Presque Isle Rotarians
ready for 65th annual auction
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle Rotary Club is gearing up for its 65th annual Radio-TV Auction, which will be held Nov. 27-29 from 7-10 p.m., and broadcast live from the Northeastland Hotel. Auction Co-Chairs Ralph McPherson and Scott Violette — and nearly 100 Presque Isle Rotarians — are hard at work preparing for this year’s auction, which will benefit seven non-profit organizations in the region, as well as raise funds for this year’s special project, Homeless Services of Aroostook.
THE 65th ANNUAL Presque Isle Rotary Club Radio-TV Auction will be held Nov. 27-29 from 7-10 p.m. and broadcast live from the Northeastland Hotel. 
This year’s auction will feature nearly 700 items valued at more than $50,000. Proceeds from this year’s regular auction will go toward seven area non-profit organizations that were chosen for funding, while Homeless Services of Aroostook has been designated this year’s special project. Pictured with some of the items up for bid are auction co-chairs Scott Violette, left, and Ralph McPherson.
“People’s generosity is amazing,” said McPherson, who has been a Rotarian since 2001. “Given our economy and what we have for businesses, people have been wonderful. Not only do the businesses donate items to the auction, but many give in advertising, too.
“This is all about the community projects that we support. The organizations that have been selected this year, as we’ve seen in past years, are exceptional at what they do and they make such a big difference in the community,” he said. “And as a Rotary Club, we’re only able to help them because of the support we get from the community.”
The club has a long list of auction items, including 3-night special items, one-night special items, regular one-night items, and art auction items. In fact, the auction is expected to feature nearly 700 auction items generously given by more than 200 donors. The total value of these items is estimated at more than $50,000.
Among this year’s big-ticket items include a 2011 Wildfire Scooter donated by Griffeth Ford Lincoln Mitsubishi and Griffeth Honda, a Honda generator with electric start donated by Katahdin Trust Co. and Harry’s Motor Sports, an infrared portable heater provided by TD Bank and Lynox Welding Supply, and iPads contributed by MMG Insurance.
A new feature of this year’s art auction is that the Presque Isle Rotary Club has partnered with the Wintergreen Arts Center on the effort, with all proceeds going toward Wintergreen’s after-school programming. All art pieces connected with the auction — which includes everything from pottery and stained glass to paintings and fiber arts — will be on display at the Wintergreen Arts Center until the auction and viewable online at http://pirotaryclub.org/?cat=9.
“We have 24 art pieces that will be auctioned off this year which is about doubled than what we’ve had in the past,” said McPherson. “This is the 10th year of the art auction, and we’re happy to partner with the Wintergreen Arts Center this year.”
While the majority of bidders are from the area, McPherson said sometimes people who used to live in the Star City call in to say “hello” and place a bid.
The auction co-chairs encourage people to scour the auction booklet and phone in their bids.
“They’re great items and oftentimes you can get them at 70 or 80 percent of their value,” McPherson said.
“Even if you pay full price, the money goes to local charities around town or Aroostook County,” said Violette, who has been a Rotarian since 2007.
Proceeds from this year’s regular auction will go toward seven area non-profit organizations that were chosen for funding. The recipients selected for this year’s auction proceeds are:
• The Francis Malcolm Science Institute ($3,000), to install state-of-the-art cove lighting within the planetarium theater. This new lighting will replace semi-operational, outdated cove lighting. The new lighting will enhance the quality of presentations and illuminate the theater for teacher/student interactions.
• Hope and Justice Project ($2,500), to purchase five twin beds for its transitional house. These beds will be occupied by women and children who are seeking safe shelter from an abusive situation. The transitional house also provides advocacy and support in order to help rebuild and restore lives that have been affected by domestic violence.
• Aroostook Huskies Football Club ($2,500), to purchase new football helmets in compliance with helmet manufacturers’ requirements that mandate helmets 10 years or older must be discarded. These helmets will improve the overall safety of the youth by reducing the risk of head injuries and post-concussion syndrome.
• Friends of Aroostook ($2,000), to help build and supply water to a Rimol Greenhouse that will provide fresh produce to soup kitchens and food banks throughout Aroostook County. The greenhouse will extend the growing season, making it possible to provide produce throughout the spring and fall.
• Martha and Mary’s Ministries ($2,000), to purchase two replacement freezers and one refrigerator to provide adequate refrigeration and storage of all meats and produce that require cold storage. Martha and Mary’s Ministries is located in Presque Isle and serves meals to needy individuals and families. It is open Monday through Friday and there is no cost for the meal.
• Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery ($1,000), to purchase four 3-by-6-foot display cabinets for its meetings and operations room. These cabinets will be used to display historical artifacts and documents from Maine veterans.
• Presque Isle Historical Society ($1,000), to help refurbish “Molly the Trolley.” The Historical Society has purchased a 1985 tour train for the purposes of city tours. The money will help refurbish the trolley by providing a back-up camera, public address system and cushions for the seating.
Each year the Rotary Club chooses a project or organization to receive Special or Major Project status. Past major projects have included mammography, dialysis and other much-needed equipment for the local hospital, a new roof for the Catholic Charities of Maine warehouse in Caribou, upgrades to Mantle Lake Park, lighting at the Nordic Heritage Center, and the establishment of a non-profit dental clinic to serve disadvantaged children in the region, just to name a few.
This year’s special project goal of $25,000 is earmarked for the purchase of new beds, bunk beds, and footlockers for the area’s homeless shelter. These new additions will allow Homeless Services of Aroostook greater flexibility in stacking and moving beds, increasing their ability to reach full capacity. The footlockers will provide the facility’s residents with a place to store their clothes and personal belongings in a locked storage unit. Homelessness has been a growing problem in the region and it affects many families. The Sister Mary O’Donnell Shelter is the only emergency shelter north of Bangor and the only facility in Aroostook County established to provide shelter for the displaced and homeless.
“The tough part is choosing the auction recipients,” said Violette. “We got around 30-plus requests this year and then we had to whittle them down. It’s hard because there are so many worthy projects. We try not to repeat too many of the same ones every year, so we can spread the money out a little bit, but in some cases, there’s an emergent need that will come out and we’ll go with that group. That’s one of the tougher processes.”
“We’ve budgeted $14,000 to give back to the community through these recipients,” McPherson said, noting that the auction typically raises between $36,000 and $40,000, in addition to funds raised specifically for the special project. “That’s a little more than what we did last year, but it’s something we felt strongly about.”
Proceeds from the auction will also support many other community projects throughout the entire year through the Rotary Youth Fund, Scholarship Fund, General Fund, and World Community Service Fund.
McPherson said while organizing and running the annual auction is time-consuming — and occasionally stressful — it’s a lot of fun, too.
“It’s our fellowship time and a time that we work together as a group,” he said. “It’s one of the few times when we all get together. It’s fun.
“This is the 65th year of the auction, and none of this happens without community support,” said McPherson. “From the donating businesses to the people who call in their bids, this is a team effort and we appreciate everyone’s support.”
Auction booklets with a complete listing of items were inserted in the Nov. 14 weekly newspapers and extra copies are available at participating local merchants.
Bidders can call 764-6181 or 1-866-902-2003. Successful bidders will be notified following the last half-hour of each evening. They can pick up their items at the distribution center, which this year will be at the North Street Plaza, Suite 17, near Pat’s Pizza.
In addition to being broadcast on Time Warner Cable (Channel 9) and Big Country 97 (96.9 FM), a live streaming webcam of the quote board will be available on the club’s website (www.PresqueIsleRotary.org). People can also follow the auction on Facebook at presqueislerotary and on Twitter at @PIRotary.
