From the Desk of Sunbeam Captain Michael T. Johnson
The Maine Fishermen’s Forum is the perfect amalgam of the many groups that form the life we all love on the Coast of Maine. The diversity of the exhibits is astonishing, ranging from the fishermen themselves with all their associated suppliers, to the Maine Marine Patrol, and multiple environmentally minded organizations. I cannot even begin to scratch the surface; this is a big conference hall with financial institutions and safety related groups (who would have expected that Harvard has a booth?) filling out the rest.
Your gift to the Maine Seacoast Mission makes you part of all we do.
What makes this event special to me is the comity. It would be easy to assume that there might be some friction when the diversity is so great, but I have yet to see it. From the fishermen laughing with the Marine Patrol officers to the NOAA crew checking out the latest diesel engines, it is a heartwarming example of people coming together for a common purpose.
Maine Seacoast Mission has had a presence at the Forum for the last ten years. We did a one-year trial and found it successful for three reasons. First, it highlights the community connections that we already have. The friends that we have made on the islands make a point to stop by our booth to visit. This is reinforcing our purpose. It is one thing for us to visit an island, but being sought out in a different context is such an affirmation. We love our island buddies, and the feeling is obviously mutual. Second, we share our message with folks that might not know the extent of our services. Most people have at least heard of the Sunbeam, although they might not know about The Island Reader, or various other small but important aspects of our program. This is shared both at our booth, and when Douglas and Taylor present at some of the Forum’s many seminars. Third, as captain I make a point to open the pilot house door and wave at any lobster boat with whom we pass closely. These are often boats from harbors that we do not visit often. It is significant to me when a lobsterman comes up at the booth and says that we have been waving at each other for years but have never formally met. There is a level of respect between captains that is difficult to describe.
As the 51st Fishermen’s Forum gets underway, the Sunbeam staff is proud to again represent Maine Seacoast Mission. From our humble beginnings in 1905 with a 29-foot sailboat, to the multi-faceted programs aboard Sunbeam V, we have been there for the past, are present in the present, and will be here long into the future.