PLC Supporting Member Weekly Update May 12, 2023

PLC Annual Meeting 2023

$127,723 raised for Log A Load! Awards presented to businesses, individuals, and legislators

The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine held its 28th Annual Meeting May 4-5, raising $127,723 for Log A Load For Maine Kids and presenting awards to businesses, individuals, and legislators from across Maine for their contributions to the logging industry.

The meeting at the Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, ME., drew a record 222 adults and 16 children Our honored guests at the event included Maine Congressman Jared Golden and retired New England Patriot Pete Brock.

“Once again this special group has come through for the families served by our Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Bangor and Portland, and we are proud to note that this is the largest attendance for our Annual Meeting yet,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “As the logging industry gets tougher this group just gets stronger and continues to exceed expectations in every way, and we are grateful to everyone who made this year another success.”

For the first time, the Annual Meeting spanned two days, with a new event – Log A Load & Lobster – held on May 4 to raise additional funds for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in Maine. The event was organized and funded by PLC Member Duane Jordan of Elliott Jordan & Son and his family. Attendees traveled by bus from Bar Harbor and toured Downeast renewable energy and blueberry fields owned by the Jordans, visited area landmarks, and finished with a lobster dinner at Elliot Jordan & Son. The proceeds from the day all went to support this year’s Log A Load for Maine Kids effort. Thank you to Duane and his whole family!

The second day included a business meeting and presentations for all PLC Member contractors in the morning, and a noon luncheon was with speakers including Congressman Golden; American Loggers Council (ALC) Executive Director Scott Dane; and ALC President Andy Irish of Irish Family Logging in Peru, Maine.

The evening events included the traditional Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction, dinner, and the PLC awards ceremony. PLC’s special guest for the evening, Pete Brock, an offensive lineman with the Patriots from 1976 to 1987, including the 1986 Bears-Patriots Superbowl XX game, took part in the auction and donated the two shirts he was wearing to the auction to help raise money, a gesture that was much appreciated by the crowd. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated!

Awards were presented to the following individuals and organizations during the evening portion of the event:

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: W.W. London Woodlot Management Co. of Milo.

PLC Impact Awards: Each year, the PLC recognizes persons or organizations from the public sector who have demonstrated a commitment to the industry and made a significant impact for its improvement. This year the award goes to: The Maine Forest Rangers and Maine State Senator Brad Farrin of Norridgewock.

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: Mike Conway of Oxford, Massachusetts.

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. The winner this year is: Chalmers Insurance Group of Bridgton.

PLC President’s Award: The President’s Award is presented to individuals or organizations within the PLC which have a significant and positive impact on the PLC and the logging industry in Maine. The winner this year is: Andy Wood of Hampden.

Acadia Insurance Safety Award: Acadia presented its Safety Award to William A. Day Jr. & Sons Logging.

Pictures of the events are available on the PLC Facebook Page HERE.

Congratulations to our award winners, special thanks to our sponsors below, and thank you to everyone who made this year another success!

MLOFT Program Seeks Instructors and Students!

The PLC’s Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program, (MLOFT) an expanded version of our highly successful logging operations certificate program that will now include Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training, is still actively recruiting instructors and students for the 2023 class.

Instructors for the program will work from mid-July to mid-October. These are ideal positions for experienced logging operators lookming for new opportunities, including retired loggers seeking seasonal employment. These are 14-week contract positions.  Pay range: $21.00 to $26.00 per hour, depending on experience. 60 hrs. a week on most weeks, overtime after 40 hrs.  The expected start date is June 17^th, end date is October 20^th. Anyone interested in an instructor position should contact Donald Burr at (207) 356-1541 or email dburr@nmcc.edu.. You may also  CLICK HERE.

The MLOFT program will run for 20 weeks, which includes the CDL training, from June 26 to November 9. The majority of training will take place at an active timber harvest site northeast of Old Town. The opportunity to earn a CDL-A permit and receive preparation for the state driving exam is a significant addition to the program. Tuition is FREE.

Potential students seeking more information should contact Holly Grant at Northern Maine Community College at 207-768-2856. Information may be also found online at www.bit.ly/2023MLOFT

Logger’s Voice Spring 2023 Now Available!

The Sping edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available! Copies have mailed out.

READ THE VOICE

ALC Annual Meeting 2023 in Maine!

Reserve Rooms Now!

Save the Date for the 2023 American Loggers Council Conference and Membership Meeting at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine October 3-6!

American Loggers Council President and long-time PLC Board Member Andy Irish and his wife Kathy look forward to hosting timber industry representatives for the peak “Leaf Peeping” season. More details will be coming soon!

For guests who would like to reserve a room online CLICK HERE

For guests who would like to call to book their reservation lease call 800-207-2365 and refer to Group Code 86B5IN

PLC Online Store

Stay Tick Free ME
Tickborne Disease in Maine

 May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and Maine CDC wants to remind everyone to be “Tick Free ME.” Health care providers reported over 2,600 cases of Lyme disease in 2022 (data as of March 7, 2023). Deer ticks can also spread other germs that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Hard Tick Relapsing Fever (Borrelia miyamotoi disease), and Powassan virus disease. Health care providers in Maine reported cases of all four of these diseases in 2022, with the highest number of Powassan cases in a single year in at least a decade.

The best way to prevent tickborne disease is to prevent tick bites. With warmer weather on the way, tick activity is increasing.  As a result, we all need to use proper protection methods against ticks and the germs they may carry. This May’s Lyme Disease Awareness Month theme is “Tick Free ME” This theme reminds each of us to focus on proper tick bite prevention techniques every time we enjoy the outdoors to stay tick free.

Ways to stay “Tick Free ME:”

• Know tick habitat and use caution in areas where ticks may live.
• Use an EPA-approved repellent like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear light-colored clothing that covers the arms and legs and tuck pants into socks.
• Perform tick checks daily and after any outdoor activity.
  

  LEARN MORE

Dear Employer,

      Workplace safety requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming safety trainings!

Upcoming classes:

• Heat Illness Prevention: May 16, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Sanford Community Adult Education
• Every industry faces heat as a hazard whether indoors with radiant heat sources or outdoors during the hot summer months. In this half-day course, you will learn about heat-related illnesses, how to prevent and control them, as well as methods to screen and assess heat exposure severity. 

• Automotive Lift /Jack Stand Safety and Compliance: May 22, 2023 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
• This half-day course provides training on the proper operation of multiple types of automotive lifts, jacks and jack stands, inspection, compliance reporting, training, and documentation required by various inspecting agencies. The course will provide the information needed for a safer workplace, which helps eliminate citations and can possibly lower a company’s workers compensation insurance expense. The course will have classroom and hands-on training.

Register and browse more classes here: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.  

Thank you,

     The Maine Department of Labor

Featured HumpDay Safety Video – Ergonomics

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

DOT Publishes Drug Testing Rule

U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 05/02/2023 08:53 AM EDT

FMCSA has Removed ALL-WAYS TRACK, LLC’s “All-Ways Track” ELD from List of Registered ELDs

Connected Cars Will Save Drivers Time, Money and Strife

TRUCKING DISCOUNTS THROUGH THE ALC!

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts on truck purchases! Click on the brand names below to learn more!

PETERBILT

WESTERN STAR

INTERNATIONAL

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Fabian Oil Discount

Traction Heavy Duty Special

Wallingford’s Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! 

PLC Classified Section

Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or