1. New England Management Institute

2. Thank you for the invitation  In my time with you … The Maine Commission for Community Service Civic Participation Fundamentals of Engaging Citizens A Model for Local Government Resources and Next Steps

3. The Maine Commission for Community Service  A unit of state gov’t  Established in 1994  25 citizen Commissioners  14 statutory duties half of work is grant making  2.5 staff

4. What does MCCS do?  Builds capacity and sustainability in Maine’s volunteer sector funds programs trains staff of volunteer programs technical assistance related to program operation promote service as a strategy

5. Why?  Civic participation aka “volunteering” is the cornerstone democracy thriving communities civil society

6. Not just nice but necessary  Research done in recent recession Communities with strong civic health are more resilient  economic challenges  natural disasters  change

7. What do these represent?  $ 900 million  350,000  16-19, 35-74

8. What do these represent?  92%  8%

9. Service today  Volunteer tax preparers – IRS  CA$H coalitions  Volunteer lawyers  Court appointed special advocates  Consumer mediators for AG Office  CERT  Volunteers in Police Service

10. Service today  Community boards  Corrections education and mental health services  and all the nonprofits communities rely on

11. Effective programs

12. What it takes to have impact  Planning  Systems  People

13. Benefits for local government  Cost effective government  Perception of government operations  Additional resources  Knowledge of elected officials  Professional skills, knowledge  Builds civic participation, strengthens democracy

14. Who says this is true?  National Association of Counties  National Conference of Mayors  National Conference on Citizenship  NAVPLG

15. Making it real

16. Plan Thinking is the time-consuming part

17. Educate Advocates and leaders of volunteer engagement need to be the strategy experts

18. Get ready Assess what is in place, who needs to support, what resources are available

19. Prepare Present to leadership, adopt policies & procedures, assign responsibility, allocate resources

20. Do it

21. Resources VolunteerMaine.org NAVPLG.org MaineServiceCommission.gov