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The Maine Commission for Community Service is a state government body created to foster community service and volunteerism to meet human and environmental needs in the State of Maine, while building capacity and sustainability in local volunteer programs.
The Commission works very closely with AmeriCorps programs throughout the state. Not only is the Commission an advocate for community service and volunteerism in Maine but, also, it is the administrator and grantor for AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
CarolAnne Dube, Bangor |
CarolAnne Dube is the Director of Development for St. Joseph Healthcare and a graduate of the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Dube is responsible for the strategic development, planning, oversight, coordination and implementation of St. Joseph Healthcare’s fundraising program. CarolAnne is currently the Vice Chair of the Maine Commission for Community Service.
As the Vice Chair for the Maine Commission for Community Service I want to take advantage of this commemorative event to let you know about some of the great things AmeriCorps members are working on in our area and encourage you to get involved!
Bessie Wright is in her second term as an AmeriCorps Member, with The Maine Conservation Corps, serving at the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District. She is a graduate of the University of Maine and holds bachelors degrees in Ecology and Environmental science as well as Wildlife Ecology. One of the many projects Bessie is working on is the Pushaw Watershed Project. Her efforts are helping to ensure Pushaw Lake, a popular recreation area for many Bangor residents, remains healthy for generations to come. Bessie works with property owners in the area though grants to help them repair land and prevent erosion. One of the major accomplishments of this project has been to re-crown, install culverts, and dig ditches on 2 miles of Beachwood Avenue to prevent further erosion of the road. Bessie says, “A well maintained camp road is just as effective as a paved one at controlling erosion.”
This project has had an enormous impact on Pushaw by preventing 15 tons of soil each year from getting into the Lake. “Soil erosion accounts for 60 % of non-source point pollution in Maine,” says Wright. Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, non-source point pollution comes from many diffuse sources, such as runoff that picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, coastal waters, and even sources of underground drinking water. There are more than 900 camps on Pushaw Lake that enjoy a cleaner healthier lake thanks to Bessie and The Conversation Corps team.
Bessie’s commitment to the environment doesn’t end there. She also provides free science education classes to schools and other local organizations. She teaches students there are simple things they can do to protect Maine's natural resources, like washing vehicles at a carwash where runoff is controlled and picking up after your pet so what they leave behind doesn’t end up in our streams and lakes. There are other easy things everyone can do like leaving grass clippings behind to act as natural fertilizer, and installing a rain barrel to collect water for your garden and yard. Both of these tips not only serve to protect our environment but also save money!
Bessie joined AmeriCorps to help the community and to gain valuable job skills as a new college graduate. She is thrilled to report, the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District will be hiring her in a full time capacity, after she completers her AmeriCorps service. Bessie Wright is truly a dedicated and hardworking AmeriCorps Member and is certainly worthy of being highlighted during AmeriCorps Week. We salute you Bessie and thank you for all you do for Maine and the Bangor area!
There are many great benefits of joining AmeriCorps including an education award that can be used to pay for college, graduate school, and even pay back existing qualified student loans. Some members also receive a living allowance and health care. If you’re thinking of changing careers or are just staring out in a career AmeriCorps can help you build valuable job skills. A report just released by The Corporation for National and Community Service, indicates about 80% of members reported their service exposed them to new career options. Joely Ross, a Program Manager for many of Maine’s AmeriCorps projects, says about 10% of her members are hired on by the site they were placed in as AmeriCorps Members.
There are many opportunities for you to get involved locally during AmeriCorps week even if you’re not a member. Consider joining the Bangor Area Storm Water Group during the 4th Annual Stream Cleanup event on May 11th. There will be groups working together along the Penobscot River from Winterport to Milford. Following the morning cleanup a neighborhood celebration with great prizes and fun for all will be held. If you want to learn more about getting involved in this and other efforts in your area please visit, www.volunteermaine.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in Maine during AmeriCorps week, and all year long!
Learn more about the Maine Commission for Community Service at www.maineservicecommission.gov