By Noble Smith

In every generation, some piece of local, regional or Federal legislation, or some momentous activity or occasion or some human event initiates a life-style change, a change that affects almost every aspect of our country.

Certainly when President Obama on April 21st signed into law the Kennedy Service America Act, some recognized instantly, others still were in wonderment, but the volunteer force and its impact on this country’s volunteer sustainability changed abruptly.

Some would say, “so what, it won’t help my pocketbook”, or other phrases such as “what’s in it for me” or “it’s just another bureaucratic labyrinth that will cost more than it’s worth.”

Others, rightfully so, across this country in all walks of life, all age, gender, race and socio-economic groupings are beginning to understand that service to this country through volunteering is now very much apart of our modus operand.

For Maine, the magnitude, complexity and diversity of the Act’s implications are still under intense assessment, planning and organizational implementation. Maine’s existing volunteer commitment and leadership, recognized nationally, has already begun a process, in an orderly business-like manner, to expand, enhance and grow the volunteer movement and its participation at all levels of the State’s needs. These adjustments will start to alter the landscape when the Act becomes effective on October 1st.

But, the impact of this Act is not just for Executive Directors, CEOs and top management. The impact is a bottoms-up initiative with strong top to bottom fiduciary, management and training mandates. The Act’s content has impacts from the smallest to the largest non-profit, to a wide diversity of human service and life-sustaining organizations and to a whole new set of service initiatives.

AmerCorp, alone, will grow from its current 17,000 participants to over 250,000 by 2017. Five new service Corps – Education, Health Futures, Clean Energy, Veterans and Opportunity – will be established thereby providing substantial and expanded volunteering options for local, regional and national service.

The senior administrative staff of MCCS and several Commissioners journeyed to Boston on the Friday start of the Memorial Day Weekend to participate in a historic “listening session” with our national partner – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The MCCS Commissioners will review in extensive detail the impact that the Service America Act will have on Maine during their annual retreat in June. Once all the legislative enactments are evaluated, MCCS and CNCS have agreed upon the steps that are in the best interest of Maine, our volunteer work force and how Maine can accommodate the new national criteria, a series of postings will be made on MCCS’ web site outlining in detail this most positive generational change.

As you read earlier this week, in the critically important blog by MCCS Executive Director, Maryalice Crofton, just determining the extent, magnitude and potential impacts of the Act represent a Herculean task. The thoughts, insights, guidance and council from all of Maine organizations that garner and encourage volunteer involvement should begin an open dialogue with MCCS.

The years ahead are extraordinarily bright for this State’s volunteer involvement. Maine is extremely fortunate to have a brilliant, hard working professional staff and an expanding group of volunteer Commissioners, all of whom share an exciting vision for the future.

Noble Smith is an MCCS Commissioner and a featured blogger.