COURTESY OF PROFESSIONAL LOGGING CONTRACTORS OF THE NORTHEAST
The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast held its 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting May 8-9, raising a record $165,386 for Log A Load For Kids and presenting awards to businesses and individuals from across Maine and Vermont for their contributions to the logging industry.
The meeting was held at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, with more than 250 people attending the main events on Friday. This was the second annual meeting of the PLC since its expansion in 2023 from a Maine organization to a regional one serving loggers and forest truckers across the Northeast, and a milestone anniversary for the organization.
The annual meeting is the PLC’s largest event and highlighted by the Log A Load for Kids Auction raising money for three Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in Maine and Vermont. Families served by each of the CMN hospitals were in attendance for the event.
“Every year I am amazed by the generosity of this special group of people when it comes to supporting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, and I could not be prouder of the result this year as we mark our 30th anniversary,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “The logging and trucking industry of the Northeast has faced a steadily mounting list of challenges in the three decades since the PLC was founded, yet no matter how tough things get, our members, supporters, and friends step up every year at our Log A Load Auction for Kids to support the children and families served by CMN hospitals in Maine and Vermont. I am so grateful for the generosity shown here, and I know the families and kids are grateful as well.”
The Annual Meeting spanned two days, beginning Thursday with a tour of North Haven Island, including stops at a timber harvest site on the island, lunch at North Haven Brewing, a visit to North Haven Oyster Company, and an evening social gathering at the Samoset Resort.
The second day included a business meeting for all PLC Member contractors in the morning, with board and officer elections, as well as special presentations by Eric Kingsley of Innovative Natural Resource Solutions and Melissa LaCasse of Tanbark Molded Fiber.
The afternoon featured Dan Burns Live Chainsaw Carving and a Baxter Brewing Beer Tent and gathering outside the Samoset overlooking the ocean.
The evening events included the traditional Log A Load for Kids Auction, dinner, and the PLC awards ceremony. PLC’s special guests for the evening — Ryan, Ashley, and Jedi from the hit TV show Maine Cabin Masters — took part in the auction and donated items to the families from the Barbara Bush and Northern Light Hospitals, including a visit to the filming of an episode to help boost the total.
Awards were presented to the following individuals and organizations during the evening portion of the event:
PLC Logger of the Year Awards: These awards recognize PLC Logging Contractors for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession. This year for the second time the award went to two companies, one from Maine and one from Vermont. The winners are: Lipsky Logging and Land Clearing of Stowe, VT; and Khiel Logging and Chipping of Denmark, ME.
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: JRS Logging Inc. of Fort Kent, ME.
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: Skowhegan Savings Bank of ME.
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: Will Cole, PLC President 2022-2024.
Master Logger Supporter’s Awards: The Master Logger Supporter’s Awards were created to recognize individuals and organizations that have been outstanding supporters of the Master Logger Certification Program® and the standard it represents. The winners this year are: The New England Forestry Foundation and former Maine Forest Service Director Alec Giffen, who is current Senior Forest Science and Policy Fellow for NEFF.
PLC Supporting Member Acadia Insurance presented its annual Acadia Safety Award to Comprehensive Land Technologies Inc. of China, ME.
The Annual Meeting is one of the PLC’s major fundraisers to benefit CMN hospitals. Last year the PLC raised a record $297,519 by the end of 2024 for the cause from its annual auction and two Log A Load golf tournaments, which are held in August and September.
The PLC partners with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) and Northern Light Health Foundation in Maine for its annual Log A Load fund drive and the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital in Burlington, Vermont as well. All are CMN hospitals.
The PLC’s Log A Load efforts have now raised more than $2.7 million since 1995.
Founded in Maine in 1995 by a handful of loggers who were concerned about the future of the forest economy, the PLC has grown steadily to become a regional non-profit which provides independent logging and forest trucking contractors a voice along with a suite of other forest certification programs which are grounded in responsible forest management. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers.
