United Maine Craftsmen

THE 2022 SEASON WAS A SUCCESSFUL ONE FOR THE UNITED MAINE CRAFTSMEN. OUR MEMBERSHIP DECREASED DUE TO RETIREMENT OF MEMBERS, MEMBERS FINDING OTHER AVENUES TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS, I.E. THE INTERNET AND CO-OP STORES, AND MEMBERS STILL HAVING A FEAR OF THE PANDEMIC. WE HAD A VERY BENEFICIAL ANNUAL MEETING WHERE WE CHOSE TO LOWER THE MEMBER FEE AND DO AWAY WITH THE ASSOCIATE FEE. THIS WAS DONE TO TRY TO IMPROVE MEMBERSHIP WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. WE ALSO DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE GATE FEE AT THE SHOWS, AS MEMBERSHIP FELT THAT IT WAS MORE OF A NUISANCE FEE. THE SHOWS WERE THE SAME AS IN 2021, AND INCLUDED AUGUSTA, FALL FESTIVAL, FLAHERTY FARMS, HOLIDAY, AND BREWER. DUE TO LACK OF PARTICIPATION, WE NEEDED TO CANCEL THE FLAHERTY SHOW. ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC WAS DOWN AS WELL. WE DECIDED NOT TO CHARGE A GATE FEE FOR OUR BREWER SHOW TO SEE IF THAT WOULD IMPROVE ATTENDANCE. THERE WERE SEVERAL LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS BY VENDORS FOR ALL SHOWS, DUE TO ILLNESS. COVID IS STILL AN ISSUE. A SUMMARY OF ATTENDANCE IS AS FOLLOWS: AUGUSTA - 48 VENDORS, 1,165 ATTENDEES FALL FESTIVAL - 25 VENDORS, 701 ATTENDEES FLAHERTY FARMS - CANCELLED HOLIDAY - 45 VENDORS, 1,435 ATTENDEES BREWER - 24 VENDORS, ADMISSION WAS FREE ALL CATEGORIES OF CRAFTS WERE REPRESENTED AT EACH SHOW BY AT LEAST ONE VENDOR. THE MAJORITY OF THE VENDORS HAD A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, EVEN THOUGH THE CUSTOMER ATTENDANCE WAS DOWN AT ALL OF THE SHOWS. THE UNITED MAINE CRAFTSMEN ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT 2023 SEASON THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS TWO 300 ART SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY TO STUDENTS PURSUING A MAJOR AND CAREER IN A VISUAL ART.