Veterans' Employment Committee

February 3, 2016: 10:00 AM
Frances Perkins Rm, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta

AGENDA State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) Veterans Employment Committee (VEC) February 3, 2016 (10:00am ? 12:30pm) Location: MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room Fred Webber, SWIB Chair Welcome and Opening Remarks Fred Webber Around the Room Introductions Fred Webber/ALL Approval of Meeting Notes from November 18, 2015 Meeting Fred Webber/Auta Main Next Steps for Proposed One Stop Web Portal for Service Members, Veterans and their Families (SMVF) Adria Horn/Laura Allen Maine Bureau of Veterans Services (MBVS) Website & One Stop Web Portal Andy Gibson/Nathaniel Maine Military & Community Network (MMCN) Web Portal Grace Fred Webber/ALL Nominations for new SWIB VEC Committee Chair - Discussion SWIB VEC Members Updates All Dates for 2016 SWIB VEC Meetings Meeting Dates, Wednesdays, 10am ? 12:30pm, Location TBD 2016: February 3, March 16, May 18, July 20, Sept 21, Nov 16 Fred Webber Miscellaneous / Adjourn

Meeting Minutes from SWIB Veterans Employment Committee MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room 3 February 2016, 10:00am ? 12:30pm

Member Attendees: Debbie Kelly, Maine Director, VETS, Robert Traill Jr., Bonney Staffing, Ethan Evans, Bonney Staffing, Fred Webber, SWIB Chair and Consultant, Joseph Sousa, Executive Director, ESGR Maine Committee, Laura Allen, Outreach Specialist, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Christine Brawn, Executive Director, DAFS, State of Maine, Mark Cater, LVER, Lewiston CareerCenter - BY PHONE: Nathaniel Grace, Maine State Consultant, Military One Source

Guests & Interested Party Attendees: Adria Horn, Director, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services , Bill Hurley, RVCP Program Manager, Tracy Weymouth, RVCP, Outreach Trainer, MDOL/MBVS, George O?Keefe, Intelligence Analyst, MEARNG, Kyra Darling, Military Family Association MEARNG, Michael Merrill, Volunteers of America Northern New England - BY PHONE: COL Andrew Gibson, Director of Deployment Cycle Services, ME ARNG

Staff: Auta Main, MDOL BES Veterans Program Manager

Agenda and Discussion Topics:

SWIB CHAIR ? Fred Webber: Welcome and Opening Remarks • Round the room introductions.

SWIB CHAIR ? Approval of notes from November 18, 2015 meeting.

MDOL Staff ? Auta Main: Recommendations for One Stop Web Portal from SWIB VEC Members and Web Portal Subcommittee: November 18, 2015 and January 13, 2016

• Recommendations for One Stop Web Portal from SWIB VEC Members Present 11/18/2015: ◦ Drive SMVF to One ONE STOP WEB PORTAL for Resources and that will be MBVS. ▪ MBVS anticipates that the web portal will be LIVE by early April 2016 ▪ Begin a campaign at that time to DRIVE SMVF to that site ▪ Through the RVCP funding up to 15k is currently available to improve MBVS web portal. Additional funding is available after an RVCP grant modification has been completed. ◦ Support MMCN in tearing down its RESOURCE WEB PORTAL but keeping the website for its Networking of Regional Groups active. Estimated cost: $2,000 ▪ Drive SMVF to MMCN?s website for NETWORKING - REGIONAL GROUP ACTIVITY.
▪ Drive SMVF to MBVS?s web portal for RESOURCES ▪ Post 1-800 24/7 line of MMCN on the MBVS webpage. MBVS has their own 1-800 number as well, but it isn?t 24/7 ▪ TO DOS: ? Nathan to email Adria the excel spreadsheet of all resources currently on MMCN?s web portal so MBVS can continue data input. DONE. ? The new RVCP outreach trainer to assist with web development and data input. ? Work with MBVS to develop and provide ongoing input to a COMMON/UNIFIED CALENDAR of SMVF events/activities so keep us all abreast of what?s going on and to avoid duplication of efforts on same dates/times. ? Support a one year transition from MMCN Web Portal (Resources) to MBVS Web Portal (for Resources). Continue to drive people to MMCN?s Networking Regional Group?s web pages and they will be listed as a RESOURCE on the MBVS site. ? MBVS (and MDOL, MMCN and SWIB VEC) to LAUNCH the new MBVS Web Portal at a Press Conference likely in the Spring of 2016, as well as a 2nd or 3rd launch possibly at the MMCN?s Annual Conf, scheduled for July 21, 2016 ? Utilize funding from RVCP to get the word out about the new MBVS web portal and to DRIVE SMVF to the site ? beginning Spring 2016. ? Review NMC strategies at a subcommittee meeting of the SWIB VEC scheduled for December 9th, 2015 at 1pm (rescheduled for January 13, 2016). DONE. ◦ At this meeting fleshed out the recommendations above and developed a list of outreach strategies (selecting those from the NMC Marshall Plan that we feel make most sense now). Implementation to begin Spring 2016. ? Presented recommendations to SWIB VEC members at our February 3rd, 2016 meeting at MDOL.

MBVS Staff ? Adria Horn and Laura Allen: Highlights of the new MBVS Website and Web Portal

• One Stop Web Portal ? MBVS ? Focused on Appearance, Content, Flow and Tone ? New URL: Maine.Gov.Veterans ◦ Must follow state agency templates, but doing work arounds as necessary ◦ Integrating resources of web portal (from MMCN) ◦ Adding a NEWS tab ◦ Adding ?Find it Fast? feature ◦ Showcase feature for new announcements ◦ Navigation tool on homepage ◦ Demystifying VA process / encouraging people in enroll in VA system ◦ Navigation tools allows for a ?drilling down? to map of MBVS field offices ◦ Launch of website will include ?communications strategies? ▪ Blog ▪ Social Media ▪ Newsletter ▪ FAQs with an added box to ?ask specific questions not answered in the FAQs) ◦ Will be analyzing use/success of website - counting clicks to understand areas where people are drilling down for more information ◦ RESOURCES Pages/Web Portal in process of development, utilizing MMCN database of resources to begin PLUS other ◦ Interactive calendar (part of website) is also in process of development ◦ Resources on website are for all service members, veterans and their families NOT only for veterans FYI ? some concern that service members may not be served as adequately in the new system/web portal. MBVS is working on total inclusion.

▪ Comments MBVS Web Portal ? Fred Webber ? This is excellent! Would like the full SWIB Board to see this. Possible to present at the full SWIB meeting in April or May? Fred/Auta to follow-up with Laura and Adria. ? At Federal level ? are websites like this being rolled out in other states? Would it be possible for you to highlight new MBVS website and web portal at the national meeting in Chicago in September? Again Fred, Laura and Adria to follow-up. ? Several other very positive comments as well as constructive suggestions for change.

• Recommendations for New SWIB VEC CHAIR ? Tabled to March Meeting

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SWIB VEC MEETINGS 2016

Meeting Dates, Wednesdays, 10am ? 12:30pm, Location TBD
2016: March 16, May 18, July 20, Sept 21 and November 16

Attachments