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October 16, 2003
Dear Maine Woods Coalition Members;
I write this letter to the membership to notify you that I give my notice of resignation effective at the 2003 annual meeting of our organization. My resignation includes not only my position as an officer for the organization, but also as a member of the steering committee. I wish to tell you now so that you may have time to find a suitable replacement for the positions of president and chairman of the steering committee. I take this action because it is abundantly clear to me that I do not have the time nor the resources to do these positions justice. My work as Town Manager for Greenville requires me to take leadership roles on a variety of projects, especially in the arena of economic development. Forwarding a common vision for the future of the North Maine Woods which benefits all stakeholders as we have defined them as an organization is still of great importance to me, as is developing a plan for the same. However, I have been unable to act effectively for several months in the positions I currently hold within the Maine Woods Coalition. There must be someone else in our organization that can step up and lead our organization more effectively. The Maine Woods Coalition was formed with the noble purpose of creating a groundswell of interested residents, property owners, businesses and organizations with property or interest within the northernmost four counties of the state who want to see public policy which protects and enhances their interests in the Maine Woods. There is a great deal of change in this region, and there are multiple, complicated forces at play in the changing of these land use functions. I still believe policy makers need to recognize first and foremost the needs of those of us who live, work, and own property here – our voice must be heard and our needs considered whenever Maine Woods policy issues are considered. However I may help your organization as a member I will, and I will continue to voice my own opinions and ideas as the Manager of a Gateway community, as a regional economic developer and as a native of Piscataquis County. Good luck in the future.
Respectfully Submitted;
John Simko |