Communications Officer: December 2021

Metrics: Media outreach and public relations

Please use the following link to view the December report -- click here.

Major projects completed

  • Earned a television feature story on volunteering and what organizations need to succeed that aired on Dec. 19 as part of WMTW's "Total Maine with Steve Minich". Use the following link to access the story -- click here.
  • Placed an interview with Program Officer for Volunteer Sector Initiatives Kelsey Preecs in Maine Audubon magazine, which has assigned a writer to produce a story on the state of volunteering. The interview will be published in their 2022 quarter one edition.
  • Assisted a writer with AARP Magazine, who is writing a piece on individuals age 50 or older who regularly volunteer on MLK day, by connecting her with an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the Opportunity Alliance's Foster Grandparents program.
  • Published webpage and began digital outreach around the Service Learning Workshop Series, which is being offered by Volunteer Maine and Harkins Consulting.
  • Distributed "Volunteer Fare" newsletter for December
  • Designed 2022 Maine AmeriCorps promotional calendar
  • Executed first AmeriCorps recruitment content generation (photo/video) shoot at the sites where First4 AmeriCorps members serve.
  • Finalized AmeriCorps program gear order.
  • Collaborated with Executive Director and Climate Corps planner to publish draft Climate Corps report to Legislature and bring visibility to the draft and public comment opportunities.

Issues to be aware of

  • Task Force scheduling conflicts: The Communications Task Force has had some trouble over the past couple of months finding a good time to meet, which has slowed progress on some initiatives and goals. A new meeting time of the second Tues. of each month from 3-4 p.m. has been established in the hopes of better availability.
  • Announcement of Maine Service Fellows Gift: A draft release has been written and approved in-house, however approval has not yet been granted by the doner. The news should be made public by the end of January, at the latest.

Major focus of effort in the next month

  • Production of Volunteer Maine's Annual Report
  • Collaborating with Program Officer for Volunteer Sector Initiatives to announce nominations for 2022 Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism.
  • Creative drafts: AmeriCorps recruitment campaign that targets potential gap year students as well as individuals looking for a change in career.
  • Creative drafts: awareness campaign around results of COVID-19 volunteer impact report.
  • Creative drafts: awareness campaign to improve Maine's civic health and its relationship to service and volunteerism
  • Finalizing 2022 Public Service Announcement contract with Maine Association of Broadcasters.
  • Plan to produce/update broadcast Public Service Announcements
  • Approval and distribution of Maine Service Fellows program gift to the Maine Volunteer Foundation announcement.
  • Collaborating with the Communications Task Force to restart planning and production of the "Service Instigator" public service announcement campaign. The campaign will lean heavily on the approach of behavior change marketing.

Other activity

  • 2022 Public Education Program Public Service Announcement Contract dates: Due to the election cycle and a smaller budget, broadcast Public Service Announcements will run in the months of February, March, July and August. The goal is still to achieve a 1:4 ratio on match funds.
  • Staffed Communications Task Force December meeting.
  • Purchased audio and visual equipment to provide a better virtual public meeting experience.
  • Media appearance: Preecs was also invited to be interviewed by Sen. Angus King for the December episode of his "Inside Maine" podcast, which focused on community service during the holiday season. The interview also aired on WGAN News Radio. Use the following link to listen to the interview -- access here.

Prepared by Communications Officer Bryan Roche