Your Scribe is not a joiner but I am thinking of getting involved in two groups that I encountered at the recent Commond Ground Fair: Maine Rivers and Small Woodlot Owners of Maine.

My cabin is on the Sandy River, and thus it is makes sense to join a group created to lobby for the health of the state's riverways.

I am intrigued by the year-old organization, at least based on its newsletter: Making Waves.

It appears that one of the group's goals is to (further) clean the Androscoggin River.

Good luck!

Your Scribe is wizened enough to remember the early '70s, when the federal government declared that the Androscoggin was one of the 10 filthiest rivers in the country.

Many Mainers were shocked, including then rising political star Sen. Ed Muskie (who earned national attention for his support of cleaning up the environment).

Shocked, that is, if they lived in Kennebunk, Portland or Camden.

If you lived in Lewiston, Rumford, Jay or Waterville, it was no revelation to hear that Maine's paper industry was fouling the rivers.

(The paper industry also threatened the rivers of northern Maine with their romantic but damaging log drives, and they were finally outlawed).

Evidently the Androscoggin is still receiving excessive effluent from the mills in Lewiston, and thus Maine Rivers is making an effort to foster stronger regulations.

I will check with my factotum to see if I have $25 in the til to send along. Address: Maine Rivers, 3 Wade St., Augusta, Maine, 04330.

The Small Woodlot Owners of Maine is an established organization to which I should also belong.

I am trying to thin out my 20 acres, but have been unable to get Bob the Woodsman off the dime.

Perhaps they know loggers willing to get to work this fall.

Also, they might have advice on how much to cut.

Bob is thinking of a 50 percent cut ("thinking" is the operative term) but that might be too much.

On second thought, I definitely should have someone advise me on cutting.

Stories abound about land owners being shocked when they see how much the loggers have actually taken.

I will seek advice - today.

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