HOULTON, Maine — The 68th annual Houlton Rotary Radio, TV & Internet Auction will take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 20, 21 and 22. The event will air at 6 p.m. each night on WHOU Radio 100.1 FM. It will be televised on both Spectrum Cable Channel 1302 and Pioneer Channel 100. It is also streamed on the Houlton Rotary Club’s website and Facebook page as well as on the WHOU Facebook page. The auction is held at Watson Hall at the Episcopal Church on Main Street and the public is welcome to attend.
There will be 10 20-minute periods beginning with the first one running from 6-6:20 p.m. The last period will run from 9-9:20. On Monday and Tuesday evenings, the 10 minutes from 9:20-9:30 will be used exclusively to take bids for the nightly specials and 3-Night Specials. On Wednesday evening that will be expanded with the 10 minutes from 9:20-9:30 being used exclusively to take bids for the Wednesday Night Specials & the 3 Night Specials. hen from 9:30-9:40, bids will be taken exclusively for the 3-Night Specials.
The successful bidder lists will be posted on the club’s website. Successful bidders will pick up their items at the storeroom located at Watson Hall, which is sponsored this year by J McLaughlin Construction. A drive thru option will again be available in the parking lot. Everyone is encouraged to bring a list of their items to be reconciled with the master list and a list of any donations they may have pledged. The storeroom will close at 5 p.m. on the days the auction is underway. Full hours of operation for the storeroom can be found in the supplement. The storeroom phone number is 207-538-1968.
The auction is the major annual fundraiser for the Houlton Rotary Club. A supplement detailing the auction items for each 20-minute period, special items, phone numbers, storeroom hours and other information is in today’s issue of the Houlton Pioneer Times. The supplement sponsor for this year is Houlton Water Company. The information is also available on the Internet at www.houltonrotary.org. There will be links from the website to view the auction live on the Internet. Details will be provided on the site. This year’s internet sponsor is Houlton-Hodgdon Adult & Community Education Maine College & Career Access Program.
Each year, a major project or projects are funded by the Rotary Auction in addition to their many other charities. The major projects to be funded from 2023 are “Building For The Future” which will provide an equipment storage building for the Houlton Football Association, snack shack updates for the Houlton Sports Boosters and an equipment storage building for Northern Maine Lacrosse. Funds will also be used to support youth ski trails & programs at Big Rock Mountain, the Future Professionals of Aroostook Program, Backpacks For Kids and Cary Library. Other projects that will benefit from auction proceeds include Dollars For Scholars, Rotary Youth Exchange, Student Recognition Day and Salvation Army.
The retail value of the items donated by area businesses and individuals is over $75,000 and add-on items are still coming in. Add-on items can be contributed by contacting a Rotarian.
Bids can be made for any items by calling the Rotary Auction room at 207-538-1537.
Pledges will again be accepted for the Boy & the Boot Endowment Program in addition to pledges for books at Cary Library or to directly support this year’s major projects. Full details are on the back page of the supplement.
The Houlton Rotary Club extends its thanks to all of the generous businesses, farmers, organizations and individuals who contributed items to this year’s auction as well as the many advertisers and sponsors. The club encourages the public to call in and enjoy the auction by bidding on the many items available.
Further information on the Rotary Radio, TV & Internet Auction is available by contacting auction Chairperson Annette Beaton, Club President Joe Fagnant or any member of the Houlton Rotary Club. Information is also available at www.houltonrotary.org.
