Presque Isle Rotary Club reaches Gold Brick milestone

   PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – This year’s Rotary Auction left the Presque Isle Rotary Club seeing gold as the club fulfilled a promise made 50 years ago to raise $1 million in support of local health care. This commitment, known as the Gold Brick Program, supports the purchase of needed medical technology and equipment for The Aroostook Medical Center.    “Over $170,000 was raised at this year’s auction alone, making 2007 the most successful year in the history of the Gold Brick Program,” said Larry LaPlante, president of the TAMC Endowments Board. “The commitment made by the 122 Rotarians who were members of the Presque Isle Rotary Club in 1958 was extraordinary, and it took the support of an entire community to make their vision become a reality. It’s a great day for the Presque Isle Rotary Club, the community, and The Aroostook Medical Center.”
The interest from the endowment fund is used to purchase medical equipment for TAMC. This year, funds from the endowment were used to purchase three new dialysis machines at County Dialysis Center. In past years, interest from the fund has been used to purchase pediatric, imaging, orthopedic, and other medical equipment.
“One of the best things about the program is that the benefits of a pledge last forever,” said Joe Clukey, president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club. “If, for example, the endowment fund earns interest at a rate of 5 percent, every $1,000 pledge to the program contributes $50 every year for medical equipment. It’s a gift that will keep giving for generations to come.”
In total, $137,550 was pledged at this year’s auction, exceeding the club’s goal of $103,000. Thirteen of the pledges were made in the amount of $2,500 or more. These 13 pledges qualified for a 100 percent match offered by Healthcare Charities, the fund-raising organization of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. With this match, the total raised for the Gold Brick Program in 2007 was $170,050.
“The enthusiasm among the community, Rotarians, and TAMC employees and medical staff this year was tremendous,” added LaPlante. “The pledges came at a steady pace throughout the auction, one right after another, and by the time it was over, we realized that the goal was not only reached, but exceeded.”
For the first time, community members who were not able to make a pledge for an entire brick had an opportunity to contribute to a Community Gold Brick. This collective community pledge will be recognized on the Gold Brick Wall at A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital along with every other pledge made to the program over the past 50 years.
“What has amazed me is that the club and the community had the determination to follow through on such an extensive commitment,” said LaPlante. “The Gold Brick Program started before some current members of the club were even born. I know the 1958 club would be proud of the way the community has supported this program over the years.”
Seven members of the 1958 club are alive today, and all seven were named Gold Brick Program Honorary Chairmen for this year’s Gold Brick Program. Two of them, Edward Hews and Wilfred Guerrette, attended the auction.
“It’s interesting to think about what it must have been like for the 1958 Rotarians,” said Clukey. “In a time when the average American made only $5,500 in an entire year, the club made a commitment to get 1,000 pledges of $1,000 each. There have always been so many worthy causes to support, so it’s clear that those 122 Rotarians were truly committed to health care. But none of this would have been possible without the help of the community. The community deserves a huge thank you for their support over the years.”
Although the Rotary Club has fulfilled their original commitment, the Gold Brick Program will continue. The club will not solicit additional pledges, but The Aroostook Medical Center will continue to make the program available for community members who want to honor or memorialize a loved one. Pledges to the program will continue to support the endowment fund.