MAIN 2007 Conference Report
Whose House? Our House!
Finding Our Legislative Voices Together
By Hillary Lister
Nearly 100 people came to the State Capitol in Augusta to the
Maine Association of Interdependent
Neighborhoods (MAIN) November 2, 2007 Conference. There were folks from as far north as Limestone to as
far south as York County who took part in the gathering.
This year’s theme was “Who’s House? OUR House!” The Legislature was not in session at the time, so MAIN
folks really took over the place. They sat in the seats in the House of Representatives, participated in a
mock vote, and asked questions of invited legislators Speaker of the House Glen Cummings of Portland, Rep.
Gary Connors of Kennebunk and Representative Kim Silsby of Augusta. Portland Representative Herb Adams led
tours of the Capitol, passing on his knowledge of its history and purposes, and changes with the new
renovations.
The Conference opened in the Hall of Flags, with registration and socializing, informational tables, and
yummy food. The MAIN Leadership team members Steve Hoad, Rachel Newman, Pam Morin and Heather Curtis welcomed
the Conference–goers. They talked about the importance of ordinary citizens getting involved in the
Legislative decision–making processes.
I attended a morning workshop on Economic Human Rights (EHR) led by Jesse Vear, a coordinator of
Portland
Organizing to Win Economic Rights (POWER). She talked about the need to include EHR in our organizing and
legislative work. Jesse explained some history of the fight for these rights,
including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Poor People’s March and Martin Luther King’s
organizing in the late 1960’s, and the work of the Kensington Welfare Rights
Union and the
Poor People’s
Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) over the past 10 years. Get more information and forms to document
EHR violations on POWER’s website.
Another workshop I attended was the showing of the film “There Ought to be a Law.” This film follows Cathy
Crowley of Lewiston in the months after her 18–year–old son bought a shotgun at Wal–Mart and killed himself.
It documents how Cathy, who had no previous political involvement, campaigned for a bill in 2005 that would
require a waiting period before young people could buy guns.
There was a discussion with Cathy and Representative Stan Gerzofsky, who sponsored the bill. They explained
that the film had never been shown at the Capitol while the Legislature was in session because several
legislators, who are shown in a less than positive light, objected to the film, saying it was “disrespectful”
of the legislature. Cathy and Stan argued that the film simply shines light on what’s already going on in
State Government.
Other workshops included a Mock Public Hearing and one on Relationships & Legislative Success.
The conference ended with many attendees loading up on various free–for–the–taking items that had been
donated, including apples, bread, lightbulbs, and a half ton of squash.
View conference
photos
This article first appeared on AbilityMaine,
Maine’s on-line news magazine and resource guide for people with disabilities.
Help Plan Next Year’s Conference
The MAIN Leadership Team invites you to help us plan the next conference for October 2008. Planning
begins in early April. If you want to help but can’t get to meetings, we can make it possible for you to
take part by phone. Contact any MAIN Leader or leave a message for them with Chris at MEJP
toll-free 1-866-626-7059 ext 204.
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