PLC Member Weekly Update January 12, 2024
In this Issue
PLC Releases Results of Member Survey for December 18th Storm
PLC Hosts University of Maine School of Forest Resources Winter Camp
The Logger’s Voice – Winter 2024
Maine PLC Legislative Breakfast– RSVP Today!
Should PLC Offer Free & Easy CDL Training – Learn More
PLC Safety Committee Meeting Online – Jan. 24 – Please RSVP!
The Northeastern Loggers Association is now accepting nominations for industry achievement awards
Maine Forest Service Announces a Temporary Bridge Cost-Share Program – Apply Now!
PLC Annual Meeting – Save the Date & Book your room!
Cost Calculators – Members Only
PLC Store – NEW Small First Aid Pack
Safety Resources – Safety First!
Maine – Latest News
Vermont – Latest News
Classified listings – Send us your listings!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
PLC Releases Results of Member Survey for December 18th Storm
This week the PLC released results of a survey of Member companies in Maine showing the severe and ongoing financial losses from the powerful Dec. 18 storm. Results of the survey were also presented by PLC Executive Director Dana Doran Monday at a stakeholder meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree for a roundtable discussion in Portland with other agricultural stakeholders to discuss the impact of recent storms on the state’s farms and the logging industry. The press release summarizing the survey and a link to the survey itself may be found HERE.
PLC Hosts University of Maine School of Forest Resources Winter Camp
PLC Members and Master Logger companies Madden Sustainable Forestry of Milford and Balanced Forestry of Montville hosted visits by University of Maine School of Forest Resources students who are participating in the university’s annual weeklong Forest Operations Winter Camp this week. Company owners Derek Madden and Brian Bell joined PLC Executive Director Dana Doran and Northeast Master Logger Certification Program® Executive Director Ted Wright sharing the challenges loggers face and the expertise they bring to proper forest management as well as the value of Master Logger Certification with these future foresters. Following presentations in the morning at UMaine, students visited active logging jobs in Greenbush and Knox. It was a great day!
Should PLC Offer Free & Easy CDL Training – Learn More
Date: February 1, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Online via Teams Meeting/ PLC Office, Augusta
Have you wanted to train your own drivers to help them obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), but you were overwhelmed by the new Federal Motor Carrier Services Administration (FMCSA) driver training rules?
The PLC is exploring the possibility of providing a new opportunity to help members train new drivers but needs feedback from the membership to see if we should move forward with the opportunity. If there is interest from the membership, the PLC would take care of the classroom portion at no charge, and you would do the behind-the-wheel training – just like the good ol’ days!
Please join us online via Teams, call-in, or join us at our office in Augusta and let us know if this is something that you want us to offer in 2024.
Interested? Call 207-688-8195 or email office@plcloggers.org and we will send you the agenda and teams link!
PLC Safety Committee Meeting Online – Jan. 24 – Please RSVP!
Please join us online from 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 24 for a PLC Safety Committee (open to ALL PLC members) meeting.
The meeting will include:
-Acadia and MEMIC Loss Control Updates
-Loss and Risk Information Updates from Agents
-PLC Safety & Training Coordinator Update
-2024 Safety Training Planning and Topics
Please RSVP to: office@plcloggers.org or call 207-688-8195 ext. 1
The purpose of the PLC safety committee is to assist PLC companies create and maintain a safe work environment. A safe work environment will not only increase productivity, but also reduce cost and ensure long term sustainability. The safety committee assists with planning for our annual safety training events.
The Northeastern Loggers Association is now accepting nominations for industry achievement awards through January 31, 2024!
Awards Program
Through its annual awards program, NELA strives to recognize significant achievement in eleven categories. A maximum of one award will be given in each category. There may be circumstances when no awards are given in a category or categories. A plaque will be awarded in each of the categories.
To be eligible for one of those awards, or to make a nomination, the person or organization need not be a member of the Northeastern Loggers’ Association. An individual can nominate themselves or their organization, or it may be done by an outside party. The nominee must reside or conduct business in the Northeast and Lake States. Awards are presented each year at the Loggers’ Banquet held just prior to the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition. Look for the call for nominations in The Northern Logger and Timber Processor.
More information is available at https://www.northernlogger.com/awards/.
Submitting a Nomination
- Fax to (315) 369-3736
- Email our office: nela@northernlogger.com
- Mail to NELA, PO Box 69, Old Forge, N.Y. 13420
Nominations must be received by January 31, 2024. You can also get your nomination started over the phone, so feel free to call at (315) 369-3078 with any questions.
Award Categories:
Outstanding Logging Operator
Outstanding Sawmill Operator
Outstanding Industry Advocate
Outstanding Wood Manufacturer
Outstanding Service to the Forest Industry
Outstanding Management of Resources
Outstanding Leadership in Industry
Outstanding forest products trucking operator
Outstanding Contributions to Forest Industry Education
Outstanding Use of Wood
Outstanding Contribution to Safety
Save The Date!
PLC Annual Meeting May 9-10, 2024
This year, the PLC Annual Meeting, Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Live Log A Load Auction will be held on May 9 – 10, 2024 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport! Please be sure to block the dates in your calendars.
We are planning for a fun social event on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates.
Below is the reservation link for early booking information.
Reservation Booking Link:
Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast
Code: 051024plcm
PLC Members Only!
Equipment Cost Calculators Available
Members,
With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.
These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.
These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.
DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.
PLC Online Store
Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more? You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy.
CHECK IT OUT HERE
Safety Resources
Cross Insurance TPA – Feb SIG Training 2-7-24
Overcoming Negativity in the Workplace
Presented by: Career Management Associates
Is your workplace a positive, uplifting place to be, or do you feel your energy levels drop the moment you enter the door? Negativity can become a vicious cycle where everyone feels irritable and discouraged, leading to higher employee turnover, lower employee engagement, and ultimately decreased productivity. Negativity in the workplace directly impacts individual employees, the team, and the organization itself. This interactive workshop starts with workplace negativity and its causes, and then discusses strategies on how to rebuild trust, stop enablement, hold people accountable, and best practices for long term positive success.
Who Should Attend? Managers/Supervisors; Human Resource Directors; Safety Coordinators
Program Fee: $75/pp
Registration Information
To register for the February 7th session, please copy and paste the link listed below to your web browser. If this does not work return to the original email and select the link located there.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpc–trD4pG9wLglBY3am-aUnKXlYL46r3
Please register by January 24th. Maximum of 80 attendees per session.
If you have any questions or issues with registering, please e-mail us at
Note: In case of inclement weather, please call 1-800-698-3267 Ext 1021 to get a recorded message about training cancellation.
Workplace safety and labor law requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming trainings!
To view all January 2024 classes, visit their website at www.safetyworksmaine.gov
Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: 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/.
New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!
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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!
Maine News
Logging industry losses from ‘Grinch’ storm top $2.6M, as weather again pummels Maine
Pingree, agriculture secretary discuss storm and climate impacts with Maine farmers, loggers
Employee housing proposed for Dixfield sawmill
Maine delays key vote on phasing out gas-powered vehicles
Help Maine biologists track forest pests into the New Year and beyond | PenBay Pilot
Rural Maine state representatives eye a seat in Washington, with Republican primaries in June 2024
Weyerhaeuser nets $900,000 from sale of initial carbon credit offering
$5 million investment to help Penobscot County firm produce sustainable ‘biochar’
Vermont News
The Natural Heart of Central Vermont – The Montpelier Bridge
Northern Forest Center begins redevelopment of historic Railroad Street building in St Johnsbury
Treasuring and Nurturing Vermont’s Forests: Our Biggest and Best Resource to Mitigate Climate Chaos
Both generalists, specialists vital to forest health | Outdoors | vtcng.com
Smart growth grants are available – The Mountain Times
UVM will study the sustainability of Vermont’s maple industry, and its impact on the climate
US moves to protect old growth forests as climate change threatens their survival | National
Member Discounts
ALC Member Discounts
PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
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Fabian Oil Discount
Wallingford’s Discounts
Maine Trailer Discounts
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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!
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Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/50356bc32e7c1ced15b258bf6/images/6367b297-d164-455e-a6d9-6ebabdb4d64b.jpg)
Classifieds
Preferred Supporting Members
Enhanced Supporting Members