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Close to crunch time
Legislature winding up, not down as June 17th nears
Our weekly policy calls have ended and I would love to be able to say this legislative session is winding down. 
It’s true that most of the committees’ activity is complete and most bills are headed to the House and Senate for debate. But if you’ve been watching or reading the news, you’ll know the rhetoric is heating up as it comes closer to crunch time on the budget. Read more.
MFPC in the news
Strauch in MaineBiz and BDN; Doty defends King, biomass
You won’t want to miss the MaineBiz story headlined “Aroostook County initiative touts potential of a ‘forest products cluster” in which Executive Director Patrick Strauch is quoted extensively. “Businesses are finding out they have jobs to fill and they need to get qualified people into them,” Strauch said. “Now we have to build this workforce to meet those needs.” Read more.
Strauch also responded to Buzz Caverly’s op-ed in the Bangor Daily News supporting a proposed national park with an op ed of his own, headlined: “Maine Gov. Percival Baxter’s vision did not include national park.” Read more
Finally, MFPC Board Member Mark Doty took on a harsh critic of biomass in an op ed headlined “Angus King has the right idea with commitment to locally produced energy from wood,” saying, “It’s a shame that Mary Booth’s prejudice against biomass led her to attack Sen. Angus King in her May 28 BDN OpEd. King has shown real leadership on energy and the environment with his bill, S.1284, “to clarify the treatment of carbon emissions from forest biomass.” Read more.
Facebook post takes budworm video to a new audience
Lessons Learned: Memories of the Maine budworm infestation, 1970s-1980s
Most Mainers have no idea what budworm is, how it threatens our forests or that it’s coming back. To enlist their support for the effort ahead, we’re trying to help them understand how budworm shaped not only Maine’s forests, but its history, economy, laws and culture. That’s why MFPC talked to some who experienced the last infestation, including Dave Struble, Bill Brown, Doug Denico, Gordon Mott, Tom Saviello, Marcia McTeague, Barry Burgason and Doug Denico. We put together a video (of their most vivid memories and the lessons they learned and we’ve been showing the video before we present the draft of the Maine Spruce Budworm Strategy Plan. The response has been excellent, so in mid May we uploaded the video to MFPC’s Facebook page. Since then, that post has reached 13,025 people, including on news feeds.
Celebrate SFI!
20 years of striving to improve forestry practices
Maine’s SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015. It’s always been more than just another industry initiative. There’s more enthusiasm and energy at the ground level about striving to improve practices. Now, 20 years later, some may be asking, “How has this program benefited sustainable forestry in Maine?” SIC consists of landowners, loggers, mills, foresters, government agencies, conservation groups, management companies, recreation representatives, educators, researchers etc. It provides an effective forum for promoting sustainable forestry and addressing issues. Read the 2015 SFI progress report.
MFPC Golf Tournament July 16th
There are still a few openings for teams
Remember how much fun last year’s golf tournament was? So if you haven’t signed up yet, don’t miss your chance. There are still some openings left for teams, so contact Sue McCarthy right away. Shotgun start at 1 p.m. at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course. Brian Flewelling from KeyBank and Sue have been calling around to our members to help with the sponsorships. Thanks to the members who have already signed up to help. We are still looking for Hole Sponsors for $250 and Banner Sponsors for $300. Raffle items are also needed or make a donation towards the raffle and we will purchase the item. We appreciate all your help and support. Read more and register.
Save this date
MFPC Annual Meeting – September 13-14 at Sunday River in Newry.
About MFPC
Staff contacts
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine’s forest economy. The MFPC represents the diverse needs of Maine’s forest products community. Our members are landowners, loggers, truckers, paper mills, tree farmers, foresters and lumber processors, but they are also bankers, lawyers and insurance executives. We feel we represent anyone who has an interest in seeing the Maine woods remain a viable, sustainable resource. We serve our community by gathering information, bringing groups together to discuss concerns, hosting events, conducting tours and helping people find common ground. We represent our members at the Maine Legislature, but also across the state, in Washington D.C. and across the nation.
Patrick Strauch, Executive Director;
Pat Sirois, SFI Coordinator
Roberta Scruggs, Communications Director
Sue McCarthy, Office Manager
Address: 535 Civic Center Dr., Augusta ME 04330
Phone: 207-622-9288 Website: www.maineforest.org
