BREWER – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine will hold its 21st Annual Meeting Friday, April 29 with speakers including U.S. Senator Angus King, and awards presented to Maine’s Senate President and House Speaker.
The meeting is one of the PLC’s major fund-raisers for the Log A Load for Kids Foundation to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals, and last year raised approximately $20,000 in support of the cause.
The event will include luncheon remarks from American Loggers Council (ALC) National President Richard Schwab on the national perspective for loggers, and the evening dinner and awards ceremony, where Senator King will make remarks and where Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau and Maine House Speaker Mark Eves will receive awards.
The meeting will be held at Jeff’s Catering at 15 Littlefield Rd. in Brewer. The full schedule may be viewed at: http://maineloggers.com/21-st-annual-meeting-2/
Founded in 1995 with a handful of members who were concerned about the future of the logging industry, the PLC has grown steadily to become a statewide trade association which provides independent logging contractors with a voice in the rapidly changing forest products industry. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers. PLC Members employ nearly 2,500 people and are responsible for 75 percent of the timber that is harvested from Maine’s forests annually.
“The PLC represents the root of the forest products industry in the state of Maine,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “Our annual meeting is a time to reflect, a time celebrate and a time to plan for the future. The PLC has made some significant strides on behalf of loggers in the past 21 years and it is poised to continue its work on behalf of this industry for years to come.”
PLC members are well known for their generosity in supporting charitable causes benefiting children and are strong supporters of the Log A Load For Kids annual campaign which encourages loggers and others in the forest products community to donate the value of one load of logs, or any amount, to local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Log A Load For Kids is a national leader in CMN fundraising. For more information, or to donate funds to a CMN-affiliated hospital in your area, please visit www.logaload.org.
The PLC and the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Foundation have raised more than $775,000 since 1996 for children in Maine. Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. EMHS is a CMN hospital.
The PLC Annual Meeting Members-only session in the morning will include review of an economic impact study on logging conducted by the University of Maine and a panel discussion with representatives from various sectors of the forest products industry on the topic, “Where do we go from here?”
The meeting concludes with award presentations including: PLC Logger of the Year Award, Acadia Insurance Safety Award, PLC Impact Award, PLC Community Service Award, PLC Supporting Member Award, Master Logger Supporter’s Awards, and the PLC President’s Award.
2016 award winners will include:
PLC Logger of the Year Award: This award recognizes a PLC Logging Contractor for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession. The winner this year is; William A. Day Jr. and Sons of Porter.
PLC Impact Awards: Each year, the PLC recognizes someone from the public sector who has demonstrated a commitment to the industry and has made a significant impact for its improvement. This year the PLC recognizes two individuals for this award. The winners are; Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau and Maine Speaker of the House Mark Eves.
PLC Community Service Award: This award is given annually to a PLC member, Supporting Member or affiliated organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to giving back to their community. The winner this year is; David Cole of American Forest Management.
Acadia Insurance Safety Award: In 1999, the PLC and Acadia Insurance partnered together to make safety a priority in the logging industry by creating a member benefit for PLC contractors, providing training and education, reducing claims and increasing profitability. This award is given to a company that continuously demonstrates safety throughout their business. The winner this year is; GCA Logging Inc. of Avon.
PLC Supporting Member Award: The PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award is presented annually to a PLC Supporting Member that has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to logging contractors in Maine. This year the winner is; Milton CAT.
Master Loggers Supporters Awards: The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands recognizes outstanding supporters of the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program. This year the winners are: Jessica Leahy of the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources; Rodney Wales, former PLC President and retired logger from Fryeburg; and Doug Emmerthal of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Forestry Division.
PLC President’s Award: Winner to be announced.