Coordinating Team Conference Call 6/23/06
Participating: Carolann Ouellette, Moose Point Tavern; Dina Jackson, AVCOG; Bruce
Hazard and Shaunacy Cobb, Mountain Counties Heritage; Robin Zinchuk, Bethel Area
Chamber of Commerce; Tanya Swain, Western Mountains Alliance, and Guilds
Hollowell, Katahdin Cultural Center.
The conference call began with feedback from the May 19th Rally for the Maine
Mountain Heritage Area. Guilds reported that Matt Polstein, New England Outdoor
Center, and Rick Levasseur, MAGIC, were very impressed with the turnout and the
positive attitudes of the participants. Bruce spoke about the media exposure that the Rally
generated. He referenced an article by Deirdre Fleming and the great quotes from Bryan
Wentzell and Kathy Hopkins. Ellen Gibson is working on doing a follow-up article for
the Sun Journal.
Robin stressed the need to continue dialogue with Rally attendees. She suggested creating
an electronic or paper description of the four program areas with a contact person and
phone number for attendees to contact if they would like to become more involved with
that program. Ultimately, this is to cultivate the next generation of stewards and Network
members. Guilds offered his help to create this mailing.
Addressing the progress and next steps for each pilot project followed. The traveling
exhibit is getting close to being handed off to Pete at Insyt New Media. Bruce is trying to
finalize the contract with DOT. He is answering the department’s questions of who is
doing what. The goal is to have the contract signed next week. Shaunacy and Bruce are
working to pull together the missing pieces. The goal is to have the exhibit available for
use by September 1st.
A side conversation began about an application to have the exhibit at the Common
Ground Fair. Bruce explained that the Network was denied a booth because of testimony
he had made before the state legislature about Larry Warren’s Maine Huts and Trails.
Bruce had clearly stated that his testimony was neither for nor against the hut system and
that he was stating personal observations, separate from Mountain Counties Heritage and
the Network. Robin and Dina wanted to know if the decision could be appealed. Dina
suggested that the Coordinating Team should respond to the decision. Carolann and
Guilds agreed. Robin wondered if the MOFGA Board was aware of the decision and if
they would support it if they knew the reasons behind the rejection.
Guilds spoke about the regional development corporation. He is trying to identify the
commonalities in the Network and throughout the four counties to help attract money and
people power while promoting a common cause. There is a lot of untapped people capital
throughout the region. Regardless of the name used (Information Centers/Interpretive
Centers/Learning Centers), the goal of life long learning and community development
remains the same. By displaying persistence with Jack Cashman, Guilds has enlisted key
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people to further the goals of the Network. For example, Jonathon Daniels with Small
Business Services has offered to help Paul Johnson create plans for the Greenville center.
DECD has given $25,000 in seed money to start this. Bruce explained the two action
steps essential to moving the process along. The first step is understanding what stage of
development each local project is at by gathering a brief synopsis. The second is to
deploy local people and financial resources to get the centers established. The Fermata
Task Force endorsed the proposal. Guilds explained that the Governor backs the centers
and by pushing forward, Baldacci proves that he is using the Fermata recommendations.
Susan Collins and Mike Michaud are very supportive.
The conversation moved on to the Share Your Heritage Itineraries. Carolann is trying to
develop a common format for the itineraries. She wants to see a similar design format
throughout the regions not a similar content. Examples of good itineraries will be
forwarded to the Coordinating Team by Carolann from a Wellington, New Zealand web
site. Carolann is working with Steve Lyons to get a link to the itineraries on the Office of
Tourism website. She stressed that there needs to be printed material that can back up the
information on the site. The question of how to deal with private businesses in the
itineraries was raised. Bruce thought there was a restriction against using private business
listings on the Office of Tourism website. Robin felt that some communities have limited
heritage accommodations so this would be difficult for them. She felt that the current
itineraries link was not a good representation of the state of Maine. Carolann thought that
having a link on the website that goes to discovermainemountains.com may bypass this
problem. Dina agreed that there may be more latitude to include businesses if the
information is on the Network’s visitor site. Carolann explained that it would depend on
what she can work out with Steve. Bruce felt that a problem may arise from how one
business is chosen and not another. The discovermainemountains.com site got around this
issue by putting a link to local chambers for accommodations.
Tanya, the new steward for the Woods and Waters group, summarized the progress being
made on the resource study. An important conversation from the Rally highlighted that
landowners need to be included in the study. Two Woods and Waters meetings are
coming up, the 1st meeting on June 29th is a debrief of Rally feedback and an overview of
the study with a presentation from John Hagan from Manomet. The 2nd meeting on July
13th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm is to establish a plan for gaining funding and creating a set
of goals with deadlines to keep the project on track. Bruce stressed the need for
involvement from the Old Canada Road group. Carolann is sending Bob Haynes a
reminder for the meeting.
The Village Works group has Jeff Hewett, economic development director for
Skowhegan, as the new steward. Bruce gave an update on the walking tours. His concern
is that without more staff time to oversee and guide the project, it will fall into a standard
format that lacks a dynamic element. The Farmington group is working on creating
interpretive signage. There will be 5 themes; each theme is a mini walking tour. Culture
and Education is one of the themes. Grant money is available to put up the signs. There
may be one more area creating walking tours if Dover-Foxcroft can get funding.
The Mountain Made team is on the verge of sending out their first press release. It will
feature Gary Krauss and his unique wooden furniture. The 2nd story is done and
highlights summer recreation with composite boats made in Rangeley. Releases will be
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emailed to Shaunacy and sent out to the different press organizations. ED directors will
follow-up with 5-10 key publications. Guilds mentioned that he has contacts with some
out-of-state press people, primarily on the West Coat and at the New York Times.
Shaunacy is going to email the press list for him to review and see if he knows any of the
contacts or if there are more appropriate people to send the release to. The DVD Guilds
produced highlighting products made in the Katahdin area was used as an example of
how to promote local products. Twelve local artists and craftsmen paid Guilds $200 each
to receive 50 copies of a DVD that features their products. Tanya asked about the farm
and agriculture theme that will be explored in the fall. Dina explained that the lead
producer with be North Star Orchards and there will be some supporting producers
included. Tanya was wondering if the timing of the release would compete with the
Department of Agriculture’s series of newspaper inserts about local produce that is being
run by the Eat Local Food Coalition. Dina said she would check with Deanne Herman at
the Department of Agriculture to make sure there is no conflict.
Bruce asked if the network approach was working. Carolann thought that the Network
will need staff support in the future to move projects along faster. Dina agreed that paid
staff may be necessary but wondered if a staff person would bypass using Network
contacts and procedures in order to finish a project quickly and achieve personal goals.
She also mentioned that it is important to have a point person that is a constant in an
environment where people fade in and out. Dina has created a binder with all the
Mountain Made information so that when she is ready to step down, she can hand over
the binder and the new steward will be able to gain a full understanding of the projects
and processes in place. A point person also allows someone to be responsible for moving
a project forward. Robin felt that the important work that the Network is doing always
has to fight the enemies of time and money. She felt that it was important to be mindful
of who is in the groups so that the stewards are always looking for who the next leader
will be. Being mindful of not burning out the stewards is important. Guilds felt that by
maximizing the Network’s website, it could ease transitional periods and keep the
Coordinating Team in contact with each other without making everyone drive a long
distance. Guilds felt that using telephone and email is best for problem-solving within the
group and that face-to-face interaction should be reserved as a time to reconnect with
each other. Guilds will be contacting Erika to discuss how to develop the Network’s
electronic information to its full capacity.
Dina, Jeff, and Bruce all attended a workshop on June 16th with Warren Cook on network
building. The Coordinating Team needs to work at providing an overview for new
members that explains all the aspects of the Network in a succinct and understandable
way. The concern is that people participating in the pilot projects may not know all the
other projects going on and are missing the larger picture. Also, these new members may
be potential participants on more than one project.
The national heritage discussion had many different elements. The first was whether to
ask for the preliminary study. Bruce had spoken to Tim Trafford at Representative
Michaud’s office and Diane Jackson at Senator Snowe’s office. Both parties felt strongly
that the study was a good idea. Guilds is going to contact Senator Collins office since he
has not heard about her view of designation.
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Discussion moved to dealing with the Forest Products Council. Tim Trafford was present
at a recent presentation by Patrick Strauch that listed national heritage designation as the
2nd biggest threat to the forest products industry in Maine. The Council is now taking a
publicly negative approach. Tim thought that perhaps Representative Michaud might
mediate the issue and bring about an understanding. Dick Barringer, The Muskie School
of Public Service, thought that Representative Saviello may be able to help. Saviello is
aware of the economic issues facing this region. He has a broader responsibility to the
people than to his job in the paper industry. Saviello’s profession does give him a unique
perspective and he may have good insight into how to work with the Forest Products
Council.
Tanya wondered if designation could be reserved for only built communities. Bruce
explained that the undeveloped forest areas are a huge draw to travelers. Without those
areas, there is not much to work with. Bruce mentioned that the proposed heritage area in
Virginia hit similar roadblocks but their political structure is not quite as polarized.
Everyone seemed to agree that it is essential that the Forest Products Council be engaged
in this conversation before seeking the preliminary study. Carolann was concerned that it
would take an act of God to get them involved. Donna Fichtner, Bangor Convention and
Visitors Bureau, felt that the Network may have more luck by going for state designation.
Dina explained that the Forest Products Council views all government involvement as
bad whether it is state or federal. Robin wondered how common these issues are in New
Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. She feels that the Council does not want to open
their eyes to a new day in economic development and the realities of the region.
Through this discussion, the Coordinating Team formed a plan of action. Tanya, Guilds,
and Bruce are going to try and find a sympathetic ear in the Council. The Network needs
someone who understands a broader vision for the future of the region. A meeting will be
organized with Congressional staff people to determine the best approach for gaining
federal assistance for our initiative. We will lay out our plans for each program area and
see what they suggest, including the national designation option. Robin said that a
member of the Forest Products Council needs to come with us to the meeting.
The Coordinating Team will have a follow-up discussion in August to discuss progress
made towards the meeting with Congressional staffers. Shaunacy will send out an email
as August draws closer to determine what time works best for everyone.
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