By Phil Harwood

Everyone has their own unique “bucket list” of things they want to do before it’s too late. If your bucket list does not include visiting the beautiful state of Maine, I’m going to try to convince you to add it to your list. Not only that, I’m going to invite you to join me this May in Maine for a unique educational and networking experience. 

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As I was thinking about the “bucket list” concept, I began to wonder where this idea came from. And what happens when we do some of them. Do we check them off the list? Do we fill up the bucket? Why is there a bucket to begin with? Inquiring minds want to know!

One theory is that the  bucket list concept came from the idea of “kicking the bucket” when a person dies. Well, that simply begs the next question, “Why does someone ‘kick the bucket’ when they die?” There is a logical explanation. 

It turns out that during your run-of-the-mill, Saturday afternoon public hanging in the town square, the person being executed would stand on a bucket until the executioner kicked the bucket out from underneath them. With no bucket to support them, the noose tightened, and… well, you know the rest. 

So, the bucket list is what we want to accomplish before the bucket gets kicked out from underneath us. Nice to know. 

Now, let’s talk about Maine. Why should Maine be on your bucket list? Here are the reasons: 

First, it’s a beautiful state. It has an amazing, rocky coastline. You might even see a moose walking around. 

Second, the Snowfighters Institute is holding an Inner Circle event in Rockland, Maine on May 25-26, 2022. Rockland is just north of Portland, Maine. 

Third, the LL Bean flagship store and world headquarters in Freeport, Maine is on the way. This is a destination in and of itself for LL Bean customers. The massive complex is right off the highway. Shop, have lunch in the cafe, and have your purchases shipped to your home.

Fourth, our Inner Circle event is one of the premiere educational and networking events in the snow industry. It is two full days of education, group discussions, private dinner, and ample opportunity to extend your professional network. 

Fifth, Rockland is home to the Fisher brand of snow plows and ice removal equipment… and they will be our host. Fisher Engineering has been a major employer in Rockland since 1948 and is one of the best-selling brands in our industry. Attendees of Inner Circle will enjoy a complete factory tour and behind-the-scenes access to one of the top companies in the snow industry. 

So, have I convinced you to add a visit to Maine to your bucket list? Maybe not. But, hopefully, I’ve convinced you to check out our webpage. Registration is open and some of your peers have already registered. If you are serious about attending, you should register now because we are anticipating an early sellout.

Hope to see you in Rockland! 

Now go forth.