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MADAWASKA — On Wednesday, Dec. 19, officials from Maine's credit unions, the State of Maine and the World Acadian Congress 2014 gathered at NorState Federal Credit Union in Madawaska to unveil the design of the new commemorative license plate to mark the 2014 World Acadian Congress/Congres Mondial Acadien. The plates will benefit the World Acadian Congress 2014, which is being held jointly in Aroostook County, part of New Brunswick and part of Quebec, and the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. This is the first time since the US celebrated its bicentennial in 1976 that the State of Maine has issued a commemorative license plate to mark a signifi cant event. “The fact this is the first such license plate that our state issues in nearly four decades speaks volumes about our recognition of the outstanding contributions of the Acadian people here in the St. John Valley and of Franco-Americans throughout our great state,” said Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers. “It also demonstrates our recognition of the signifi cance of the coming event that will bolster both economic and cultural development in the international host region.” The CMA is a huge event held every five years in a region of the world inhabited by Acadians. It draws more than 50,000 visitors from 44 different countries and has an economic impact that exceeds $50 mil lion. In 2014, the CMA will be hosted by the international region known as Acadia of the Lands and Forests, which incorporates the northernmost part of Maine, as well as north western New Brunswick, and southeastern Quebec. The special license plate, proceeds from which will support efforts in Maine to organize the activities planned for Aug. 8-24, 2014, was initi ated by former State Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake. Martin was the lead sponsor of the bill passed in the second regular session of the 125th Maine Legislature. The co-sponsors of SD 1611 were then-Senate President Kevin Raye of Washington County, Sen. Troy Jackson of Aroostook County, Rep. Bernard Ayotte of Caswell, and Rep. Ken Theriault of Madawaska. “The money we will raise with the sale of these com memorative license plates will certainly help us move forward in Maine. Fortunately, we are blessed with a truly committed and dedicated team of volun teers that grows by the day. We also have communities and organizations throughout the St. John Valley who are excited about the coming events and are mobilizing to make this happen in a truly grassroots way. What we may not have in financial resources we will more than make up for in sweat equity and community spirit,” said Jason Parent, CMA Maine International president. Maine efforts to prepare for the events were given a huge boost at the license plate unveil ing ceremony. David Rossignol, chairman of the Maine Credit Union League Board of Directors and president/CEO of Norstate FCU, announced that the commemorative plates would go on sale beginning Dec. 20, at all participating Maine credit unions. He also announced that the first-of its-kind partnership between Maine's credit unions and an event with statewide impact would, in turn, help Maine resi dents in greatest need. “We are so pleased that Maine credit unions will be the official distribution source for the 2014 WAC Commemorative License Plate and that they go on sale today at participating credit unions across our great state,” said Rossignol. “We are also pleased to announce that, as part of our partnership, the 2014 WAC Maine organizers have, in turn, partnered with us to support a key project of Maine's credit unions-the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. For every plate sold at any credit union in Maine, $1 of the proceeds will support the campaign.” John Murphy, president of the Maine Credit Union League, said the league and Maine's credit unions’ support of the World Acadian Congress 2014 truly honors the roots of many Maine credit unions. “Many Maine credit unions had their beginnings in communi ties across Maine that have a strong connection to the French Acadian and Franco-American heritage and culture. This is a natural partnership for Maine's credit unions and we are excited to not only support this event, which will benefit the entire state, but also help raise money for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, a cause that has raised $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine since it began in 1990,” Murphy said. A commemorative license plate is different than the offi cial license plates issued by the state to support various causes such as agriculture, the University of Maine, and breast cancer research, among others. It does not have any numbers/ letters on its face and cannot replace the legally issued plates. The legislation passed by state lawmakers, however, will allow for the CMA plate to be placed over the face of the existing legal plate on the front of the vehicle. The CMA com memorative plate will expire in December 2015 and can remain as the visible license plate on the front of vehicles registered in Maine through that time. The existing legal plate on the back of the vehicle must remain on and visible. The CMA 2014 commemo rative license plates cost $25 each. The cost for the state to produce each of the high-qual ity metal plates is $9. Under the legislation, the proceeds (or $16 from the sale of each plate) will go to the organizing commit tee of the 2014 CMA in Maine. CMaA organizers will, in turn, donate $1 to the Maine CUs’ Campaign for Ending Hunger for any commemorative plate sold through a Maine credit union Stop by most Maine credit unions to purchase a plate or visit www.mainecal.org to order online. 2014 World Acadian Congress officials are pictured with a large print of the commemorative license plate recently issued by the State of Maine. Participating in the unveiling are, left to right: Emlien Nadeau, WAC 2014 president; Jason Parent, WAC 2014 Maine International president; David Rossignol, board chair of the Maine Credit Union League; John Martin, former state rep resentative and bill sponsor; State Representative Ken Theriault, bill co-sponsor; and Sen. Troy Jackson, bill co-sponsor.
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Biddeford Journal Tribune
Biddeford, Maine, US
Fri, Jan 04, 2013
Page 4
Full Page
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USA 21 Jul 2026
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