Houlton Rotary

No Meeting – New Years Eve

No Meet – Christmas Eve

Christmas Auction

Our Christmas auction will be postponed until some time in January because of the snowstorm.  More information will be posted at a later date.

Rotary Meeting

January 7th will be our next meeting.  It will be the District Governor Terry Lenihan’s official visit.

Rotary Meeting

Today’s program is provided by Brenda Brown and our guest speaker will be Peter Main, from the Career Center.

Art Myers will be our greeter

How To Read the ‘Tote Board’

So, you’ve found the online Tote Board – Congratulations!  This new feature will allow you to know what the current bid is for all of your favorite items – even BEFORE we announce them on the air.

When a bid comes in we update the tote board so that people answering the phones can see the current bid.  At Watson hall the tote board is projected from a computer onto a big screen for everyone to see.  Now, you can see it from the comfort of your own home.  Why is this important? Well, if you’re watching the screen you can know within 20 seconds if you have been outbid.  In previous years you either had to wait and hear the bids announced on air OR called in to get an update.

Great, so how do I read the Tote Board?

The image below will show you everything that you need to know:

Okay, what else do I need to know?

The Tote Board webpage will automatically update the image every 20 seconds (whenever a new image is available) so please DO NOT KEEP HITTING THE REFRESH BUTTON on your browser.  This will only slow the process down and delay your ability to see the image.

Also, from time-to-time, the image may disapear and be replaced with an X.  DO NOT PANIC!!!  It will go away during the next refresh.

Happy Bidding!

Have fun, bid often, bid high and be sure to take advantage of the Online Tote Board!

Momentum Aroostook

11-05-2007 Nathan Berry was guest of Craig Bean this week and he spoke about Momentum Aroostook.  It was great to have a Houlton grad with us and Nathan provided us with some great information about an important movement.

Momentum Aroostook is a group of young professionals making strides throughout Aroostook County with a goal of creating a County‐wide networking group for people ages 20‐40.

“Although major efforts are being made to stimulate job growth and provide places of employment, muchis still being reported on the out migration of our youth in Aroostook County. We feel that having other young people to network with and understand what the County has to offer is an important tool to help decrease this out migration.” said Nate Berry, member of the Momentum Aroostook Steering Committee.

Momentum Aroostook was recently formed as a networking group to accomplish just that. Main goals of the group include enjoying each other’s company and region, forming a network of support among young residents, urging those poised to leave or return to Aroostook County to realize the opportunities here, enact change and/or support initiatives that enhance the vitality of the region, exemplify and promote a positive image of our region, and help make Aroostook County more economically, culturally and aesthetically attractive.

“We feel that a group like this is long overdue. We’re already planning some outdoor events, family
gatherings, and also are looking to promote County‐wide events like the Muskie & Ploye Festival, the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, and others.” Berry added “We hope that it will grow into a real asset for the County as a group that will benefit its members and employers throughout the region in helping to recruit and retain young people.”

For those in the Aroostook County area looking for an opportunity to create, advance or enhance their
business and personal life, Momentum Aroostook invites you to become a charter member of the group. Business and social networking is key to finding opportunities in a variety of interests and Momentum Aroostook will introduce you to an entire network of energetic and enthusiastic folks.

Anyone interested in learning more about Momentum Aroostook, please email Nate Berry at
nberry@barresibenefits.com or visit them on the web at www.momentumaroostook.com

Presidential Visit

Northern Maine Community College President Timothy Crowley (center) and University of Maine at Presque Isle President Donald Zillman (right) were guest speakers at the Houlton Rotary Club’s October 29 meeting. The two presidents spoke about Question 3, the higher education bond, as well as Question 2, the research and development initiative in the upcoming November 6 election and the significance of these two measures to the communities and people of the region. Statewide approval of Question 2 would provide $50 million to the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), which would award on a competitive basis research grants for projects related to advancing Maine’s economy. An additional $3.5 million would be directed to the Finance Authority of Maine, and $1.5 million is earmarked for the Maine Rural Development Authority. Question 3 calls for $43.5 million for interior and exterior building renovations, improvements and additions at all campuses of the Maine Community College System, Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System. Altogether, County institutions would see an investment of more than $3.5 million in the infrastructure of the three local campuses. With Presidents Crowley and Zillman is Houlton Rotarian Vicki Smith, Sr. Vice President at Katahdin Trust Company.

No Meeting – Veterans Day