Agency Encourages Business Development, but Urges Caution with New Kind of Offering

Maine’s Office of Securities issued an advisory Tuesday warning investors to approach “crowdfunding” investment opportunities with great caution. The advisory is posted on the Office’s website at www.investors.maine.gov.

Crowdfunding is an online money-raising strategy that began as a way for the public to donate small amounts of money, often through social networking websites, to help artists, musicians, filmmakers and other creative people finance their projects.

Through the federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, small businesses and entrepreneurs will be able to tap into the “crowd” in search of investments to finance their business ventures. Under the new law, however, these investments opportunities will not be regulated or scrutinized for their legitimacy.

“The Office of Securities encourages business development and investment opportunities, but because the potential for fraud with crowdfunding is significant, investors must be extremely cautious,” said Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw. “Crowdfunding will be exempt from oversight—making it even more important for potential investors to do their research, checking references and asking the right questions.”

Congress enacted the JOBS Act last month and directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt rules within 270 days to implement a new exemption to allow crowdfunding. Until the rules are adopted any offers or sales of securities purporting to rely on the crowdfunding exemption would be unlawful under the federal securities laws.

“Before the SEC rules are adopted, investors should beware of promoters who jump the gun by offering investments through crowdfunding now,” Administrator Shaw added. “Once exempt, crowdfunding investments will not be reviewed by regulators before being offered to the public, nor will they be required to provide the same level of disclosures to investors or regulators that are required of securities offerings. Investors should expect to be bombarded with offerings and sales pitches.”

Similar exemptions, such as the 1996 passage of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act (NSMIA) which prohibited states from reviewing private offerings made under SEC Regulation D Rule 506 before they were sold to the public, led to many cases of fraud and numerous scams. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), of which Maine’s Office of Securities is a member, reports these offerings are the most frequent source of enforcement cases handled by state securities regulators.

In issuing the crowdfunding advisory, Administrator Shaw also announced that NASAA has created a new task force to focus on Internet fraud. The Internet Fraud Investigations Project Group was formed to monitor crowdfunding and other Internet offerings.

Consumers with questions about crowdfunding offerings, or any other investment issue, should contact Maine’s Office of Securities before investing. The Office can be reached toll-free at 1-877-624-8551. Information is also available online at www.investors.maine.gov.

The Office of Securities is part of Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, which encourages sound ethical business practices through the oversight of insurers, financial institutions, creditors, investment providers, and numerous professions and occupations for the purpose of protecting the citizens of Maine. Consumers can learn more about the Department at www.maine.gov/pfr.

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Attorney General Schneider Will Attend Oral Argument

AUGUSTA – Attorney General William J. Schneider, 25 other attorneys general, the National Federation of Independent Business and four individual plaintiffs will begin an unprecedented six hours of oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Federal Government’s Health Care Act.

Paul Clement, former U.S. Solicitor General, will argue on behalf of the states. The argument schedule is as follows:

Monday, March 26

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Court will hear 90 minutes of argument on whether the federal Anti-Injunction Act prohibits the plaintiffs from bringing a challenge to the individual mandate at this time. The States contend that the individual mandate issue may be settled now without having to await the assessment of penalties under the Act.

Tuesday, March 27

• 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Court will hear two hours of argument on the constitutionality of the individual mandate – the requirement that individuals obtain health insurance or face a financial penalty. The States argue that Congress lacks constitutional authority to force individuals who are not participating in the insurance market to enter the market and purchase a government-prescribed insurance product.

Wednesday, March 28

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Court will hear 90 minutes of argument on the issue of severability and whether, if the Court invalidates the individual mandate, what other parts of the Act can still survive. Plaintiffs argue that the entire Act must fail if the mandate fails because it is the lynchpin of the Act.

• 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Court will hear one hour of argument on the requirement that States massively expand their Medicaid programs. The States argue that Congress cannot force the States to expand, operate, and substantially fund the expansion of Medicaid, or coerce them to do so by threatening the loss of all federal Medicaid funding.

“It is vitally important to have this case decided,” said Attorney General Schneider. “The lives of every Mainer and every American are profoundly impacted by the issues that will be presented and argued during the next three days. Our core beliefs in individual rights and state sovereignty are at stake. Only when these questions have been settled by the Supreme Court will we have the constitutional foundation upon which to address the urgent health care needs of all our citizens.”

The Court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June 2012.

§Coastal Community Center in Damariscotta 563-1363

§Cohen Community Center in Hallowell 626-7777

§Knox Community Center in Rockland 596-0339

§Muskie Community Center in Waterville 873-4745

§Somerset Community Center in Skowhegan 474-8552

§Southern Mid Coast Community Center in Topsham 729-0475

Spectrum Generations has promoted life-long learning, health, wellness, nutrition, community engagement and the social well-being of all older and disabled adults for 40 years as the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging.   For more information about Spectrum Generations programs, services, and center activities, call 1-800-639-1553 or visit www.spectrumgenerations.org.  For more information regarding AARP, visit their website at www.aarp.org.

MAINE G.O.P. 2012 CAUCUS INFORMATION

SLIDESHOW

Presidential Preference Poll Announcement

Please join us as we kick off the 2012 Republican Campaign Season.
Start now and join friends as we celebrate a successful caucus week.
Sign up for campaigns, meet candidates, join the grass roots team in your town!

Saturday, February 11, 2012
5:30 p.m.
Portland Regency
20 Milk Street
Portland, Maine

5:30 p.m. Cash bar and Hors d’ oeuvres
6:30 p.m. Guest Speakers
7:30 p.m. Announcement of Presidential Straw poll results

RSVP by February 5, 2012 to Michelle
michelle@mainegop.com or call 622-6247

Important Information Relating to Municipal Caucuses

• Each qualified political party (Democratic, Green Independent and Republican)* must hold a biennial municipal caucus in at least one municipality in a minimum of 14 counties for the purpose of electing delegates to a state convention and for any other business. (Title 21-A, §301)

• All caucuses must be held by March 20, 2012.
o The Maine Democratic Party will hold all municipal caucuses on Sunday, February 26th.
o The Maine Republican Party is encouraging all municipal committees to hold their caucuses between February 4th and 11th.
(The Maine Republican Party will post the time, date and location of municipal caucuses as soon as they are known). Please refer to the Maine Republican party web site for further information in your area: http://www.mainegop.com/
o The Maine Green Independent Party has not provided our office with information regarding its caucus as of the time of this mailing.

• At the request of the committee calling the caucus, the municipal officers shall provide available space in a public building for the caucus at no cost. If the party requests a specific space or room that is not available for the date or time requested, the municipality may provide a suitable alternate location. Municipalities are not allowed to charge janitorial or other fees. If the municipality chooses to offer space owned by another entity (i.e. school RSU) that charges a fee for the use of space, then the fee must be paid by the municipality, rather than passing it onto the party committee.

• The secretary of the municipal party committee must file a copy of the notice of the caucus with the Municipal Clerk, who shall record it.

*Certification of the Americans Elect party formation petition is still pending. If this party is determined to be qualified, we will notify you.
Registrar’s Requirements

Review Title 21-A and Chapter 1, pages 9-12, of your training manual: Voter Registration & Elections: The Guide for Maine Election Administrators, for qualification, selection and duties of Registrars and Deputy Registrars.

Provide Free Caucus List

• The chair or secretary of the municipal committee or the person or persons calling a biennial municipal caucus may request a certified copy of the voter list (21-A, §312), designated as the Caucus List in CVR.

• The Caucus List must include all voters – not just voters enrolled in the party requesting the list.

• Title 21-A, §312 specifies that the Caucus List may include only the following information for each voter: name, residence address, mailing address, enrollment status, electoral district, voter status as active or inactive, voter record number and any special designation indicating the voter is a uniformed service voter, overseas voter or township voter. By law, the caucus list may not include the date of birth.

• The Caucus List disk file is designed to include only these items. All clerks must provide the Caucus List only in the disk file format.

• One free Caucus List must be provided for use by the municipal committee each biennial election cycle (beginning January 1st of a general election year) upon request. The requester must complete and sign the “Request for Obtaining Data from Maine CVR” form. The requester is not eligible to receive updates to a caucus list.

• The Registrar has 5 business days to prepare and provide the Caucus List to the requester; however, please ensure it is available before the caucus.

• A county committee may call the caucus if the municipal committee fails to do so (or there is no municipal committee). If the municipal clerk provides a Caucus List to the county committee, this fulfills the requirement in Title 21-A, section 312 – should a municipal committee member request a voting list at a later date, the municipal committee would not be eligible for a free list.

Attend Party Caucus

• Because this is a Presidential election year, the Registrar must attend the official party caucus for at least 1 hour before the start of the caucus, at the location where the caucus is being held to accept registrations and enrollments.

NOTE: The Registrar is required to remain at the caucus to allow all persons to register and enroll who are present at the caucus at the end of the 1 hour period.

• In addition to blank voter registration applications for use by voters who need to register or enroll, the registrar must print an Alpha Voter List (which includes 17 year olds) from the CVR. The Alpha Voter List is for use by the Registrar – do not give a copy of the Alpha Voter List to the party. A requestor of the caucus list will receive only the caucus list in electronic format.

• When processing enrollments at the caucus, the Registrar must note the requirements for changing enrollments outlined in Title 21-A, section 145:
o A voter may not vote at a caucus for 15 days after filing an application to change enrollment.
o An unenrolled voter may enroll in a party at the caucus and is eligible to participate immediately.
o The CVR was designed to track this restriction on party enrollment changes. When a voter changes from one party to another, the voter will be identified on the caucus disk file and the alpha voter list as an “X”, during the 15 day period when the voter is ineligible to participate in party caucuses or other party activities.

NOTE: Any voter who withdrew enrollment to sign the Americans Elect petition must complete a new application to enroll in a party and participate in a caucus. If the voter enrolled in the Americans Elect Party, the voter must remain in the party for 3 months before the voter can withdraw or change their party again.

• A caucus may be held outside the municipality if several municipalities elect to meet on a consolidated basis. If a political party chooses to hold a regional caucus (two or more municipalities from a certain area caucusing together in a central location), the Registrar of Voters for each municipality participating in the caucus must attend the regional caucus, even if the caucus is held outside of the Registrar’s municipality.
o The Registrar may appoint a Deputy Registrar to attend a caucus and accept new registrations and enrollments. A Deputy Registrar performs any of the duties prescribed by the appointing authority; any registrations and enrollments accepted by the Deputy Registrar at the caucus must be added to the voter list.

Caucus Dates/Times and Locations

Androscoggin County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Lewiston.

February 11th, 8:00 A.M.

Geiger Elementary School, 601 College Street, Lewiston
Caucus Contact Person: Rosemarie Butler
E-Mail : cotebutler@myfairpoint.net
Phone #: 782-6373

Aroostook County

Hayes Gahagan, Chairman of the Aroostook County Republican Committee (ACRC), has announced that Aroostook County Republicans will be called to caucus February 3rd and 4th, 2012. In the event of inclement weather, caucuses will be held February 10th and 11th, 2012. This event is for those towns that have not already caucused.

The purpose of the caucus is to elect Delegates and Alternates to the State Convention, elect members of the Aroostook County Republican Committee, organize for the upcoming elections, and to cast your Presidential Preference Ballot. All Aroostook County Republicans are urged to attend the caucus event for their town.

The State Convention will be held in Augusta, Maine on May 5th and 6th, 2012. Delegates/Alternates will govern the convention and the operation of the Maine Republican Party for the next two years, adopt a party platform, elect a State Committee, and transact other such business as may properly come before the convention. It is also an excellent opportunity for local Republicans to meet and speak with those who are running for office. Registered voters who are enrolled in the Republican Party are eligible to attend Community Caucuses at the below locations. If you have not yet registered to vote or enrolled in the Republican Party, we encourage you to do so at your local Municipal Office before the above Caucus date.

For questions, please email the ACRC at acrcsecretary@gmail.com

North Caucus
February 3rd, 7:00 P.M. (Snow Date February 10th)
Fort Kent Town Office

Participating Towns:
Allagash, Clayton Lake, Cross Lake TWP, Cyr PLT,
Daigle, Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Fort Kent Mills,
Frenchville, Grand Isle, Guerrette, Hamlin, Lille,
Madawaska, Madawaska Lake TWP, New Canada, New
Sweden, Plaisted, Quimby, Sinclair, Soldier Pond, St.
Agatha, St. David, St. Francis, St. John PLT, Stockholm,
Upper Frenchville, Van Buren, Wallagrass,
Westmanland, Winterville PLT,

Central Caucus
February 4th, 9:00 A.M. (Snow Date February 11th)
Presque Isle N.M.C.C. (Northern Maine Community College)

Participating Towns:
Ashland, Blaine, Caribou, Castle Hill, Caswell,
Chapman, Connor TWP, Crouseville, E PLT, Easton,
Fort Fairfield, Garfield PLT, Limestone, Mapleton,
Masardis, Mars Hill, Nashville, Perham, Portage, Portage
Lake, Presque Isle, Sheridan, Squa Pan, Wade,
Washburn, Westfield, Woodland,

South Caucus
February 4th, 2:00 P.M. (Snow Date February 11th)
Houlton Fire House

Participating Towns:
Amity, Bancroft, Benedicta, Bridgewater, Cary PLT,
Crystal, Dyer Brook, Glenwood PLT, Hammond,
Haynesville Hersey, , Hodgdon, Houlton, Island Falls,
Knowles Corner, Linneus, Littleton, Ludlow, Macwahoc
PLT, Merrill, Molunkus, Monticello, Moro PLT, New
Limerick, N. Amity, Oakfield, Orient, Oxbow PLT,
Reed PLT, Sherman, Sherman Mills, Silver Ridge TWP,
Smyrna, Smyrna Mills, Weston, Wytopitlock

Caucus Contact Person: Geri Martin
E-Mail: coachgeri@live.com

Cumberland County

Bridgton
February 4th, 2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Town Office Community Center

Brunswick
February 11th, 8:30 A.M.
Curtis Memorial Library
Caucus Contact Person: Jonathon Crimmins
E-Mail: j_crimmins@hotmail.com
Phone #: 720-0203

Cape Elizabeth
February 11th, 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Middle school Cafeterium

Chebeague Island
February 4th, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Chebeague Island Hall

Cumberland (town of)
February 5th, 2:00 P.M.
Greeley Middle School
Caucus Contact Person: Joe Loring
E-Mail: graphxsigns@maine.rr.com
Phone #: 829-5063

Falmouth
February 11th, 9:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Town Hall

Freeport
February 5th, 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Freeport High School Cafeteria
30 Holbrook Street

Gray
February 4th, 10:00 A.M.
Gray Town Hall (In the Council Chambers)
Caucus Contact Person: Gary Foster
E-Mail: gfoster@securespeed.com
Phone #: 657-4754

Harpswell
February 11th, 9:00 A.M.
Old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse
Orr’s Island
Caucus Contact Person: Jean Appleby Johnson
E-Mail: johnsonjean@myfairpoint.net
Phone #: 833-0056

Harrison
Feb. 11th 9:00am to 12:00pm
Harrison Fire Station Community Room
34 School St.

Naples
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
Naples Town Office Gym
Caucus Contact Person: Rich Cross
E-Mail: rich06@roadrunner.com
Phone #: 693-7945

New Gloucester
February 11th, 1:00 P.M.
Community Building

North Yarmouth
February 11th, All Day
North Yarmouth Fire Station

Portland
February 11th, 9:30 A.M.
Riverton School
1600 Forest Avenue, Portland

Raymond
February 9th, 7:00 P.M.
Raymond Town Office

Scarborough
February 4th, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Town Hall

South Portland
February 11th, 8:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
South Portland Community Center

Standish
February 9th, 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Town Hall

Westbrook
February 5th, 1:00 P.M.
Westbrook Middle School

Windham
February 11th, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Yarmouth
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
American Legion Log Cabin
Main Street
Caucus Contact Person: Jeff Weinstein
Phone #: 846-1212

Franklin County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Farmington.

February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Mount Blue High School, Farmington
Caucus Contact Person : Ruby Hardy
Phone #: 778-4320

Hancock County

Hancock County will hold their caucuses in 6 different ‘districts’. Each district will have the list of towns participating in that location.

District 1

Bucksport, Orland, Verona
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
G. Herbert Jewett School
66 Bridge Street, Bucksport
Caucus Contact Person: Sandi Blanchette
Phone #: 944-8444

District 2

Dedham, Ellsworth, Otis, Trenton
February 11th, 12:00 P.M.
Ellsworth City Hall
Caucus Contact Person: Janice Eldridge
Phone #: 667-2163

District 3

Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Surry, Stonington
February 4th, 10:00 A.M.
Sedgwick Elementary School
272 Snow’s Cove Road, Sedgwick
Caucus Contact Person: Glyneta B. Thomson

District 4

Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isle, Mt. Desert, Frenchboro, Swan’s Island, Tremont, Southwest Harbor
February 4th, 12:00 P.M.
Somesville Fire Station
1157 Main Street, Mt. Desert
Caucus Contact Person: Joanne Eaton
Phone #: 276-3310

District 5

Gouldsboro, Hancock, Lamoine, Waltham, Sorrento, Sullivan, Winter Harbor, Fletcher’s Landing
February 18th, 10:00 A.M.
Hancock Grammar School (off Route 1)
Caucus Contact Person: Kathy Birdsall
Phone #: 460-1021

District 6

Aurora/Amherst, Eastbrook, Franklin, Mariaville, Osborn
February 18th, 1:00 P.M.
Eastbrook Municipal Office
959 Eastbrook Road, Eastbrook
Caucus Contact Person: Debbie Lockman
Phone #: 584-5900

Castine
March 3rd, 9:30 A.M.
Emerson Hall
Caucus Contact Person: Jinny Comiciotto
Phone #: 326-8340

Kennebec County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Augusta.

February 4th, 9:00 A.M.
Farrington Elementary School
249 Eastern Avenue, Augusta
Caucus Contact Person: Kim Pettengill
Phone #: 907-8205
E-Mail: kimepettengill@gmail.com

Hallowell
February 4th, 1:00 P.M.
Hallowell City Hall
Caucus Contact Person: Larry Davis
Phone #: 623-1316 or 557-0702
E-Mail: ldavis@northcenter.com

Monmouth
February 4th, 1:00 P.M.
Monmouth Town Office
Caucus Contact Person: Tim Macdonald
Phone #: 933-4270
E-Mail: tmac@fairpoint.net

Pittston
February 4th, 12:00 P.M.
Pittston Town Office
Caucus Contact Person: Tim Lawrence
Phone #: 582-6006
E-Mail: marylou6@prodigy.net

Rome
February 16th, 6:30 P.M.
The home of Alan & Lynn Labelle (256 Jamaican Point Road)

Waterville
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Waterville City Council Chambers

Knox County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Rockland.

February 4th, 1:00 P.M.
Rockland Middle School
Caucus Contact Person: Jan Dolcater
E-Mail:jandolcater@yahoo.com

Lincoln County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Damariscotta

February 4th, 12:30 P.M.
Great Salt Bay School
Damariscotta

Oxford County

Oxford County’s towns will hold their caucuses in five different ‘consolidated caucuses’. Please contact the caucus organizer to find out the location in which your town will hold it’s caucus.

South Paris Consolidated Caucus
February 3rd, 7:00 P.M.
South Paris Fire Station

Buckfield
Glen Holmes
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Greenwood
Loretta Mikols
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Hartford
Neil Hanley
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Hebron
Richard Deans
February 3rd 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Norway
Pete Connell
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Otisfield
Steve Hildebrand
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Oxford
Kathleen Rhoten
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Paris
Al Barth
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Waterford
Carlene Trembley
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

West Paris
Jerrold Mason
February 3rd, 7:00PM
S. Paris Fire Station

Bethel Consolidated Caucus
February 4th, 10:00 A.M.
Crescent Park School
Bethel

Albany Twnshp
Joe Lyons
Feb 0410:00AM
Crescent Park School – Bethel

Bethel
Dennis Doyan
February 4th, 10:00AM
Crescent Park School – Bethel

Gilead
Fran Head
February 4th, 10:00AM
Crescent Park School – Bethel

Andover Consolidated Caucus
February 5th, 1:00 P.M.
1st Congretional Church, Christian Education Building
Andover

Andover
Paula Smith
February 5th, 1:00PM
1ST Cong Church CEB – Andover

Hanover
Paul Ramsey
February 5th, 1:00PM
1ST Cong Church CEB – Andover

Fryeburg Consolidated Caucus
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
Mollyockett Middle School
Fryeburg

Brownfield
Bob Walstrom
February 11th, 10:00AM
Mollyockett Mid School – Fryeburg

Fryeburg
Kimberly Clarke
February 11th, 10:00AM
Mollyockett Mid School – Fryeburg

Hiram
Beth Wadsworth
February 11th, 10:00AM
Mollyockett Mid School – Fryeburg

Lovell
Robert Steller
February 11th, 10:00AM
Mollyockett Mid School – Fryeburg

Rumford Consolidated Caucus
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Canton
Jackie Conant
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Dixfield
Gene Skibitsky
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Mexico
Connie Tutlis
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Peru
James Pulsifer
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Rumford
Stephanie Wilson
February 4th, 2:00 P.M.
Rumford Town Office Auditorium

Individual Towns Caucusing

Please contact caucus organizers for more information.

Denmark
Caucus Contact Person: Michael Lee
Phone #: 512- 2928

Woodstock
Caucus Contact Person: George Hooper
Phone #: 665-2970

Penobscot County

The following towns will be participating at the countywide caucus in Bangor. All others listed seperately below.

Bangor, Brewer, Carmel, Hermon, Hampden, Bradley, Newburgh, LaGrange, Milford, Hudson, Orrington, Orono, Old Town, Veazie, Greenbush, Eddington, Alton, Etna, Exeter, Glenburn, Bradford, Corinth, Clifton, Holden

February 4th, 1:00 P.M.
Husson College
Bangor

Charleston
The Town of Charleston will hold its caucus at the Charleston Community Center, on School Road, on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:30pm.
For further information, contact Alan Gray, Town Chairman, at 285-7986.

Garland
Februrary 5th, 2:00 P.M.
Garland Town Office.

Dexter
February 6th, 6:30 PM
Ridge View Community School
Cafeteria.

Millinocket
January 30th
6:30 p.m.
Snowmobiles Club

Newport
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
Newport Town Office
Caucus Contact Person: Shawn Roderick
E-Mail: shawnroderick@hotmail.com

Lincoln, Lowell, Burlington, Chester, Enfield, Winn, Howland
January 28th, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
V.F.W. Hall in Lincoln Center

Piscataquis County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Dover-Foxcroft

February 5th, 1:00 P.M.
Morton Avenue Elementary School
Dover-Foxcroft
Caucus Contact Person: Andy Torbett
Phone #: 907-6599

Sagadahoc County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in West Bath

February 4th, 11:00 A.M.
West Bath Elementary School
Caucus Contact Person: Kyle Rogers
E-Mail: kyle@foxrealestateagency.comcastbiz.net

Somerset County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in North Anson.

February 4th, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Carrabec Community School
Caucus Contact Person: Dena Worster
Phone #: 938-4477

Individual Caucuses

Fairfield
January 29th, 1:00 p.m.
Fairfield Community Center
61 Water Street

Canaan
February 7th, 7:00pm with sign in/registration at 6:00pm
Canaan Town Office

Pittsfield
February 4th, 10:00 A.M.
Location to be announced

Madison
February 7th, 7:00 P.M.
Town Office

Harmony
February 8th, 7:00 P.M.
Harmony Elementary School

Skowhegan
February 9th, 6:00 P.M.
Renaissance Center (60 Water Street)

Waldo County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Belfast.

February 4th, 9:00 A.M.
Troy Howard Middle School
173 Lincolnville Ave Belfast, ME 04915-7402
Caucus Contact Person: Ray St. Onge
Phone #: 975-5957

Individual Caucuses

Frankfort
February 1st, 7:00 P.M.
Frankfort Town Office

Montville
February 11th, 10:00 A.M.
Montville Town Office

Palermo
January 29th, 2:00 P.M.
Residence of Cheryl Parkman

Stockton Springs
February 11th 10:00 A.M.
Stockton Springs Town Office.

Unity
January 29th 1:00 P.M.
Unity Union Church

Washington County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in East Machias.

February 11th, 1:30 P.M.
Washington Academy
East Machias

York County

All towns, unless otherwise listed, will be participating at the countywide caucus in Sanford.

February 11th, 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Sanford High School

Saco
February 4th, 9:00 A.M.
City Hall Auditorium
Caucus Contact Person: Dan Carter
Phone #: 653-6641

Election/Caucus Laws and Legal Guidelines

Legal Guidelines

NOTE: All information below is shown as it appears in Title 21A of Maine Revised Statutes.

MUNICIPAL CAUCUS (Section 158)
During the gubernatorial election year, the registrar shall attend the biennial municipal caucus of each qualified party for at least 30 minutes preceding the commencement of the caucus at the location where the caucus is being held. During the presidential election year, the registrar shall attend the biennial municipal caucus of each qualified party for at least one hour preceding the commencement of the caucus at the location where the caucus is being held. The registrar shall accept the registrations and enrollments of all qualified voters who attempt to register and enroll, and all persons so registered and enrolled may participate in their party caucus. The registrar shall allow all persons to register or enroll who are present at the caucus at the end of the 30-minute or one-hour registration period.

RULES GOVERNING (Section 311)
Call. The caucus may be called by the chair or a majority of the members of the municipal committee of a political party. If the municipal committee fails to call a caucus, the county committee may call the caucus. At the request of that committee municipal officers shall provide available space in a public building for a caucus. This means that each town must provide a space free of charge for this event. A municipality may hold its caucus outside the municipality if several municipalities elect to meet on a consolidated basis or if the committee calling the caucus determines that a facility outside the municipality is more suitable.

Time. A biennial municipal caucus of any party must be held during the general election year before March 20th.

Notice. The secretary of the committee shall have a notice of the caucus published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality at least 3 and not more than 7 days before it is to be held, or shall post a notice in a conspicuous, public place in each voting district in the municipality at least 7 days before the caucus. The notice must contain the name of the party, the time and place of the caucus and the name of the person calling it.

A. If the notice is not published as required by this subsection, the caucus is void if challenged by any voter eligible to participate in the caucus who was prejudiced by the failure to publish notice.
B. The secretary of the committee shall file a copy of the notice with the clerk who shall record it.

Procedure. The chair of the municipal committee shall open the caucus. In the chair’s absence, the secretary or any resident voter enrolled in the party may open the caucus. The caucus shall elect a secretary and a chair in that order. The chair of the caucus shall then preside over the caucus and the secretary shall record the proceeding of the caucus. The caucus shall determine its own parliamentary procedure.

If no municipal committee. If there is no municipal committee, any resident voter enrolled in the party may call a special caucus for the purpose of electing the committee following the notice procedure of subsection 3.

MUNICIPAL CAUCUS LIST (Section 312)
The chair or secretary of the municipal committee or the person or persons calling a biennial municipal caucus, including any resident voter pursuant to section 311, subsection 5, may request a list of registered voters pursuant to section 196-A, subsection 1 for use by the municipal committee once each biennial election cycle beginning January 1st in an election year.

VOTING PROCEDURE (Section 313)
Vote by list. The caucus may order voting to be done by checking each voter’s name on the municipal caucus list of registered voters from the central voter registration system pursuant to section 312.

Secret ballot. The caucus may order voting to be done by secret ballot which may be printed, or written on plain paper.

CHALLENGES (Section 314)
An enrolled voter of a municipality may challenge the right of another to vote at a municipal caucus. The person challenged may vote at the caucus after he has taken the following oath administered by the chairman of the caucus.

Oath. “I, (name of challenged person), swear that I am a registered and enrolled voter in this voting district, that I am a member of the party holding this caucus, and that I have not been enrolled in any other party in this municipality within the last 15 days.”

Oath recorded and copy sent to registrar. The secretary of the caucus shall record the administration of the oath and shall send a copy of the record to the registrar.

Registrar to compare records. On receipt of the copy of the record, the registrar shall compare it with the voting and enrollment records. If the oath is false, the person who swore to it is guilty of a Class E crime.

ELECTION CLERKS (Section 503)
Qualifications; appointment; compensation. Election clerks must be at least 18 years of age, registered to vote and residents of the municipality, except that, if the municipal officers, after providing timely notice to state and local chairs of political parties of the lack of available election clerks, are unable to appoint a sufficient number of election clerks who are residents of the municipality, the municipal clerk may appoint election clerks who are not residents of the municipality but who are residents of the county and are otherwise qualified to fill the vacancies. The municipal officers of each municipality shall appoint election clerks no later than May 1st of each general election year to serve at each voting place during the time the polls are open and as counters after the polls close. A list of the election clerks appointed under this subsection must be posted at each voting place. Election clerks are entitled to a reasonable compensation as determined by the municipal officers.

Representation of parties. The municipal officers shall consider the following for appointment as election clerks.

A. The municipal officers shall consider persons nominated by the municipal, county or state committees of the major parties to serve as election clerks. The municipal officers shall appoint at least one election clerk from each of the major parties to serve at each voting place during the time the polls are open. The municipal officers shall also appoint a sufficient number of election clerks to serve as counters after the polls close. The election clerks must be selected so that the number of election clerks from one major party does not exceed the number of election clerks from another major party by more than one.

B. The municipal officers shall appoint at least one election clerk nominated by the municipal committee of a qualified minor party represented on the last general election ballot for each voting place at the committee’s request.

C. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the municipal officers may also consider persons who are 17 years of age to serve as student election clerks for a specific election. A student election clerk may perform all the functions of an election clerk as prescribed by this Title.

CONVENTION DELEGATE (AND CONVENTION ALTERNATE) JOB DESCRIPTION

Convention Delegates play an important role in setting the direction of the Maine Republican Party. The primary responsibilities of Convention Delegates are to conduct the general business of the State Convention and nominate and/or elect representatives to the National, State and County Committees.

The duties of a Convention Delegate include, but are not limited to:
 Discuss and vote on the General Rules of the Maine Republican Party;
 Discuss and vote on the Rules of the next biennial Republican State Convention;
 Discuss and vote on the Maine Republican Party Platform including any amendments presented from the floor;
 Elect a National Committeeman and National Committeewoman;
 Elect Delegates and Alternates to the National Republican Convention;
 Ratify Municipal Delegate nominees to County Committees and elect representatives from municipalities that did not nominate a sufficient number of Municipal Delegates to the County Committee;
 Nominate State Committee Members (State Committeeman, State Committeewoman and State Committee Member At-Large) from each county those who will represent you on the Republican State Committee.

Convention Alternates are responsible for performing the responsibilities and duties of Convention Delegates in the absence of a Delegate and having been appointed as such by the Delegation Chair.

NOTE: Delegates and Alternates are responsible for all of their expenses.
 There is a fee of $25 to attend the Convention as a Delegate or Alternate.
 You must pay for all meals (Convention sponsored meals will range from $15 to $40).
 You must make your own housing arrangements.

You should receive Convention information by March 16th. If you have not heard from us by then, please contact Michelle at 622-6247 or michelle@mainegop.com.

MUNICIPAL DELEGATION CHAIRMAN JOB DESCRIPTION

The Municipal Delegation Chairman is the leader of the Municipal Delegation (Delegates and Alternates) to the State Convention.

It is the responsibility of the Delegation Chairman to:
 Confirm that all Delegates are planning to attend the Convention.
 Appoint a replacement if a Delegate is unable to attend the Convention
o the Delegation Chairman must appoint a replacement from the list of elected Alternates.
 Appoint a replacement if a Delegate is unable to be present at any time during the Convention for votes.
o the Delegation Chairman must appoint a replacement from the list of elected Alternates.
 Call a meeting of the Municipal Delegation to elect a replacement Delegation Chairman if you are unable to fulfill your duties.
 Communicate with the Maine Republican Party when appropriate.
o Notify the MRP HQ in writing of any changes in the status of Delegates and/or Alternates (e-mail to Michelle@mainegop.com if prior to the Convention or via the Delegate Replacement Form if the Convention has already commenced.)
 Monitor the Municipal Delegation during voting sessions to insure that only Delegates vote on each issue.
 Assist County Chairmen in the distribution and collection of ballots, when required.

COUNTY COMMITTEE MEMBER JOB DESCRIPTION

Municipal delegates to the County Committee, commonly referred to as County Committee Members, represent enrolled Republicans in their municipality when conducting County Committee business and specific activities related to the election of local officers and elected state legislators. Duties include, but are not limited to:

 Representing municipal interests on the County Committee;
 Attending County Committee meetings and casting votes on routine County Committee business;
 Working closely with the Municipal Committee to promote local Republican activism;
 Supporting municipal and county organizational activities including:
o Fundraising
o Communications
o Promoting special events
 Supporting election related activities including:
o Recruiting candidates for County Offices
o Providing campaign assistance within the municipality to local, state and federal candidates
o Providing assistance on referendum issue campaigns
o Poll watching
 Performing other duties and responsibilities defined in individual County By-Laws

Additionally, municipal delegates to the County Committee may be called upon to participate in filling untimely vacancies left in County and State offices.

What do ELECTION CLERKS do?

Municipalities are required to have Election Clerks working at the polls on Election Day.
 Political committees can nominate people to work at the polls.
 Nominations must be submitted to the municipal clerk no later than April 1, 2012.
 Election Clerks must represent the political parties equally within one; i.e., there can be 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

Election Clerks perform a vital role in our election process. Their responsibilities include:
 check in voters;
 provide voters with appropriate ballot(s);
 tally votes at the end of the day; and
 ensure that all election related materials are secured according to State Law.

Many municipalities have a difficult time finding the necessary number of people to work at the polls. Here is how you can help:
 Ask your Clerk for the names of those who have served as Republican Election Clerks in the past.
 Tell your clerk that your Republican Committee will be making nominations in accordance with State Law.
 Take the time to find people who are willing to work at your Polls.

The goal is to have every Republican Committee submit names this year. Please help with this task. This is an important part of our process.

Please read Legal Guidelines, Election Clerks (Section 503 at top of this page) for requirements.

Get all the help you can get to make sure that you are not overpaying on your tax bill.

Central Maine (January 25, 2012) Spectrum Generations is once again collaborating with AARP to offer tax preparation services at its community centers throughout Central Maine.  This free service is open to any member of the community for support with personal income taxes now through mid-April.  Appointments are required for all locations, and fill up fast.  For those interested in scheduling an appointment, contact Spectrum Generations at 1-800-639-1553 or the community center closest to you.

§Coastal Community Center in Damariscotta 563-1363

§Cohen Community Center in Hallowell 626-7777

§Knox Community Center in Rockland 596-0339

§Muskie Community Center in Waterville 873-4745

§Somerset Community Center in Skowhegan 474-8552

§Southern Mid Coast Community Center in Topsham 729-0475

Spectrum Generations has promoted life-long learning, health, wellness, nutrition, community engagement and the social well-being of all older and disabled adults for 40 years as the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging.   For more information about Spectrum Generations programs, services, and center activities, call 1-800-639-1553 or visitwww.spectrumgenerations.org.  For more information regarding AARP, visit their website at www.aarp.org.

Holly Couture

Spectrum Generations

1-800-282-0764 ext. 146

Don’t Worry, It’s Only a Test

AUGUSTA, MAINE – If you are watching television or listening the radio at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, you will see or hear a *test* emergency message from Washington, DC.

It is a test of the federal government’s ability to send an emergency message nationwide in the event of a national crisis. Maine radio and television stations and cable TV systems, along with satellite TV companies, will participate in this first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The Maine Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Public Safety and the Maine Association of Broadcasters are reminding Mainers of the upcoming test because it will look and sound a little different from the usual Maine-originated EAS tests regularly seen and heard in the State.

The audio message will be the same for radio, television, and cable TV: a message that **”This is a test.”** Television viewers will see a “text crawl” at the top of their TV screens that says, “The Primary Entry Point has issued an Emergency Action Notification for Washington, D.C., until 2:15 p.m.” TV viewers may or may not see other on-screen text indicating that the alert is a test. Viewers should rest assured, however, that **this is only a test**. The message **will run approximately 30 seconds**. (FEMA and the FCC last week announced their decision to shorten the test message, originally planned to run more than three minutes).

The November 9 message will test the “National” end of EAS: can a national message reach each state’s EAS distribution network. This will be the first time a test of this magnitude has been conducted.

By contrast, the “Maine” end of the EAS system is tested statewide each month, and each station conducts an individual weekly test.

Maine also uses EAS regularly, primarily to transmit severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service. Other types of emergency messages may be sent from the Department of Public Safety or MEMA.

In Maine, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network receives alert messages from the originating agency and broadcasts them across MPBN’s statewide network. All other radio and television stations and cable systems in the State pick up MPBN’s signal and rebroadcast the messages on their own stations.

The National EAS Test is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For more information on the National EAS Test, visit http://www.easalert.org

For more information about preparing for all emergencies, visit [Maine Prepares](http://www.maineprepares.com)

But remember, on November 9 at 2:00 pm, **it’s only a test**.

 By George L. Tibbetts Jr.

President O’bama has been pressing nearly everyday for a back to work program for the countless thousands of unemployed or underemployed Americans. Fact is that the nation is broke, the people are broke and if we were to look at the country in purely economic terms, we are bankrupt. If the country was a business, it would qualify for the same insolvency protections afforded businesses in the same boat. “Balance the budget”, is the cry from many in Washington. People, we ain’t ever going to balance a multi-trillion dollar budget deficit so clearly a better approach is to put people back to work so that they can keep their homes, provide educational opportunities for their children, and protect individual financial stability for this generation and those to follow.

As it is now, our financially strapped citizens are having to rely on what savings and liquid assets they may have, relief from increasingly shrinking welfare and public assistance programs, food banks and the like while on the brink of becoming homeless or are already living in alternative housing situations. All of these human conditions put an increased burden on the states and cities as the federal faucet runs drier and drier.

Another road block to real economic recovery is the unwillingness of the rich to take on any further tax increase based on the fact that they assume it is their dollars that fuel the economy. As the diminishing middle class pays more taxes the rich won’t even agree to an increase of a meager 3% of their income. And, I don’t see much movement in Congress for its members to strengthen the economy by reducing their income and benefit packages.

As an economic fact, it also holds true that “the dollar” in of itself is worth nothing more than the paper on which it is printed. Rather, the dollar is an indicator of the economic foundation of the country as measured by our Gross National Product (GNP) Wikipedia defines GNP as the market value of all products and services produced in one year by labor and property supplied by the residents of a country. It’s a be damned if you do or damned if you don’t situation but I think income from working Americans will produce real dollars down the road and spur real growth in all the economic sectors.

What O’Bama has been talking about along with many governors is that this recession provides an excellent stage for rebuilding infrastructures like highways, schools, bridges and exploring and bolstering alternative energy stratagies to include more use of natural gas, tidal/water power and energy conservation.  You’ll note that I didn’t mention coal or wind because I personally find wind as an unreliable source of energy and coal as one of the most highly pollutant energy resources in the world. Coal is also very unhealthy for people who work in or around the mines from which coal is derived. Nuclear energy may be an alternative energy source especially if nuclear fission could be developed.

The nation stands a much better chance of recovery when people are working and we’re not talking about just construction jobs. The building trades require steel and a host of other materials. The back to work effort also provides opportunities across the employment spectrum. There is room in the science and technology areas, room too for accountants, administrators and other support professionals. These people will need to be well-educated so there will be an increase demand for those in teaching professions. Income also means healthier state and local economies moving forward.

And, let’s not forget outsourcing. Case in point is that during one of my VA  hospital admissions I took some time to look at the hygienic products I had been supplied with. From toothbrushes, to wash pans, combs, and bed pans, I found that none had been made in America. They came from China, Thailand, and one product even came from Vietnam which, as a Vietnam veteran, I found particularly interesting. I felt pretty sure that we could produce those same items at home with American labor and without the need for child or exploited labor which is the case in many of these countries. All these items, of course, were poorly made and disposable. Seems to me that at least we could keep some of these items out of the recycle bin and produce at least some of them that are of higher quality and also reusable. It is also my belief that Americans would buy quality American made products if they were well made and long-lasting. For example, I have a pair of Bostonian shoes made right here in Gardiner, Maine that were manufactured during the 60′s. Except for replacing the soles a couple of times, I have worn them on many occasions and they still look nearly new. 

Simply said, we need to put our workforce back to work. Pipe fitters, plumbers, electricians, welders, truck drivers, assemblers and, yes, shoe workers plus many other trades people. We will all benefit from a back to work program. Back to work isn’t a “give away” program, we need their expertise and the things that they will build. If we did all we could, it might become possible that our best and finest students would be able to complete in the science and technology fields to the degree that it becomes unnecessary to import people to fill positions in Silicon Valley with people from abroad. Who knows we may even be able to get N.A.S.A. programs back from the Russians.

The Presidents approach is the only one I have heard that makes any sense whatsoever. Let’s get it going on because there is no time like the present. This is NOT and should NOT be a partisan issue.

Christine Pelosi – Politico

It is a cruel irony in American politics that just as young people across the country – indeed around the world – think their votes don’t count in the political process, voter suppression tactics are all too alive and well.

As the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice points out, in the last few years there has been an aggressive effort to restrict voting as legislators around the country have been pushing bills that make sweeping changes to their election codes to limit the voting rights of students and movers, reduce early voting days, and restrict voter registration and “get-out-the-vote” mobilization efforts.

In this month alone, the Colorado secretary of state tried to block Denver voters from receiving absentee ballots lawsuit while his Maine counterpart wrote to students advising them that they could face legal prosecution if they maintained out-of-state drivers licenses and in-state voter registration cards.

Couple these efforts with voter ID laws that the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute reports affect 11 percent of Americans — approximately 23 million citizens of voting age, the vast majority of whom are low-income, disabled, minority, young, and older voters — who lack proper photo ID and the Federal Elections Commission finding that over 20,000 polling places are inaccessible to people with disabilities http://smlr.rutgers.edu/fact-sheet-on-disability-and-voter-turnout-in-2010, and we are looking at millions of Americans who could be disenfranchised.

That’s a whole lot effort to suppress a vote that doesn’t count! If there is an effort to restrict voting, the forces doing the restricting must think the ballot counts – and you voters should too.

So my advice to a wary voter is this; the next time you think your vote doesn’t count, think of all the efforts going on to restrict your right to cast it. That alone should tell you how powerful a force each and every voter can be.Remember the boomerang effect that the despicable 2010 “don’t vote” ads had on Latino voters who turned out and voted in pro-voting pro-immigrant candidates. Believe that making your elected officials accountable begins with the civic sacrament of voting, hold your candidates to a simple test: does she want me to vote or not? and when given the choice, vote for the people who want you to vote.

Related articles

• Voter ID laws target rarely occurring voter fraud (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Maine Women’s Lobby Seeks Your Support for Same Day Voter Registration Initiative(thevalleyvoice.org)
• Public Policy: Elections & Voting (ajbulava.wordpress.com)
• The truth about voter suppression (salon.com)
• Ohio Delivers Required Signatures to Block Voter Suppression Law, Force Referendum (news.firedoglake.com)
• Voter Fraud v. Voter Disenfranchisement (andersonissues.com)
• GOP-Pushed Student Voter Fraud Investigation Finds Zero Voter Fraud(kaystreet.wordpress.com)

Brennan Center for Justice, Crawford v. Marion County Election Board,Federal Election Commission, Photo identification, United States,Voter registration, Voter Suppression, voting

New funding available for Maine exporters

MITC will be holding a STEP grant session on Wednesday, November 2nd from 9:00 to 10:30 am at MITC’s head office 511 Congress Street, Portland

The Maine International Trade Center (MITC), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Maine Senator Olympia J. Snowe announced Tuesday that MITC was awarded $146,000 under the State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) program. STEP, which was part of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act, was created specifically to assist small and medium sized exporters through partnerships between state trade offices and the SBA. "This is a great collaborative effort," explains Jeanne Hulit, Regional Director of the U.S. SBA, "with the federal government and the states sharing responsibilities and resources to help small businesses succeed in the global market."

"With uncertainty over tax, regulatory and trade policies emanating from Washington, programs like STEP provide invaluable assistance to job creators and entrepreneurs looking to expand their business and add to their payrolls," said Sen. Snowe, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "This award is welcome news and will allow the Maine International Trade Center to add to its success in bringing international trading opportunities to our exceptional small businesses and innovators throughout the state."

In 2010, Maine exported $3.2 billion in goods to international markets, a record for the state; and through the first half of 2011, the state’s exports were up 28%, ranking Maine ninth in the nation for export growth. Of Maine’s 1,400 exporting companies, 86% are considered small businesses with less than 200 employees. According to the Washington, DC based Business Roundtable, 181,000 Maine jobs were related to international trade and investment.

"Getting small business to travel to trade shows or go overseas is often the hardest part," says Janine Bisaillon-Cary, President of MITC and State Director of International Trade. "Maine’s companies offer world-class, cutting edge products and services. Often the biggest barrier to entry is the cost of matchmaking services or trade show exhibit costs that may be insignificant to large companies, but can be a deal breaker to small businesses."

Under the STEP program, funds will be set aside to purchase booth space at several international trade shows. Often considered the best way for companies to quickly enter a foreign market, the cost of attendance at shows such as Germany’s MEDICA or Dubai’s Gulfood can be several thousand dollars. Maine companies will be able to attend these shows, exhibit jointly, at a sharply reduced rate.

"This program may be one of the best initiatives the federal government and MITC can do to pave the way for job growth in the State of Maine, and significant economic prosperity for Maine-based businesses," says Kent Peterson, President of Yarmouth’s Fluid Imaging Technologies. "We have had some of our best successes through participating in international trade shows – connecting face to face with buyers and distributors."

Also included in MITC’s application is a grants program to assist companies by offsetting business-to-business matchmaking expenses in foreign markets. Matchmaking, a process by which companies are introduced to potential customers and clients, is another common way by which Maine-based exporters have found business overseas. MITC will be providing grants to eligible businesses on a competitive basis.

"Participating in MITC’s matchmaking services has been a very cost effective and time saving way to connect with new customers and distributors overseas," comments Carl Spang, president of Auburn-based Falcon Performance Footwear. "Company meetings are set in advance with importers that have already shown an interest in our products, and by the time we meet with them a lot of the preliminary work has been done. We feel that matchmaking is one of the best returns on investment in terms of identifying new buyers for our products."

"We’re very grateful to the SBA for providing us with new tools to help Maine’s small businesses, concludes Bisaillon-Cary. "This is one of the very first federal export assistance programs for non-agricultural companies – and it couldn’t come at a better time for our state and our companies. MITC commends Senator Snowe for her leadership on this issue."

MITC will be holding a STEP grant session on Wednesday, November 2nd from 9:00 to 10:30 am at MITC’s head office 511 Congress Street, Portland covering the STEP grant guidelines and providing details on the export development funding available to Maine companies. MITC members and internationally active companies in Maine are encouraged to attend.

For more information call Vanessa Sylvester,

Feeding the Nation’s Need for Hope—Sept 1

Bangor Food Bank and Speak-out part of national day of action by nurses to heal America and tax Wall Street

Nurses to Converge on 60 Congressional Offices in 21 States

From Bangor, Maine to San Diego, California, nurses, fed up with the ongoing economic crisis, will call on Congress members in their local district offices September 1 to support a tax on Wall Street financial speculation, a revenue source fast becoming an international norm, to pay for healing the nation.

While Wall Street banks got bailed out of the financial crisis that they caused, Main Street towns like Bangor are suffering. Registered nurses, family, friends and community supporters from throughout the region are hosting a food drive and speak out Thursday afternoon to urge US Congressman Michaud to support the tax on Wall Street to bring quality jobs, housing, healthcare and education back to Main Street.

Local nurses and Community members will be speaking out and telling their own personal stories as well as the toll the economy has taken on their patients

“America’s nurses see every day the broad declines in health and living standards that are a direct result of patients and families struggling with lack of jobs, un-payable medical bills, hunger and homelessness. We know where to find the resources to bring them hope and real solutions,” said NNU Co-president Karen Higgins, RN.

What:                        Nurses Host Speak-Out and Food Drive

When:                       Thursday, Sept 1, Noon-1:00 p.m.

Where:                     Hannibal Hamlin Park (next to 6 State Street Downtown Bangor), Bangor, ME

Events, from soup kitchens to help feed the hungry and homeless, to community speak outs to street theater are planned from major urban centers like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Orlando, to smaller cities and towns, such as Corpus Christi, TX., Marquette, MI., Bakersfield, CA., Dayton, OH., and Worcester, MA. National Nurses United is sponsoring the actions.

Nurses will visit the home offices of Republicans and Democrats alike, with a common message. Everyday Americans are hurting, and they need jobs, healthcare, housing, quality education, nutrition, and a secure retirement, not more cuts, as has been the obsession of Congress.

See a preliminary list of actions at http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/sept-1-event-list

The RNs will be calling on Congress members to sign a pledge to “support a Wall Street transaction tax that will raise sufficient revenue to make Wall Street pay for the devastation it has caused on Main Street.” The visits follow a letter sent by certified mail to all 535 members of the House and Senate last week asking them to back the pledge and help “make the promise of the American dream… a reality.”

NNU protest on Wall Street in June

A tax on Wall Street trading of stocks, bonds, derivatives, currencies, credit default swaps, and futures – the very financial speculative activity linked to the 2008 financial meltdown and resultant recession – could raise hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for the programs that .   “are desperately needed to reduce the pain and suffering felt by so many families who feel abandoned in communities across this nation,” says NNU Co-President Deborah Burger, RN.

A new NNU video depicts the Wall Street-made debacle, http://www.youtube.com/user/NationalNursesUnited

NNU, the nation’s largest union and professional association of nurses, has convened numerous other protests in recent months joined by labor and community activists, including in Washington DC, outside the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and in New York City, across from the Stock Exchange, to advance this campaign.

“It’s time for Wall Street financiers, who created this crisis and continue to hold so much of the nation’s wealth, to start contributing to rebuild this country, and for the American people to reclaim our future,” says NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

That point was reinforced Monday by University of Massachusetts economics professor Nancy Folbre in a New York Times blog,http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/a-sales-tax-on-wall-street-transactions/, in which she wrote:

“Purchases of stocks, bonds and other financial instruments in the United States go untaxed but for a tiny fee on stock trades that helps finance the Securities and Exchange Commission. In Britain, by contrast, a 0.5 percent tax on stock transactions raises about $40 billion a year. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany recently announced plans to introduce a similar tax in the 27 nations of the European Community.

“Our current tax policies favor speculative investment in financial instruments over productive investments in human capabilities. This imbalance helps explain why nurses’ unions in the United States (NNU) have been particularly outspoken advocates of a financial transactions tax. As they put it: “Heal America. Tax Wall Street.”

Jamie Braley
Secretary II

MSNA/NNOC/NNU
160 Capitol Street, Suite 1
Augusta, Maine 04330
(207) 622-1057

fax (207) 623-4072

http://www.mainenurse.org

The briefing series is a unique opportunity for Maine leaders to come to Washington to hear directly from White House officials on the issues that are affecting communities across Maine and learn more about the President’s priorities and initiatives from the people that work on them every day. In return, Administration staff gets to hear what’s going on in cities and towns across Maine directly from the experts – Maine community leaders.  Participants are local leaders who are currently involved in their cities and towns– in their neighborhoods, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, environmental groups, activist and advocacy groups, etc. and who are continuously invested in improving their own communities.

Ms. Smith says, “in preparation for this event, I am reaching out to Mainers, inviting them to add their perspective to the conversations by sharing with me their view of what’s working, what’s not, and what’s needed when it comes to community development, protecting Maine’s quality places, and improving our economy.”
GrowSmart Maine is pleased to be able to participate in this extraordinary opportunity to bring successes, challenges, and ideas directly to the White House to help improve the conversation between the grassroots and Washington.

GrowSmart Maine promotes sustainable prosperity for all Mainers by integrating working and natural landscape conservation, economic growth and community revitalization.

We promote Quality of Place by convening and engaging in public conversations about Maine’s future, contributing common sense policy analysis, educating the public, advocating for state and local change and supporting model practices.

GrowSmart Maine
309 Cumberland Ave., Suite 202
Portland, ME  04101
207-699-4330 x3

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http://www.growsmartmaine.org
http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/projectcanopy/

Believers Stand United

Hello BSU Family,

I’m writing you today as we again partner with the American Family Association. They recently brought to our attention the hostile and discriminatory actions by veterans officials in Houston, Texas, and this must stop now. The Department of Veterans Affairs and its local Houston director Arleen Ocasio are engaging in religious discrimination in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Act.

Ms. Occasio and her staff are being cited for the following violations:

**Forbidding the mention of God at funerals for veterans

**Requiring families to submit prayers for government approval prior to the funeral

**Instructing VFW District 4 and American Legion Post 586 to remove the words “God Bless” from condolence cards to grieving families

**Demanding that private funeral homes not present the option of public prayers to families

**Closing the Houston VA Chapel to use for storage

Let’s stand with veterans and their families today by sending an e-mail to Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs Steve L. Munro and demand that these policies be stopped and reversed immediately! He may be reached by phone at 202-461-6112 or by e-mail at steve.munro@va.gov

Thank you for making your voice heard!

Your partners,
Dr. Stephen and Kellie Swisher

Connect With Us

Regimental monument at the center of their lines on Little Round Top.

Re-enactment of a Civil War recruiting drive. In observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, join Company B, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Civil War Re-enactors and the Presque Isle Historical Society to see soldiers and civilians in civil war garb, authentic civil war memorabilia including an officer’s sword and promotion certificate. See what a “call-up” would have looked like in 1861.

About the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Active
August 20, 1862 – July 16, 1865

Country
United States

Allegiance
Union

Branch
Infantry

Engagements
American Civil War

• Antietam
• Fredericksburg
• Gettysburg
• Spotsylvania Court House
• Petersburg
• Five Forks
• Appomattox

Notable Commanders

Col. Adelbert Ames
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Maj. Ellis Spear

Reunion of the 20th Maine, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1889

The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a combat unit of the United States Army during the American Civil War, most famous for its defense ofLittle Round Top at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.

Organization

The 20th Maine was organized in the state of Maine on August 20, 1862, with Col. Adelbert Ames as its commander. It became part of Col. Strong Vincent‘s Brigade of the 1st Division of the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The brigade consisted of the 16th Michigan Infantry (with Brady’s independent company of sharpshooters attached), 44th New York Infantry, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry, and the 20th Maine Infantry Regiments. At the time of Gettysburg, the regiment was commanded by Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain. Maj. Ellis Spear took command after Chamberlain was appointed brigade commander in August 1863.

Combat history

The regiment served at Antietam (held in reserve), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (quarantined in the rear area due to illness^[1]), Gettysburg,Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy and Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Five Forks, andAppomattox.

Gettysburg and Little Round Top

The 20th Maine’s left flank marker at Gettysburg battlefield.

The most notable battle was the regiment’s decisive role on July 2, 1863, in the Battle of Gettysburg, where it was stationed on Little Round Top at the extreme left of the Union line. When the regiment came under heavy attack from the Confederate 15th Alabama regiment, part of the division led by Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood, the 20th Maine completely ran out of ammunition after three to four hours of continued fighting; it responded to the sight of rebel infantry forming again for yet another push at them by charging downhill with fixed bayonets, surprising and scattering the Confederates, thus ending the attack on the hill. The 20th Maine and the adjacent 83rd Pennsylvania together captured over 400 men from the 47th and 15th Alabama regiments. Had the 20th Maine retreated from the hill, the entire Union line would have been flanked, and would have most likely lost the battle of Gettysburg. Union morale and support for the war was wavering, due to many defeats. If the Union had lost the battle of Gettysburg the Confederate army could possibly been able to march on to Washington D.C. and end the war. The 20th Maine’s action in holding the hill has been credited with helping to turn the tide of the war.

Recent research has found claims by Lt. Holman S. Melcher^[2] that he initiated the charge, although Col. Chamberlain has been credited by most historians for ordering the desperate attack. This action is depicted in the novels The Killer Angels and Courage on Little Round Top, and was subsequently an important scene in the movie Gettysburg.

Disbandment

The 20th Maine marched from Appomattox, Virginia, on May 2, reaching Washington, D.C., on May 12, where it was mustered out of service on July 16, 1865.

The 20th Maine had an initial enrollment of 1,621 men, losing 150 dead from combat, 146 dead from disease, 381 wounded, and 15 in Confederate prisons.

Venue

Aroostook Centre Mall
830 Main Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769

Date

April 23rd, 2011

Times

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fees

FREE

Contact Information

Website:
www.pihistory.org/

Name:
Kimberly Smith

Phone:
(207) 762-1151

NOTE: The people of our nation should be proud that we have people like the U.S. Border Patrol and police officers like those in Sierra Blanca, Texas who try their best to protect us from those citizens who smoke pot. With all that goes on in the world of crime across America, it is only appropriate that we use the good taxpayers money to hunt down, fine, and incarcerate these users and I congratulate all the officers involved in Willie’s arrest. They should be held in high regard and lauded for their great piece of policemanship in making this arrest. Surely I jest. G.T.

Willie was charged with marijuana possession in Texas on November 26 after police found drugs on his tour bus.

According to the US Border Patrol six ounces of the drug were found on the bus in Sierra Blanca according to the El Paso newspaper. An officer had searched the vehicle after smelling the substance with three people, including Nelson, arrested.

Willie Nelson was held after 6 ounces of marijuana was found aboard his tour bus.

The bus pulled into the Sierra Blanca checkpoint about 9 a.m. Friday. An officer smelled marijuana when a door was opened. Bill Brooks, spokesman for the Marfa sector of the Border Patrol, said a search turned up marijuana.

Brooks said the Hudspeth County sheriff was contacted, and three people, including Nelson, were arrested.

A sheriff’s dispatcher said no one was available to comment until Monday. Sheriff Arvin West did not immediately return a phone message left at his home. West told the El Paso Times that Nelson claimed the marijuana was his, and he was booked on a $2,500 bond on the possession charge and later released.

Nelson spokeswoman Elaine Schock had no comment.

About the Teapot Party

Saturday, Willie Nelson spoke openly about his Friday arrest for marijuana possession and said he would like to see a new political party: “There’s the Tea Party. How about the Teapot Party. Our motto: We lean a little to the left.”  The interview with Nelson appeared on CelebStoner, and the news has created an internet buzz.

“Tax it, regulate it and legalize it,” Nelson told CelebStoner. “And stop the border wars over drugs. Why should the drug lords make all the money? Thousands of lives will be saved.”

If Congress doesn’t extend jobless benefits by the end of November, 21,500 Mainers and 2 million workers across the country who lost their jobs during the recession will face the loss of their unemployment insurance.

This government program is an important part of keeping our economy afloat and it would be a disaster for those families facing loss of their benefits and for our nation’s economy if Congress allows the benefits to prematurely expire, especially during the holiday season.

Right now, Congress is also considering extending tax cuts for those who make more than $250,000 a year.

Letting the wealthiest Americans off the hook for paying their fair share would cost the country more than fifty times as much as extending unemployment benefits and shows just how out of whack priorities in Washington are right now.

Please call 1-888-340-6522 now.

Tell Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to vote against the Bush tax cuts and for continuing jobless benefits for working families.

People who collect unemployment insurance are collecting on a policy that they’ve paid into their entire working lives. It’s simply not fair to cut benefits that they’ve earned.

Cutting jobless benefits just doesn’t make sense. It’s a lifeline for families facing unemployment and it’s an engine for economic growth because the payments go right back into the economy, helping local businesses, creating jobs and costing taxpayers less in the long term.

America needs Congress to act.

Please call 1-888-340-6522.

Thanks,
Gen Lysen
MPA Worker Justice Organizer
gen@mainepeoplesalliance.org

Bipartisan E-Rulemaking Act of 2010 Would Improve Rulemaking Process

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee leaders have introduced bipartisan legislation to revamp the process by which the public is able to comment on government regulations to make it more accessible, innovative, and efficient.

The E-Rulemaking Act of 2010, S. 3961, was introduced by Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., to expand upon what was begun by the E-Government Act of 2002. The new bill addresses inconsistencies, impediments to open communication, and policy issues that have slowed progress toward a robust, publicly accessible rule-making process.

“Electronic rulemaking has improved tremendously, particularly with the refinement and strengthening of the website Regulations.gov. But much more needs to be done,” Senator Lieberman said.  “Our bill will make the regulatory process easier to navigate for both the public and government agencies and will encourage innovations to strengthen the ability of Americans to interact with their government.  Congress recently passed monumental legislation – such as health care and financial reform – that will be more closely defined by the regulatory process. It is essential that that process is efficient, transparent, and easily understood by the American public.”

Said Senator Collins: “Transparency is a coveted value that Americans insist upon from their government and this legislation would give the public an easier way to connect with government officials and agencies and to provide much-needed feedback.

“This bill would open a window onto government, help create standardization of federal rulemaking and enhance the one-stop website, Regulations.gov,” she said. “Public participation is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy and this bill would improve the government’s digital capabilities in order to give the public more access and more input on all federal rules.”

The E-Rulemaking Act of 2010 strengthens the governing body of the e-rulemaking program and establishes a framework for governing, managing and funding the next, more-interactive stage of the e-rulemaking program.  The legislation also encourages government agencies to improve and standardize their information-sharing processes for regulations.

Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/susancollins

Contact Info
Phone: (202) 224-2523

Location:
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, 20510-1904

TO:

RE: Weekly Memo

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Next week’s meeting agenda

Next Week’s City Meetings are available on our Calendar

Below please find an update on recent City activities:

• Attached to this memo please find the July, 2010 monthly financial statements for the City (comments)
• Congratulations to Chuck Applebee, Director of Wastewater and Public Works, for being nominated to serve as the Maine State Director of the New England Water Environment Association.  This highly sought after position represents Maine at the New England level regarding wastewater issues.  The NEWA executive committee will vote in early September on Chuck’s nomination for this position, which would run through January 2013.
• The Gardiner Public Library has just purchased an iPad to be used in their Young Adult section.~ Library Director Anne Davis said they purchased this device so that teenagers can access the internet, listen to music and socialize together after school.~ The iPad purchase was made possible through an Opportunity Online Hardware Grant awarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.~ Gardiner’s library now has two netbooks and one iPad set up in this section of the library.~ The staff of the library would be happy to demonstrate this new technology to those interested.
• A reminder that the “Barks in the Park” event will be held on Saturday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Common.  This event, sponsored by Gardiner Main Street, is intended for dog owners and their pets.

Gardiner City Hall – 6 Church Street, Gardiner, ME 04345
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm   (207) 582-4200

I’m sick of the news coverage being given to a spoiled 20 year old!

Here are a few 20 year olds worth knowing about:

Justin Allen 23
Brett Linley 29
Matthew Weikert 29
Justus Bartett 27
Dave Santos 21
Chase Stanley 21
Jesse Reed 26
Matthew King 23
Christopher Goeke 23
Sheldon Tate 27

These 20-something year olds gave their lives for you this week!

And Attorney General Eric Holder has directed federal agents not to target patients and health care providers who are in compliance with state law.

So Christopher Keirstead and the two other qualified medical marijuana patients expected to be left in peace when they planted 16 marijuana plants — two fewer than they are allowed under the law.The plants weren’t even flowering yet earlier this week when DEA Agent Brian Ross entered their home in New Vineyard accompanied by a Maine State Police Officer and seized their plants, their grow lights, and their medicine. The three are not charged with any crime — but they are now without access to the medicine they need to control the symptoms of the very serious conditions they are living with.

Then, this morning, the State Police visited the home of another qualified medical marijuana patient in New Vineyard, Ryan Snell.   They took 25 young clones, his growing equipment and supplies, his paperwork, and 6 budding marijuana plants.   They later returned the six mature plants, but they are still holding onto the clones and his equipment and supplies — all of which he has a legal right to under Maine law.  Mr. Snell said that the police were polite and respectful — but he needs his clones and his equipment and supplies back so that he can continue growing his medicine.

The DEA and the State Police need to know that Mainers will not stand for violations of patients rights!

What can you do?

Call the DEA’s Boston office at (617) 557-2100 and tell them that you expect them to adhere to Attorney General Holder’s guidelines.  Ask them to return the property improperly seized from the three patients in New Vineyard.

Call your Senators and Representative and ask them to speak with Attorney General Holder and with Acting DEA Adminstrator Michelle Leonhart about this violation of Maine’s sovereignty and patient’s rights:

Senator Susan Collins –(202) 224-2523

Senator Olympia Snowe — (202) 224-5344

Representative Michael Michaud — 202-225-6306Representative Chellie Pingree —

Call Governor Baldacci and Public Safety Commissioner Jordan and tell them that you want to know why Maine State Police officers are taking property from law abiding medical marijuana patients and ask for assurances that state employees will not take part in such raids in the future and that Mr. Snell’s property will be returned:

Governor John Baldacci — 207-287-353

Commissioner Anne Jordan– (207) 626-3800