PORTLAND – The University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School will kick off “Changing Maine: 1960-2010,” a series of free public lectures by Maine policy experts examining changes in the state’s political, economic and social landscape.

The series will run from Sept. 3 through March 17 at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Moot Court Room at the University of Maine Law School on USM’s Portland campus.

The program will feature policy experts from around the state who will address topics ranging from the economy and taxes to education and the arts.

The series will begin with a lecture by Muskie School Professor Charles Colgan titled “Maine’s Changing Economy: the Rise of Urban Maine.” The lectures will be recorded and broadcast through a partnership with Maine Public Radio. They will also be published in a book scheduled for release by Tilbury House in the summer of 2004.

More information about the series may be found on the USM Muskie School Web site at www.muskie.usm.maine.edu.

Fall open house

FARMINGTON – The Gold Leaf Institute will hold its fall open house and kick-off from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the University of Maine at Farmington Student Center. The institute is an organization associated with UMF.

Parliamentarians

SOUTH PORTLAND – The Thomas B. Reed Unit of Westbrook will host the Maine Association of Parliamentarians Educational Conference starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Governor’s Restaurant, 700 Main St. President Bertha E. Rideout of Litchfield will preside.

Loretta Santagata of Cranston, R.I., will present “Less is More, More or Less.” Colleen G. Reed of Westbrook will discuss “Motions Used to Adopt Bylaws” and “Plain English Approach of Bylaws.”

The conference is designed to aid students, heads of organizations and individuals to prepare for leadership, both civic and political, in their own communities. It is a community-learning experience open to all. For more information, call Colleen Reed, 856-2151, or e-mail colleenprp@juno.com.

Craft business

PORTLAND – The Maine Crafts Association and Maine College of Art are co-sponsoring “Your Craft, Your Business,” a day-long business conference for craft artists on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the college. The fee is $125. The registration deadline is Sept. 19.

Developing presentation skills, learning marketing techniques and building strong business skills will set the foundation for Maine’s craft artists to promote their work on a local and a national level.

Visit www.meca.edu or www.mainecrafts.org for details. To register or for more information, call the college at 775-5157, extension 231 or 1-800-639-4808, extension 231.

Volunteer class

PORTLAND – Hospice of Maine announces fall direct service volunteer training class covering all aspects of volunteer hospice care and end-of-life issues. Successful completion of the training leads to certification and assignment with individuals and families facing terminal illness.

The class consists of 11 three-hour sessions from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays beginning Sept. 17 and one Saturday session from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 18. All sessions will be held at the offices and training facility on Ocean Avenue.

A pre-training interview is required. Call for application material and to schedule an interview at 774-4417 or 800-303-9272 or e-mail info@hospiceofmaine.org or www.hospiceofmaine.org.

Brochures out

AUGUSTA – Old Fort Western’s 2003/2004 school year and 2004 calendar year program brochure is available. The brochure describes 12 programs available to public, private, and home-school teachers and other educators and to clubs, groups, historical societies, civic and social organizations at the fort and/or in classrooms or other meeting places statewide.

A summary of the brochure has been mailed to nearly 10,000 teachers, guidance counselors, curriculum coordinators, principals and other educators statewide. The full brochure may be downloaded by clicking on the “program brochure” button at www.oldfortwestern.org or by phoning Old Fort Western at 626-2385.

The fort will mark its 250th anniversary during 2004.