Maine Mountain Conference Update
The second Maine Mountain Conference was held last October 21 at Saddleback, Maine. Despite a boycott by the policymakers of the Baldacci administration, and the season's first winter storm, the MMC was a success! There were 64 people at the Friday evening celebration dinner, and 219 people attended the presentations on Saturday.The MMC was covered in the press by the Bangor Daily News, BDN 10/23/06, Lewiston Sun Journal and the Kennebec Journal. The feedback has been tremendous and quite rewarding.
On Sunday, Oct 22, 2006, 12 people hiked up 3654' Kibby Mt. in the heart of the Boundary Mts. The air was clear and crisp, the views, with the first dusting of snow, breathtaking. Trans Canada is proposing 43 wind turbines in this area to generate tax credits and subsidies for export to Canada.
The MMC steering committee is now trying to figure out how to best use the success of the Conference to further the protection of the Maine Mountains. Initial discussions have started, to compile notes, thoughts, ideas, suggestions etc. from this conference into some talking points and/or a policy paper. A survey has been constructed and sent to everyone that attended the MMC.
We have audio recordings and notes taken by Unity College students in addition to the University of Maine Farmington video footage of all the presentations in the main lodge. With support from Unity College the editing of the conference proceedings has begun under the direction of MMC presenter Chris Beach.
MATC was the fiscal agent for the MMC under the direction of Elsa Sanborn who also handled conference registrations. With registration fees and sponsorship income we were able to pay all the bills related to printing and mailing brochures, registration costs, payments to Saddleback for meals etc. and the excellent packets everyone received at the Conference.
We also have 9 hours of interviews done by Roundpoint Media that we wish to edit into a DVD that will "tell the story" of the Conference weekend. Roundpoint Media has estimated that a finished DVD product will cost $4,608. I have reviewed and made notes of all the interviews and expect the serious editing to start as soon as funding is available.
If you wish to donate to help produce this DVD and publish the proceedings a donation of $25 or more will get you a copy of the DVD when it is completed, hopefully by the summer of 2007.
You may donate two easy ways:
- By sending a check to Maine Mountain Conference, c/o Elsa Sanborn, P.O. Box 8087, Bangor, ME 04402.
- Or online, at http://www.matc.org/, just scroll down the green side to the Donate Now button, and it will take you to the GroundSpring.org site. Under gift information, check the "in memory of" button and fill in MMC.
Sincerely,
Dick Fecteau
Co-Chair
MMC Steering Committee
207-778-0870
P.S. Here are some quotes from conference attendees:
"Congratulations on the success of the Maine Mountain Conference 2006, and thanks for the opportunity to speak. Please pass along this note to the full steering committee." |
"That was a very impressive effort, and I am really glad I attended." |
"It was a wonderful event, and I was honored to be a part of it. Everything ran perfectly and I was so impressed with the site and the Saddleback staff, as well as the conference crew and the presenters. I'm looking forward to the next one!" |
"It was a wonderful event, and I was honored to be a part of it. Everything ran perfectly and I was so impressed with the site and the Saddleback staff, as well as the conference crew and the presenters. I'm looking forward to the next one!" |
"Congratulations on a great Maine Mountains conference. Everything went very well: great turn out, wonderful location, outstanding presentations. Well done!" |
"The students who attended were really impressed with the conference quality and organization, and very much appreciated the warm reception, the sumptuous food, and the support they received. They will write an article for our student newspaper summarizing their experiences." |
"Certainly, all the speakers were highly qualified, very capable, very interesting, and each contributed a great deal to the overall success. I have heard so many glowing remarks about the meeting; I certainly hope they have or will all filter back to you. Undoubtedly, the gist and highlights of the entire meeting were captured on tape and film, and, when these are reviewed, they will display and preserve all the many invaluable facts and features that this meeting brought forth." |
"So glad to hear that your hike on that beautiful day was a crowning delight of the weekend. Thanks again for your masterful work at the conference and your good cheer and helpfulness, and please convey my personal thanks to Bill and Irene Berry, next time you communicate with them, for their extraordinary hospitality at their rejuvenated and incredibly lovely resort." |
The event's agenda is below:
FRI., OCT. 20 AGENDA
Celebrating the Mountains of Maine ($35/person)
6 p.m. - Poetry Reading - by Kristen Lindquist, Coastal Mountains Land Trust, "The Poetry of Bald & Ragged Mountains"
6:30 p.m. - Dinner
7:30 p.m. - Jym St. Pierre, RESTORE: The North Woods - "If Baxter Was Governor, Muir Was Conservation Commissioner, and Thoreau Was Head of Fish and Wildlife"
