Present: Chair Jenni Tilton Flood, Bryan Roche, Julia Fiori, Maria Staples, Jessica Nixon, David Burns
The Communications Task Force met electronically for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. The Task Force discussed during their regularly scheduled meeting the following:
1. Items for full board meeting in April: Tilton Flood shares with the group that the next full Commission meeting will take place on Friday, April 24 virtually, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, and will be open to the public. Tilton Flood informs the group that Maine AmeriCorps legislative actions and the Communications Plan will be discussion items during the meeting.
A copy of the legislative proposal presentation can be viewed via PDF at this link.
A copy of the communications plan can be viewed via PDF at this link.
2. Developing a messaging map based on the Volunteer Maine identity statement: Tilton Flood turns things over to Roche to explain the goal of the messaging map exercise, which is to help the Commission and Commission staff better understand our key messaging points. This will also help Roche better understand what to focus on for messaging when executing the communications report. Tilton Flood asks the group to provide initial thoughts. Staples mentions that efforts should be made to better define the different areas of volunteerism, such as local efforts and emergency response, in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. Tilton Flood suggests efforts that let the public as well as the State Government know we are the go-to for volunteerism. Tilton Flood tasks the group with brainstorming ideas and to be ready to have a work session on the messaging map during the May meeting.
3. Continuing the conversation on Commissioner content: Roche mentions that due to the Coronavirus outbreak, he has not been able to turn his full attention to this initiative yet. David Burns offer to put his name to an op-ed/letter to editor in support of Commission initiatives. Tilton Flood offers to do a Skype interview to discuss her COVID-19 volunteer response experience, and Roche will coordinate with her to set it up. Tilton Flood asks the group to think of how they would like to participate in advance of next month's meeting.
The next Task Force meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.