The Western Mountains Alliance will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. Its purpose is to develop a regional identity for Western Maine and to give it a voice, one that is more often heard and better understood in Augusta.

The nonprofit’s service region is huge: 40 percent of Maine’s land mass but just 12 percent of its population in Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis and Somerset counties.

Small wonder that WMA is not a household word in the River Valley – not yet, anyway. Our communities are strongly represented by board Chairwoman Becky Welsh, member Jackie Cressey of Bethel, chairwoman of Western Mountains Senior College, and the Rev. Ginger Snapp-Cunningham of the Mexico Green Church.

Despite its low profile here, WMA has contributed importantly to the River Valley. Its leadership development program empowers local leaders, introducing them to new resources and developing their management skills.

Three years ago, Rumford Hospital’s Deb Gorham and several colleagues were a Lead Western Maine team. “Two direct results,” she said, “were a diabetes support group and a diabetes education program for youth.” She is clearly excited about the program that includes a television production and has spurred collaborations among school districts and organizations like the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

The Alliance, Becky Welsh said, is “…on the cusp” of greatly increasing its impact on the western mountains region of Maine. On the eve of its 20th anniversary celebration, WMA has a new executive director, Tanya Swain. She came to WMA from the Maine Community Foundation where she’d staffed the Oxford County Fund. She’s a collaborative thinker, Becky observed.

WMA is in new quarters in Farmington, sharing them with Bruce Hazard’s Mountain County Heritage organization, the better to plan for collaborative projects.

For more information on the Western Maine Alliance log on to www.westernmainealliance or phone 207-778-3885.

A promising program, the Alliance’s Eat Smart – Eat Local, will be the focus of a conference Oct. 6 and 7 in Farmington. Reconnecting Farms and Communities will examine connections between food and human health and ways in which local farmers can supply – carrots and potatoes for starters – local school lunch programs. Great idea!

The conference is in keeping with WMA’s practice of convening public forums to look at both sides of important public concerns. Hence, the Sept. 26 forum on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights.

Linda Farr Macgregor lives in Rumford and is the author of “Rumford Stories.” Contact her: [email protected]