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August 18, 2012 < BACK
Maine's First Ship Annual Meeting 10:00 AM Commercial & Lambard Sts. , Bath, Maine

Please join us for the annual Maine's First Ship membership meeting on August 18, 2012 at the Bath Freight Shed at the corner of Lambard and Commercial Streets in Bath, Maine at 10 AM.  After a short business meeting, you will have the opportunity to see the work that the students and volunteers have accomplished during this year's summer program which began on July 10th.  Morse science teacher and MFS Board member Eric Varney and Shipwright George Sprague are working with the students 3 days a week this year as they fashion spars out of logs.  Several Board members have also been volunteering with the students.  Volunteers continue to work on the days that the students are not at the Freight Shed.  All students are spending their summer for the second or third year with us.  One of our students will be using her experience in her scholarship and college application process this next school year.  Rowing again is offered to the students by volunteer Chuck Mainville.

 At the annual meeting you will also be able to view the work done by our community partner, the Bath Freight Shed Alliance, led by chair Wiebke Theodore. This partnership allows for community activities to occur when the building is not used by MFS.  Students from Bath Regional Technical and Career Center have replaced all lighting in the Freight Shed and other students have worked with Wiebke in preparing drawings connected to preservation work.  Wiebke is tireless in her efforts to preserve this 19th century building and to make it a vital part of the Bath area community including the establishment of the winter home of the Bath Farmers' Market.

 We have had a busy year with significant and exciting progress.  Several community members joined the MFS Board: Jeremy Blaiklock, Gayla Teague, Richard Stevenson and Bridget Healy. Unfortunately Rich Cromwell, one of the original Board members, has "retired" due to his other important commitments.  We will greatly miss his wisdom and knowledge that he shared with Maine's First Ship for so many years.  Due to the generosity of John Bradford and David Wyman the model of Virginia was completed and presented to the Maine State Museum.  Several landowners have given white oak, pine and locust for use in the construction of Virginia. Other white oak has been purchased so that 5 to 6 frames for Virginia can be completed before the end of this work year.  

 Once again, the shallop Jane Stevens was on display at the Maine  Boatbuilder's Show in March. Many visitors stopped by to admire the vessel, to learn about MFS and to give donations.  In March we hosted a reception at the Portland Yacht Club with special guests, the late George Brett and Mrs. Brett.  We presented them with one of Will West's beautiful half models as a thank you for their generous support of MFS.  Paula Hersom and Allen Higgins of Higmo's were also honored at this time for their continuous work in supplying wood and equipment in support of MFS and building Virginia. With this event we were able to raise awareness and support of Maine's First Ship in the Portland area.

 MFS volunteer Joanne Luneau chaired the MFS Yard Sale held as a part of the Bath Area Community Yard Sale event in May with over $1000 raised at this event. Maine's First Ship was an active participant in the Bath Heritage Days festivities. MFS co-chairs Gayla Teague and Jeremy Blaiklock arranged 3 events including the Jane Stevens appearance in the July 4th parade, a Fireworks Party with a cash bar supplied by JR Maxwell's and delicious food from the Farmers' Market prepared and served by Kate Nicholson and Wiebke Theodore. Sunday afternoon logs from the Chop's Creek property of Tim and Gayla Teague arrived.  These logs are being prepared to be used as Virginia's masts. 

Our volunteers are vital to the work of Maine's First Ship. Rob Stevens has led the Saturday crew in lofting and preparations for summer work.  Countless hours on most week ends have been spent by these men and by several women who have baked snacks, sewed outfits, and served as docents.  Jay Coffey spends most of his daylight hours at the Freight Shed, telling visitors the story of the work being done on Virginia and convincing people that they should become members. It is amazing how much our volunteers contribute and as president I am very grateful to all of you for your support, in so many ways, of Maine's First Ship.

 Sincerely, Merry Chapin, MFS President

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