P.S. Why would we have to make our own nightlife? This the area where 
street dancing after dark is the norm. We also have a few watering 
holes. Of course, you can't mind a stuffed deer head over the bar--or 
you could do as I do and just don't look at the thing. Or we could all 
haul up to where the bush pilots land in the Allagash River and hob nob 
with the wealthy New Yorkers who like to drop in.
Joan

On Aug 13, 2008, at 10:26 AM, gretchen halpert wrote:

> Joan,
> Thank you for the helpful information and links.
>
> I actually attended a conference at UMFK many years ago! The 
> conference was with the Josselyn Botanical Society, which has held 
> annual meetings in Maine since 1894. (I went to a later one, in the 
> 1980's.) I believe their last meeting was just in Aroostook County 
> while we were in Ithaca. So they are still going strong. (Maybe we 
> could get a speaker/presenter from JBS? When you get to presentations, 
> let me know. I may be able to come up with some names.) The land is 
> beautiful up there, everyone. If you like woods, wilderness, rivers, 
> lakes,solitude, wildlife... You could extend your vacation to the 
> vibrant city of Quebec or to canoeing the wilderness waterways or 
> hiking Mt. Katahdin. Plenty of inspiration for painting.
>
> The small campus will be convenient and we will all get to dine and 
> socialize together. We may have to make our own nightlife, but that's 
> never been a problem.
>
> Thinking ahead, if any of you has an interest in hosting conference 
> 2010 in a location near you, let us know! The board is finalizing the 
> conference handbook as we speak, which will make organizing a meeting 
> a breeze. Most all your questions will be answered in an easy to 
> access CD, which we will happily send to you.
>
> Sincerely,
> Gretchen
>
> Gretchen Halpert
> GNSI past-president
> illustrator/educator
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 5:01 PM, Joan Lee <[log in to unmask]> 
> wrote:
>> Some questions about Fort Kent have been asked. I will sent to the 
>> LIST and to the newsletter detailed information later. In the 
>> meantime, know that our costs at the UMFK campus are reasonable, that 
>> this area hosts the International Can-Am sled dog races, the 
>> International Biathlon competitions, winter special olympics, and 
>> groups like ours (the latest being the annual convention of the 
>> Business and Professional Women's Club).
>>
>>  Transportation information later. For now, you do not have to fly 
>> into Bangor and make the four hour drive north to Fort Kent. You can 
>> fly into Presque Isle. That airport will be open for business as 
>> their contract extends through 2010. We can rent buses and individual 
>> rental cars. If driving, it depends on from where you are coming. If 
>> you are coming from the midwest, say Chicago, it is closer to enter 
>> Canada and drive across Canada (their highway is less crowded and in 
>> most sections in better condition than in the US).
>>  So, enjoy the sites, and I'll be back online next Monday at the 
>> latest--I hope. Joan
>>
>>  In the meantime, check out these web sites:
>>  ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Kent,_Maine
>>
>> http://www.fortkent.org/
>>
>> www.umfk.maine.edu/
>>
>> http://www.fortkentchamber.com
>>
>>  and, for the fun of it: Check out the maps. The pinkish stuff is New 
>> Brunswick on the right side and Quebec on the left. Follow the river 
>> (St. John River) along 161 until you see Dickey. To the left of that 
>> is the word group St. John River--my property starts at the O in St. 
>> John and goes straight south up the hill to the blue sled dog trail. 
>>  Now that's on the edge of the wilderness and you won't be going 
>> there unless you all want to. Some neighbors have offered to arrange 
>> a picnic for us on the St. John. UMFK's wilderness camp is only a few 
>> miles away. A Maine Guide (whose usual clientele is hunters from 
>> south--NYC included) is writing up plans for some activities for us.
>>  /http://can-am.sjv.net/