Meet candidates, help our industry at MFPC breakfasts

Executive Director Patrick Strauch kicked off the candidate breakfast season with an excellent presentation and lively discussion in Gray.

Some of the forest industry folks who attended the Gray breakfast were, from right, former Rep. Cliff Foster, MFPC Board President Dick Robertson and Lynn Wing, wife of this year’s Outstanding Logger. Richard Wing and Gary Foster, Cliff’s son, were also present, but just out of camera range.

The first candidate breakfast in Gray got MFPC off to a great start. About 30 people attended Oct. 1, about evenly split between candidates and folks from the forest products industry. Executive Director Patrick Strauch’s presentation not only was very informative, but sparked lively discussion about our issues, including what the industry needs to prosper.

“It was a great dialogue and illustrates how well the candidate breakfasts work,” Strauch said. “They give us a chance to help candidates understand our industry and they give MFPC members opportunities to talk about the issues that affect them.”

Plum Creek sponsored the breakfast in Gray and, as always, we very grateful to our sponsors, who provide this opportunity to reach both candidates and members.

The key to our success in the 127^th Legislature will be – as it is every session – investing in relationships with policymakers. As Mainers prepare to elect a governor and Legislature Nov. 4, it’s essential that we help candidates understand and support our industry. We must create positive relationships with candidates on both sides of the aisle in order to be effective in the State House.

That’s why MFPC is hosting the series of breakfasts this fall. At the very least, elected officials need to know that forest products contribute $8 billion to Maine’s economy and that our industry impacts every county in Maine.

Te the people of the forest products industry are the best spokesmen for it. Win or lose, candidates will know a great deal more about our industry and what it needs to thrive. That’s  a good first step that can lead to support on our issues in Augusta and throughout Maine. Even candidates who are unsuccessful this time may run again and in the meantime, they’re very likely to play important roles in their communities. That’s valuable for us, too.

So please join us for one of the four remaining breakfasts in Old Town, Farmington, Sanford and Fort Kent (schedule below) Please contact Sue McCarthy, 207-622-9288, to reserve your breakfast or for more information.

MFPC Breakfast Schedule 2014

October 7 -Old Town -Governors Restaurant – 7 – 9 am –  Sponsored by Katahdin Forest Management

October 14 – Farmington – Homestead Restaurant – 8 -10 am – Co-sponsored by Wagner Forest Management & TRG/Stratton Lumber

October 16 – Sanford – Pleasant River Pine Mill – 7 -9 am – Co-sponsored by Pleasant River & Farm Credit East

October 23 – Fort Kent – Swamp Buck Restaurant – 7 – 9 am – Co -Sponsored by Key Bank of ME  &  J.D. Irving