The Maine Island Trail Association (abbreviated MITA) is a grassroots, volunteer-run conservation and preservation group based in Portland, Maine, United States. It was co-founded by David Getchell Sr. in 1988, following a land survey, conducted by the State of Maine, of the state's uninhabited coastal islands. The survey discovered around 1,300 unclaimed geographical features, including islands and sandbars.[1]
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.jpg) Littlejohn Island, in Yarmouth, Maine, one of the islands maintained by MITA | |
| Abbreviation | MITA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founders | Dave Getchell Sr. |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | 100 Kensington Street, Portland, Maine |
| Location |
|
Area served | Coastal Maine |
| Services | Conservation Preservation |
Executive Director | Ben Dougherty (since 2024) |
Key people | Brian Marcaurelle (program director) |
| Website | https://mita.org/ |
It also manages the Maine Island Trail, a recreational water trail which runs the entire coast of Maine,[2] connecting (as of 2023) 182 island and 76 mainland sites available for day visits or overnight camping.[3] MITA itself does not own any land;[4] it supports land trusts and private landowners in the upkeep of its islands.[2][5][6] On private and state-owned properties, public access is provided in exchange for MITA's caretaking.[4]
As of 2023, MITA has almost 10,000 members.[7] Its executive director between 2007 and 2024 was Doug Welch.[8] He was succeeded by Ben Dougherty.[9] Its program director is Brian Marcaurelle.[10][11]
David Getchell
editMITA was co-founded by David R. Getchell Sr.,[7] a native of Bangor, Maine. He died in 2018, aged 89.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "History". Maine Island Trail Association. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ a b O'Connell, Jenny (2023-06-06). "On Frenchman Bay, An Island Steward Razes the Roof". Down East Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Robichaux, Stephanie (24 May 2010). "Hit Maine's Watery Trail". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ a b Paradysz, Amy (2017-06-04). "Society Notebook: Buoying support for the Maine Island Trail Association". Press Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "10 best things to do in Maine". Travel. 2023-06-09. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Trotter, Bill (2023-08-29). "More than 5,000 pounds of debris cleaned up around Maine islands". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ a b "History". Maine Island Trail Association. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "Staff". Maine Island Trail Association. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Parson, Nick (2024-09-26). "Maine Island Trail Association Names Ben Dougherty as Executive Director - Maine Island Trail Association". mita.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ Writer, Mary PolsStaff (2017-06-18). "Christina Hassett stewards Little Chebeague Island for the Maine Island Trail Association". Press Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Writer, Peggy GrodinskyStaff (2019-04-21). "The Purifier: Brian Marcaurelle helps to keep wild Maine islands – and the waters around them – clean". Press Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "Remembering the life of David Getchell Sr". obituaries.bangordailynews.com. Retrieved 2023-11-03.