Aroostook Day at the Legislature is Jan. 29
Utilizing the natural resources of Aroostook County and educating the greatest resource will be center stage at the 2014 Aroostook Day at the Legislature, slated Wednesday, Jan. 29.
LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD), a key partner in the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP), organizes the event.
“We sponsor Aroostook Day as an opportunity for members of the private, public and nonprofit sectors in Aroostook County to interact directly with our elected state representatives on issues of importance to The County,” said Jim Davis, LEAD president.
“This year’s theme revolves around educating our representatives about the importance of updating the mining regulations in Maine to achieve the dual objectives of enabling economic growth and protecting or improving the stellar environment we enjoy in northern Maine and the importance of science and technology education to provide the future Maine workforce,” Davis added.
The two featured speakers will be APP President Bob Dorsey and Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) Executive Director Luke Shorty.
Dorsey said, “This is an important event, a chance to discuss the importance of mining to Aroostook’s economy, the linkage to technical jobs with higher wages that this industry would bring, and the ever increasing importance of education with special emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that is needed to fill many of the technical careers that mining will bring.”
This will be the first time MSSM has taken part in Aroostook Day at the Legislature, and Shorty said he is excited about the opportunity to trumpet the school and its programs.
“It allows us to show the educational asset, value and excitement that MSSM brings to the State of Maine, not just for high school students, but for middle school students and teachers statewide,” he said. “I will be talking about some of the major successes and growth MSSM has seen over the last couple of years and the programs and partnerships that we are offering to further the mission of STEM education throughout Maine.”
Ryan Pelletier, executive director of LEAD, said the event is to be held at the Senator Inn and will begin with a social hour, followed by a meal and then more formal presentations.
“Once the meeting is over, delegates are usually asked to give a brief update to the attendees of what is happening with them and issues that they see happening or coming up,” he said. “The next day we try to hold a meeting with officials on a subject in which LEAD has an interest. In the past it has been transportation-related, but this year it will focus on education to industry initiatives in the region.”
Pelletier said invitees include LEAD and APP members, the Northern Maine Development Commission executive board, Aroostook-Washington Workforce Investment Board, Aroostook and Washington County legislators and legislative leadership.
For more information or to attend Aroostook Day at the Legislature, contact Judy Dinsmore by email at jdinsmore@nmdc.org or by phone at (207) 498-8736.
