Dear Friends,

For the past couple years, I have facilitated a senior seminar at a local university. The seminar focuses on “Citizenship”, and encourages students to be involved in community service learning, to gain understanding of local politics through attendance at a local town or city government meeting, and to practice civil discourse with classmates around social issues and current events. We often talk in this seminar about what it means to be a ‘good citizen’.  What is a good citizen involved in? What are they passionate about? What knowledge should a ‘good citizen’ have? How can we be good citizens at the local, state, national, and global level? 

The answers to these questions are not black and white, but as students in the seminar think about an ideal community to live in, they are empowered to consider how their own involvement shapes community.  There are so many ways to be involved as a citizen, particularly at the local level. Volunteering, attending local civic meetings, and even talking with your neighbors about complex issues are ways to build community.  Voting is of the utmost importance.  And when you feel compelled and able, give back. 

Being a good citizen is personal– there is more than one way– and practicing citizenship is a great way to strengthen our local communities. Read on to learn more about how our MaineShare groups are practicing good citizenship and improving communities in Maine!

Yours in community,

Support MaineShare and our members!

Peace Action Maine Fall Gathering

Join Maine Peace Fund for the fall gathering at University Maine Farmington on Friday, October 27. This event, Two Veterans Talking about Peace, will be held at 111 South St. Farmington, at the Olsen Student Center, North Dining Hall C from 3-5:30. This event is free and open to the public! Click here for more info!

The two speakers will be Doug Rawlings and Will Hopkins. Doug was drafted in 1969 and sent to Vietnam as a member of the 7/15th artillery. His experiences in the military turned him into a lifelong peace advocate trying to put words into action. Will Hopkins has just finished fourteen years as Executive Director of NH Peace Action. In 2004, Will spent a year as a US Army infantryman and his experiences led him to devote himself to building a more peaceful future.

Fall Workshop and Annual Meeting with MRRA!

Save the Date for MRRA's Annual Workshop Meeting - October 23 at Morgan Hill in Hermon! The deadline for registration is October 13th.

Sessions and Topics include:

• SafetyWorks! discussing the most common Violations/citations/injuries and solutions 
• SafetyWorks! training on PPE Hazard Assessment.
• DEP Update: EPR and the Solid Waste Management Plan
• Repair & Reuse
• Open Discussions/Round Tables
• DEP Training: Regulatory Issues- Everything you need to know but are afraid to ask.
• MRC & Municipal Waste Solutions

Our Forests, Our Climate, Our Communities: Speaker Series

Jeff Tarling retired as Portland’s Arborist in January after working for the city for 34 years. He is well known for his passion for trees, his community engagement, and his commitment to the greening of the city. 

We’re delighted to announce that Jeff has joined Maine Audubon as an Urban Forestry Education Specialist. Among other things, he will be working on several education grant projects, and helping to develop new partnerships and programs in other urban areas like Lewiston and Bangor. 

For his first project, Jeff has organized a weekly webinar series called “Our Forests, Our Climate, Our Communities,” and will host a different speaker every Wednesday at 6 pm during the month of October.

We invite you to join Jeff and our speakers for these free online talks!

• 10/4 - Ash Trees & Our Communities - Tyler Everett, professional forester, researcher, and Ph.D. student at the University of Maine, and a citizen of Mi’kmaq Nation
• 10/11 - Climate, Carbon, and Forest Ecology in Maine, New England, and Beyond - Peter W. Ellis, Global Director of Natural Science for The Nature Conservancy
• 10/18 - Values and trends of Maine’s Forest & Woodlands, from the ‘Big Woods’ up north to our local woodlands - Rob Bryan, Forest Ecologist 
• 10/25 - Ever-changing Impacts to the Health of Maine’s Forests & Trees - Allison Kanoti, State Entomologist Director Allison Kanoti

For more details on the topics and speakers and to register:

https://maineaudubon.org/news/arborist-jeff-tarling-joins-maine-audubon-introduces-speaker-series-in-october/

Public Comment on Land Use near Baxter State Park

Please Attend! An untested and underfunded company, Canada-based Wolfden Resources, has proposed building a zinc metal mine at Pickett Mountain, near Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. The Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) is holding public comment sessions on this proposal in October in Millinocket and Bangor. Learn more and let us know if you can attend one of the hearings, and we'll share resources and keep you updated with any new information. Visit https://nrcm.salsalabs.org/lupchearingpickettmtn/index.html for more information!

Maine Veterans for Peace at Common Ground Fair

The Maine Chapter of Veterans For Peace recently staffed a table at the Common Ground Fair, engaging in lively conversations with young and old about the impact militarism is having on our planet's climate and environment. Copies of VFP's PEACE AND PLANET NEWS paper were shared, as well as Rob Shetterly postcards. Another main attraction was the famous button machine that brought kids and their parents to craft their own peace buttons. 

Other Chapter news fit for sharing includes: the Samantha Smith banner, a project Don Kimball led, featured at the Maine State Museum; MVP treasurer, Lynn Ellis, receiving this year's Fitzgerald Award for outstanding service on behalf of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition; and MVP chapter president, Doug Rawlings, featured on the Chris Hedges podcast discussing his recent journey back to Vietnam with his son.

Maine Council of Churches partners in hosting 'Complicated Hope'

Maine Council of Churches is pleased to partner with the BTS Center to present Complicated Hope: An Evening with Margaret Wheatley. This event will be held online Tuesday, October 24 • 7.00 – 8.30 pm

With a wealth of learnings gleaned from communities across the globe, renowned author and organizational consultant Margaret Wheatley calls us back to the wisdom of nature as a means to face reality and boldly step into leadership — the kind of leadership that invites those around us into the best versions of themselves, even in the face of rapid change.

You are invited to join for a special online event featuring a conversation with Margaret Wheatley, joined by conversationalists as well as a guest musician. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE!

Maine Animal Coalition Annual Veg Fest!

Maine Animal Coalition is hosting its 18th Annual Veg Fest on Saturday, October 28th at the East End School on Munjoy Hill in Portland. The fest is free and lasts from 11 am to 3 pm. It includes lectures, exhibitors, vendors, live music, a raffle, and a silent auction. The three lectures will be about food waste, fermented foods, and seaweed. Check our Veg Fest website (www.mainevegfest.com) for the latest details!

 Support MaineShare and our members!