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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 8 No. 3 |
September 2004 |
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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 8 No. 3 |
September 2004 |
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MAIN Annual Conference
“Life is Not a Spectator Sport”
Saturday, October 16, 2004, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
St. Andrews Catholic Church Hall
Rt. 105, Augusta
(Wheelchair accessible)
“Life is not a spectator sport.” These words have been spoken many times by Judy Guay, founding member and president of MAIN. Judy is right. We can only make things better by getting involved, by working together. Voting is one of the most important ways to get involved. Another is to come to the conference!
No conference fee
Lunch provided
On-site child care
Travel & child care
reimbursement
At the MAIN conference, we'll talk about and make a list of things that we're concerned about - things we think need to be improved: TANF, health care, employment, housing, education. From this list, we'll choose MAIN's priorities for the 2005-2006 Maine Legislative session.
But, these priorities won't mean much if Maine people don't get out to vote on November 2nd. We need legislators who understand our concerns and we need money in the state budget to meet people's needs.
Come to the conference to find out more!
What is happening with health care—MaineCare, prescription drugs, and Dirigo Health? What changes do we need to fight for?
Want to see more educational opportunities for people with low incomes?
What more can we do to help workers struggling at low wages?
What will happen if the property tax cap passes? What should we do for property tax relief? Can we do more for renters?
Find out about these and other issues at MAIN’s annual conference on October 16th. Join us to help set MAIN’s legislative agenda for the 2005-2006 legislative session. We need you to tell us what issues MAIN and Maine Equal Justice should work on to make life better for all Maine people.
“Laws affect people’s daily lives and unless we take part in shaping these laws, they will not meet our needs. When people take part, they gain more control over their lives and they help create more meaningful and useful laws.”
Judy Guay, MAIN President
Conference Schedule9:30-10:00 Registration. Beverages & Bagels! Connect with friends! Gather and distribute information, including voter registration information!***
10:00 Welcome by Judy Guay
10:15 Main Speakers: Chris Hastedt, Maine Equal Justice; Commissioner of Labor, Laura Fortman; and a MAIN member: “Your Voice Counts!”
10:30-12:30 Small discussion groups: What should our priorities be in health care; lowwage work issues (for example: wages, training and education, unemployment insurance, child care, transportation); TANF/ASPIRE/PaS and general assistance; housing/utilities. Help decide how systems need to change!
12:30-1:15 Lunch provided by MAIN
1:15 – 2:00 “The Park Bench” What is the property tax cap referendum and how will it affect you and me?
2:00- 2:50 Small groups report to conference on their priorities.
2:50 - 3:10 Dot-mocracy: Vote on your top priorities and help set MAIN’s legislative agenda for the next two years!
3:10 –3:30 Closing
*** Voter registration and information will be available during this time. Information on health care, public benefit programs and MAIN regional groups will also be available. Collect information to take back to your communities and bring things to share from your groups or communities.
Please, come join us on Saturday, October 16th! Help create a vision that will lead us to set our legislative priorities for 2005 and 2006. It’s both exciting and important for the people most directly affected to participate in this agenda setting conference.
Help with child care and transportation. On-site child care. Reimbursement for child care and transportation will be available for those who need it. Car pooling is encouraged. If you can give a ride or need a ride, please let us know and we will do what we can to connect people.
If you have questions about the MAIN Conference, please contact
Judy Guay, 947-4371 krjguay@excel.com
or
Chris Rusnov, Maine Equal Justice, 1-866-626-7059 ext 204; crusnov@mejp.org
“We have to select the people who will stand up for the things we care about, the things that affect our daily lives. Voting is the very best way to say what we, the people, believe in. Having our friends and allies in the legislature, Congress and the White House makes a huge difference in how much progress we make on health care, housing, jobs, education and other social issues.” Judy Guay, MAIN President
MAIN Conference
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, AugustaDirections from the North: From 95 take Augusta/Belgrade Exit 31. Take a left onto Civic Center Dr. (Rt. 27) toward Augusta. Continue down Rt. 27 until you come to a Rotary. Take the 3rd exit off the Rotary and across Memorial Bridge. At the second Rotary take the 2nd exit (Rt. l05/Windsor) onto Cony St. Go past Cony High School (on your right), at the top of the hill bear left onto South Belfast Ave. Approximately one mile on your right you will see a sign for St. Andrew's Church.
Directions from the South: Take the Augusta/Winthrop I-95 Exit 30 - head toward Augusta. This brings you onto Western Ave. Follow Western Ave. straight into the first Rotary and use the same directions as above except take your 2nd exit off the first Rotary to go across Memorial Bridge.
To register for the conference, highlight this form, print it, fill it out and return to Judy Guay.
Registration for MAIN Annual Conference –
Saturday, October 16, 2004Name: _________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
Town/City ______________________________________________
Phone _____________________ E-mail _______________________
I will need child care. Child(ren)’s name(s)______________________________________________________________________________
Age(s) of Child(ren) _______________________________________
Return this form to:
Judy Guay
P.O. Box 2711, Bangor, ME 04402
