|
Save
Our Lights!
|
|
American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the preservation of America's historic lighthouses.
SEARCH ALF WEB
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
Lighthouses & Their Preservation
Are Important to the Southern Maine Coast
Tourism Association
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
|
|
| |
Lighthouses mean many things to
many people. Whether you are a mariner working the waters for a living or
just visiting the coast of Maine on a |
|
| |
| family vacation, lighthouses are
invariably sought out and very much appreciated. From the ability to
safeguard lives and property to their stately presence along the coast
that conveys an altruistic and romantic aura, lighthouses are a vital
connection to our way of life. No one appreciates this notion more than
organizations like the Southern Maine |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Tim Harrison speaks to the attendees
of Southern Maine Coast Tourism
Association's June workshop
|
|
|
| |
Coast Tourism
Association who promote the state’s lighthouses as part of what makes Maine
so unique as a destination for visitors.
On June 8, 2005, the Southern Maine Coast Tourism Association hosted a
workshop entitled, “Personalizing the Maine Experience” at Fosters Downeast
Clambake in York Harbor. Business leaders from Kittery to Old Orchard Beach
gathered together to discuss strategies for enhancing the State of Maine’s
unique appeal, including the concept of building more partnerships that can
increase national exposure for the value of our beaches, historic sites,
museums, shopping, art galleries – and of course, lighthouses!
Tim Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse Foundation, was asked to
serve as one of three panel presenters and talk about why lighthouses are so
important to the community and visitors and why it’s important we work to
preserve these stately sentinels. “Nothing was being |
|
| |
|
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The American Lighthouse Foundation's
display highlighting the many facets of
the organization's lighthouse
preservation efforts
|
done to save Maine’s lighthouses twelve years ago, which
is why we founded the American Lighthouse Foundation,” said Harrison. He
went on to say, “many of Maine’s lighthouses are in danger of being lost
forever but we cannot save our lighthouses without the community’s
financial support. By working together we can preserve what is most
important to us of us. I like to refer to |
|
|
| |
the “three L’s of
Maine – lighthouses, lobsters and lodging – let’s promote and save them.”
The diligent work of the American Lighthouse Foundation to save lighthouses
and their rich history has not gone unnoticed in many of Maine’s coastal
communities. Dick Leeman, president of the Kennebunkport Chamber of
Commerce, talked about the dedication and important work of the American
Lighthouse Foundation, saying, “One of the primary icons in the State of
Maine is our lighthouses.” Leeman went on to comment, “If it wasn’t for the
efforts of the American Lighthouse Foundation we wouldn’t have as many
visitors to our state.”
The participants in the Southern Maine Coast Tourism Association workshop
demonstrated an obvious enthusiasm and appreciation for the state’s historic
lighthouses and conveyed a desire to work together to integrate these
timeless treasures more and more within the activities of coastal Maine. “I
am hearing a common theme today and that is the need to find different ways
to personalize Maine and make that connection with the visitor,” said Leeman.
“We sell that return visit.” By the end of the workshop, it was apparent
that lighthouses were coastal icons that could shine a bright light on
achieving such goals, which makes it imperative that our coastal communities
– businesses and residents alike, along with Maine’s legislators, work
together with the American Lighthouse Foundation today to ensure that these
timeless treasures will continue to “send out the light” for future
generations of Mainers and visitors. In doing so, we protect and preserve
what means most to Maine’s heritage and way of life and ensure that tourism
remains a viable factor for the state’s economic growth and prosperity.
To learn more about the Southern Maine Coast Tourism Association, visit
www.southernmainecoast.org or call (800)
639-2442
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
