On September 25, 2008, Anne Galvin Bremer spoke with Ann Matlack, Assistant to the City Manager of Rockland, Maine, a current Coast Guard City. Rockland is a community of about 7,000 people. The Coast Guard City designation began as an effort to honor a citizen who had collected a great deal of Coast Guard items and established a small museum.
The City of Rockland becomes very involved with the Coast Guard Sailor of the Year Program and honors the Coast Guard at their Lobster Fest, which coincides with the Coast Guard Birthday. Due to their small size, they are able to work very closely with the Coast Guard families who reside in Rockland. They have problem solved with issues of local families accessing health care at their civilian hospital and are currently assisting families in getting favorable heating oil contracts for the winter months.
Ann found the application instructions for the Coast Guard City Program to be non-specific, but advised that Portsmouth should make the application package as personal to the city as possible. Rockland, Maine included a lot of photographs in their application. Ann advised Portsmouth to brainstorm to think of all the ways the city supports coastie families. She also advised that the "go to" Coast Guard City is Grand Haven, Michegan.
Ann Mattlack may be reached at 207-594-0305 or amattlack@ci.rockland.me.us.
Contact us at coastguardcity@aol.com.
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