a Champion of Service!
LD 722 passes
LD722 “Resolve, To Study the Establishment of the Maine Climate Corps,” sponsored by Rep. Rielly, passed both chambers on April 29 and is now on the Commission’s “to do” list. You can find the bill here.
It tasks the Commission with
- studying and identifying projects and tasks in state agencies that could be made into service projects for citizens of the State; and
- recommending how best to structure the Maine Climate Corps which was proposed in the Maine Climate Council's climate action plan.
The report is due to the legislature 12/1/2021.
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- Maine AmeriCorps Seniors Week features:
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Impact stats -- view here
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Foster Grandparents profile -- view here
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RSVP profile -- view here.
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Senior Companions profile - view here.
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Fostering Connections Through Zoom: Kelly Rehberg, a member of the AmeriCorps Resilience Corps with the Greater Portland Council of Governments, recounts her experience at the Annual AmeriCorps Member Conference. Read the piece here.
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Welcome to Maine, team Cedar 7! After a stop in Minnesota, these AmeriCorps NCCC members are helping to clean and revitalize parks and trails in Bangor. News Center Maine has more of the details; view the story here.
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Volunteer Maine, the Maine Commission for Community Service -- visit our website
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Follow Volunteer Maine on Social Media:
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