Archive of Events
...helping people shape the future of western Maine.

Western Maine Legislative Caucus Series - "Imagining Western Maine" with Laurie Lachance, Executive Director of the Maine Development Foundation
Location: Farmington, ME - Olsen Student Center, UMF
October 12, 2007
7:00 am - 9:00 am
The Maine Development Foundation (MDF) drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine. MDF stimulates new ideas, develops leaders, and provides common ground for solving problems and advancing issues. MDF is the oldest and one of the most successful statewide public-private partnerships in the nation. MDF was created by the Governor and Legislature in 1978 as a private, non-profit corporation with a broad mandate to promote Maine's economy. MDF is financed primarily with private resources. Download Imagining Western Maine (pdf 4.42 MG)
For more information: contact the Western Mountains Alliance at (207) 778-3885 or email tswain@westernmountainsalliance.org.

Renewable Energy for Western Maine
Location: North Dining Hall, Olsen Student Center, UMF
January 26, 2007
7:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Panelists present on renewable energy options for Western Maine: dry corn, woodchips, geothermal, solar, and small-scale wind generation. Interactive displays, questions from the audience, and a free breakfast. Open to the public, no registration required. Presenters: Mike Wiltse, biofuels project for buses at Sugarloaf; Quenten Clark and Bussie York, corn furnace in SAD 58; and Tom Saviello, update on proposed state legislation to encourage renewable energy projects in public buildings, including schools. Sponsored by the Western Maine Legislative Caucus.

Bio-Ag in Practice in Maine: The Word from Local Farmers
Location: Skowhegan Municipal Building, 225 Water St, Skowhegan, ME
January 27, 2007
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
General round table discussion about biological agricultural practices in Maine, what costs are involved, what yields are realized, what the negitives are and to generate questions, answers and interest in the subject. No fee.
Registration: Call Tricia Cook at Western Mountains Alliance, 778-3885. Sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance in partnership with Maine Alternative Agriculture Association with funding provided by WK Kellogg Foundation.

Western Maine Legislatve Caucus Breakfast - Our Neighbors in Poverty
Location: Olsen Student Center, University of Maine at Farmington
March 21, 2007
7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Advocates for working families and elderly people who live with the daily challenges of poverty will have an opportunity to meet and talk with citizens. Speakers include: Rev. Scott Planting from Mission at the Eastward, Lisa Pohlmann from Maine Center for Economic Policy, Rev. Doug Dunlap from University of Farmington and Janice Daku from Western Maine Community Action. FMI click on the link above. No registration is required. Breakfast is free. Sponsored by the Western Maine Legislative Caucus

Farmer Cooperatives: Good Idea? Bad Idea?
Location: Maine Mountain Heritage Center at the Church St. Commons, 109 Church St, Farmington
March 22, 2007
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
A lot of people think cooperatives are a great idea but there aren’t many in Maine.  Why not?  They can be useful for: Buying, Equipment sharing, Warehousing, Value added processing, Marketing, Branding & Distribution. At this workshop participants will: analyze the pros and cons; look at the legal structure and tax ramifications; hear from instate coop representatives who will describe the workings of their organizations from both the shareholders’ and the managers’ perspectives. For more information or to register contact Tricia Cook at 778-3885 or e-mail tcook@westernmountainsalliance.org.
Sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance in partnership with Maine Alternative Agriculture Association.

Funding Workshops for Renewable and Energy Efficiency Projects
Location: Ocassions, The Meeting Room and Function Center
140 Main Street, Newport, ME
March 29, 2007
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Led by Sue Jones of Community Energy Partners and John Sheehan of USDA’s Bangor office, the workshop will include an introduction and overview of both the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, and the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, an analysis of current trends in each program’s awards, and multiple case studies and sample business models of awarded projects.  Both programs are responsible for helping drive the major expansion of new locally-owned projects across the country, and especially by Midwestern farmers and businesses.
To register, please call Tricia Cook 207-778-3885 or email wma@maine.edu For more information, please e-mail Tanya Swain at tanya.swain@maine.edu Registration is only $45, due to the generous support of Western Mountains Alliance, Eastern Maine Development Corp. and Piscataquis County Economic Development Corp.  Please register no later than March 26.

Winter Harvest Greenhouse Fieldtrip
Location: Marble Family Farm, 853 Holly Road, Farmington
April 21, 2007
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Western Mountains Alliance has supported the Marbles Family Farm in its greenhouse development for the past year. The Marbles planted greens in August in two low-cost, unheated hoop houses and harvested into January.  Second planting was in February (yes, February when night temps rarely got above zero!) and the harvest is beginning now. Come see the results.  John Pino, of Mooarhill Farm in Mt. Vernon, has coordinated the project and will be on hand to explain the process, and the economics, of off-season greens production. For more info or to RSVP contact Tricia Cook at 778-3885 or e-mail tcook@westernmountainsalliance.org.
Sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance in partnership with Maine Alternative Agriculture Association with special thanks to  the Marble Family Farm.

How to Keep and Find Great Board Members
Location: River Valley Technology Center, 60 Lowell Street, Rumford 
April 25, 2007 
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM 
Nonprofit board members and executive staff will gain knowledge and tools to develop an effective process for recruiting, orienting and keeping board members engaged in their organizations.  Prepare new board members to contribute to the strategic leadership of the organization from day one.  Presenter: Suzanne Austin of the Institute for Civic Leadership. 
Registration is $30 for first person and $15 for additional team members.  If you also attend the afternoon workshop on Harnessing the Energy of Community Groups, pay a full day fee of $70 or $40 for additional team members.  Register with Wayne Griffin at wgriffin@civicleadership.org or 207-773-3254 x100. Sponsored by Institute for Civic Leadership, Western Mountains Alliance, The Betterment Fund, and The Carl and Lilly Pforzheimer Foundation. Download flyer (Word doc)

Harnessing the Energy of Inclusive, Effective Community Groups
Location: River Valley Technology Center, 60 Lowell Street, Rumford 
April 25, 2007 
1:00 PM –  4:30 PM
People engaged in challenging community groups will gain tools, skills and strategies for leading multi-interest groups in meeting the need of the community and its stakeholders.  Explore the dynamics of difference, power and collaboration, and their impact on a group’s ability to be effective.  Presenter: Laura Moorehead of the Institute for Civic Leadership.  Registration is $30 for first person and $15 for additional team members.  If you also attend the morning workshop on Finding and Keeping Great Board Members, pay a full day fee of $70 or $40 for additional team members.  Register with Wayne Griffin at wgriffin@civicleadership.org or 207-773-3254 x100. Sponsored by Institute for Civic Leadership, Western Mountains Alliance, The Betterment Fund, and The Carl and Lilly Pforzheimer Foundation. Download flyer

Northern Forest Days 
Location: 109 Church Street, Farmington, Maine
June 1 - Sustainable Economy Initiative Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Come help develop a strategic blueprint for sustainable economic development in the Northern Forest based on balanced investment in business, community and environment. Tour the Ways of the Woods exhibit after the meeting. Sustainable Economy Initiative is a project of the Northern Forest Center and the North Country Council and is co-sponsored by the Western Mountains Alliance and Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc.

“Telling Their Stories LIVE”
Location:109 Church Street, Farmington, ME
June 7, 2007
Arrive at 3:30 pm. Presentations begin at 4:00 pm.
Women business owners from the 2006 publication “Telling Their Stories” will present to emerging entrepreneurs and new business owners at a special event and local business showcase hosted by Women, Work and Community and the Western Mountains Alliance. Panelists for “Telling Their Stories LIVE” will feature business owners of Maine Balsam Fir Products in West Paris, Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta, Cabins to Castles landscaping in Denmark and Pooh Corner Farm and Greenhouses in Mason Twp.  The event will also feature representatives and information from the Greater Franklin County Development Corporation, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Centers, the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Women’s Business Center at Coastal Enterprises Inc.

Tilting at Windmills? Proposed Wind Energy in Northern Franklin County
Location: Olsen Student Center, UMF, Farmingtin, ME
August 24, 2007
7:00am - 9:30am
Western Maine Legislative Caucus will sponsor a free public breakfast forum on proposed wind energy projects in northern Franklin County.  The forum will include presenters with different perspectives on the two projects and wind energy in general.  Invited presenters include TransCanada Energy Ltd which is proposing a project on Kibby Mountain and Maine Mountain Power which has proposed a project for Black Nubble Mountain.  Also attending on the 24th will be an advocate and proponent of the projects, and David Publicover of the Appalachian Mountain Club speaking on his research on siting wind energy projects in Maine.  Links to information on proposed wind energy project, siting research and other information can be accessed here.

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