Jordan Swerid
March 26, 2010
[Jordan]
Good afternoon Orono. There is lots of great news to get to today including a meeting that took place in 1-1-7 Donald P. Corbett Hall on the University of Maine campus. The meeting was for your University of Maine Club Football team.
[Take VO]
[CG: Highlight film from 2009 football season]
After coming off an impressive 5-1 season in the NEFL2 Football league, The Club Football Black Bears Football team recently voted to switch leagues and become a part of the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference, an all-college division of the NEFL. Many other decisions were made throughout the meeting including uniform changes, possible coaching changes, and new administrative member positions.
[Take VO - SOT]
[Brett Davison]
[TRT: 0:12]
The new jerseys look absolutely amazing. They came out even better then we were planning. It’s a great way to start off a new season. We will be in a new league, have different and more coaches, new administrative members, and we will be looking good in our new uniforms. I firmly believe that you have to look good to play good.
[Jordan]
I wish the Black Bears a great deal of luck this upcoming fall for their respected Club Football season. Come down to Morse Field this Fall on the University of Maine campus and support your Black Bears. Thank you for listening, this is Jordan Swerid signing off.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Black Bear Club Football Meetings
Jordan Swerid
March 25, 2010
On Thursday March 18, 2010, the Maine Club Football Team held its annual Club Meeting in 117 Donald P. Corbett Hall on The University of Maine Campus. The meeting was composed of two separate sections; the first was a “new member information session” from 7:00-7:45 p.m. Not all members of the Club Football Team attended, however many veterans did come to the first meeting to talk to the new recruits. The second meeting was the Club Administrative Meeting. This second meeting was when almost the entire Club Football Team presented themselves. The Club Administrative Meeting is considered to be the most important meeting of the year and was heavily encouraged for all players to attend.
The Maine Football Club is a full-contact, regular football program. Last year they played in a league named the NEFL2 where they had a 5-1 winning record in the regular season. Unfortunately, the Club Black Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs in a very disappointing loss. Discussed in the Club Administrative was the option of playing in an “All-Collegiate” Club Football Decision. After a team vote, The Club Black Bears decided to be in the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference, an all-college division of the NEFL. They will be playing teams like The University of Vermont and Sacred Heart in 2010.
There were also a variety of position/administrative changes in the Club Black Bear Staff this year. These include:
President - Mark Ensworth
Vice President - Brett Davison
Secretary - Joseph McCarthy
Administrative Assts - Steve Siviski and Wyatt Johansson
Public Relations Director - Brandon Chandler
Media Relations Director - Joshua Lewis
Marketing Director - Dan Moriarty
Club Accountant - Matthew Finer
All men are prepared and excited to help the team out this year and work on having a successful year. New Secretary, Joseph McCarthy, had this to say about the upcoming season, “We had a very good year last year but we came up empty. It will be nice to start fresh this year and have an extensive role in the team this year as Secretary.”
One of the most exciting moments in the meeting was when Brett Davison, Mark Ensworth, and Coach Eric Whitman stood in front of team and showed off the new white and baby blue “road jerseys.” The men left the floor during a standing ovation. Another equipment change included half black Nike socks to “officially” be part of their uniforms for the fall and are mandatory to be worn and purchased at players' expense by all players.
To conclude the meeting, there was an extensive debate about the coach for the 2010 season. It is expected that Coach Eric Whitman will continue duties for another year, however, Dan Moriarty made a solid presentation and applicants are currently being considered.
The Maine Club Football Team is already excited for next season and is itching for the Fall Semester to start so they can get back on the field. Media Relations Director, Joshua Lewis said, “All students and staff of the University of Maine and everyone in the surrounding areas should come to the games and cheer on the boys. It’s a great way to spend a fall night and the boys play harder when the fans are there screaming their names. So come on down to Morse Field this fall and watch the very talented Maine Club Football Team.” The team sounds prepared and ready to go; come support the Black Bears this Fall.
March 25, 2010
On Thursday March 18, 2010, the Maine Club Football Team held its annual Club Meeting in 117 Donald P. Corbett Hall on The University of Maine Campus. The meeting was composed of two separate sections; the first was a “new member information session” from 7:00-7:45 p.m. Not all members of the Club Football Team attended, however many veterans did come to the first meeting to talk to the new recruits. The second meeting was the Club Administrative Meeting. This second meeting was when almost the entire Club Football Team presented themselves. The Club Administrative Meeting is considered to be the most important meeting of the year and was heavily encouraged for all players to attend.
The Maine Football Club is a full-contact, regular football program. Last year they played in a league named the NEFL2 where they had a 5-1 winning record in the regular season. Unfortunately, the Club Black Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs in a very disappointing loss. Discussed in the Club Administrative was the option of playing in an “All-Collegiate” Club Football Decision. After a team vote, The Club Black Bears decided to be in the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference, an all-college division of the NEFL. They will be playing teams like The University of Vermont and Sacred Heart in 2010.
There were also a variety of position/administrative changes in the Club Black Bear Staff this year. These include:
President - Mark Ensworth
Vice President - Brett Davison
Secretary - Joseph McCarthy
Administrative Assts - Steve Siviski and Wyatt Johansson
Public Relations Director - Brandon Chandler
Media Relations Director - Joshua Lewis
Marketing Director - Dan Moriarty
Club Accountant - Matthew Finer
All men are prepared and excited to help the team out this year and work on having a successful year. New Secretary, Joseph McCarthy, had this to say about the upcoming season, “We had a very good year last year but we came up empty. It will be nice to start fresh this year and have an extensive role in the team this year as Secretary.”
One of the most exciting moments in the meeting was when Brett Davison, Mark Ensworth, and Coach Eric Whitman stood in front of team and showed off the new white and baby blue “road jerseys.” The men left the floor during a standing ovation. Another equipment change included half black Nike socks to “officially” be part of their uniforms for the fall and are mandatory to be worn and purchased at players' expense by all players.
To conclude the meeting, there was an extensive debate about the coach for the 2010 season. It is expected that Coach Eric Whitman will continue duties for another year, however, Dan Moriarty made a solid presentation and applicants are currently being considered.
The Maine Club Football Team is already excited for next season and is itching for the Fall Semester to start so they can get back on the field. Media Relations Director, Joshua Lewis said, “All students and staff of the University of Maine and everyone in the surrounding areas should come to the games and cheer on the boys. It’s a great way to spend a fall night and the boys play harder when the fans are there screaming their names. So come on down to Morse Field this fall and watch the very talented Maine Club Football Team.” The team sounds prepared and ready to go; come support the Black Bears this Fall.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Logging Border War Revised and Improved (8.2)
Jordan Swerid
March 19, 2010
A major debate that has been going on for over a decade in Maine includes the cross-border tensions between Canadian and Maine logging. Loggers from Maine feel that Canadians are stealing jobs away from them and that it is unfair to the Maine loggers to be unemployed and out of jobs. On the other hand, Canadians are just trying to make an honest living. The debate is of course about which side of the border is actually correct or if there is a sufficient answer to the problem.
In 1998, the fire of the debate lit back up again since it was previously heavily debated in 1974. When one resident from Maine was asked about his goal coming into the debate, he said, “We want Canadians out of the northern Maine woods (2).” One unidentified Canadian said outright, “This is not right, (2)” while traveling near the border on October 20, 1998. This resulted in a blockade at the border by American loggers. However, this was not the first time it was attempted. “We tried this in 1974 and got very little. You’re wasting your time,” said American trucker Nelson Dubay, waving his arms for effect while talking to other Americans at the blockade (2). Since then, both sides have just gotten angrier.
On August 6, 2009, an article written by Susan Sharon suggested the same type of information just eleven years later. A study done by the Aroostook County showed that there are approximately 100 Maine loggers that are unemployed. There is a Federal law that was made to stop this from happening but Maine loggers believe that it is not being forced well enough. “I’ve lost two jobs because of the bonded labor in the past year here,” says Steve Hafford (4). “By law, the hiring of foreign workers cannot adversely affect their U.S. counterparts. But Hafford says that’s what exactly is taking place (4).” Basically, there is not enough room for both sides to be happy. Americans believe that by law, Canadians should go home because it legally says that they can not displace U.S. workers. Steve Hafford is extra bitter about the situation because he has over one million dollars of heavy logging equipment sitting in his yard right now as we speak. After applying for sixteen different jobs in the area, only four gave him a call back saying they had no work and the other twelve never responded back. Everything is going against the logging market right now. The paper industry is hurting, there are many layoffs with closures of mills, the market is depressed, and terrible weather conditions have all played a significant factor (4).
A couple of days ago, I set up an interview between Topsham, Maine native Wally Hovey and business owner from Maine (previously from Canada), Terry Tomm. Although neither are directly in the logging business, their opinions on Canadian workers in Maine are still significant. When Mr. Hovey was asked about how he felt about Canadian’s working across the border, he replied by saying, “I don’t mind Canadian’s working as long as they have the credentials. People should not be kept out of jobs because of a border line or something silly like that. The best workers should be hired for jobs.” Mr. Tomm’s situation is quite interesting and caused him to have a different opinion on the subject. “I came to Maine from Manitoba, Canada in order to take over a business. That business is running successfully and producing jobs for other Mainers. If I had not taken over the business, it would have dissolved and many people would be out of jobs. I do have a similar opinion to Mr. Hovey’s in which I also believe that people with the right credentials should be the ones working.” I believe the opinions of these two people show how many other business people feel about the situation. The only problem is that it is nearly impossible for everyone to agree on something and stick with it.
As for now, Mainers will continue applying for jobs and hoping things will turn around for them. The Canadians will also do what they are doing to earn an honest living. In conclusion, laws and rules must be made and/or enforced to stop this ongoing debate and put it in the past.
Websites Used:
1.http://www.maine.gov/portal/search?q=cache:WICr5huI83cJ:www.maine.gov/legis/house/records/121hrec/20030523.doc+Canadian+Loggers&access=p&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&client=test_collection&proxystylesheet=test_collection&oe=UTF-8
2. http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/137426.html
3. (http://www.forestecologynetwork.org/bdn1020.htm)
4.(http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/8540/Default.aspx)
March 19, 2010
A major debate that has been going on for over a decade in Maine includes the cross-border tensions between Canadian and Maine logging. Loggers from Maine feel that Canadians are stealing jobs away from them and that it is unfair to the Maine loggers to be unemployed and out of jobs. On the other hand, Canadians are just trying to make an honest living. The debate is of course about which side of the border is actually correct or if there is a sufficient answer to the problem.
In 1998, the fire of the debate lit back up again since it was previously heavily debated in 1974. When one resident from Maine was asked about his goal coming into the debate, he said, “We want Canadians out of the northern Maine woods (2).” One unidentified Canadian said outright, “This is not right, (2)” while traveling near the border on October 20, 1998. This resulted in a blockade at the border by American loggers. However, this was not the first time it was attempted. “We tried this in 1974 and got very little. You’re wasting your time,” said American trucker Nelson Dubay, waving his arms for effect while talking to other Americans at the blockade (2). Since then, both sides have just gotten angrier.
On August 6, 2009, an article written by Susan Sharon suggested the same type of information just eleven years later. A study done by the Aroostook County showed that there are approximately 100 Maine loggers that are unemployed. There is a Federal law that was made to stop this from happening but Maine loggers believe that it is not being forced well enough. “I’ve lost two jobs because of the bonded labor in the past year here,” says Steve Hafford (4). “By law, the hiring of foreign workers cannot adversely affect their U.S. counterparts. But Hafford says that’s what exactly is taking place (4).” Basically, there is not enough room for both sides to be happy. Americans believe that by law, Canadians should go home because it legally says that they can not displace U.S. workers. Steve Hafford is extra bitter about the situation because he has over one million dollars of heavy logging equipment sitting in his yard right now as we speak. After applying for sixteen different jobs in the area, only four gave him a call back saying they had no work and the other twelve never responded back. Everything is going against the logging market right now. The paper industry is hurting, there are many layoffs with closures of mills, the market is depressed, and terrible weather conditions have all played a significant factor (4).
A couple of days ago, I set up an interview between Topsham, Maine native Wally Hovey and business owner from Maine (previously from Canada), Terry Tomm. Although neither are directly in the logging business, their opinions on Canadian workers in Maine are still significant. When Mr. Hovey was asked about how he felt about Canadian’s working across the border, he replied by saying, “I don’t mind Canadian’s working as long as they have the credentials. People should not be kept out of jobs because of a border line or something silly like that. The best workers should be hired for jobs.” Mr. Tomm’s situation is quite interesting and caused him to have a different opinion on the subject. “I came to Maine from Manitoba, Canada in order to take over a business. That business is running successfully and producing jobs for other Mainers. If I had not taken over the business, it would have dissolved and many people would be out of jobs. I do have a similar opinion to Mr. Hovey’s in which I also believe that people with the right credentials should be the ones working.” I believe the opinions of these two people show how many other business people feel about the situation. The only problem is that it is nearly impossible for everyone to agree on something and stick with it.
As for now, Mainers will continue applying for jobs and hoping things will turn around for them. The Canadians will also do what they are doing to earn an honest living. In conclusion, laws and rules must be made and/or enforced to stop this ongoing debate and put it in the past.
Websites Used:
1.http://www.maine.gov/portal/search?q=cache:WICr5huI83cJ:www.maine.gov/legis/house/records/121hrec/20030523.doc+Canadian+Loggers&access=p&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&client=test_collection&proxystylesheet=test_collection&oe=UTF-8
2. http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/137426.html
3. (http://www.forestecologynetwork.org/bdn1020.htm)
4.(http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/8540/Default.aspx)
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