Knowledge Power Action Network
Meeting Notes
April 20, 2005
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I. Updates on Local Projects
Mike Wilson, Northern Forest Center – board of director recently approved moving forward
with plan to launch four-state Ways of the Woods Outreach and Education Program,
including interpretive exhibits built into a semi-trailer that will travel to communities across
the Northern Forest along with a full set of school- and community education programs.
Full tour scheduled for spring 2006 with intensive work in pilot communities beginning this
fall.
Bruce Hazard, Mountain Counties Heritage – moving rapidly toward development of an
interpretive center in Farmington. Project is advancing through a partnership between MCH
and several other organizations (including Greater Franklin Development Corp. and Quebec
Labrador Foundation) who are all establishing offices in a shared space in downtown
Farmington. The space is to be called Church Street Commons and will include both shared
office space and an area for interpretive displays.
Bruce MacLean, MAGIC – also looking at a single facility to house all organizations
supporting businesses and entrepreneurs in the Millinocket region. Local interpretive center
projects include:
A) Native American Cultural Heritage Center – the Penobscot Nation has hired Fermata
to do feasibility study on transforming the old Stearns High School Building into an
educational center that would include interpretive displays, space for live performances
and movies, a model of the Penobscot River itself built in the old gymnasium, and other
features. Idea is to link this facility with Old Town and Indian Island – using the river as
both a physical and conceptual connection. Feasibility study is being funded through
grant from USDA
B) Maine’s Mountain Visitor Center – MAGIC and the Training Development Corp
(Guiles Holloway) are looking at a site in Medway as you get off the highway as the
location for a major visitor center focused on Mount Katahdin (Maine’s Mountain).
Concept is directly linked to a regional economic development strategy (Work Sphere).
C) Old Newbury’s building on Main Street Millinocket to be transformed into
community center.
D) Also looking at enhancements to the Boom House museum and Wooden Canoe
Festival
4) Rebecca Kurtz, Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway – recently completed site work on the first
scenic overlooks on Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. Interpretive panels are on the way and
should be installed in a few weeks. Also just got funding to do a second scenic overlook at
the Height of Land. Interpretive panels for that site have been designed ready. Work
scheduled to begin in 2006.
In another potential development, Rangeley Lakes Historical Society, Rangeley Fish and
Guides Association, Rangelely Lakes Heritage Trust and other local groups are considering
development of an Outdoor Heritage Center in Oquossuc to highlight and interpret outdoor
sporting heritage. This center would complement the Chamber’s planned
Welcome/Interpretive Center in downtown Rangeley which will focus more broadly on
things like logging, agriculture, 5 start hotels, etc.
5) Robin Zinchuck, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce – Chamber has been exploring
partnership with US Forest Service and Maine Tourism Association to establish major
interpretive center in Bethel. Recent indications from MDOT and a study by Dina Jackson
of AVCOG pointed to real challenges in funding and sustaining a new building. Currently
exploring new options and strategies for funding, including tapping to Byways funding. If
route 113 (Evans Notch) is designated as a byway, Bethel would be situation right between
that and the Rt 26 byway.
6) Susan Crippen, NREC – thanks to support from Sen. Collins, NREC was recently
awarded a $248K grant for place-based, natural resources education through the Fund for
the Enhancement of Education in Federal omnibus budget bill. They have a committee
developing the program and engaging local partners. Hope to hire a program director in
June.
II. Debrief and Discussion of March Workshop with Fermatta
Fermata is clearly looking to the Maine Mountains as a model for statewide tourism
development. General sense of the group is that we need to take advantage of that
politically. At the same time, we need to maintain focus and momentum in our regional
work and not get lost or bogged down in statewide process. Folks generally impressed with
Fermata’s willingness to take existing systems and see how they fit together.
Action Item: Fermata has proposed a follow-up workshop for June 14th. Please mark
you calendars, and let Mike Wilson know if you are available to attend.
III. New Strategies for Facilities Development
Folks are getting a general sense that MDOT does not want to own buildings, but that they
may be more willing to free-up funding to other organizations that demonstrate ability and
commitment to build and maintain (long-term) interpretive facilities. Bruce Hazard and Bob
Haynes have discussed possibility setting up a private non-profit corporate entity to build
and own multi-purpose community facilities such as those being considered by Knowledge
Power Network. Bruce also has talked with Mike Finnegan of CEI who has indicated as
least some preliminary interest in the concept of establishing some regional authority that
could raise money, own and manage these types of facilities.
Action Item: Bruce will continue preliminary discussions and set up a conference
call for those interested in exploring in more detail.
IV. Maine Mountain Thematic Framework
Bruce Hazard presented working thematic framework based on concepts first presented in
the market plan developed last summer. Basic elements as presented include:
Overarching theme: The relationship between people and the vast mountain landscape is
dynamic and mutually transformative.
Sub-Themes:
o The vast natural landscape is itself dynamic
o Dynamic and rich cultural origins are still evident among people of the region
o Most people who came here began making a living by using what was available to them
in the natural landscape
o Communities developed distinct identities reflecting specific natural surroundings cultural
origins, and economic specialization.
o our relationship with outside world is surprisingly complex and sophisticated,
Strong suggestion by the group to adjust the overarching theme to include reference to lakes
and rivers – not just the mountain landscape. Otherwise, initial responses indicate that this
framework is generally on track and acceptable – a good approach that everyone can connect
with.
Questions for further consideration include:
o Does this distinguish us from the rest of the state?
o Through what mode(s) of communication does the visitor best pick up these stories and
messages?
Action Items: everyone is encouraged to send additional detailed comments to Bruce.
Bruce will continue to refine this framework as the foundation for development of themebased travel itineraries during the June Share Your Heritage Workshop
V. Maine Mountain Traveling Exhibit
Interest in developing a traveling interpretive exhibit as a network pilot project remains
strong – both as means of building regional identity and as a demonstration of Network
capacity. One suggestion is to develop an exhibit through an iterative process with each
community developing a section or element of the exhibit as it moves from town to town –
final product would reflect local input from 6-8 communities.
Need a detailed work plan and funding strategy.
Action Item: Conference call scheduled for May 20, from 10:00 am to noon to further
develop action strategy. Mike Wilson will draft and circulate a brief concept paper as
input to that discussion.