Community Solutions to a Changing Climate
What: The GrowSmart Maine Annual Meeting 2015: Community Solutions to a Changing Climate
When: Tuesday, October 20th : 9am – 6pm
Where: Pepperell Center, 40 Main St, Biddeford, Maine
If you saw a threat, would you avoid it? If you saw an opportunity, would you take it? Learn from inspired speakers on the language that connects Mainers to climate change and translating business thinking to community action, with successes to inspire us from Maine and Denmark, a world leader in reducing use of fossil fuels.
We Mainers are reluctant to call ourselves leaders, and yet, as Denmark leads the world in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, there are communities leading the way here in Maine. Join us as we find Community Solutions to a Changing Climate that you can share in your neighborhood.
Start the morning with one or two tours of Biddeford, a city that has undergone tremendous change in the last few years. Meet friends old and new for an “un-lunch” in one of Biddeford’s many terrific restaurants. Then join us at the Pepperell Center for “Community Solutions to a Changing Climate”.
GrowSmart Maine is one of fourteen Maine organizations, towns and businesses that traveled to Denmark this fall to bring home examples of renewable energy production, transportation alternatives and energy building efficiency that may make sense here in Maine.
Featuring: Professor Jay Friedlander, Sharpe-McNally Chair of Green and Socially Responsible Business at the College of the Atlantic and Catherine Lee, Lee International and Chair of the Maine Climate Table
Panelists:
Rep. Martin Grohman
Sue Inches – Denmark 2015 tour leader
Tyler Kidder – Assistant Director for Sustainable Programs,USM
Sen. Roger Katz
Sen. Lynn Bromley – SBA Office of Advocacy
Donna Larson – Solarize Freeport
Brooks Winner – Community Energy Associate, The Island Institute
Sam Saltonstall – Peaks Island
John Egan – Senior Vice President, Loans & Investments, CEI
Carl Eppich – Senior Transportation Planner, GPCOG & PACTS
Kate Dempsey – Director of External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy
The day will begin with two sets of optional tours of Biddeford, at 9 am and 10:30am, each with a different focus: Natural Connections, Historic Connections, Downtown Connections, Manufacturing Connections, and Cultural Connections.
After “unlunch” in one of Biddeford’s many great restaurants, attendees will convene at the newly redeveloped historic Pepperell Mill at 1:30pm for a short business meeting followed by the program.
Come hear from Cathy Lee what The Climate Table has learned about how to talk about the impacts of our changing climate with your neighbors and peers, and then learn about opportunities to start taking on climate change in your part of Maine. We’ll tie Denmark community efforts to success stories from across Maine. The Abundance Cycle, presented by Professor Jay Friedlander, Sharpe-McNally Chair of Green and Socially Responsible Business at the College of the Atlantic, provides a framework for seeing how the pieces fit together and gives you a way to determine where to start and how to build prosperity for all community members.
Finally, join us for a reception with Banded Horn Brewing Company beer and local foods, learn more from our exhibitors and talk with Maine non-profits about how their community-level organizing efforts might be right for your town.
Take the train for just $5 each way from any station! Tickets can be purchased online at AmtrakDowneaster.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. Reference promotion code v488 when making the required reservation. October 20th only.
Cost: $50 for Members, $75 for Non-Members
Not a member? Join today!
Optional:
Tours: $5 each
Unlunch! $10 (including tax) prix fixe meal in one of Biddeford’s finest eateries – network with other attendees
Program:
Optional Morning Program
9:00am Optional Tours of Biddeford
10:30am Optional Tours of Biddeford
12:00pm Optional “Unlunch” downtown
Afternoon Program
1:00pm Network with Exhibitors, Pepperell Center
1:30pm GrowSmart Maine Business Meeting – Election of new and returning Board Members, Emeritus Board change to bylaws, Financial Report
2:00pm Welcome from Sen. Angus King and Executive Director Nancy Smith
2:10pm Engaging your Community in the Climate Change Conversation featuring Cathy Lee and John Piotti
2:30pm Denmark:World Leader – Stories from Denmark Energy Tour 2015 featuring Rep. Martin Grohman, Sue Inches, Tyler Kidder, Sen. Roger Katz and Sen. Lynn Bromley
3:00pm Network with Exhibitors
3:15pm Dirigo: Maine Leaders – Stories from Maine Communities: Renewables, Building Efficiency and Bike/Pedestrian featuring John Egan, Carl Eppich, Donna Larson, Sam Saltonstall, Brooks Winner and Kate Dempsey
3:45pm Turning the Triangle Upside Down: Focusing on What Communities CAN Do
4:15pm The Abundance Cycle, Professor Jay Friedlander
4:40pm Closing Reflections, Sen. Roger Katz and Rep. Martin Grohman
5pm Networking Reception featuring selections from local eateries, wine and Banded Horn beer – connect with several statewide organizations that assist in designing and creating citizen action committees.
Tour Descriptions:
Each one hour walking tour will run twice, at 9am and 10:30am
Natural Connections Tour: Discover Biddeford’s RiverWalk, the nation’s first 7-Minute Workout Station, and cross the mighty Saco on the new RiverWalk bridge. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Saco River and the incredible mills, including the dams. All locations accessible, level of difficulty low. Tour limit: 20.
Manufacturing Tour: Until recently, hundreds of thousands of square feet of mill space were vacant. Now you can visit manufacturers of clothing, outdoor gear, craft beer and gin on this exciting tour of the Pepperell Mill Campus. All locations accessible, level of difficulty low. Tour limit: 20. Some stairs and fast walking required.
Historic Mill Tours: Biddeford’s textile mill doors are open once more, with access to the unique underground canals! Tours are guided by former mill workers who are passionate about Pepperell and know the history of these incredible buildings and the mill workers who worked in them from the 1840s to 2009. Tour limit: 20. Difficult stairs included in the tour. Closed-toe shoes required.
Cultural Connections: Visit Biddeford’s legendary City Theater, designed by Maine architect, John Calvin Stevens. Designed in the colonial revival style, complete with horseshoe balcony, this historic theater drew famous Vaudeville shows. Also, find out more about Engine, the gallery and 3D printing lab that’s building Biddeford’s creative economy. Tour limit: 20. Accessible.
Discover Downtown: Visit destination retail stores and culinary delights in Biddeford’s downtown. Meet the owners of six of Biddeford’s newest businesses — plus a few classics — to find out what drew them to the downtown or what makes them stay. Tour limit 15. Some businesses require climbing a few stairs.
E2Tech is proud to sponsor this event!