Our Mission Is to Strengthen Utah Communities Through the Power of Service and Volunteerism

The purpose of the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism is to enable individuals, communities and organizations in Utah to benefit from the service, power, skills, and passion of volunteers.

Our mission is to strengthen Utah communities through the power of service and volunteerism.

Ourvisionis vibrant, productive communities with active, engaged citizens.

Minutes

Committee Meeting

May 4th, 2017

9:00 – 10:30 A.M.

Zoom Video Conferencing

Attendees

Commissioners

David Clark

Rep. Becky Edwards

Richard Gonzalez

Mark Thomas

Kris Hamlet

Jake Murakami

Staff

LaDawn Stoddard

Greg Bates

Corynn Benoit

Karrie Beardall

Greg started the meeting by welcoming Commissioners David Clark, Richard Gonzalez, Mark Thomas, Kris Hamlet, Becky Edwards, and Jake Murakami, and staff: LaDawn, Karrie, and Corynn. He also went over the agenda which includes: Great stories, Year 1, 2, and 3 goals, strategic plan recap- logic model, define key performance indicators, and future meetings.

He then gave a quick overview of the upcoming formula grant review process: applications are due on 5/19. 15 organization have submitted an intent to apply, and at least 15 volunteers needed to review applications. Reviewers score three applications- lead reviewer on one, must be able to attend all day review meeting on 6-9-17.

Next, Corynn read three great stories that were submitted by the Mentoring for Success program, and the Salt Lake County Operation AmeriCorps program.

Greg gave a recap of our national service logic model and strategic plan. He identified some filters as he walked the commissioners through this process and they are: identify what goals we could accomplish this year, vs year 2 and 3, or goals that will take multi step processes. Identify key performance indicators that we could report back to at commission meetings.

The majority of the rest of the meeting then comprised of Greg going over the strategic plan and identifying which goals go in year 1, 2, and 3. The following are some key notes of each of the different areas of the strategic plan that Greg went over with the commissioners:

Objective 1: Build & Cultivate Capacity in the Volunteer Sector

Goal 1: Improve data collection, evaluation and performance of programs.

Notes:

- Working towards adding on a qualitative piece evaluation

- Working towards having a good evaluation process

Goal 2: Provide additional support to higher risk programs in order to reduce risk of causing cost disallowances.

Notes:

- We have annual site visits to make sure programs are compliant and on track.

- Report on risk assessment results at committee meetings annually.

Goal 3: Provide training to AmeriCorps program staff in order to fully benefit from Day on the Hill.

Notes:

- The goal of this event is to educate legislators about the national service programs in their districts.

- Becky: There needs to be a “call to action” for legislators. Our goal is to spread the word/educate people about national service and utilizing legislator networks is a great way to do this. Action items may include:

- Giving them a list of the programs in their district

- Giving them a handout of 10 ways to help AmeriCorps/spread the word about programs including suggestions like:

- Featuring AmeriCorps programs on legislator’s social media- provide them with hashtags they could use

- Writing about AmeriCorps programs/members in weekly newsletters: provide a sample paragraph of what they could write.

- Invite members to town hall meetings to talk for 5 minutes about their programs and what they do.

- Have programs follow up with legislators two weeks after the Day on the Hill event

- This event would be more successful at the beginning of the session, rather than the end of the session

- Have a point person from the House/Senate to inform other legislators about the importance of talking with national service programs during the Day on the Hill event

- Becky has offered to do this at the next Day on the Hill event

Objective 2: Promote & Inspire Statewide National Service & Volunteerism

Goal 1: Support recruitment by improving the quality and number of AmeriCorps candidates

Notes:

- The board of Campus Compact universities have passed a motion to support the idea of matching the AmeriCorps education award at a minimum of $1,000 for their 9 institutions.

- Mark Thomas works with Campus Compact on voter registration: gives a trophy to institutions that have the most voters registered which is incentive/acknowledgment for institutions that encourage voter registration.

- Work with AmeriCorps members who attend those universities to share their experiences as an AC member during meetings and to engage students

- Becky: Have we done any outreach to religious communities? Informing them that this is one way to serve- possibly an alternative to a mission if individuals aren’t interested in serving a mission.

- Connect with Richard online for more information about outreach/recruitment in LDS community.

- Richard: Focus on non-traditional students

- Becky: Use rallies at the capitol to do outreach/education about AmeriCorps/national service- thousands of engaged citizens come up to the capitol to rally

Objective 3: Recognize the Efforts of Outstanding Volunteers and Service Members

Goal 1: There is a need to better recognize outstanding volunteers as well as national service members

Notes:

- We would love to have more participation from commissioners during our AmeriCorps member of the month awards ceremonies. It would be great if commissioners could present the award to AmeriCorps members.

- Thank you Jake for coming to the Playworks award ceremony last month!

- Becky: Legislators receive lists of individuals who are Eagle Scouts in their district, and send out a certificate to these Eagle Scouts honoring them for their service. We could do a similar thing with volunteers/AmeriCorps members of the month- provide information about the AmeriCorps member who was chosen for member of the month, and legislators could write a letter thanking them for their service.

- This would increase legislator recognition of AmeriCorps programs/national service and communication between programs and their legislators.

- Mark: LG could possibly give award to AUCH AmeriCorps member of the month in June

National Service Committee Meetings:

- Meetings are the third Thursday of every even month

- Next meeting: June 15th from 1:30-3:00pm