U.S. Senator Collins, Congressmen Baldacci and Allen and Governor King to Attend July Meeting of the Northeast Dairy Compact Commission in Maine

  For Immediate Release:                                                                                        Contact: Daniel Smith
July 5, 2001                                                                                                                  Executive Director    (802) 229-1941

MONTPELIER, VT – Three members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Angus King will speak at the first Maine based monthly meeting of the Northeast Dairy Compact Commission on July 9. The meeting will begin with statements from the five speakers, immediately followed by a question and answer session for Commission members, the public and the press between 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. 

“I’m extremely pleased that the Commission has the opportunity to come to Maine and talk about the benefits and value of the Compact to processors, consumers and producers,” said Compact Commission Chair Mae Schmidle. “We’re also overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from the Governor and the Maine Delegation to our meeting.”

Beginning with Vermont in April, the Commission has been traveling to the six New England states for its monthly meetings, with each meeting focusing specifically on issues relating to the host state. 

"Since 1997, the Compact has maintained the viability of dairy farming and created economic stability in rural New England," said Robert W. Spear, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture. "The money from milk checks is spent at feed stores, equipment dealers and deposited in local banks. I am grateful that Commission members will hear from Governor King and Maine's Congressional Delegation just how important the Compact is and how much good it has done."

Beginning at 10 a.m., the meeting will include presentations by Commissioner Spear, President of the Senate Michael Michaud, President Pro Tempore Richard A. Bennett and Speaker of the House Michael V. Saxl, as well as several other state politicians, milk processors, dairy farmers and others associated with the industry.

“I’m delighted the state legislative leaders are coming,” said Compact Commissioner Colon Durrell. “Every one of the legislators signed the ‘Joint Resolution Memorializing the Congress of the United States to Reauthorize the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.’ This is further evidence of their support.”

“Maine has been a stalwart member of the Compact since the beginning, and a staunch supporter of the concept of the Compact for 13 years,” said the Commission’s Executive Director Dan Smith. “It will be interesting to hear from the state’s leadership about those many years of Compact history.”

For contributions to the success of the Northeast Dairy Compact, the Commission will recognize Governor King, State Senator John Nutting, Robert Tardy, Walter Whitcomb, Peter Curra, Michael Wiers and Linda Smith Dyer.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the people receiving awards,” said Compact Commissioner Fred Hardy. “Most were on board when the legislation was being worked on at the start. Governor King helped with the reauthorization. They are certainly all well deserving.”

The July 9 meeting will be held at the Merry Manor Inn in South Portland, Maine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.