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Read about SUFU's History by monthly summary updates. Each page contains monthly summaries covering a 3 year timeframe. Follow the links at the bottom of each page to read about different years.
2003 January: A panel of 3 self-advocates present and facilitate discussions with a group of middle school students & high school students in Caribou on issues of similarities and differences between people with and without disabilities.
2003 January: Nearly a dozen self-advocates give testimony to the legislature & over 25 send written testimony.
2003 January: SUFU officers meet with Lu Zeph to discuss possible collaboration & how to strengthen relationship.
2003 February: Self-advocates from Region 5 collaborate with BDS representatives to hold a forum about upcoming budget cuts. Participants share concerns about the services they most fear loosing.
2003 February: George O’Donnell one of the founders of the Houlton Peer Group passes on. Funding provided by CCI to publish FYI from SUFU: What Self Advocates Need to Know About Self Advocacy. A project George had started in 1998.
2003 March: SUFU works with DRC & BDS to form EATC (Employment Alternatives Transition Council). The DD Council & CCI later join this effort.
2003 March: SUFU speaks out in favor of closing Aroostook Residential Center and supporting people to move into the community.
2003 March: SUFU terminates service with grant writer/consultant. No grants have been applied for and the organizational plan is still incomplete.
2003 March: SUFU’s training booklet on self-advocacy is published through funding from CCI.
2003 April: A SUFU member who has been on the Olmstead Roadmap for Change presents the Roadmap with 2 other Olmstead members to 40 self-advocates & gets feedback from participants.
2003 April: SUFU gets a $3000 mini-grant from the national Project Vote and the Kennedy Foundation. Two self-advocates, an advisor and a state legislator go to Oklahoma to be trained in Project Vote.
2003 April: As a part of EATC, members of Speaking Up For Us pass a resolution on work, stating the importance of finding and learning to do jobs they like, in the community when preferred, and to have help doing this.
2003 April: Four SUFU members attend SABE Region 8 Conference in NH to network with and learn from other states.
2003 May: Two members of Project Vote team go to Washington DC to share the VotingRights story from Maine and to support the right to vote for people with guardians all over the country.
2003 June: SABE is impressed with SUFU’s voting rights story from Maine and pays for the rights to share the story with others.
2003 June: SUFU supports board member from Region 6 to start a new self-advocacy group in Bath and gives support to an existing group in Brunswick to re-energize and plan for the future.
2003 June: Gardiner’s self-advocacy group works with groups in Lewiston and St. Albans to host a self-advocacy celebration for Regions 3 & 4. Over 75 people attend this event at Uplift in Gardiner with a cookout (with local legislators working the grill) and a dance. Self-advocacy speakers Chandra Murphy and Emily Fish speak on ‘How to Turn Anger Into Focusing on Getting What You Need’ and ‘Using Humor to Deal with Tough Situations.’
2003 June: Three self-advocates and three supporters attend a 3-day Community Inclusion workshop in Topsham. SUFU members join Inclusion Teams in different parts of the state to increase acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities.
2003 June: SUFU offers support to residents of Aroostook Residential Center (ARC) who will be transitioning into the community during the coming year. SUFU members’ ideas for successful integration into the community are shared with management at the ARC.
2003 July: Northern Maine Peer Groups loose $10,000 grant. Self-advocates write letters to BDS to get funding back.
2003 August: Project Vote Team presents about the importance of voting, how to register and make decisions on candidates and issues to audiences in Augusta and Farmington.
2003 October: Nearly 300 self-advocates and supporters come together September 30-October 2, 2003 to celebrate 10 years of self advocacy. “March to Maine” Guests from Rhode Island’s Advocates in Action help with technical aspects of the event. Representative Pat Colwell gives keynote speech.
2004 April: Jodi Benvie announce she will resign to pursue other interests. Mary Schneckenburger is hired as the new Project Director.
2004 April: Co chair Kelly Baston and former chair Sherry Howes attend a Massachusetts self advocacy board retreat in Rome Maine to facilitate.
2004 May: SUFU holds it’s annual board retreat to plan goals and objectives for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The board’s focus will be on self determination.
2004 June: Self advocates from Machias and Calais unite to start a self advocacy group in Washington County.
2004 July: SUFU is too big for PSL we choose a new fiscal agent, Disability Rights Center
2004 September: Self advocates lose a former four term President to the Presque Isle Peer Group, Derrick Curry
2004 October: Self advocates Tracy Hancock and Michelle Harvey present on Exploitation in Massachusetts at MASS Annual Conference
2004 October: Nine self advocates and supporters attend Lakes Region Self Advocacy group in Concord New Hampshire to attend People First of New Hampshire’s 20th anniversary celebration
2004 October: Self advocates attend “We the People” in Rhode Island a voting focused conference
2004 October: SUFU host it’s annual conference at the Grand Summit in Bethel for 250 self advocates and supporters “ Changes”
2004 November: Officer unite with officers and self advocates from New England at Mt.Sunapee NH for SABER8
2004 December: 10 Self advocates and Supports attend the DRC Celebration
2004 January: Self advocates from Bangor KFI unite to start a self advocacy group bi-monthly
2005 February: Self advocates attend budget hearings and testify in opposition, attend a Maine Can Do Better Rally
2005 February: Officers and advisors meet with K. Moody of the DRC to address concerns about SUFU.
2005 February: Colin Lilley one of the County’s first self advocates passes on too young.
2005 April: SUFU struggles with concerns of management and makes a tough decision to remove their Director
2005 May: The board decides they will hire another advisor, the person will not be a director.
2005 July: Julie Moulton is hired as a supporter for regions four and six
2005 October: SUFU host the 2005 Conference “Dreams”
You are on the 2003 - 2005 Timeline, follow the links to read more