Pem Schaeffer’s letter (”Questioning Claims in Diversification,” June 11) aims to poke holes in a recent piece by guest commentator Gary Anderson, “Converting to Diversification,” (June 5, 2014). Anderson is a member of a new coalition, Midcoast Citizens for Sustainable Economies (MCSE), who has been studying the issue. MCSE appreciates the opportunity to address Mr. Schaeffer’s letter here.

First, to his comment: “I have no personal recollection of such BIW ‘embrace,’ nor it’s ‘celebration.’” This is in reference to Anderson’s claim of “BIW’s expressed embrace of ‘non-military nondefense oriented projects.’” Mr. Schaeffer may want to take a look at the Labor Day rally that took place in BIW’s yard, with President Bill Clinton, union leaders and BIW President Buzz Fitzgerald, in 1994. There were several enthusiastic proclamations toward a vision of “non-defense oriented projects” in BIW’s future, and very enthusiastic responses. (See: http://www.cspan.org/video/?60004-1/labor-dayrally.)

In regard to Anderson’s claim of Governor LePage scuttling the Statoil Wind Project — in which BIW had a stake, by all reported accounts — Mr. Schaeffer wrote: “Similarly, I’d appreciate proof that BIW was about to become a leader in wind turbine manufacturing, and how Governor LePage personally and specifically negated that transition.”

There are many articles to be found on the subject, such as the September 23, 2013, article in the Portland Press Herald by Alanna Durkin, which begins: “Before its public push to have Maine reconsider wind energy proposals, Gov. Paul LePage’s administration worked behind the scenes to explicitly derail Norwegian company Statoil’s multimillion-dollar agreement with the state for an offshore wind project, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.”

Mr. Schaeffer sadly did not recognize Anderson’s dry humor when Anderson wrote, in his guest commentary, that since Brunswick is “flourishing” with development since the closure of BNAS, “one might almost entertain the thought that maybe what Bath needs for development is ‘Goodbye BIW.’” Further, his claim that Anderson is an anti-Capitalist reinforces the fact that Mr. Schaeffer does not know Mr. Anderson.

Lastly, to Anderson’s claim that, “Here in Maine, there is growing interest in Connecticut’s model,” Mr. Schaeffer wrote, “I have no knowledge of such ‘growing interest,’ so I’d appreciate the author’s illumination on this matter.”

That’s where MCSE comes in. We would like to invite Mr. Schaeffer and the general public to a free community forum at the Bath Winter Street Church on Friday, June 27, for an evening of discussion about Connecticut’s (and other states’) legislative moves to job diversification in the military sector and the future of Maine, in the face of certain military budget cuts.

We expect a very robust evening, and speakers include Miriam Pemberton, a Research Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. , who writes and speaks on demilitarization issues for the Institute’s Foreign Policy In Focus project; Sen. Margaret Craven of Androscoggin County, co-chair of the joint legislative committee on Health and Human Services and former member of the Appropriations committee; and Leslie Manning, chair of the Public Policy Committee on the Maine Council of Churches, former deputy at Maine’s Department of Labor, and one-time officer with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The night begins with a friendly potluck, at 5:30, and the panel discussion will begin at 6:30. There will be ample time for public questions and discussion of the issue. The Winter Street Church is located at 880 Washington in Bath, across from the Patten Free Library. Admission is free, though donations will be gladly accepted to cover costs.

MCSE has been in regular and ongoing contact with a number of state senators and representatives, some of Maine’ s Congressional delegation, and folks running for state and federal office. All have expressed an interest in further discussions.

Senator Angus King’s office has expressed interest and has scheduled a meeting with MCSE as well.

Midcoast Citizens for Sustainable Economies presents the forum under the auspices of Midcoast community group, Vital Connections, whose quarterly public forums work towards fostering self-sufficiency and sustainability.

For more information, email [email protected].

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The Rev. Carol Huntington is a member of the Midcoast Citizens for Sustainable Economies. She lives in Bath.