Page 18. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2010
Commercial Fishing News Downeast Lobstermen's Association's Newsletter
From the Executive Director –
This has been a much better season than anticipated for this year. At this point in time, the price has been going up in this area and we’re still able to purchase bait. Let’s hope that it continues to stay this way for a while. I am happy to say that the weather was much better this past summer. We were able to attend more boat races and summer func- tions with our D.E.L.A. representation. The sale of the merchandise was down a little due to people’s lack of cash flow this year. The hats were a real big hit this year! It is always a pleasure to represent our association and have the opportunity to speak to members and visitors along the coast. I was able to put a lot of faces with names that I see quite often. How many of us remember faces quicker than we do names?! Well, this was great to be able to do.
One new invitation that was extended to D.E.L.A. was the Camden Windjammer Fes- tival.
I’d like to thank the entire crew at the windjam-
mer festival for their wonderful hospitality. We asked to be in the shade due to the fact that we were asked to build a few lobster traps so the public could see how it is done. When we arrived, we had a tent all set up on the dock for us to work in. This was the first year that the lobster industry was asked to participate, which turned out to be a good working rela- tionship between the fishermen and the windjammers.
This was very much appreciated because this was right in the midst of the “heat wave” that we were experiencing over Labor Day. Mike brought his trap building gear, started with knitting some heads (which was a big hit) and then assembled the rest of the trap from that point forward. The crowd loved it and the response toward the lobster industry was great. This is what we’ve been working to achieve with our summer work. I can say the same for the hospitality that we received on Fishermen’s Day in Stonington which was sponsored by the Island Fishermen’s Wives. Thank you very much!
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I’d like to thank everyone that donated prizes to our Annual Meeting that was held on September 9th at Jasper’s Restaurant. We had a very good meeting, lots of good food, the opportunity to get together and meet one another (new members) and a very good meeting with Paul LePage, candidate for Gov- ernor of Maine. Paul addressed the group with his background history, and the issues that he is concerned about. We had a ques- tion and answer period directly after he spoke with us that went very well. Everyone that had a question had the chance to be heard. We could’ve gone on a lot longer than we did, but knew that he had a long drive home. With this being an election year, we have had a very busy schedule. We are sharing hosting a “Meet the Candidates” night on October 4th at the Penobscot Marine Mu- seum with the Maine Lobstermen’s Associa- tion and the Southern Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
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This will be a good chance to meet every- one that is running for governor and ask them their views on a lot of concerns that we have for the lobster industry. There’s a lot of concerns for the lobster industry and the direction that we are going in. We definitely want a person in Augusta that is aware of our industry and will listen to us. Our questions take in everyone that is involved with the marine industry, dealers, boat builders, sein- ers, research, marine chandleries, etc. On October 7th, we were invited as a lobster association to represent the lobster industry at the hearing in Calais with the Maine Regulatory Fairness Board. This will be held at the Washington County Commu- nity College in St. Croix Hall. This hearing will be comments from Maine businesses and individuals that are sharing problems that
they have encountered in complying with Maine laws and regulations. The purpose of the hearing is to receive information concern- ing interactions between businesses and government agencies, specific state regula- tions that seriously impact businesses, types of assistance, grants and types of assistance for our businesses. The communications are for helping to improve relations between businesses and state agencies.
Another group to address the Board will be the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), represented by Cheryl Wilson. We are finding that most fishermen, farmers and the logging industry all have a great deal in common. We will be working together to the best of our ability for the sake of our Maine based “traditional” industries and families.
I am pleased to have some good news about our D.E.L.A. Scholarship Fund. We have enough funds donated to open the scholarship account with the Damariscotta Bank & Trust in Belfast. At this point in time, we have opened the account with a balance of $635.00. We needed at least $500.00 to open an account as a scholarship fund. We surpassed that amount with the donations that came in at the D.E.L.A. Annual Meeting! Thank you very much to everyone that is contributing. We have a long way to go in an economy that is very difficult at this time, but I believe that we can do it.
Believe it or not, a lot of people that we met over the summer didn’t think that fishermen needed further education! I abruptly stood up for our kids and our industry and said that we are very proud of our future generation. We certainly need to be able to help them along the way. We have students that are in Maine Maritime Academy, Eastern Maine Vocation School and the University of Maine, just to name a few. Please pass this word along and help us to reach our goal so we can award this money to the students that have been patiently waiting for our assis- tance. Every member and student is impor- tant to all of us!
With this thought, I’ll continue to do the best that we can with all of us working to- gether for the same common cause. Please stay in touch with any concerns that you may be having.
Thank you for your continued support! Sheila
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