Roll of Honor/Gov's Awards nominations due 4/30, professional development funds, COVID-19 vaccination volunteering resources, and more!

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Learning from each other: Maine AmeriCorps members gather virtually at the beginning of the 2021 Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference, which took place Wed. March 31.

Volunteer Fare: Your Volunteer Maine monthly update

Spring is here, and there's hope and optimism in the air. We continue to be energized by those using their skills to help Maine come out stronger from the pandemic. Read on for deadlines, resources, service stories, and more.

THIS JUST IN: Deadline for Maine AmeriCorps program proposals has been moved to Tues. 4/20. Access more info on our website -- click here.

Nominations due 4/30: Adult and Youth Rolls of Honor, competitive awards for individuals, teams and organizations.

We consider Maine volunteers to be heroes. After hearing about so many folks who have stepped up to help during the pandemic, they've been elevated to superhero status. Help us shine a light on these individuals but act now! You only have until April 30. Submit a nomination for a Governor's Award for Service and Volunteerism or the Maine Volunteer Roll of Honor. Access more info and nomination instructions on our website -- click here.

New service-learning criteria: Apply by 4/30 for professional development funds

We have funds available, so let us help fund your learning! Examples of supported activities are online courses, educational conferences, seminars, workshops, or preparation for professional certifications that relate to:

the Competencies for Managers of Volunteers or
(NEW!) introducing service learning practices within a youth program or classroom setting.

Don't delay! Access more info on our website.

Maine Ready - an essential resource for qualified volunteers looking to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts

Can you help? Know somebody who can help? Emergency support organizations have already started sharing opportunities on the Maine Ready website. Plus, we're looking for more organizations to post their opportunities on Maine Ready. Please spread the word -- the need is great! Additional COVID-19 response and emergency response opportunities are available, too, at MaineReady(dot)org -- access here.

Dates and deadlines:

April 16: Deadline to register for America's Service Commissions (ASC) National Service training conference (virtual). Access more info here.
April 20: New deadline - Maine AmeriCorps program proposals. Access more info on our website.
April 30: Early bird registration deadline -- Points of Light Conference (virtual). Access more info here.
May 11: Volunteer New Hampshire's 2021 Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism (virtual). Access more info here.
Multiple deadlines: Browse open AmeriCorps positions on Service Year!

News and announcements:

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.
We've released our 2020 annual report: Learn how members of Maine's service and volunteerism communities continued to make a difference while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Access the report on our website.
Maine COVID response efforts featured nationally: RecoveryCorps, an AmeriCorps program hosted by Healthy Acadia, and the Maine Partnership for Environmental Stewardship, an AmeriCorps program hosted by Maine Campus Compact, have been featured in ASC's "Innovative COVID Response" report. Access here.
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!

Resources:

Free webinar beginning April 14 - "Keep Volunteers Coming Back: 3 Essential Tools for Better Onboarding & Retention." Access more info on VolunteerPro website -- click here.
April 19: Webinar - Heart & Soul Coach Training Program. Access more info here.
Have you used the new 211Maine.org search directory? If so, help out our friends at 211 Maine and please complete this brief survey -- access here.
Want to volunteer? Need volunteers? Visit our website to access listings and resources -- click here.

Service stories:

Commissioner Zachary Maher has authored a powerful op-ed on the power of service and volunteerism and how it can be used to lift communities. Read more on the Sun Journal website -- click here.
Maine AmeriCorps members went above and beyond to plan the first virtual edition of the Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference. Check out coverage, courtesy of WABI TV -- access here.
Edward Frankonis, an AmeriCorps member serving First4 AmeriCorps, shares in a letter to the editor how the program provides support to children dealing with adverse childhood‌ ‌experiences,‌ ‌or‌ ‌ACEs. Access the piece on CentralMaine.com.
"They'll always be welcome here and safe here." Watch this heartwarming video to learn how members in the Alfond Youth and Community Center (AYCC) AmeriCorps Mentoring Program make a difference by serving -- access here.
Op-ed: "We need to expand service opportunities in Maine" -- access here.

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