Annual Meeting Recap

Over 100 members and guests attended the 2022 Friends of Baxter State Park annual meeting held online on April 7. President Ellen Baum presided over the meeting, reporting on the endowment campaign thanking the over 200 contributors. She thanked Development Committee Chair Steuart Thomsen and members of the committee for their hard work and a successful campaign. She also reported on the strategic plan and updated mission/vision statements. Baum introduced our new Membership Coordinator, Rachel Spatz Bidstrup.

Committee reports followed, highlighted by the nominating committee's work, with three new board members voted in: Anna Bastidas, Associate Director of the Outing Club at Bowdoin College, former Park Director, Jensen Bissell of Milo, and author Hope Rowan of Southwest Harbor.

Interim Baxter State Park Director Dan Rinard, provided an update on the Park, reporting that the transition of leadership is progressing, and discussed how the Covid 19 Pandemic changed everything from the Park's supply chains to local housing. The park had a 24% increase in use this winter and emphasized that the Park continues to strive for a balance between use and preservation.

The evening's presentation was a panel discussion on scientific research in the park. President Emeritus of Chewonki, Don Hudson and Justin Schlawin from the Maine Natural Areas Program presented finding from long-term monitoring and surveys in Baxter State Park. Don has studied alpine plants on Katahdin, conducting the first survey of plants in the 1980s, and assisting with a new survey that is promising interesting results. Justin's work focuses on the study of old-growth forests.

Both emphasized that BSP is home to many rare species and is an ideal area for this research due to the lack of human intervention. Their baseline work will help determine the impact of climate change on the Park.

Executive Director Aaron Megquier answered questions from members in a lively open forum. He updated that we have achieved 96% of the goal for the endowment campaign. Minutes of the meeting are posted on our website (link) and the recording is on our YouTube channel. If you're not a member, consider joining us to support our mission and get the most out of your Baxter experience.