‘- Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine holds 23rd Annual Meeting
BREWER – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine held its 23rd Annual Meeting Friday, May 4 with awards presented to businesses, individuals, and legislators from across Maine for their outstanding contributions to the logging industry.
The event also raised a record $46,311 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine, topping the previous record of $44,000 set in 2017.
The meeting was held at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer and included a morning meeting of the members, luncheon with the president of the American Logger’s Council, Mark Turner, as speaker, and an afternoon tour of the Neonatal Intensive Care Clinic at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor which has been supported by PLC donations through the Log A Load for Kids program. The annual PLC Auction for Log A Load followed the tour, then the annual PLC Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
“Our Annual Meeting is a time to reflect, a time to celebrate and a time to plan for the future,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran, said. “The PLC has made important strides on behalf of loggers, forest contractors, and forest truckers and stands ready to continue its work on behalf of the industry for years to come. Our members should be proud of what they have accomplished this year, and especially proud of what was accomplished here for the children tonight.”
The Annual Meeting is one of the PLC’s major fund-raisers for the Log A Load for Kids Foundation to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. PLC members are well known for their generosity in supporting charitable causes benefiting children, and are strong supporters of the Log A Load For Kids annual campaign which encourages loggers and others in the forest products community to donate the value of one load of logs, or any amount, to local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Log A Load For Kids is a national leader in CMN fundraising.
“The generosity of our members no matter what challenges their businesses face continues to amaze me,” Doran said. “Our members reach deep each year for these families and continue to devote an incredible amount of time, effort, and resources to the Log A Load cause.”
The PLC and the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Foundation have raised more than $1 million since 1996 for children in Maine. Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. EMHS is a CMN hospital. For more information, or to donate funds to a CMN-affiliated hospital in your area, please visit www.logaload.org.
The meeting concluded with award presentations. Awards were presented to the following individuals and organizations: Click Here for full awards coverage
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; Chaplin Logging Inc. of Naples.
PLC Impact Awards: Each year, the PLC recognizes someone from the public sector who has demonstrated a commitment to the industry and has made a significant impact for its improvement. The winner this year is; Maine State Senator Thomas Saviello of Wilton.
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; Katahdin Fire Company of Old Town.
Acadia Insurance Safety Award: In 1999, the PLC and Acadia Insurance partnered together to make safety a priority in the logging industry by creating a member benefit for PLC contractors, providing training and education, reducing claims and increasing profitability. This award is given to a company that continuously demonstrates safety throughout their business. The winner this year is; Treeline Inc. of Chester.
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; Farm Credit East.
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 winners this year are: Robert Linkletter of Athens and Brian Souers of Lincoln.
Maine’s loggers are a vital part of the state’s forest products sector, which is worth an estimated $8.5 billion annually. Maine’s logging industry contributes $882 million to the state’s economy each year and supports more than 7,300 direct and indirect jobs in the state.
The PLC of Maine was formed in 1995 to give independent logging contractors and sole proprietors a voice in a rapidly changing forest industry. A Board of Directors made up entirely of loggers makes the PLC the only logging organization in Maine run by loggers for loggers. The mission of the PLC is to promote logging as a profession, advocate for logging professionals, cultivate responsible forest management, and sustain a strong forest products industry.
