Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine holds 27th Annual Meeting Friday, May 13

BAR HARBOR – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine held its 27th Annual Meeting Friday, May 13, raising a record $144,399 in the annual Log A Load For Maine Kids auction and presenting awards to businesses, individuals, and legislators from across Maine for their contributions to the logging industry.

The meeting was held at a new location this year, the Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, ME., with more than 200 attending. Honored guests at the event included Maine Governor Janet Mills and retired New England Patriot Rob Ninkovich.

“This event has shattered records both for funds raised for our Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Bangor and Portland, and for attendance,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “It seems the logging industry gets tougher every year, yet this group continues to exceed expectations in every way, standing strong for the industry and the Maine children and families who benefit from Log A Load for Maine Kids.”

The day included a business meeting for PLC Member contractors in the morning, with board and officer elections and a panel discussion on wood supply and logger financial health with representatives from three wood consuming mills. A noon luncheon open was held with Governor Mills. The evening events included the Log A Load for Kids Auction, dinner, and PLC awards ceremony.

Awards were presented to the following individuals and organizations during the evening portion of the event:

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: TNT Road Company of Fort Kent.

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. This year the award goes to two individuals, Heather Johnson, Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development, and Maine State Senator Trey Stewart of Presque Isle.

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: Maine Trailer of Hampden.

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: Davco of Farmington.

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 winner this year is: PLC Past President Tony Madden of A.W. Madden Inc. of Milford.

The Annual Meeting Log A Load for Kids auction is one of the PLC’s major fund-raisers to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in Maine, and last year raised a record $87,498, which contributed to the PLC raising more than $205,000 in 2021 for the cause.

This year’s auction exceeded 2021’s total by more than $56,000. The result and the willingness of contractors to step up in support of the Log A Load cause is remarkable when you consider they are facing record diesel fuel prices and inflation on parts and equipment as well as challenging wood markets. The latest auction pushes the total raised by the PLC’s Log A Load efforts to $1.85 million since 1995.

The PLC partners with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) and Northern Light Health Foundation for its annual Log A Load fund drive. BBCH in Portland and Northern Light in Bangor are Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The PLC and the Northern Light Health Foundation (formerly Eastern Maine Health Systems Foundation) have partnered in the Log A Load fund-raising effort since 1996. BBCH joined the Log A Load effort in 2019 and all 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 in Maine as possible. BBCH and Northern Light in Bangor both have a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that has received support for years from the PLC’s Log A Load efforts.

Maine’s loggers are a vital part of the state’s forest products sector, which is worth an estimated $8.1 billion annually. Logging contributed an estimated $619 million to the state economy in 2017.

Founded in 1995 with a handful of members who were concerned about the future of the industry, the PLC has grown steadily to become a statewide trade association which provides independent logging contractors and truckers a voice in the rapidly changing forest products industry. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers. PLC members are responsible for cutting 75 percent of the timber that is harvested from Maine’s forests annually.

Learn more about the PLC at www.maineloggers.com.