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January 2013 Edition
   
IN THIS ISSUE
Volunteering & Civic Life
It's All About Volunteers
Certified Volunteer Administrators
Maine AmeriCorps members 2012
Global Youth Service Day Mini Grants
Professional Development Fund
Governor's Service Awards

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Volunteering and Civic Life in Maine    

 

Maine's teenagers volunteer at a rate (44%) that earned the number one spot in the nation. Also making a strong showing are college students (37%, ranking 6th in the nation) and young adults (34%, ranked 2nd). Overall, nearly 1 in 3 Maine residents volunteer (32.7%) earning a ranking of 12th in the nation.

 

The volunteer retention rate - the ability of a volunteer program to keep someone recruited until they've completed the assignment - finally hit 70 percent after many years of showing 32 percent or more of volunteers leaving programs early. The Maine Commission for Community Service and its volunteer center partners have worked hard in this area, providing leaders of volunteer programs with the management skills to support volunteers' success.

 

The findings come from Volunteering and Civic Life in America, a report issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC). For the first time, the report includes volunteer data related to parents.

 

Use this LINK to read press release for more highlights on Maine.

 

Use this LINK to view full report.

 

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It's all about Volunteers

 

In 2010, the Maine Commission for Community Service conducted a survey of nonprofit CEOs about their organization's volunteer program. All CEO's responding to the survey articulated how important volunteers are to their organization. For many, volunteers augment the work of paid staff; for some others, their entire organization is staffed by volunteers. 79.5% reported that their organizations used volunteers to maintain current services, 58.9% said that their volunteers extend existing services, and 28.8% have volunteers who develop new services.

 

Based on this, you might expect to the organization's annual report to reflect the value and impact of the donated services provided by volunteers. Unfortunately, this is not the case as Susan J. Ellis, EnergizeInc, often discovers this in her work.  What does your organization's annual report say about volunteers?

 

Use this LINK to read Susan's Hot Topic on End-of-Year Reports Can Illuminate Volunteer Achievements.  

 

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Certified Volunteer Administrators in Maine    

 

Sixteen individuals have received their certification in volunteer adminsitration and five more have applications pending. The Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential is an international, competency-based program that recognizes practitioners with at least 3 years of experience in the field of volunteer resources management. The credentialing process is a two-part measurement methodology designed to demonstrate a candidate's knowledge and application of a set of core competencies. It is a self-study process and requires no traveling.

 

Maine Commission for Community Service offers support to individuals enrolling in the 2013 credentialing cycle.

  

To read the full article, use this LINK 
  

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Maine AmeriCorps Members 2012 - A profile of who served

 

Since 2000, the Maine Commission for Community Service has been asking AmeriCorps Members serving in Maine about their experience. IAlmost 200 members who served in 2012 responded to the annual exit survey.  This is what they said about their volunteer experience.

  • 89% of the members volunteered occasionally or on a regular basis prior to joining AmeriCorps.
  • 56% of members volunteered with a community group unrelated to their service assignment.
  • 97% of members stated they were likely or very likely to volunteer in their community in the future.

Learn more about who served and the difference it made in their lives in the summary report.

 

 To read summary report, use this LINK
 

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Global Youth Service Day Mini Grants Available

Applications due Feb 24, 2013

  

As the lead agency for Global Youth Service Day efforts in Maine, Maiine Commission for Community Service is offering matching grants up to $500 to support youth-led community service projects or Semester of Service projects that take place or culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 26 - 28, 2013.

 

To read  the full article, use this LINK

 

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Professional Development Fund deadline March 1, 2013

 

The Maine Commission for Community Service provides professional development fund for managers of volunteers. Professional development funds may cover up to 75% of the training and, if applicable, travel expenses. Eligible trainings must be related to Competencies of Managers of Volunteers.

 

Past recipients have use professional development funds to:

Use this LINK to download application and eligibility criteria

 

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DEADLINE EXTENDED!

 

 Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism
 

 


Deadline is now February 8, 2013.
  FMI, use this LINK.

Awards for Individuals

Volunteer of the Year

Youth Volunteer of the Year
Outstanding National Service Volunteer Award
Outstanding Public Sector Volunteer
Outstanding Service-learning Practitioner
Excellence in Volunteer Administration


Awards for Organizations Corporate Volunteerism Award
Small Business Volunteerism Award
Outstanding Non-Profit Volunteer Program Award
School District Excellence in Service-learning

Roll of Honor

The Roll of Honor recognizes volunteers who donate 500 hours or more of documented service to the community during the past twelve months (Jan.-Dec. preceding nomination deadline).