University of New England

UNE hosts Katahdin Institute's Maine Prosperity Summit Dec. 2nd

PORTLAND, Maine - The Katahdin Institute's Third Annual Post-election Summit on "Values in Action: The Maine Prosperity Summit" will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 at the CHP Lecture Hall on the University of New England's Westbrook College Campus, Portland.

The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  It is co-sponsored by UNE, the Center for American Progress and the Progressive States Network.

The 123rd Legislature faces a daunting task of legislating in a time of limited budgets, increased government responsibilities and a debate around government reform that has been framed by the TABOR referendum and its proponents.

The Maine Prosperity Summit will be an opportunity for Maine's best minds to articulate a vision for Maine's prosperity, set benchmarks for our legislators and write legislation for the next legislative session. The outcomes will be utilized in the next legislative session and in a long-term strategy. 

Panelists
Panelists include: Congressman Tom Allen; Sandra Featherman, former UNE president; Dr. Robert McAfee, past president of the American Medical Association and chair, Dirigo Board of Directors; Robert Gardiner, vice president and chair, Conservation Law Foundation Advocacy Center; Charles Lawton, principal of Planning Decisions, Inc. and economic columnist for the Portland Newspapers; John Halpin, policy analyst with the Washington-based Center for American Progress; and representatives from the New York-based Progressive States Network and experts on energy and education.

Panel discussions will provide background information and a context for debate. They will be followed by well-facilitated working groups that will develop benchmarks and policy proposals. The policy proposals will be translated into legislative language and introduced on our behalf by representatives in our State Legislature. We look forward to the participation of advocates, policy experts, members of the business community, members of the faith community and elected officials from all levels of government. The program will be highly interactive and participants will benefit as much from their colleagues as they will from the speakers.
 
More information
Cost: $25 will cover all meals and program materials. To RSVP or for more information, please contact klein@gwi.net or 773-0980 or visit the Katahdin Institute website at http://www.katahdininstitute.org/annual-dec06.html

(Press release issued Nov. 20, 2006)