Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Despite challenging economic times, community members helped make the 62nd annual Presque Isle Rotary Club Radio/TV Auction a success.
Photo courtesy/Bob Grove-Markwood
KEEP THOSE BIDS COMING — Pitching in at the telephone table during the 62nd annual Rotary Radio-TV Auction held Dec. 1-3 at the Northeastland Hotel were, from left, Easton fifth-grader Jake Flewelling, Frank Keenan and Darrell White. Flewelling’s father, Brian, a Rotarian, was volunteering in another capacity during the fund-raising event.
“We were very happy with how the auction went,” said auction co-chair Jeff Pangburn. “Early on we were concerned with how the economy might impact the auction, but at the end of the day, the community supported it once again.”
“This was the second best auction dollar amount-wise that we’ve had since 2000,” said Floyd Rockholt, auction co-chair. “In merchandise sales, we raised $30,200. Last year, we received $26,800 in merchandise sales, so we’re pleased with that. The overall half-hour bids were down a little, but the one-night and three-night items made up for it. I was shooting for getting what we got last year, but we did a little over 10 percent more than last year, which, given the economy, is wonderful.”
Money raised from the auction, which was held Dec. 1-3, will support several worthy causes including Catholic Charities of Maine, Central Aroostook Humane Society, Wintergreen Arts Center, Nordic Heritage Center, Presque Isle Historical Society, SAD 1 Emergency Fund and Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization.
“We set specific financial goals for the charities that we designated which totals $12,500,” said Pangburn. “Then we try to appropriate another $12,500 for the club which funds community projects throughout the entire year including the Rotary Scholarship Endowment Fund, youth hockey and world community service projects.
“Hopefully the extra money we raised through the auction will enable us to get involved in some other projects throughout the year,” he said, “since we’ll have some funds to invest back into the communities.”
Pangburn said there are a lot of longtime Rotarians that help keep things moving smoothly.
“They really know how to make the auction work year after year,” he said. “We had one glitch where someone tripped over a cord and shut our phones down for a couple minutes, but that was quickly resolved. Other than that, things went well, and we couldn’t be happier.”
The seventh annual Presque Isle Rotary Art Auction, held in conjunction with the Radio/TV Auction, was also quite popular.
Residents bid on eight original pieces from local artists generating $1,280.
“I think the art auction went extremely well,” said Rockholt. “We didn’t have as many art pieces this year, but we were able to give the artists more time and attention. It gave us more of a chance to promote the artists which helps them out, too.”
In mid-January, Rotarians will not only award the local agencies their checks but officially kick off the 2010 auction process.
“We’re hoping to use the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club as the site of our annual wrap-up dinner if they’re done constructing it in time,” Rockholt said. “It would be very symbolic having it there because not only was it our special project this year, but we raised money for the initial construction of the snowmobile club 25 years ago.”
While the auction has been broadcast locally on Time Warner Cable Channel 9, this was the first year that the television station aired the event throughout the state.
“We certainly hope to do it again next year,” said Rockholt. “Alton Hartt, our past president, called in bids from Portland and we had some relatives of Rotarians that bid from southern Maine, as well.
“We got a call from a woman in Brewer who was looking to find out where she could get an auction booklet,” he said, “so interest in our auction is definitely catching on throughout the state.”
Rockholt will be the Rotary Club president next year, while Pangburn will be the senior auction co-chair. A second auction co-chair will be named at a later time.
Photo courtesy/Bob Grove-Markwood
CAMERA READY — Rotarians Scott Violette, left, and Joe Clukey get their microphones adjusted just before going live as auctioneers on Time Warner Cable and Citidel Radio.
Photo courtesy/Bob Grove-Markwood
FAMILY AFFAIR — Presque Isle Rotarian Eric Waddell recruited a couple helpers during this year’s auction — daughters, Avery, age 6, and Rowan, 3, who helped run bids from the bid board to the auctioneers. Pictured with Waddell are son, Ethan, 21 months, and Rowan. Waddell’s wife, Jennifer, was also in attendance.
Photo courtesy/Bob Grove-Markwood
TEAMWORK — Presque Isle Rotary President Nancy Fletcher is all smiles as she congratulates Auction Co-Chairs Jeff Pangburn, left, and Floyd Rockholt on another successful three-day charity fund-raising event.
Photo courtesy/Bob Grove-Markwood
ARTISTS AT WORK — Rotarian Ginny Joles interviews master carver Tom Cote and his granddaughter Elizabeth Bencivenga, members of the Limestone-based Top of Maine Wood Carvers, during an auction television interview.
