Thursday, June 12, 2008

Attendance: 21 people

Announcements from those who attended:

Congratulations to MAIN members Ed Democracy & Joe Greenier who ran for the Maine Legislature. They didn’t win but made a good showing;  made it easier for the next person with low income to try; brought forward issues that are important to us all.

Food banks in great need; food and housing needs have increased dramatically.

Apply for LIHEAP heating assistance starting July 1st at your local Community Action Program. Also ask them about other programs:

·        To help with weatherization and other ways to reduce your heating costs; and

·        To help with other living expenses that would then free up your money to use for heating (for example food stamps, MaineCare, child care, transportation etc.)

Maine Equal Justice Legislative Update:

See the MAIN Update for results of Maine legislative session.

NOTE: Housing Special Need increase and Workers’ Supplement go into effect on July 1.

 People’s Veto of Dirigo Health funding.  See MAIN Update for more information. Large national beverage dealers are funding this effort to repeal the beer, wine and soda syrup tax that the Maine Legislature passed to support health care to 18,000 people enrolled in Dirgo Health.  An out-of-state firm has been hired to collect the signatures.  If they collect enough signatures, it will prevent the taxes from being collected (taxes are scheduled to start July 1^st) and would endanger health care coverage for so many people.  If it gets on the ballot, we have lots of work to do to educate the public about the truth behind this repeal effort.  Health Coverage for Maine is a coalition working to defeat this repeal.  Volunteers are needed now. Contact Maine Equal Justice at 1-866-626-7059 toll-free or in Augusta 626-7058. 

MaineCare Update. 

The MaineCare Non-categorical program will begin accepting new people on July 1st. This program was closed to new enrollees in December 2007. There are 9,000 people on the waiting list. DHHS thinks they will be able to enroll 1700 new people.  Non-cats wanting to get on MaineCare will have to prove their identity and citizenship when they re-apply.  DHHS will help with this process.

 Citizenship & Identity requirement.  Because of federal government rules, MaineCare now requires proof of identity and citizenship for many people to get or keep their coverage.  Of the 250,000 people enrolled in MaineCare, 35,000 have not proven their identy and citizenship. Those people will be sent letters to terminate their coverage and will have 12 days to respond to the letter. If you get one of these letter, call your MaineCare worker and let them know that you are still trying to get these documents.  If you need help getting your documents to prove your identity or citizenship, call the helpline at Consumers for Affordable Health Care at 1-800-965-7476.

MAIN Leadership Team Report:

 1.  Treasurer report.   Our bake sale at UMA and donations from our member organizations raised some funds to help people with low incomes attend MAIN meetings and events.  Thanks to all who helped and donated. Welcome new organizational members: Maine Council of Senior Citizens and Partners in Ending Hunger.  We’d like to hear back from more of our member organizations.   We need to raise more before November so we can put on the annual conference.  Can you help with fundraising in any of these or other ways:  do a yard sale for MAIN, ask your organization to donate to MAIN,  donate your returnable bottle money to MAIN?  Contact Pam Morin at 458-2210.

2.  Economic Human Rights (EHR) are the rights we all need to maintain a decent quality of life, including our rights to food, health care, housing, living wage jobs, & education - to name a few.  MAIN is working in many ways to achieve economic human rights.  Current projects that we discussed are:

 +  Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security.  MAIN will be recommending two people with low incomes to the Governor for this Council.  See MAIN Update for more info.   

+  The Maine Voices Listening Project & the 2^nd Annual Maine Symposium on Poverty & Economic Security.  The Maine Voices project is a joint project with the Maine Community Action Association and MAIN.  A meeting will be held in 7 places in Maine with people with low incomes to talk about their experiences living in poverty.  Their ideas will be used to help plan the 2^nd Annual Poverty Symposium on Monday, Octber 27^th  at the Augusta Civic Center.   Representatives from these groups will be part of a panel at the Symposium and all will be invited to attend the Symposium.  You’re invited too so mark your calendar!

 3.      MAIN 2008 Conference: Friday, November 7th - MAIN's annual fall conference will be held at the State House in Augusta. At it we will elect MAIN leaders and decide our legislative agenda for the next two years.  It is very important that you attend to talk about the things that need to change to help make your life more secure (health care, wages, safety-net programs, tax reform, housing, heating, education and training, paid sick leave etc.).  This is your chance to let your voice be heard about what legislative issues MAIN should work on.

 Volunteers are needed to:

·        Hang flyers and invite people to attend,

·        Be part of set-up or clean-up,

·        Staff the registration table,

·        Make signs,

·        Lead one of the discussion groups,

·        Take notes during the discussions, or

·        Help raise funds.

MAIN Seeks New Leaders to Join the Team!

 MAIN is now using a new style of leadership – a team approach.  We started using this model after two elected leaders resigned to focus on other things in their lives.  No other leader wanted to fill these vacant positions. So we decided to work as a team. All leaders on the team are volunteers, have other family/work responsibilities, and deal with the challenges of having low incomes. Working as a leadership team allows us to share responsibilities, learn from each other, and support and encourage each other.   We’re looking for 6 – 12 people who have been active in MAIN for at least one year.  Contact a MAIN leaders to talk about the possibility of your  joining the Leadership Team.  See leadership list below. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 ·  There will be no meetings in July & August. We will not to have a picnic this summer.

 ·  Fall MAIN statewide meeting schedule: 

September 11th in Bangor

October 16th in Lewiston (3^rd Thursday not 2^nd Thursday like we usually do.)

There will be no meeting in November. Hope you’ll join us at the MAIN conference Nov. 7^th.

December 11^th in Belfast 

·              MAIN Annual Conference

Friday, November 7, 2008

State House in Augusta

Mark your calendar AND plan to attend!

Also…

·     Second Annual Poverty Symposium

Monday, October 27, 2008

Augusta Civic Center

More details in September.

http://www.endingpovertyinmaine.org

If you want to contact a Leader by email, call MEJP toll-free at 1-866-626-7059 to get their email address.

MAIN leadership team contact information: 

Heather Curtis, 899-9671 

Steve Hoad, 445-2141 

Laura Moore, 848-5825 

Pam Morin,  458-2210 

Rachael Newman, 504-2029 

Tammy Trask, 968-2009