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Membership News - May 7, 2009

Protecting Guides for 30 Years
1979-2009

1. MPGA Meetings:

• Board of Directors - Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 9:00 AM. Location is the Holiday Inn on Odlin Road in Bangor.
• Board of Directors - Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 9:00 AM. Location is the Holiday Inn on Odlin Road in Bangor.
• Board of Directors - Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 9:00 AM. Location is the Holiday Inn on Odlin Road in Bangor.

Members are welcome to attend all Board meetings.

2. Sales Tax on Guides:

MPGA opposes expanding the sales tax to include guide services and continues to work against it. If you wish to do something, call your State Representative and Senator (contact info is at http://maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm) and express your concern (Note: emails to legislators are often not effective).

Also, send an email to the Governor and express objection to any bill that taxes the services of guides, explaining briefly how this change would adversely affect you, and urge the Governor to oppose any legislation that includes this change.

Governor's Mailing Address:

Office of the Governor
#1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0001
Phone: 207-287-3531

Governors Contact Form:

http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/citizen_services/share_views.html

Info on the bills that would tax guide services is available at:

• LD 1088
• LD 1314
• LD 1368

3. Annual Meeting & Banquet a Huge Success:

Members celebrated MPGA's 30th Anniversary (1979-2009) at the Annual Banquet and Meeting on Saturday, April 11. The night was a smashing success. Ticket sales matched last year's. Sponsors donated more. Members donated more. Guests and dignitaries attended in full force. And everyone had a great time. Thanks to everyone who contributed and attended.

More banquet news will appear in your June newsletter, but here are a few highlights:

Directors Elected

The Members elected the following to the Board of Directors:

• Rick Hill - Mt. Chase (re-elected to a 3-year term)
• Paul Laney - Grand Lake Stream (elected to a 3-year term)
• Roger Lambert - Strong (elected to a 3-year term)

Directors Appointed

The Board of Directors appointed the following to one year terms on the Board.

• Dale Tobey - Grand Lake Stream
• Jaye Parker - Wilton

Officers Elected

The Board of Directors elected the following officers at the Board's Annual Meeting:

• Don Helstrom - Board Chairman
• Jeff Bellmore - President
• John Rust - Vice President
• Jaye Parker - Secretary
• Bob Parker - Treasurer

Maine Conservation School Scholarships

Youths age 10 to 13 apply each year for a scholarship by submitting a short written essay stating why they wanted to attend the Conservation Camp. MPGA proudly sponsors these young sportsmen and women, and members and guests stepped up at the banquet with a record $1,557 to support our $400.00 conservation camp scholarship program. Three applicants applied for and will receive scholarships this summer. For the first time ever, this leaves us with a surplus to dedicate toward next year's scholarship fund.

4. Membership Campaign Launched:

You are critical to MPGA's success and strength. Members bring the association more than just money from dues - you bring strength of numbers for our work in Augusta, and manpower for carrying out all our activities.

Membership Committee Chairman Roger Lambert believes that MPGA can never have enough members, and at the Annual Banquet he announced a major new member recruitment campaign to get them.

In addition, MPGA's Board has authorized a special 2009 Membership Deal to help attract the 200 new members Roger plans to sign up. Information on this deal is available on the MPGA website (Join MPGA). Effective immediately, these deals include:

• Introductory Membership (has never been a member) - $50 Annual Dues.
• Gift Certificate Membership (members are encouraged to buy this gift certificate and give it to a guide who has never been a member) - $50 Annual Dues.
• Welcome Back Membership (has not been a member for the past two or more years) - $75 Annual Dues.
• Senior Annual Membership - Age 70 is $75; Age 80 is $50.
• Senior Life Membership - Age 70 is $750; Age 80 is $500.

Roger will be growing his committee by calling upon you to work with him in all regions of the state. If you would like to help this extremely important effort, please contact Roger.

Roger Lambert
Membership Committee Chairman
Email: rmlambert@hotmail.com
Phone: (207) 684-2020

Newsletter Sponsored by:

Visit the MPGA Website for more news and info.