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Quick Links:
Seventh Edition
Welcome to the June 2005 Edition of Network News
Network
News is published by the Maine Mountain Heritage Network and it's
filled with updates and articles about what's happening in the Maine
Mountain Heritage Area.
We welcome your story ideas! Submit your suggestion or press release for consideration. |
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It's quick, easy, and free. Just fill out the form on our website to sign up now.
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To Learn More
Contact the Network's Coordinating Agency
Mountain Counties Heritage
P.O. Box 508
Farmington ME 04938
(207) 778-3885
Web: www.mainemountains.org
Contact Us: online |
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Celebrating Maine's Mountain Heritage
In This Issue...
 NETWORK UPDATE:
The Network Coordinating Team reports progress in all program areas. On
May 17th, they met to discuss progress on pilot projects and to map our
future efforts to engage more people in... READ MORE
 LOCAL TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN SHARE YOUR HERITAGE WORKSHOP: Scheduled for June 20th and 21st, the workshop will support development of new heritage travel itineraries... READ MORE
 WESTERN MAINE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE TO HOST INVESTORS FAIR:
The event will introduce promising non-profit organizations seeking
grant support and for-profit businesses seeking investment to
interested foundations and social investors... READ MORE
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Regarding Spam Filters
From
Erika Bohlman, Network News Publisher: To be assured that you continue
to recieve your copy of Network News, please remember to add my email
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 NETWORK UPDATE:
Network Coordinating Team Reports Progress in All Program Areas
On
May 17th, the Coordinating Team for the Maine Mountain Heritage Network
met to discuss progress on pilot projects and to map our future efforts
to engage more people and organizations in getting work done.
Knowledge Power
– Mike Wilson of the Northern Forest Center reported that the Knowledge
Power group has focused on creating a traveling exhibit to put forward
the major heritage themes of the region and to give interpretive center
project people an opportunity to work together in shaping a regional
message. For more info contact Mike at mwilson@northernforest.org.
Land and Waters
– Two projects are underway in this program area. Russell Walters,
Northern Outdoors, reported on a youth paddling program which seeks to
get young people in the region out on the region's waterways. To get
involved, contact Russell at russell@northernoutdoors.com.
Ian Burnes of the Northern Forest Alliance also reported on a
recreation asset mapping project which will be piloted in the
Mahoosucs. If you would like to get a project like this going in your
area, contact Ian at iburnes@nrcm.org.
Village Works
– Again, two projects are underway. The Share Your Heritage Workshop
scheduled for June 20 and 21 falls into this program area. For more
information, contact local team leaders (see related article below).
Also, Skowhegan town planner Tom Marcotte reported on the effort to
establish historic walking tours in "hub" communities. For more on this
contact Tom at skowplan@skowhegan.org.
Mountain Made
– Dina Jackson of the Androscoggin Council of Governments reported that
her group has designed a project to promote awareness of the mountain
region's "signature products" through commissioning a series of press
releases. Writers who might be interested in participating and product
makers who think their products are traditional to, or representative
of, the region can contact Dina for more information at Djackson@avcog.org.
During
the session, Pete Plastrik and Warren Cook provided coaching on network
dynamics. Each team leader discussed the challenges of pulling together
the people and resources needed to get projects done. The group as a
whole also discussed marketing and organizational questions, including
the advisability of going for national designation as a heritage area.
The next meeting of this group is scheduled for July 12th. |
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 Local Teams to Participate
In "Share Your Heritage" Workshop
On
June 20th and 21st, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and
the Maine Mountain Heritage Network are sponsoring a "Share Your
Heritage" workshop. The workshop will support development of new
heritage travel itineraries in the mountains of Maine.
Representatives
from several Maine mountain communities will learn about the heritage
tourism market – who are these heritage travelers and what experiences
are they looking for? Teams will also identify key local themes and
resources and will design theme-based itineraries to appeal to heritage
travelers. The workshop is free.
Carolyn Brackett, heritage
tourism specialist from the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
and Linda Caldwell, director of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage
Association, will act as trainers for the workshop. They have worked
with communities in many parts of the United States where they have
been successful in creating heritage tourism itineraries.
According
to Bruce Hazard, director of Mountain Counties Heritage in Farmington
and member of the Maine Tourism Commission, heritage tourism is one of
the fastest growing tourism markets in the United States today.
"Maine's mountain region has great heritage resources, but we are not
yet attracting our share of heritage travelers."
Hazard states
that "Heritage travelers are interested in finding out about the
history and natural history of a place and in discovering authentic
local culture. They enjoy a mix of activities, from outdoor recreation
to visiting local museums, to shopping for local crafts or locally
grown foods – even going to church suppers. They tend to be well
educated, maybe a little older than the average visitor, and they are
willing to spend for a quality experience." 
If you would like to learn more about the workshop, contact Erika Bohlman at Mountain Counties Heritage or any of the following local team leaders:
Anne Campbell, Norway Downtown Revitalization, (Norway/South Paris area)
Al Cressey, Bethel Historical Society (Bethel area)
Rebecca Kurtz, Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway (Rangeley area)
Lisa Standish, Mountain Village Inn (Kingfield area)
Bruce Hazard, Mountain Counties Heritage (Farmington area)
Roger Poulin, Towne Motel (Skowhegan area)
Bob Haynes, Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway (Upper Kennebec Valley)
Susan Crippen, Healthy Community Coalition (Moosehead area)
Jack Clukey, Town of Dover Foxcroft (Southern Piscataquis area)
Bruce McLean, MAGIC (Millinocket area)
~This
workshop is made possible thanks to sponsorships from the Maine
Mountain Heritage Network, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rural
Development Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Maine
Arts Commission, the Maine Department of Economic and Community
Development and the Maine Office of Tourism~ |
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 Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative To Host
"Investors Fair"
The
Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative is sponsoring an
"Investors Fair" in September. The event will introduce promising
non-profit organizations seeking grant support and for-profit
businesses seeking investment to interested foundations and social
investors.
By facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and opportunities
between entrepreneurs and investors, the Collaborative hopes to advance
several goals, including economic prosperity, healthy and productive
natural resources and vibrant communities where people enjoy living,
working and visiting. The Collaborative is composed of the Western
Mountains Alliance, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Mountain Counties
Heritage and Maine Center for Economic Policy.
The design of the
Investors Fair is based on an "investors roundtable" approach common in
the venture capital business, but expands it to include non-profit
organizations. Notice of the event is being put out through business
and non-profit channels in western Maine, identifying the participating
investors and explaining the Investors Fair protocol. Interested
organizations and businesses will submit an overview highlighting the
significant characteristics of their venture. Special attention will be
given to ventures that show meaningful collaboration with other
businesses or non-profits within the region.
The Collaborative
members will review this information and select—based on the promise of
the enterprise, accomplishments to date and consonance with sustainable
development goals—the ventures to be presented at the Investors Fair.
Ten businesses or non-profits will present during the event, with each
presentation lasting no longer than ten minutes. Presenters will be
asked to address their overall vision and describe a specific project
or business element that can be accomplished for an amount in the range
from $5,000 to $50,000.
For more information and to get an application form, go to the Resources section of our website at www.mainemountains.org. |
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