MEETING MINUTES
PRESENT: F. Celeste Branham (remote), Kelly Day, William Guidon Jr. (remote), Necole Janczura, Janet May, Kelsey Preecs, Thomas Meuser, Betsy Sawyer-Manter, Luke Shorty, Jenifer Tilton-Flood, Ruben Torres, Jennifer Burke (remote), Tade Sullivan (remote), Scott Adams, Ninette Irabaruta (remote)
STAFF AND GUESTS: John Portela, Michelle Arnold, Lucy Martin, Maureen Kendzierski, Jamie McFaul, Tilan Copson, Michael Ashmore, Maryalice Crofton, Kofi Bofa, Brittany Gleixner-Hayat
PUBLIC COMMENT: There were no requests for public comment. White Pine AmeriCorps were on the agenda but are not present and will be here in May
CALL TO ORDER
Luke Shorty called the meeting to order at 10:06 AM. After the introductions of Commissioners, staff, and guests, the quiz answer was given. One Commissioner submitted a correct response but is not in attendance. The protocols for a hybrid business meeting were covered before the Public Comment opened. The chair did remind members that conflicts of interest should be declared as agenda items come up.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ruben Torres will be co-chairing the Communications Task Force.
CONSENT AGENDA: MOVED by Sullivan to approve the consent agenda. SECOND by Preecs. Vote on the motion (roll call): in favor – Adams, Branham, Burke, Day, Guidon, Irabaruta, Janczura, Lebson, May, Meuser, Preecs, Sawyer-Manter, Sullivan, Tilton-Flood, Torres. Opposed – none. Motion passed.
Under the motion, the following minutes were approved and reports accepted: Commission business meeting minutes of March 21, 2025; Executive Committee reports from April 1, 2025 and Service Programs Task Force report from April 8, 2025.
PLANNING AND FUTURE INITIATIVES
Final Task Force Action.
MOVED by Tilton-Flood for board endorsement of final Executive Director Selection Task Force decision and to retire the Transition Task Force formed in 2023. SECOND by Sawyer-Manter.
F. Celeste Branham read out a note from absent Pam Proulx-Curry to welcome new Executive Director and lamented not being able to cast her vote in person to approve her hiring.
Vote on the motion (roll call): in favor – Adams, Branham, Day, Guidon Jr., Irabaruta, Janczura, Lebson, May, Meuser, Preecs, Sawyer-Manter, Shorty, Sullivan, Tilton-Flood, Torres. Opposed-none. Motion passed.
Foundation. Necole Janczura discussed the preparations being made for the Governor Service Awards and expressed excitement that the Governor will be in attendance. The nominations for individual awards were reviewed last week and more volunteers are helpful for the event next week. A GSA meeting with Tilan and Necole will be held after the Commission meeting to discuss the event and all are welcome to attend to learn more.
John Portela of the Maine Volunteer Foundation introduced himself to the Commission and the public. The Foundation just submitted a grant proposal with a professional grant writer. Since the beginning of February, they have submitted four grants worth $74,000. Every year the Maine Volunteer Foundation negotiates a Memorandum of Understanding with Volunteer Maine and this year part of that was to raise $50,000.
Luke reminded the Commissioners to give to the annual campaign if they have not yet done so.
Kelly wanted to know if people could ask for donations at the Governor Service Awards for the Maine Volunteer Foundation. John responded that they have been courting sponsorships for the awards and that several sports teams have donated items and that the plan is to run a raffle for those items at the Governor’s Service Awards.
Tilan discussed how the raffle is borderline because solicitation for funds at an event that the Governor is attending would have to be run through her office.
Luke mentioned that it is a good opportunity to plant seeds for raising awareness and developing relationships but not direct asks.
Update on federal issues. Luke reports that there was a reduction in force at the federal AmeriCorps industry, that 85% of the federal staff were put on paid administrative leave, the grants that were afforded to Commissions are still accessible to the programs. Luke read out the statement that the American Service Commission (ASC) released on the AmeriCorps staff reductions and NCCC (NATIONAL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY CORPS) demobilization.
The statement from ASC expressed significant concern that national and state AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps Seniors, and the state service commissions could have their existing agreements canceled and future funding canceled or delayed. The statement also discussed how programs enrolled nearly 200,000 Americans to service unmet needs in states and communities each year while developing their own skills and serve their country. It highlighted the important role that state commissions play in ensuring state priorities are addressed and providing oversight to 90% of all AmeriCorps state and national funding programs. Furthermore, studies have shown that there is a $34 return on investment for every federal dollar invested. While ASC supports streamlining efficiency in AmeriCorps programs, the sudden cuts to staff and programs might create unnecessary harm. The ASC ends their statement urging the federal government to work alongside ASC and state service commissions to mitigate impacts to employees and volunteers and thanking the US SENATE and HOUSE for their longstanding support and urge continued funding.
Public Policy Task Force Jenifer Tilton-Flood has reached out to Senator Collins, Luke has reached out to the senior counsel of the Augusta office that was passed on to DC. There is a bipartisan letter being drafted in the Senate and the Commissioners have asked Senators Collins and King to sign. Luke believed that it is likely AmeriCorps’s budget will be zeroed out in the FY26 budget. Luke emphasized how the work of the Public Policy task force is important and to reach out to Tade Sullivan or Jenifer Tilton-Flood for more information as co-chairs of the task force.
FOCUS ON MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES
Commissioner Ambassador Reports on program visits. Tom went to Presque Isle to visit with the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging. They are not a recipient of funding from the Commission but do have funding from AmeriCorps Senior Corps. They currently have 300 Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) members, and 225 homes signed up for Meals on Wheels but a wait list equal in size. The challenge is to get more volunteers to help with programs like Meals on Wheels. In many cases they deliver monthly not weekly because of the distance. The AAA have partnered with Northern Light to build a Memory Care Center and an Adult Care Center and have a physician on staff who will Zoom with their members allowing them to meet with the professional within a month.
Betsy wanted to say that Joy does an amazing job getting services to rural seniors for an area that is the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Michael added that the Aroostook Agency has also been a recipient of their Service Enterprise training.
Luke asked if any other Commissioners wanted to get on the schedule for next month.
BUSINESS REPORTS
Public Policy. Jenni Tilton-Flood discussed how they met with district representatives of Members of Congress (King, Collins, and Golden) and the Alpha Legal AmeriCorps Legal Access Navigators (ALAN). Jenni Tilton-Flood appreciated Chelsey, Maryalice, Tilan, Michael, and Jamie’s help with planning the meeting between the legislators’ staff and ALAN. Part of the plan moving forward is to continue creating relationships with the legislators. Jenni appreciated Tade and Jen Burke’s assistance in scheduling the meeting. The goal of these conversations and meetings is to showcase the work of the AmeriCorps model including the planning grant opportunities and find potential partnerships and synergies with the concerns of their constituents. Jenni reported that the meeting was a huge success and that she would like the Public Policy task force to have regularly scheduled meetings with the congressional offices virtually such as lunch and learns.
LD876 has had some language changed and because of that it has been moved to HED (housing and economic development) and is not on the May calendar yet for discussion.
LD1433 is on the calendar for discussion and includes a study being performed by the Commission with Maine SeaGrant and the Engineering School at University of Maine.
Betsy asked about work being assigned to the Commission without resources that would support the work being done.
Maryalice discussed how the resources would likely fall under Climate Corps and that the model already exists with UConn and there is a model underway at University of Southern Maine. There may also be resources available through the NGA grant to help fund the program.
Luke asked about Congressional Discretionary Spending and if Maine Service Fellows could be in Congressional Discretionary Spending. Jenni noted that a large batch of the Congressional Discretionary funds have been pulled back and that there is not a guarantee that they will be there in FY26. Tade discussed how the Congressional Discretionary funds are currently suspended and the applications for King and Collins for FY26 have already passed.
Tade thanked Jenny for setting up the meeting with the Congressional offices. Asserted that this was to start a relationship with the members of Congress so that we are not just going to them when something is wrong but continuously showing them the importance of the programs. It was beneficial for the AmeriCorps members to talk with the representatives because there were congruencies between the work being done by AlphaLegal and in the congressional offices, particularly the Senate.
Jenni discussed putting the Public Policy member reports up on the website and when the next meetings are.
Luke clarified that LD876 is not part of the expected budget at the moment. Jenni asserted this is a gentle ask and that we are supportive but not to push legislators on the additional funding that would come from this LD.
Grant Selection and Performance Task Force. Bill discussed how there are three continuing applications under review: Alpha Legal, White Pines, and Maine Street Skowhegan. Goodwill Industries of Northern New England is a new application.
Executive Committee. Luke discussed how the CSG (Commission Support Grant) and the Technical Assistant were submitted prior to the deadline to the federal agency. The 18 month window to change the fiscal year from June to July means there is funding until the end of June 2025 from the federal government.
Luke discussed how the state budget comes in two parts: part one “regular budget” was passed and signed into law. The second part includes MOCA and is currently being discussed by the legislature and will hopefully be approved by June 30th. Luke discussed how papers have been taken out to veto the baseline budget bill that has been passed by putting it to the People’s Veto. If there are enough signatures then there would be no funding for the department from July 2025 until the People’s Veto vote in November. May need extra capacity on the Public Policy task force to help navigate these legislative challenges. Part two can get passed even if part one is put to the People’s Veto.
It takes a 2/3 budget majority to pass the budget, but part one was passed with a simple majority. If part two is passed with a 2/3 majority it would go into effect, but there might not be the mechanisms budgeted into part one to have part two be effective.
Betsy discussed how part one/baseline budget includes funding that would end on June 30th such as MaineCare which is what legislators had an issue with because it would normally be in the supplemental budget.
Janet asked about the timeline for the People’s Veto. Michael responded that they need 67,600 signatures by June 12th on the People’s Veto petition. The language of the petition is currently being debated
Communications Task Force. Ruben discussed their first meeting taking inventory on a lot of projects that are ongoing and the wish list of projects. The goal is to launch Serve Maine website on June 1st. The task force wants input as to the best way to inform people about the Commission and provide clarity on the goals and services of the Commission in comparison to AmeriCorps.
Service Programs Task Force. Kelsey asked if the Commission wanted to pass a motion regarding clarification of the program requirements for participation in the Maine Climate Corps Network. No motion was needed. Kelsey asked for the Commissioners to reach out to potential sponsors and speakers for the conference and to share the LinkedIn/Facebook post call for speakers. Three levels of sponsorship: 500, 1000, 2000 and the benefits of each level of sponsorship are on the website on the conference’s page.
Luke asked if there is an opportunity to collaborate with the Maine Volunteer Foundation on developing sponsorships. Michael responded that the registrations are done through the Maine Volunteer Foundation and that the sponsorships go through the Maine Volunteer Foundation, so the Maine Volunteer Foundation takes a portion of those funds.
Kelsey discussed how there will be a meeting at the end of the Commission meeting to discuss the schedule of events.
Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability. Celeste discussed how she had a meeting with Sarah Forester about the identity statement. The concern with the statement is that some of the language may not currently conform to the federal executive orders. Sarah said it was in a holding pattern because there is currently a court injunction out of Rhode Island injunction through the appeals courts that states agencies such as Volunteer Maine and their sub-grantees need not at the moment provide certification of compliance with the President’s relevant executive orders and mandates.
Financial Task Force. Luke does not have a report as the Financial Task Force will meet on the 22nd. Celeste asked about the Foundation representative and if he has began to work with the task force. Luke confirmed that his first task force meeting will be on the 22nd.
AmeriCorps (federal agency). No federal agency update because our representative was put on administrative leave by the federal government.
Commission staff reports (items here in addition to published reports). Maureen reported that the NGA (National Governor’s Association) Service to Career Pathways Policy Academy is working on landscape gap analysis with service programs in Maine and with workforce representatives to create a pathway between the two that would ultimately result in some form of apprenticeship completion including pre-apprenticeship.
Luke asked what departments/sectors are being worked with. Maureen responded that Volunteer Maine is working directly with the Department of Labor but that the Department of Education, Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Governor’s Office of Energy are all involved in the process.
BUSINESS WRAP UP
Luke checked in on the hybrid meeting experience and all members that were online reported that the audio and visual were good and all members present in person were also good.
Next business meeting is May 16, 2025 and the quorum will be crucial for grant votes.
Jen Burke will not be able to attend the next business meeting.
Motion was made to adjourn it was moved and accepted unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:22 pm.