PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Although she had recently announced plans to retire in early September, Dottie Hutchins, Wintergreen Arts Center’s executive director, has decided to remain in her position and use technology to work with staff and the board as she and Wintergreen embark on new chapters.
Throughout the past month Hutchins has met with Rodney McCrum, president and CEO of Pineland Farms in Mars Hill, to discuss Wintergreen’s financial situation as a nonprofit organization. McCrum, whose grandchildren participate in activities and classes, suggested the arts center work to pay off the remaining balance of a $50,000 loan they received from the Northern Maine Development Commission in 2009.
Hutchins said Wintergreen still owes at least $26,000 on the loan. On top of those expenses, the center’s free 10-year lease on their current building will expire Oct. 31. Wintergreen had been located in the Aroostook Centre Mall when the two previous owners won the lottery and allowed the center to have free rent, electricity and heat at the 149 State Street location for 10 years.
Dr. Curt Young of Presque Isle now owns that building, and he and Wintergreen board members have negotiated a reduced rent of $1,500 per month, which includes heat and electricity, instead of the former owners’ cost of $2,500. In order to raise the $50,000 necessary to pay off the center’s NMDC grant and put aside $24,000 for the next 16 months of rent payments, Hutchins and McCrum have reached out to area business leaders in hopes of raising the funds within two to three weeks.
“Over the years, paying off the loan has been a struggle and at times, individual board members have taken turns paying the interest on the note,” Hutchins said. “We want to get the burden of debt off Wintergreen.”
Hutchins and McCrum have visited business leaders to ask them to consider donating to the cause. In their second week of outreach work, they reported having raised a total of $8,500.
The expedited fundraising campaign, Hutchins noted, is because she and her longtime partner, Michael Lavoie, plan to spend at least eight months from the end of September through May 2019 travelling by RV to the Southwest, a trip they have hoped to embark on for many years.
Instead of stepping down from her position, Hutchins will videoconference with Wintergreen staff and board members while on the road. Thanks to a recent $25,000 grant from MMG Insurance, Wintergreen has purchased laptops, a scanner, digital accessories and a Smart TV to offer digital art classes, which Hutchins will also use.
“We want to make sure that we have a game plan in place for Wintergreen before I leave,” Hutchins said. “Doing video chats is the best way that Michael and I can move ahead with our plans but still make sure that I’m fully engaged with the center.”
During Hutchins’ absence, Wintergreen administrative assistant Kara Addington will step up as center manager and various board members and volunteers will be on hand to assist in holiday events and special programming such as Ladies Night, Sip and Paint and First Friday Art Walk exhibitions.
“The staff at Wintergreen is a dedicated group who often step in and work in many different capacities, so our day-to-day operations will continue without disruptions,” said Kim Guerrette-Michaud, chair of the Wintergreen Board of Directors. “Dottie has worked diligently to help us prepare for the end of our 10-year lease and her staying on will allow her to direct the final phases of those plans.”
Hutchins has also researched various grants to help the center expand programming and cover future operation costs. Throughout her travels she will work on at least a dozen grant applications and proposals.
The center receives around $10,000 in individual donations through their Spring Pledge Drive, in which they seek funds from area residents and businesses, and a $20,000 grant from the the City of Presque Isle to help subsidize the after-school and summer arts programs to keep prices affordable for students’ families. In the past they have also received grants from the Maine Arts Commission.
Although the Wintergreen board has discussed the possibility of moving to a new, likely larger, location, the center will remain on State Street for now as long as current funding is successful.
But eventually, Hutchins said, Wintergreen might want a space that can accommodate the expansion of popular programs such as their preschool program, which is now in its third year. The center had planned to add an afternoon session, but that proved less convenient for working parents.
“We’re now back to only one session of preschool with 14 students and had to turn away 14 more who were signed up for the afternoon session. If we had a larger space we would have been able to accommodate 28 students by having two classes at the same time,” Hutchins said.
“But for the near future we’ll be staying where we are and we’re very grateful to Dr. Young for his generosity and support of our mission.”
Businesses who wish to donate to Wintergreen’s fundraising campaign can contact Hutchins at (207) 462-1313.
