Corporation for National and Community Service

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

1

The Board of Directors convened in Washington, D. C. The following members of the Board 

were present:

Laysha Ward, Chair 

Lisa Garcia Quiroz Hyepin Im 

Matthew McCabe Phyllis Segal

 

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Board Chair, Laysha Ward, opened the meeting by welcoming those in the room and those who 

were joining by telephone. Ms. Ward noted that the October Board meeting was cancelled due 

to the Government shutdown. The Board conducted a retreat last evening by teleconference and 

today’s public meeting is also by teleconference. Ms. Ward said that joining the Board today by 

telephone are Lisa Garcia Quiroz and Phyllis Segal. On behalf of the Board, Ms. Ward invited 

members of the public in attendance to comment on the business of the Board at the end of the 

meeting. She indicated that anyone wishing to do so should sign up so that the Board can adjust 

the agenda accordingly. 

Ms. Ward gave a quick overview of the agenda for the meeting. She said she would provide 

opening remarks and introductions and then summarize the Board’s most recent work. Next, 

Ms. Ward would ask Phyllis Segal to provide an update on the Oversight Governance and 

Accountability Committee. Then in lieu of the other committee reports, Ms. Wendy Spencer, the 

CEO, will speak to both the program updates and the external affairs outreach. Following that, 

the Board would approve the minutes from the last Board meeting and the Board would then 

close with an opportunity for any public comments. 

Ms. Ward provided remarks beginning with a few words of thanks to the other Board members 

for sharing their time, talent, and their insights to help strengthen national service. Ms. Ward 

noted that this Board meeting was her last official meeting as Chair of the CNCS Board of 

Directors. 

Next, Ms. Ward expressed the Board’s gratitude to CNCS staff, who continued to display great 

skill and commitment during another very busy period for the Agency. Finally, Ms. Ward 

thanked the national service programs and participants who continue to do vitally important 

work on the ground serving the communities to improve the lives of everyday citizens. 
Corporation for National and Community Service

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

2

Ms. Ward commented on what the Agency accomplished since she joined the Board in 2008. 

Among the accomplishments noted by Ms. Ward were funding from the Recovery Act for 

AmeriCorps; the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act; launching United We 

Serve; the enactment of the five-year strategic plan; the establishment of the Mayor’s Day of 

Recognition for National Service; the confirmation of the current CEO and the Inspector 

General; the launch of the President’s Task Force on Expanding National Service; the creation of 

the Office of Oversight and Accountability; new partnerships like FEMA Corps and School 

Turnaround AmeriCorps; the 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps; and the introduction of the first 

RSVP competition. Ms. Ward said that for all of those reasons and for many more, she was 

deeply honored and proud to be part of this Agency and to work with this Administration. Ms. 

Ward believed that the work that has been done will continue to make a tremendous impact in 

the lives of Americans all across the country. 

Ms. Ward then noted that the Board had met yesterday evening for a Board retreat by phone and 

she wanted to provide the highlights of what was discussed. The first matter on the agenda 

during the conference call was a discussion of the incoming Chair. Since Ms. Ward’s term ends

on December 27, 2013, the new year will bring new opportunity and a new leader. Ms. Ward 

announced that Lisa Garcia Quiroz was nominated during the conference call to serve as Chair of 

the CNCS Board of Directors. Ms. Quiroz was confirmed in March, 2012, to serve on the Board 

and has been a very active and committed member. For the last year, Ms. Quiroz has served as 

committee chair for the Board’s External Affairs work group. Ms. Ward had the honor of 

working closely with her and knows she will do an outstanding job in the role of Chair.

Nomination and Election of Lisa Garcia Quiroz to be Chair of the Board of Directors for 

the Corporation for National and Community Service. Ms. Ward then publicly entertained 

a motion to nominate Ms. Quiroz to serve as the next Board Chair. Mr. McCabe moved to place 

Ms. Quiroz’s name before the Board and Ms. Segal seconded the motion. The Board considered 

and approved the nomination of Lisa Garcia Quiroz to be the Chair of the Board by unanimous

voice vote.

Ms. Quiroz stated that she was very excited about chairing the Board in the coming year and has 

great confidence in the staff and the plans that lie ahead. It is a very important time for CNCS,

and there is a lot to accomplish. Ms. Quiroz said that she looked forward to being a part of that.

Ms. Ward then noted that in light of the Board size and to make the most efficient use of the 

resources, the Board would be collapsing the existing Board committee structure. Ms. Ward said 
Corporation for National and Community Service

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

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that this same approach had been used previously and was found to be very efficient and 

effective. Such a structure will ensure that the Agency is able to optimize everyone’s talent and 

time in keeping all of the important initiatives moving forward.

Ms. Ward also said that during the Board retreat call yesterday they discussed AmeriCorps 

member healthcare and noted that CNCS had communicated to all national direct grantees and 

the State Commissions the options available to them to provide health care to their AmeriCorps 

members. CNCS also communicated these options to AmeriCorps members directly. Ms. Ward 

stated that the CNCS team will continue to work with AmeriCorps members and grantees on the 

issue of healthcare options in 2014 and beyond.

The Board retreat also included an update on the second meeting of the President’s Task Force 

on Expanding National Service. The Task Force had convened last Thursday for a meeting 

chaired by Wendy Spencer and Cecilia Munoz, the Director of Domestic Policy at the White 

House. The leading representatives from 16 federal agencies, White House officials and CNCS 

leadership met to discuss opportunities to grow national service. Ms. Ward noted that staff 

members from the various agencies’ general counsel offices had discussed the authorities that 

can be used to develop agency partnerships and grow national service. Further, Agency staff 

discussed strategies for engaging nonfederal partners in efforts to grow national service. Ms. 

Ward said that the Board is very excited about this opportunity for interagency partnership and 

collaboration and to build the next success as the Board has seen with other initiatives such as 

FEMA Corps. 

Ms. Ward concluded her opening remarks by saying that the remainder of the Board’s time 

during the retreat was spent on hearing updates regarding the budget and about the CNCS 

oversight and accountability structures. 

Ms. Ward thanked everyone for what they are doing or continuing to do to take CNCS programs 

to even greater levels of impact and success and to tell the CNCS story. Ms. Ward then 

recognized Phyllis Segal, the chair of the Oversight Governance and Audit Committee and 

thanked her for her service.

Ms. Segal began her presentation by recognizing what a pleasure it had been to serve under the 

leadership of Ms. Ward as Chair of the Board and how much she would be missed. Ms. Segal 

then reported on the activities of the Oversight Governance and Audit Committee. The 

Committee met several times since the last public Board meeting and had been briefed on the 

2015 fiscal year budget proposal. Ms. Segal stated that the Committee stays abreast of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

4

details in the legislative and budgetary process as well as the work of CNCS staff. Regarding the 

audit, Ms. Segal was pleased to inform the Board that the Agency’s final report was about to be 

published on the CNCS website. The Agency had received a clean opinion from the auditors. 

Finally, the Committee wanted to recognize an activity that has taken the attention and time of 

the Committee members, and that is the requirement under the Serve America Act that the CNCS 

Board conduct an annual review of the CEO. Ms. Segal stated that the Committee was very 

close to completing what was a very rigorous assessment process and expect to provide the 

Committee report to the President before the end of 2013.

Consideration of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The Board considered and approved by voice vote the minutes for the public Board meeting held 

May 15, 2013.

Chief Executive Officer’s Report

Ms. Ward recognized Ms. Spencer, the CNCS CEO, to provide remarks. Ms. Spencer noted that 

CNCS had the opportunity last week to thank Ms. Ward for her leadership on the Board. She 

expressed that CNCS is a stronger, better organization because of Laysha Ward’s leadership. 

Ms. Spencer also thanked Ms. Quiroz for stepping up and agreeing to serve as the new Board 

Chair. She also thanked the rest of the Board for their level of support and engagement. Finally, 

Ms. Spencer thanked the members of the CNCS staff who were present at the Board meeting and 

those on the phone from the national service field, the partners, CNCS grantees, and service 

members who make national service come to life and make an important impact on the ground. 

Ms. Spencer told those in the field that we are here because of the work that each of them do, and 

that CNCS wants to continue to do a great job to support those in the field and across the 

country.

Ms. Spencer said that it had been a very busy and exciting time for CNCS. Perhaps the most 

exciting event recently was the second convening of the President’s Task Force on Expanding 

National Service. Nearly 50 leaders representing 16 federal agencies attended, including White 

House senior officials. The Task Force heard a presentation from Department of Justice 

Associate General Counsel Tony West. He set forth why this work was so important to his 

agency and Ms. Spencer quoted him at the Task Force meeting: “Because service is central to 

DOJ’s mission, partnership with CNCS is a natural fit.” Mr. West outlined what a potential 

Justice AmeriCorps would look like and how this new Corps could increase access to justice for 

Americans, particularly for young people, seniors, and victims of domestic violence and human 

trafficking.
Corporation for National and Community Service

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

5

Ms. Spencer told the Board that the Task Force also held four breakout sessions and had great 

dialogue to encourage the progress with agencies’ general counsels. There was one session on 

new Americans and immigration; one session on education, particularly STEM, early learning, 

college readiness, and graduation; one session on climate and the environment; and another 

session on health and economic opportunities. All of the sessions were marked with great 

dialogue and ideas for how national service can address some of the issues facing those 

categories. 

Ms. Spencer thanked the team from CNCS that helped make the Task Force meeting such a 

success. The meetings take a lot of work and thoughtful planning, and that showed in the 

outcome of the meeting. Ms. Spencer said that the goals of the President’s Task Force are 

essential to our efforts at CNCS to build on the Serve America Act.

Ms. Spencer then briefed the Board on the four focus areas that advance the mission of CNCS. 

They are expanding economic opportunity; driving innovation and impact; growing national 

service and volunteerism; and then, when it’s all said and done, explaining why service matters. 

Ms. Spencer said that she was pleased to report this morning to the Board that CNCS is making 

great progress in those areas and she wanted to share with the Board and public some of the 

highlights in those areas.

Expanding Economic Opportunity – National service and volunteerism strengthens people and 

communities and is a proven pathway to education and jobs. Yesterday, CNCS’s annual study 

on volunteering and civic life in America was released. It provides an opportunity to discuss 

CNCS’s groundbreaking research on volunteering as a pathway to employment. The research 

shows that volunteers are 27% more likely to find a job than unemployed non-volunteers. In 

rural communities, that figure is 55%. If you are unemployed without a high school degree or 

equivalent and you volunteer, your chance at finding employment rises to 51%. The study also 

found that volunteering remains stable and strong, and that one in four adults volunteered 

through an organization in 2012. That’s important to note, because generally speaking, more 

people help others volunteer episodically, and not through an organization. 

Last year, 64.5 million Americans volunteered 7.9 billion hours, which represents a serious 

economic impact. That’s the equivalent of $175 billion in service in 2012. Generation Xers, 

those aged 32-48 years old, had the highest overall rate of volunteerism. This rose from 24.7% 

11 years ago to 30.1% today. Generation Xers are clearly volunteering more as they age. 

Another interesting fact raised by the research is that it is not the people with the most time that 
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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

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volunteer the most. Rather, the data show that working mothers volunteer at a rate of 38.5% 

higher than the population as a whole. This tells CNCS a lot about the connectivity to 

communities and how working mothers really want to make a difference and impact in 

communities across the country. In addition, seniors spent a median of 90 hours annually doing 

volunteer activities in 2012, though many seniors actually volunteer thousands of hours. This 

group clearly volunteers the most of any. 

Ms. Spencer noted that there was a great rollout of the annual report along with a new website 

and lots of media outreach. Ms. Spencer participated in 12 radio interviews, thereby reaching 

6.5 million listeners. CNCS hopes that this will motivate more people to volunteer. In each 

interview, Ms. Spencer asked people to think about volunteering during the holiday season with 

their families, and asked parents to talk to their children about volunteering and what the 

children’s interests are and to align those interests with volunteering. Children often say that 

they don’t want another child to go hungry or to go through the holiday season without a gift or 

someone who cares about them. So Ms. Spencer urges parents to be active in volunteering with 

their children through an organization, agency, or non-profit to address those issues that the 

children are interested in and to volunteer together as a family. 

Driving Innovation and Impact – CNCS is thinking of new solutions to old problems on a daily 

basis. CNCS invested $250,000 in 2013 to fund regional training in its five cluster areas – The 

Atlantic in New Brunswick, NJ; the Southern in Nashville, TN; the North Central region in 

Chicago, IL; the Southwest in Denver, CO; and the Pacific in Portland, OR. These conferences 

hosted nearly a thousand AmeriCorps and Senior Corps program directors, more than 40 CNCS 

staff, and over 200 non-grantee participants. This is a great, cost-effective way to train CNCS’s 

partners in the field. Ms. Spencer attended two of these – in TN and NJ. She found them to be 

outstanding and extended her compliments to the conference trainers and participants. Topics 

covered included performance measures, financial management, and evidence-based programs. 

CNCS staff, in collaboration with state commissions, developed conference content. This type 

of model will set the stage for future collaboration in a cost-effective way. 

CNCS continued to support long-term recovery efforts in communities affected by financial 

disasters. There was a great need for CNCS support in the latter part of 2013. Support came 

from West, TX, where AmeriCorps programs like Texas Conservation Corps and America Youth 

Works had 20 members on the ground within 48 hours after the April 17th fertilizer plant 

explosion. They coordinated thousands of volunteers, collaborated with the One Star 

Foundation, the TX State Service Commission, and Senior Corps RSVP. Additionally, 66 

Senior Corps individuals manned senior centers, 211 call centers, and the media command post 

which supported food distribution and provided donations assistance. CNCS provided a 
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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

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$995,000 augmentation grant to the Texas RSVP for that project to continue to support disaster 

response and address corresponding needs. 

CNCS’s support included responding to the Oklahoma tornadoes. Under the FEMA mission 

assignment, CNCS deployed five AmeriCorps programs consisting of 45 members that served 

over 11,000 hours and leveraged nearly 3,000 volunteers. Additionally, 40 Senior Corps RSVP 

volunteers supported the relief and recovery effort, and 20-30 FEMA Corps teams consisting of 

105 members deployed and together with teams that were currently serving, completed over 

46,000 hours of service. Also, a number of AmeriCorps State and National programs provided 

survivor legal assistance, feeding, and shelter services. 

Ms. Spencer had the chance to tour West, TX and the Oklahoma tornado area with local officials 

and found the devastation to be dramatic, but the recovery amazing. The communities are 

resilient. CNCS’s aid through national service and volunteerism complements the communities’ 

desire to recover quickly. 

Ms. Spencer noted that CNCS was there for the Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs in June 

when 10 AmeriCorps NCCC members from the Denver campus went with the first firefighters to 

respond. Additionally, AmeriCorps Texas Conservation Corps members responded to flooding 

in Eagle Pass, TX, in July. Members worked with local and national Voluntary Organizations 

Active in Disaster (VOAD) partners to assist in the response efforts. 

CNCS also responded to the Yukon River floods in rural villages of Alaska during the summer. 

These floods were traumatic for those communities. The Governor of Alaska thanked Ms. 

Spencer for CNCS’s support. Under FEMA mission assignments, CNCS deployed five 

AmeriCorps grantees and eight CNCS staff members in response to the floods. A total of 67 

AmeriCorps members and program staff served nearly 19,000 hours and leveraged 854 

volunteers for 7,400 volunteer hours. Additionally, two FEMA Corps teams totaling 19 

members worked very hard and served 12,000 hours. 

Members continued to deploy in response to the Colorado and Alaska floods and all CNCS 

streams of service were engaged, including Senior Corps RSVP, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps 

VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, FEMA Corps, and AmeriCorps National resources consisting of the 

National Preparedness and Response Corps and American Red Cross. This represented 682 

volunteers serving 93,000 hours. Senior Corps awarded four RSVP programs a total of $280,000 

in grant augmentation to support disaster recovery efforts. FEMA Corps also deployed 38 teams 

consisting of 260 members. 
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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

8

CNCS continued to help communities in Illinois that were devastated by tornadoes in November. 

A seven-member team of the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team arrived 

immediately to help Tazewell County with volunteer coordination and management. A 

volunteer reception center was established immediately and registered 2,255 volunteers and 

leveraged over 32,000 hours as of the time of this meeting. AmeriCorps members assisted with 

mobile feeding and distribution of emergency supplies and food items to over 200 families, 

assisted with sheltering activities, statistical reporting, and working with community partners to 

set up a multi-agency resource center. Senior Corps and FEMA Corps continued to assist on the 

ground as well. 

CNCS continued providing support in areas hit by Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina as 

well. Altogether, this constitutes an amazing array of service on the ground supporting 

Americans during their greatest time of need. Ms. Spencer noted that to have AmeriCorps 

members and Senior Corps participants, volunteers, and leaders in national service and the 

volunteer sector aiding these communities is really something. Ms. Spencer asked for a round of 

applause for the national service and volunteer sector and noted that she has a great disaster 

service unit supporting these efforts. 

Growing National Service and Volunteerism – CNCS is growing national service through new 

creative investments and partnerships. Earlier in 2013, CNCS launched School Turnaround 

AmeriCorps with the Department of Education with a three-year $15 million grant program 

placing AmeriCorps members in 60 of America’s lowest performing schools in order to boost 

achievement, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. Additionally, CNCS launched 

VetSuccess AmeriCorps in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs on a number of 

college campuses across the country to help veterans succeed in college classrooms and to 

successfully transition back to civilian life. 

This all comprises an exciting next wave of service for CNCS. But CNCS also wants everyday 

Americans to serve alongside its national service members, and so CNCS is continuing its push 

up to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 20th. January 20th is a day on, not a 

day off, and CNCS will be volunteering and serving in communities across America. Ms. 

Spencer took the opportunity at the last Task Force meeting to encourage its partners to join 

CNCS for “a day on” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. 

Explaining Why Service Matters – CNCS is continuing to tell the national service story, which 

includes continuing to engage and communicate with citizens in their local communities. Ms. 

Spencer was recently able to point listeners to serve.gov when she appeared on several radio 

stations, and asked listeners to volunteer as a family throughout the holidays and to help CNCS 
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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

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in the effort to alleviate hunger, support the homeless, close the mentoring gap, and support 

CNCS education, environment, and disaster initiatives. 

Ms. Spencer noted that CNCS has had so many exciting opportunities to highlight the value and 

impact of CNCS’s work in the past several months. There was a very successful launch of the 

AmeriCorps 20th anniversary on September 20th. CNCS is celebrating the anniversary the whole 

year. As part of this, programs will have monthly focuses, with examples like months focusing 

on economic opportunity coming up in January, environmental stewardship in April, senior 

service in May, and disaster service in August. In September 2014, CNCS’s year-long 

celebration will culminate on September 12th when CNCS will have the largest simultaneous 

swearing-in of AmeriCorps members and also invite its AmeriCorps alums, which will be

850,000 strong, to participate in a commitment to communities and also retake the AmeriCorps 

oath.

Ms. Spencer also briefed the Board and public for the announcement in November where she

joined Mayor Chris Coleman, who was inducted recently in Seattle as the new head of the 

National League of Cities, and Mayor Scott Smith. Mayor Coleman is from St. Paul, Minnesota, 

and he joined Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa, Arizona, who is the current president of the U.S. 

Conference of Mayors. These two Mayors, leading the largest mayor affiliate organizations in 

the nation were there to announce the second annual Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National 

Service, which will be held on April 1st. This was the second such event and CNCS is hoping 

that it becomes an annual event. 

In conclusion, Ms. Spencer noted that it was a moment of opportunity for CNCS and that we are 

seizing the moment by expanding opportunities for more Americans through all of our programs. 

Ms. Spencer noted that she was very pleased with the progress being made in oversight and 

accountability accomplishments, including creating the Financial Integrity Steering Committee; 

implementing an internal controls assessment program, addressing the findings of the 2012 audit; 

and enhancing information technology to aid in this effort. Ms. Spencer also took a moment to 

thank the members of the Office of the Inspector General, Deb Jeffrey, the Inspector General, 

and her team. Ms. Spencer stated that CNCS worked very closely with the Inspector General 

and her team on this most recent audit and the auditors did an outstanding job. It is the 14th year 

in a row that CNCS has had a clean audit opinion. The audit is now on the website.

Ms. Spencer said she looked forward to continuing to work with the Board under Ms. Quiroz’s 

leadership, with the Agency staff, the grantees, the CNCS partners, and the CNCS service 
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Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

December 17, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:51 a.m., EST 

10

members – all working to advance the mission and make national service, volunteerism, and 

social innovation central to meeting our nation’s challenges.

Public Comment

Ms. Ward offered those attending the Board meeting and those listening on the telephone line the 

opportunity to address the Board. There were not any questions.

Closing Remarks

There being no further presenters, Ms. Ward thanked the members of the Board, and stated that it 

was a pleasure serving alongside them. She looks forward to continuing to partner with them as 

a member of the alumni group and she will continue to make service a priority in her personal 

life, as she has since she was very young, thanks to her parents. Ms. Ward also thanked Wendy 

Spencer for her extraordinary leadership and friendship and that of her staff as well. Ms. Ward 

learned so much working alongside everyone, and looks forward to continuing to be of service. 

She noted that it was clear from the report today that CNCS and its programs are providing 

essential services and there is strong momentum for national service. Ms. Ward is thrilled to be 

a part of this tremendous organization. This was an important discussion today on strengthening 

and advancing CNCS’s work and to help the Agency meet its mission, improve lives, strengthen 

communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. CNCS continues to 

raise the bar and show how its work has measurable impact and continues to share powerful 

stories that inspire others to serve for generations to come. 

Ms. Ward adjourned the public meeting at 9:51 a.m.