Maine Service Fellows Coordinator: February 2023

Submitted by Jake Hurner

Major projects completed

•    Scheduled on going site engagement opportunities including attending the Community Resilient council’s board meeting.
•    Met with community partners to discuss resources that could be leveraged for the program including Live + Work Maine, and Seacoast Mission
•    Networked with relevant stake holders to establish ongoing support for an advisory task force.
•    Continued to meet with Maine Health Access Foundation to discuss immediate funding of EMS project and future funding opportunities with the MSF model
•    Received signed MOU for Climate and began recruitment strategy
•    Revised larger comms plan with information officer
•    Published web listings for open member opportunities
•    Tabled at the Orono campus career fair to promote MSF opportunities to potential students.

Major focus of effort in the next month/continuation

•    Continue to develop programmatic materials and procedures including recruitment materials and benefits poster, applicant selection procedure, reporting processes and documentation, program calendar etc.
•    Continue identifying potential donor and grant opportunities available to both back fill remaining funding needed for a second fellow position and increase total numbers of spots on going.
•    Developing strategy around fundraising in collaboration with foundation members to best make the case for individual fellow opportunities as aligned with identified donors’ values, and geographic area.  
•    Networking and collaborating with other State departments in the development of current applicant work plans as appropriate to their expertise. (i.e. aviation and EMS)
•    Collaborating with current applicants to develop specific recruitment details and plan in advertising for a candidate.
•    Continue to develop and formalize an interview and selection procedure.
•    Networking with current VM stakeholders (climate advisory, volunteer network and foundation members) to continue to pursue funding opportunities to expand the reach of the program.
•    Continue to review current applicant feedback to implement changes to next cycles procedures. 
•    Complete initial site Visit for second sponsor
•    Review additional recruitment avenues as they relate to specific details of the individual opportunities. 
•    Work with advisory taskforce to determine best structure for the program term and payroll options
•    Begin to network with future site applicants and communities through letters of intent.