The Maine Alliance for Road Associations (MARA) was formed circa 1998 by Betsy Connor Bowen. MARA is a Non-Profit Corporation with a volunteer Board of Directors currently comprised of five MARA Members: Betsy Connor Bowen, Founder/Director Emeritus, so honored unanimously by the Board on September 19, 2020; Andrew L. (Sandy) Allen, President/Administrator; Roberta Manter, Legislative Liaison; Greg Sleeper, Secretary; Jim Bunting, Treasurer; Erin Barker, Director; Colleen Nevius, Director.

MARA Member, Greg Sleeper, Was elected to the Board in early 2025, and became Secretary later last year. His minutes and contributions at meetings have received much deserved acclaim. 

In the last 6 years, MARA Membership has almost doubled. We are currently working with MARA Member "Guests" at our Board Meetings to explore a mutual "fit" leading to Board Membership. MARA Member Colleen Nevius has recently been elected to the Board. She has been nominated to become our new Treasurer. She will replace Jim Bunting who will remain on the Board after stepping down as Treasurer. Elections for officer positions will be held soon. We will let you know the results.

  

At our Private Road Association Conference on September 28, 2024, we honored Betsy Connor Bowen, in absentia, with gifts and a Special Award of appreciation for her seminal work in starting the Maine Alliance for Road Associations. A week later, the Board presented her award and gifts in person (Erin via Zoom) at her residence in Hallowell: 

Left to Right: Roberta, Jim, Sandy

Seated: Betsy Connor Bowen, Founder

(Photograph by Ray Bersch)

None of us is an attorney in Maine. Therefore, we cannot interpret law or give legal advice. Opinions expressed by Officers/Directors in replies to member emails or posted to the Discussion Forum are their own, based on experience, and do not represent MARA or its Board.    

Our Alliance remains an online volunteer-sponsored community in response to the need to disseminate information to property owners who wish to form road associations for sharing maintenance costs of private ways under the continually evolving: 

Maine Private Ways Statute

Although informal road associations may be successful for some owners, MARA favors the more formal “Statutory” structure permitted by the Private Ways Statute. This Statute offers road association governance through democratic processes, cost-sharing that is enforceable, and gravel road maintenance that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

We sometimes publish a Newsletter for our Members aptly entitled, "Mud Season". The Newsletter contains information about us, our finances, articles of common interest, current legislation, and our activities on behalf of people living on private ways in Maine.  One edition, MUDSEASON 2022, is posted below to help you know us better and perhaps act as an enticement to join with us. Check it out:

MUDSEASON 2022

 

MARA sponsors Road Conferences that feature speakers on road association matters of interest such as road association formation, operation, and private road maintenance. See our Events Page for details! 

Our "Message Board" Discussion Forum is supported by its members and serves as an information clearinghouse on all matters of importance to road associations.

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