Veterans Employment Committee

September 17, 2014: 10:00 AM
TBA for information contact Auta Main auta.m.main@maine.gov

Meeting Minutes from SWIB Veterans Employment Committee MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room 17 September 2014, 10am ? 12:30pm

Member Attendees: Steve Wallace, SWIB VEC Chair & Executive Director YMCA, Auburn, Bob Traill, Bonney Staffing, Debbie Kelly, Maine Director, VETS, Jessica Noonan, Director of Talent Acquisition, Jackson Labs, John Wagner, Veterans Rep/LVER, MDOL BES, Bob Carr, Director Technological Innovations, LLC.

Guests & Interested Party Attendees: COL Andrew Gibson, Director of Deployment Cycle Services, ME ARNG, Bobby Piveronas, Program Manager, Dale Carnegie Maine

Staff: Auta Main, MDOL BES Veterans Program Manager

Agenda and Discussion Topics:

Chair ? Steve Wallace: Welcome and Opening Remarks • Steve opened the meeting with round the room introductions.

Chair ? Steve Wallace: Approval of Meeting Notes from July 16, 2014. • No outstanding discussion simply a motion (seconded) to accept and pass as written • Voted and passed as written

Chair ? Steve Wallace: Veterans Outreach Campaign ? Discussion & Next Steps • Steve shared a quick history of the SWIB VEC?s goal to develop a one stop resource/web portal that would provide veterans with easy access to services and resources. The conversation began several years ago and a big first step was the development of the MMCN web portal (2-3 years ago). The new ?veterans outreach campaign? is a continuation of the earlier efforts to drive veterans to ONE source, where they can learn about the plethora of services/resources available to them. The recent award of $10k from SWIB WIA funds in August of 2014 supports the continuation of these efforts and connecting them with the Industry Partnership Collaboration legislation that passed in 2013. The SWIB VEC committee approved Nancy Marshall Communication?s Proposal to develop a Marshall Plan/Strategic Plan for the SWIB Veterans? Employment Committee. The Nancy Marshall Communications? contract for $10,000 has been drafted and is going through the State?s approval process as we speak Sept/Oct 2014.
• Bob Carr ? Inquired if we are thinking about one-stop shopping, would it be possible to turn the Navy Lodge at the Brunswick Landing into a Homeless Veterans? Transitional Center and offices - making it accessible for all? Steve responded that in fact the lodge has already been taken over by two organizations and who plan to utilize it as a nursing home.
• Auta shared more details about the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot (RVCP) grant awarded to MDOL (and partners) by the VA?s Office of Rural Health. In that grant, $50,000 is earmarked for ?veterans outreach.? Some good synchronicity happening here as we may be able to tie these efforts together.
• Bobby asked if the MMCN web portal links to other resources. Is the main focus ?employment? or ?support services? or both? Who VETS which individuals and organizations are approved for links from the site?
• Andy shared that at present there are FIVE Family Assistance Staff at the end of a 1-800 line who respond to inquiries about the MMCN web portal. The funding for this type of activity/maintenance is limited. Sustainability will likely be an issue down the road.
• Jessica asked if there was any research to see what other similar type web portals are doing countrywide? When we begin to DRIVE more veterans to the site, will we have the capacity to respond? Will 5 people be enough? • Andy / MMCN staff have spoken to Governor?s office about the possibility of forwarding the calls to a State Office (possibly MDOL or MBVS) at some point. No decisions have been made. MMCN is currently a ?handshake? organization/not officially a 501c3 or part of the Guard or Reserve. • Steve suggested at some point we may want to create a nonprofit that would provide an umbrella for MMCN activity, the web portal and potentially other resources. We?ll need to seek funding ? private and/or public funds to move in this direction. • Bob Traill discussed the importance of having a concrete sales plan in place before we begin seeking funds from foundations and/or business.
• More discussion on the VETTING process and the policies/processes that MMCN currently utilizes. What would a good VETTING CHECKLIST include? For example, organizations/individuals who list on the site:  Like MMCN - Must show some focus on service members, veterans and their families (SMVF) and no more than half of their work can be political in nature. For MMCN, SFC Grace provides initial approval.
 Must agree to follow a code of ethics/guiding principles  Must be licensed or legally allowed to do business in Maine  What organizations/individuals should be allowed to place PAID advertising on the site? What rules do we want in place around that?  Should we add google analytics to the site so that we can better track which links are most popular and/or provide users with the opportunity to RATE their experiences with the site and specific links? SUGGESTION: Ask people with experience for guidance. Debbie suggested we consult with the Maine Attorney General?s office and ask the leadership at 211 what their process is. What should we steer clear of? What are prospective red flags? What do we need to be careful about? What works?

To do: Auta will invite Nancy Macirowski, Assistant Attorney General and Andy will invite Karen Turgeon, 211 Program Director to join us for our next meeting, November 19, 2014.

TOPIC(s) to be continued at our November Meeting SWIB VEC membership. Suggestions for new members: • Brigitte Emmons-Touchette, UNUM • The NEW RVCP Program Manager, TBD • Representative from Peter Ogden?s office, MBVS, VSOs • Todd Gilley or Kaleb Roy, Cianbro • John Ripley, Easter Seals • Who else from small business/industry?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 2015 Meeting Dates, Wednesdays, 10am ? 12:30pm, Location TBD
2015: January 21, March 18, May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18

Attachments