MeSSA is hosting ANNE BALLARD for our 2013 conference on May 30, 31 at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. We will have a large vendor display, roundtable discussions, a mini-seminar (topic TBD) on Thursday and Anne will be the speaker on Friday. This event seems to grow exponentially each year, so be sure to save the dates and stay tuned for additional details and invitations. This information-packed conference is FREE to members, so why not join now? Please contact Mark for more information or download our membership application under the JOIN US link.

FREE CONFERENCE! AWESOME SPEAKERS! GREAT PRIZES! We still have a few spaces left for the 2013 Maine Self Storage Association conference. The extended deadline is still May 15, 2013 – please click this link for the electronic version of the conference brochure with registration form http://tinyurl.com/bm465up . It also contains an agenda and information on our speakers (Anne Ballard and Bob Copper, two of THE top names in self-storage marketing!). We hope to see you on Thursday and Friday, May 30 and 31 at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. Anybody who has attended in the past will tell you that this is an event not to be missed. Questions? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Send your registrations to: MeSSA, PO Box 413, Gray, ME 04039.

To everyone attending: be sure to bring plenty of business cards – we’ll be having vendor giveaways and you’ll need your business cards to enter.

A special thanks to our vendor sponsors:

Universal Management Co.

Self Storage 101

Bader Company

Boyd & Boufford Insurance

Collin Box & Supply

Flexospan

Janus International

The Rabco Corporation

SMD Software - Sitelink

SpareFoot, Inc

Sperry Van Ness

Storage Auction Solutions

Storsmart Insurance

Syrasoft Management Software

Pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 16, the general effective date for nonemergency laws passed in the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature is Wednesday, September 28, 2011. We celebrate our changes to our lien law SP0442, LD 1428, item 1, 125th Maine State Legislature An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Self-service Storage in the State. We have much to be excited about-we have made changes to our law that enable us to do business in a way that is less cumbersome, will save us money, and will make it easier to comply. Many other states are seeking some of the same changes that we have made and most are having success. Our success is huge considering  we have made far more changes than any other state has sought. SSA attorney, Scott Zucker, commented that our new law is “the storage operator’s dream”. MeSSA will be offering a new lease template and operational guideline incorporating these changes and the changes from the previous legislative session regarding third party personal documents in storage. This template/guideline has been drawn up by attorney Scott Zucker. It will be FREE to MeSSA members and will be available to non-members for a fee.

Maine Legislative Document 1499, “An Act to Protect Confidential Consumer Records in Self-Service Storage Facilities,” has been passed by the Business Research and Economic Development Committee. The Maine Self Storage Association (MeSSA) has worked with the state legislature to craft and amend this new bill pertaining to the handling of third-party personal records in self-storage.
 
After a recent review of the bill, the BRED Committee asked MeSSA to work with the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection to agree on appropriate language regarding self-storage operation and leases as well as the association’s stance on the bill. After some legislators expressed concern about the bill, amendments were made, after which it passed the committee unanimously. The outcome of this bill was much more favorable than we had hoped for. MeSSA appreciates the help from two legislators in particular with regard to the last minute changes: Representative Jayne Crosby Giles and Representative Susan M.W. Austin. We also appreciate the help and guidance of our lobbyist, Ron Collins. The bill was signed by Gov. Baldacci on March 22, 2010 and is now in effect. MeSSA members have access to this new language in the "MEMBERS ONLY" section of the website.