ENCorps eNews - September/October 2014 - In This Issue:
2015 ENCorps Summit - Save the Date!

 

We're excited to announce that planning for the 2015 Summit is underway!  

Next year's summit will be held on:


 
May 18 and 19, 2015 

at the Wells Conference Center at the University of Maine in Orono. 

We're looking forward to seeing you there! More details coming soon!

 

Group Photo from the 2014 Summit

 

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WORKSHOP AND TECHNOLOGY SURVEY
What are your interests this year?

As we enter another exciting season of ENCorps workshops, we felt it important to check in with all of you and gather your thoughts about the topics and speakers that would most interest you in the upcoming 2014-2015 year. In addition, we'd like to ask about your technology preferences to ensure we are offering our workshops in ways that are most accessible and convenient to you. Please complete this brief survey and share your opinions with us: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YXJPLZD.
 
You are also welcome to contact Sarah Harvey, Program Coordinator at [email protected] or (207) 699-9363 with your ideas. If you prefer a paper copy, please contact us to have one mailed out to you. We appreciate your input!

VOLUNTEER IN ACTION

 

NANCY ADAMS 

     Nancy Adams has been a member of ENCorps since April 2012 when her friend and ENCorps member, Marianne Reynolds, invited her to come to the annual summit.

     Nancy grew up in New England and attended Colby College in Waterville. Along with her husband, she worked as a civilian in the Department of Defense as a counselor, living extensively overseas as well as in Massachusetts. She and her husband bought an old summer cottage out in the woods in Boothbay back in 1966, and from that point on, Maine became their U.S. home base. Ultimately they decided to retire and live in Maine full time.

     Following her retirement and the passing of her husband, Nancy found that she had more time to get involved in different activities, and she began volunteering at the Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) in Boothbay Harbor. She volunteers at several organizations, but her greatest commitment in terms of hours and longevity has been to the BRLT for the past seven years. She currently volunteers 25 hours per month serving as the Vice President of the board of directors, and is involved with planning special events. She has been an integral part of planning an event called The Great Hike, which is coming up on Saturday, September 27th at the Ovens Mouth Preserve (see below for more information). Nancy says, "It's going to be fabulous!" Nancy also serves as the volunteer coordinator, and manages a roster of 140 other volunteers!

     The BRLT's mission to conserve and ensure public access to land is important. They provide 30 miles of hiking trails in the region that are open year round and free of charge to the public. A big part of their focus is providing nature education through free lectures, group hikes, and working with children. Nancy says "We're very blessed to have an environmental educator on our staff who makes that possible." The BRLT leads a program for all fifth graders in the Boothbay schools to visit the preserves, and they frequently collaborate with the Boothbay Region YMCA to help incorporate nature education into the after school programs and camp curriculum.

     Nancy's volunteer work doesn't end there. She says, "One of my great hobbies is being a volunteer!" At the Boothbay Region Food Pantry, Nancy is a member of the board of directors, and says, "It's a working board, so we actually work at distributing food!" She says that one of the most interesting things she has been involved with this year was visiting other food pantries to learn what they are doing that might help improve their own operations. This summer, the pantry was awarded an Elmina B. Sewall Foundation grant to improve access to healthy, fresh produce and foods. The grant funds enabled them to give vouchers to pantry consumers to take to their local farmer's market or farm stand. "It was great for the consumers and also for the farmers; it was a very special part of our program." Nancy particularly enjoyed the ENCorps summit this past May with its focus on food security issues because it tied in nicely with the work she has been doing at the pantry for the past few years.

     Singing in the choir at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor also keeps Nancy busy, along with serving as the co-chair of the mission committee. One of the events she enjoys most at the church is the International Workers Welcome dinner she helps to put on. Each year they host about 30 people from 10 different countries who have come here to work in different capacities. They share a meal and help them get to know others in the church community and make them feel more at home.

     Nancy believes the most important thing about volunteering is being committed to the mission of the organization you volunteer for. Conservation is very important to her, and she enjoys spending time with like-minded people who share her passion for the environment. She feels that "Volunteering is a wonderful way to be connected to the community and get to know people. It adds considerably to the quality of one's life."

     We couldn't agree more!

 

BOOTHBAY REGION LAND TRUST

137 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME

Phone: (207) 633-4818

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

http://www.bbrlt.org/

BOOTHBAY REGION FOOD PANTRY

http://www.boothbayresources.com/#!food-pantry/c1hh3

Hours are every Friday, 12:00-2:00 PM. 

For more information, call (207) 350-4077

 

THE GREAT HIKE! 
Saturday, September 27, 2014  11am - 3pm
Join the Boothbay Region Land Trust for a hike at the Ovens Mouth Preserve. 
Includes great prizes, a BBQ with live music by THE SPACEHEATERS 
as well as a scavenger hunt & activities for children! 

For more information click here!

             


 


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

 


HAVE FUN HELPING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE YMCA!

The Color Run fundraiser needs volunteers in a hurry! 

September 26, 27, and 28 in Bangor

 

If you haven't heard of The Color Run yet, this video will give you an idea of what it is: Color Run Video on YouTubeVolunteers need to sign up through this special YMCA Link. The Bangor YMCA can also be reached at (207) 941-2808 for more information.

  

 

FARM STORE HELP AT MORRIS FARM TRUST

The Morris Farm Trust promotes the values of sustainable agriculture and stewardship of the earth through education, demonstration and community involvement. This year has seen the opening of the Farm Store, along with a desire to integrate food security into our mission. We are here to create an open environment for the community to come together around food issues, in hopes of building a healthier tomorrow.

http://volunteermaine.galaxydigital.com/volunteer/agency/need/?need_id=71923

 

 

SPECTRUM GENERATIONS

Spectrum Generations has many volunteer openings, including supporting food security work through their Meals on Wheels Program. As the Central Maine Agency on Aging, a non-profit agency offering independent living options to adults and their families through a toll-free Information and Help Line and a network of community centers.

http://volunteermaine.galaxydigital.com/volunteer/agency/display/?agency_id=18564

 

 

MAINE CONSERVATION CORPS

MCC is seeking volunteers to help with conservation and environmental projects across the state. The majority of opportunities happen in the spring, summer and fall, but we also occasionally have winter opportunities. It can be fun and rewarding to spend a day or more working on a conservation project.  With opportunities all across the state, you can volunteer locally or use your volunteer experience to explore a new part of Maine!

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/get_involved/conservation_corps/volunteer_opportunities_events.shtml

 

 

THE WELLS RESERVE

The Wells Reserve is a 2,250-acre research, education, and public recreation facility, a state-federal partnership within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Reserve facilities are located at Laudholm Farm in Wells, Maine. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available, from fundraising and special event help, naturalist/docent, to library assistant.

http://volunteermaine.galaxydigital.com/volunteer/agency/display/wells-reserve-at-laudholm/?agency_id=18513

 

 

BUTTONS FOR BABES VOLUNTEERS- BUTTON BRACELET MAKERS

Do you like to sew, meet new people, and help children in Greater Franklin County? Then this is the project for you! Buttons are sorted, cleaned, and available at the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area in Farmington, but bracelets can be made anywhere after a brief training. Group workshops available upon request. Visit www.uwtva.org/give or www.facebook.com/buttons4babes for more information.

 

 

 Other volunteer opportunities can be found at www.volunteermaine.org!


 


ENCORPS EVENTS

A WORKSHOP:  VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, and GENERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Many non-profit organizations are concerned about finding - and keeping - enough volunteers to fulfill their missions. Please join us as Anne Schink, of ABS Consulting, presents strategies to recruit and retain volunteers and to engage many generations as they strive to work together. 


 

WHEN: September 24, 10 AM - 12 PM
WHERE: Katz Library, Room 5, UMA Campus, University of Maine at Augusta

Other locations offered via Polycom:
* Room 327, Wishcamper Center, USM, Portland
* Room 129, Hutchinson Center, Belfast
* University of Maine at Machias, Torrey Hall, Room 103
* UMA Bangor, Camden Hall, Room 310 


MORE INFO & TO REGISTER: This workshop is free to ENCorps members and their guests. Please register with Sarah Harvey, Program Coordinator, at: [email protected] or 207-699-9363.


 

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING ENCORPS EVENTS LATER THIS FALL! 


OTHER MAINE EVENTS

SAFETY NET PROGRAM UPDATES - FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE ADVOCATES

Do you work or volunteer for a community service organization that provides support or advocacy for older adults?  A safety net program update is taking place in Washington and Hancock County on September 30, 2014.

 

On the Agenda:

  • Update on the recent changes in the Food Supplement Program such as Photo IDs on EBT Cards and Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents - 3 month limit for some individuals
  • Update on My Maine Connection
  • Update on Medicare Part D Open Enrollment, Medigap Plans and Medicare Advantage
  • Multigenerational Families - whose income counts for which programs
  • Elder Exploitation

Locations:

Machias             

Where:   University of Maine at Machias, The Clipper Lounge

When:    September 30, 2014, 8:30 - 11:30 AM


 

Ellsworth

Where:  Washington Hancock Community Action, 248 Bucksport Road

When:   September 30, 2014, 2:00 - 5:00 PM


 

Please Register:

These workshops are designed for Community Service Advocates and provided at no charge. Space is limited so please RSVP to Jennifer Sanborn at Maine Equal Justice Partners (MEJP) with your name, organization, phone number, and email address: 626-7058 x 200 or [email protected]. This training is co-sponsored by MEJP, Legal Services for the Elderly, Eastern Area Agency on Aging and Washington Hancock Community Action Program and is funded through the Maine Bar Foundation's ESO Fund. For more information:  http://www.mejp.org/sites/default/files/Machias-Ellsworth-Trainings-Sept-2014.pdf

  


MEMBER HOURS
ENCorps members have volunteered 55,429 to date! Keep up the great work!


NEW MEMBER WELCOME!
Welcome to our newest member, Peter Drever from Norridgewock!

Encore Leadership Corps

207-262-7928

[email protected]

www.encoreleaders.org

 

ENCorps is a program of the University of Maine Center on Aging in partnership with the Maine Community Foundation and with the cooperation of local, state, and national organizations. Funding in support of ENCorps has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Aging Initiative, The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Maine Community Foundation, Jane's Trust, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, Davis Conservation Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundaiton, and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation.