"Creating and Sustaining Vibrant Local Economies in Maine"  
on March 22,  9 AM-4 PM, Randall Student Center, Augusta (snow date, March 23, same time/place)

A flyer to post and/or to distribute and a brochure (print off and give out and/or email) to others in your group or community
will soon be or is now available on the web site at http://mainelocaleconomies.org. Most of that is also included in the "about the event" section of the web site. Much of it is also below.

Questions? Reply to: Larry Dansinger, (207) 525-7776 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or http://mainelocaleconomies.org. Register at the web site or, if that's hard to access, you can do so by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Goals for the Day

 
(1) What are Vibrant Local Economies in Maine now (find out what’s being done);
(2) What would vibrant local economies in Maine look like in the future (vision);
(3) Why is it important to have strong local economies?
(4)  Learn the benefits of vibrant local economies;
(5) People leave at the end with action ideas/steps and energy to carry them out.
 
Who Should Come

If you are involved in or concerned about ANY aspect of local economies or the damage the global economy is inflicting on Maine, we urge you to attend. This includes those interested in:
*Earning a Living Wage
*Thriving small businesses
*Healthy environments for all
*Unions and worker rights
*Local food, family farms, and safety
*Worker and consumer cooperatives
*Faith-based economic initiatives
*Sustainable economies
*Local manufacturing
*Supporting immigrants’ self-reliance
*Ending poverty and homelessness
*Sustainable energy/reducing carbon use
*Transition towns
*Time banks, barter
*Fighting corporate greed
*AND ANYONE WHO WANTS MAINE TO HAVE MORE ROBUST LOCAL ECONOMIES.

Partial List of Co-sponsors (more being added):

Women, Work, and Community, U/Maine, Augusta
Twin Villages Alliance
Time Initiative of Maine
Slow Money Maine
Resources for Organizing and Social Change
Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine
Midcoast Permaculture
Meg Perry Center
Maine XChange Multimedia
Maine Small Business Coalition
Maine Rural Partners
Maine People's Alliance
MAIN
Kennebec Local Food Initiative
Jack Does That Hour Exchange
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Food for Maine's Future
Food and Water Watch
Cooperative Maine
Cooperative Fund of New England
Clark Mountain Community Land Trust
Bureau of Labor Education, U/Maine
Belfast Transition/Belfast Community Exchange


Why a day to promote Local Economies?

 

Thriving local economies can bring us the prosperity and economic success that we are struggling to achieve. Some of the many reasons why locally-based businesses and economies are better:
 
*Wages and benefits are higher
*More money stays in the community
*Businesses are more stable
*Greater support for local community activities and events
*Reduces transportation costs and fossil fuel use
*Poverty is reduced and more tax money can go for education, health, etc.
*Greater commitment to environmental stewardship
*Enables more young people to stay in the state
*Greater opportunities for immigrants to Maine to stay and prosper
*Fresher, healthier food
*Reduces tax subsidies that can be used for other community needs
*Creates commitment to and investment in the local community.
 
(Thanks to UMA and Women, Work and Community for arranging/providing space)

Schedule for the Day

(Agenda is flexible, subject to change)
 
9:00 AM: Gather and networking
9:30: Brief Introductions
9:45 Ice breaker/community building (find out what local economy groups and projects are attending)
10:30: Break
10:45: The Big Picture (interactive mapping what Maine’s local economies look like and their assets, what is missing, and what a more vibrant future economy will look like)
12 noon: Lunch—simple lunch catered by Fields to Feasts or bring your own if you prefer w/time for networking
1:00 PM: The Big Picture in a Nutshell, summary of morning graphic description
1:20: Identify and choose small groups
1:30 PM: Small breakout groups meet by interest area (food, transportation, etc.) or by region or by problem to solve in creating more vibrant economies
2:15: Small group reports—what’s needed to activate the movement?
2:30: Open Circle networking—finding resources
3:00: Action steps—describe things needed to complete the vision, to fill in gaps, to strengthen the Local Economies movement, etc. and what we can do
3:45: Sum up the day, review action steps, and evaluation
4:00: Wrap up

Register  at www.mainelocaleconomies.org (Cost: Sliding scale, $0-20 suggested)

We will coordinate ride sharing; let us know your needs, if any

Child care is available but pre-registration for that is necessary

Directions and handouts will be sent to pre-registrants. The location and bathrooms are fully wheelchair accessible.