MAINE ASSOCIATION OF INTERDEPENDENT NEIGHBORHOODS

PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR
 PEACE, BREAD AND JUSTICE

MAIN Notices - Meetings and Announcements

Next Statewide Meeting Agenda

Next Regional Meetings
Northern MAIN meetings in Orono

Announcements

Highlights of Past Meetings

Mark your calendars
Future meeting dates

Directions to Monthly Meeting at MEJP offices in Augusta

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After the MAIN general meeting, you are invited to join us to help plan the MAIN Fall Conference: 12:45 - 2:30
Everyone who wants to help plan the conference is encouraged to attend. If you can't be here in person, you can call in to participate toll-free but you must tell us no later than 8:30 a.m. Thursday. (Chris 1-866-626-7059 ext 204). We'll have lunch during the planning meeting.

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Introductions: 9:30 Time to share a little bit about yourself, and what's going on in your life, your community, or with groups you work with. Short announcements of events or actions are welcome!

Legislative Update: 10:15 Maine Equal Justice will update us on state budget issues and on legislation that MAIN is working on this session concerning: MaineCare, Higher education & training, Protecting the HOME Fund

MAIN leadership team report: 11:10

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Announcements

MAIN annual picnic: Wednesday, July 25, 11:00 to 2:00 (rain date July 26th) details on place will be mailed out in June. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! We could use your help getting donations of food and paper products, and with set-up and clean-up. Contact us if you can help in anyway.

MAIN Fall Conference: Tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 2nd in Augusta. At the May meeting, folks suggested using the conference as a place to learn how we can use our voices more effectively in the Legislature. We hope to have the conference in the State House to get us comfortable with the building. Suggestions for workshops: mock public hearing; legislators and MAIN members as guest speakers; tour of the state house; how to get your neighbors, friends and family involved; how a bill becomes a law; how to get your ideas put into a bill; different ways to communicate with legislators etc. There was also talk of having a clothing swap!

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS & YOUR HELP!
Workshops (topics, speakers, facilitators); Food; Registration; Getting people to attend; Setting up and cleaning up; Childcare; Getting donations; and more.

NO regular meetings in July & Augusta - only planning meetings for the fall conference.

MAIN's new website address: www.peacebreadjustice.org

For more info or to get involved:
Shannon Collins, 798-9624
Heather Curtis,
Steve Hoad,
Laura Moore, 827-2176
Rachael Newman, 504-2029

MAIN is an all volunteer organization with no office so please be patient if we don't get back to you immediately.

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Directions to Augusta MAIN meetings at Maine Equal Justice - from I- 95

Take Exit 109 Augusta. On the ramp there is a fork, bear right (Augusta) onto Western Avenue.

Take Western Avenue to the 3rd set of traffic lights (the Armory will be on your left and Fire Station on your right) and turn right onto Armory Street.

Armory Street will take you left around a big corner and turns into Capitol Street. Go down the hill to the traffic light at the intersection with Sewall Street. You will see the State House with the Dome. Go right on Sewell St. down to MEJP at 126 Sewall, right hand side, grey house. (Look for MAIN sign on telephone pole.) If the parking lot is full, park across the street in the state office parking lot. Come early to get a parking space and get settled in for meeting that begins at 9:30 am.

The topic for this meeting is Tenants Rights.
A representative from Pine Tree Legal Assistance will be there to answer your questions and talk about your concerns.
Any and all tenants welcome to attend.
Any and all concerns can be addressed. They may include, but are not limited to such things as mold, condensation, safe walkways, what is normal wear and tear and much more.
You may bring a food item or dish, but if you can't, don't let that stop you from attending - we always have plenty.
If your schedule doesn't permit you to be there right at 12:00 or you have to leave early, come anytime during the meeting time period.
We really would like to see you there and hear from the tenants what we can all do together to make tenants rights better.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

MAIN annual picnic: Wednesday, July 25, 11:00 to 2:00 (rain date July 26th)

MAIN Fall Conference: Tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 2nd in Augusta.

MAIN Statewide monthly meetings are usually on the second Thursday of the month at the Maine Equal Justice office in AUGUSTA from 9:30 to 12:30.
NO M.A.I.N. Statewide Meetings in July & August

MAIN Statewide Monthly Meeting Highlights
Sample minutes from a past meeting

Minutes from May 11, 2006 Statewide meeting - Augusta

Attendance:

Russell Anderson, chair (MAIN President) Spoke of his trip to Venezuela to thank the President and Venezuelan people for assistance with heating oil for low-income people in Maine this past winter.
Chris Rusnov, Crystal Bond, Ana Hicks, Chris Hastedt, from MEJP;
Steve Hoad, (taking minutes);
Kimberley McLaughlin, mortgage broker working with CEI to propose new legislation for predatory lending;
Veronica Boucher, Maine Parent Federation;
Eric M. concerned about barriers in housing for people with disabilities;
Debby Cousins, TANF Advisory Council;
Patricia Ender, Pine Tree Legal Association;
Ed Democracy & Heather Curtis, Portland Tenants Union, are working with Maine People’s Alliance housing committee, supporting housing trust fund, & options for affordable housing;
Kelly Fernald, PROP Riverton Head Start;
Alice Conway, Auburn;
Hannah Thomas, Coastal Enterprise Inc;
Leon B., Bowdoin; from York Co.
Barbara Hersom, Rolf H. & Geraldine H.,We Who Care

Legislative Update, Ana Hicks

The Maine Legislature is taking a three week break – will be back May 22-24th.
Outstanding issues---Dirigo Health savings offset funding - negotiations with various players toward compromise to fund Dirigo; offset will be cut in half; and funding will be good till next March. There’s also a 2nd bill to
self-insure Dirigo through the state rather than through Anthem.

Good News! Alternative Aid bill passed and AA will be available starting at the end of August to families once each year instead of once in a lifetime. AA helps non-TANF families (income below 133 percent of the poverty level) to resolve problems that prevent them from keeping or getting a job., for example the program provides help with things like car repair, housing, childcare. AA gives up to three months of a TANF benefit (up to $1,455 for
a family of 3) in the form of vouchers. In March, only 11 families accessed the program. Client education is important. MEJP has info on its web site www.mejp.org/alternativeaid.htm. DHHS believes that this program
will save monies in the long run by helping families stay off of TANF.

MaineCare waiver program for NonCategoricals is for adults between 21 and 64 who are not disabled or pregnant or do not have minor children living with them and whose income is below 100% of the federal poverty level – in other words they do not fit into any of the usual MaineCare categories. This program has a funding cap placed on it by the federal government. Enrollment in the program was closed last year and services dramatically cut back because of the cap. Letters are now being sent out by DHHS to individuals on the waiting list because the program has opened up again to allow enrollment in the program to go up to 12,850. People will have 30
days to return info. Starting in the late fall, people will have extra 30 days if they did not respond because of a good cause – for example they became homeless or moved and mail did not reach them or were dealing with a
serious illness. If you get a letter now you must respond quickly. Ana explained that NonCategoricals should try to apply for or be switched over to other MaineCare categories (disabled, pregnant, parent) because of the
better benefits package.

Maine DHHS will to apply for a revised waiver to change the limit on mental health services to increase from 16 to 24 visits (with prior authorization of some sort) and some other services---podiatry for some, imaging services plus handful more. There will be more info in the June MAIN Update but changes probably will not go into effect until October 1st. Changes must be approved by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) at the federal level.

Medicare Part D
MEJP, the governor’s office, and other allies including AbilityMaine have been working to make sure people get the help they need to enroll in the program, and help paying for added costs and the “donut hole.” Medicare Part D started on January 1st. It’s a federal program designed by Congress to provide prescription drug coverage through a prescription drug plan (PDP) run by private insurance companies. Maine’s low income seniors and people with disabilities got their prescription drugs through MaineCare or the Low Cost Drug Program (known as DEL) until the end of 2005. Now participants enrolled in MaineCare and Medicare (“duals”) and those enrolled in DEL and Medicare (“DELs”) get most of their prescription drugs through a Part D plan. The shift to Part D has difficult and confusing all over the country. In Maine, participants, advocates, providers, and people in the Governor’s office and DHHS worked together to try to make sure people wouldn’t fall between the cracks. Complete info on this help can be found in the March 2006 MAIN Update and on the MEJP website.
Also mentioned was a possible lawsuit by Maine’s Attorney General to get the Federal government to reimburse Maine for the money we spent making this program work so people did not go without their medicines.

Ana mentioned the Governor’s work to get extra help for those on MaineCare, Drugs for the Elderly, or the Medical Savings Programs who are also eligible for Medicare Part D. The state’s help includes paying for premiums and a portion of deductibles and co-payments. Members who have a “donut hole” will go back to full DEL coverage until they get through the gap. Medicare D plans may differ in coverage from DEL.

Deficit Reduction Act. (Federal Budget)

The DRA includes two types of changes in Medicaid (called MaineCare in Maine) -- mandatory immediate changes and optional changes.

Mandatory Change. New and current MaineCare recipients need to prove citizenship beginning July 1. The state is working with a group of stakeholders which includes MEJP to identify a process for proving
citizenship of applicants and recipients that is least burdensome for both applicants and the state. Problems include that it costs money to get ID and or passports and birth certificates. Bureau of Vital Statistics is not ready for any large amount of requests. Electronic records are only good as far back as 1996.

Mandatory Change. Asset transfers under long term care – extending the ‘lookback’ period from 3 years to 5 years. Penalty date starts at the date a person is determined eligible for long term care rather than the date of the transfer. Only effects transfers that have occurred after February 8, 2006. More on this in June MAIN Update.

Optional Changes. Will be discussed in another MAIN meeting.

TANF changes under the Deficit Reduction Act.
A group has been formed to look at and analyze changes and to provide recommendations to protect the Parents as Scholars program, families of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, and two parent families who have a higher work requirement. MEJP will keep MAIN members posted if they need help or advice, and of any changes.

TABOR is on ballot! (Taxpayers Bill of Rights)
MAIN and Maine Equal Justice are members of the coalition, Community Voices Against TABOR. If TABOR passes, we know from experience that limiting the state budget always affect Maine's low-income people the most. We encourage our members to become educated and volunteer to help fight TABOR. Look for complete info in June MAIN Update. Also look on these internet sites: www.mecep.org/fairbt/tabor_home.htm and
www.notabor.org.

Hopefully people will realize that TABOR is not a good thing. Talk to friends and neighbors. TABOR ties the hands of the legislature and municipalities because it only allows growth for inflation rather than growth based on the reality of things. It was mentioned that towns are developing 2007 budgets and they’re cutting just in case TABOR gets voted in.

Predatory Lending

Patricia Ender’s presentation included handouts. It was an overview of abusive practices happening in areas like “payday loans”, loans on tax refunds or “rapid refunds”. These high interest rates and binding terms with costs are predatory lending. She also discussed the mortgage market and numerous concerns with the “subprime” lending, refinancing and home improvement scams, balloon payments and the secondary market. Here are articles you can get on the PTLA website:
Don’t Borrow Trouble! Mortgages, Home Equity Loans & Refinancing
Alternatives to Payday Loans
You can also contact Patricia Ender at PTLA 622-4731 TTY: 623-7770.

Hannah Thomas said that CEI (Coastal Enterprises Inc.) has housing counseling available and First Time Homebuyers education. CEI does the housing counseling under a grant so it is free. A nominal fee is charged
for the homeownership classes. MSHA also sponsors first time homebuyers’ classes. Chris Rusnov noted info about classes is available on MSHA website.

Hannah mentioned that CEI has been working with a group to build momentum toward legislation controlling predatory mortgage lending---if you are interested in helping this effort contact Hannah Thomas, CEI, P.O. Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578 (207)882-7552 ext 127.

Leon mentioned a lawyer named Bill Mapolther teaching aggressive techniques to creditors in seminars. Leon told of his experience with the Bowdoinham Federal Credit Union who had participated in this seminar.

Announcements:

Russ passed around leaflets on the GROW Grassroots Organizing Workshop in NH in June 23-25 sponsored in part by Resources for Organizing and Social Change. This is a workshop for new and experienced organizers and
activists. Folks are going from Maine so ride sharing will be available. Cost is $0-$60 pay what you can for 3 days includes food and housing and on-site childcare. Contact Larry Dansinger before June 19 (207) 525-7776.

Maine People’s Alliance dinner is May 19. Jesse Vear (POWER) is being honored along with Jesse Grindle (MPA), Jesse Connolly (Equality Maine) and from Visible Communities (fought destruction of affordable housing in Lewiston).

Steve Hoad mentioned the AbilityMaine participant group meeting on Saturday the May 13.

Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center’s annual dinner will honor Judy Guay, Thursday, May 25, 6 to 830 PM in Bangor at the Spectacular Events Center. MAIN members who want to attend should let Chris know immediately (complimentary tickets for low-income members).

Eric mentioned the NamiMaine walk on Saturday the 13th in Portland.

Reminder----Judy’s Memorial service on July 15 Bangor High School 2:00 – 5:00---organizations and individuals wishing to help can contact Russ 832-4754; Jane Livingston 947-4117; or Chris Rusnov 1-866-626-7059 ext 204.

The president of We Who Care has been ill, so regular meetings have not been happening. The organization is looking for members, especially folks in the Portland Area.

Meeting adjourned amidst many different conversations. The room’s hum became a buzz as many meeting attendees broke into groups of interest. Many of the predatory lending people stayed and answered people’s questions.

Respectfully Submitted,
Steve Hoad

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Thursday, March 9, 2006
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Maine Equal Justice, 126 Sewall St., Augusta

Attendance: Ed Democracy & Heather Curtis (Portland Tenants Union), Russell Anderson (MAIN), Chris Rusnov (MEJP), Shannon Collins (MAIN), Steve Hoad, Crystal Bond (MEJP), Chris Hastedt (MEJP), Kelly Fernald (PROP), Dolores Vail (Maine Council of Churches), Veronica Currier-Boucher (Maine Parent Federation), Sherry Lane (Spruce Run), Michelle & Joe Greenier, Audrey Stone & Christie Hurd (HOME), Barbara Hersom & Tom Andrews (We Who Care)

Legislative Update: Chris Hastedt gave us updates on legislation that MAIN and Maine Equal Justice are working on: Medicare Part D, non-categorical MaineCare, minimum wage, heating assistance, TANF. Handouts were provided and most of the info is in the March issue of the MAIN Update. If anyone wishes to write letters-to-editors on the benefits of MaineCare and the Parents as Scholars program in order to educate the public and policy makers about these issues, contact 1-866-626-7059 Chris ext 204 or Crystal ext 205.

Reports from around the state. Chris Rusnov reported on Northern Regional MAIN plans for the HOPE Festival in Orono on April 22 at which they will have a table to share educational materials and sell baked goods to raise money. Russell Anderson updated us on Midcoast MAIN efforts to look into the Philbrook Fund in Waldoboro. This chapter working along with a local charity, C.H.I.P., wants to make sure this fund is available and accessible to local people in a crisis.

New MAIN Leadership: With the passing of Judy Guay, vice president Russell Anderson has agreed to assume her responsibilities with the approval of members at this meeting. Approval was given to Russ to open a new account (shares/checking) at Maine State Credit Union. Shannon Collins will assume duties as treasurer and be the second signator on the checking account. Steve Hoad agreed to be our note taker at our monthly meetings.

Creating Affordable Housing in Maine. Dale McCormick, Executive Director of Maine State Housing Authority, joined us to hear our ideas on how to create affordable housing, and to share information on available resources. Dale was very impressed with our ideas and agreed to look into several that she as ED of MSHA has control over. We will continue to have contact with her on potential projects.

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If you have any questions, contact
Chris Rusnov at Maine Equal Justice 626-7058 ext. 204
or a member of MAIN's new leadership team

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE CHANGE
WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP
COME AND JOIN US!

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