HOULTON, Maine — A sure sign that the holiday season is right around the corner, the 64th Annual Houlton Rotary Radio, TV and Internet Auction returns Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25-27.
Similar to the format that was adopted last year, this year’s auction will again air from 6-9:30 p.m. each night on WHOU Radio 100.1 FM, ending an hour earlier than in the past. 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.
The auction is held at Watson Hall at the Episcopal Church on Main Street and the public is welcome to attend. The Rotary Club will again utilize 20-minute periods rather than half hours. There will be ten 20-minute periods beginning with the first one running from 6-6:20 p.m. The last period will run from 9-9:20 p.m. The 10 minutes from 9:20-9:30 will be used exclusively to take bids for the nightly specials and 3-Night Specials.
As a result of the shortened periods, successful bidders are no longer reader on air. The successful bidder lists will be posted on the Club’s website and Facebook page and will be featured in a “crawl” across the bottom of the screen for those watching on TV or online.
Beginning one hour after the close of a period, people can call the storeroom number at 521-5891 to check on successful bidders. The first successful bidder list will be posted at 7:20 p.m. each night.
A Facebook auction will also continue to be a part of the overall event and runs from Wednesday, Nov. 20, through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Those interested can search for Houlton Rotary FB Auction to find the items and can bid by leaving a comment under the chosen item. A listing of the Facebook Auction items is also included in the Auction supplement in the Houlton Pioneer Times.
The Rotary Auction is the major fundraiser for the Houlton Rotary Club. A supplement detailing the auction items for each 20-minute period, special items, phone numbers, store room hours and other information is in the Houlton Pioneer Times. 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.
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 the 2019 auction are equipment for Houlton High School’s Modern Band Program and High Jump Mats for Houlton’s Track and Field Program. Funds will also be used to support SAMHA, Houlton Disc Golf, Cary Library, Literacy Programs and Backpacks For Kids.
Other projects that will benefit from auction proceeds include Dollars For Scholars, Rotary Youth Exchange, Student Recognition Day and Little League.
Nightly special items are also featured. These items may be bid on throughout a given night. Successful bidders at the close of each night will be awarded these items.
There are also 3-night special items which will be featured throughout the auction and this year range up to $17,100. The 3-night specials this year include an 18’X 24’ logs-only camp package from Ward Log Homes, a chimney liner kit, a love seat, a year of free coffee, 8 cords of long length firewood, a generator, wall-mount fireplaces, a car starter, a gun cabinet, a rifle, fuel oil, gift certificates and advertising.
The retail value of the items donated by area businesses and individuals is over $63,000 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 521-5894. Those outside the local area, but in state, may call toll free at 1-844-934-5894. The Rotary Club is asking bidders to make minimum bids of at least 50 percent of the listed value for the items. Bids will be taken in whole dollar increments to assist programming and tracking of bids.
Individuals calling in to bid will give the Rotarian on the phone the item number they are bidding on and the amount of their bid along with their name and phone number. The bids are then posted on a status board. The status board will be available for viewing online.
The auction room is located in Watson Hall and the public is welcome to visit. Bids can be placed from the auction room until 3 minutes before the close of each period. No bids are accepted from the auction room after the 3-minute bell has been rung.
Successful bidders can pick up their items at the auction storeroom. The storeroom is also located at Watson Hall in the Episcopal Church on Main Street. The storeroom is open daily during the auction from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is open the two days following the auction.
Specific hours are listed in the auction supplement. All items should be picked up by the close of the storeroom on Friday, Nov. 29, at 5 p.m. The storeroom phone number is 521-5891. When picking up items, individuals are encouraged to give their name to the storeroom clerk and bring a list of their item numbers with the amount of the successful bids to match up with the storeroom records. Items must be paid for in full at the time of pick up. Payment can be made by cash or check.
Credit cards will again be accepted for payment on purchases up to $1,000.
For years, part of the annual auction has been the Boy and the Boot Endowment Program. People can, again, make a pledge to the Boy and the Boot Endowment Fund during the auction. The pledge represents a $1,000 contribution to the endowment fund of the Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation which benefits local healthcare. The $1,000 pledge is emblematic of $1,000 bequest by Clara Frisbee to the town in 1916, which was used to purchase the local Boy and the Boot statue. Some payment options are available and some businesses offer payroll deductions. At the completion of the pledge, the contributor receives a limited-edition pewter replica of the Boy with the Leaking Boot Statue.
In addition to the Boy and the Boot Program, Rotary is offering two additional opportunities for people to give. Pledges of $100 will be accepted to benefit this year’s designated programs. In recognition of the donation, contributors will be featured on a banner that will be displayed at Watson Hall where the Houlton Rotary Club meets weekly. Donors will also receive a special “Rotary Partner” pin. Those wishing to help Cary Library can make a $25 pledge to purchase a book or books. The donor’s name will be placed on a nameplate in the front of the book to recognize the gift. Pledges for all three programs can be made by calling the Rotary Auction numbers. Further information is available on the Club’s website.
A $500 certificate for product has again been donated by Dead River Company and will be given away during the auction. Tickets are available from any Rotarian and will be available at the auction. Tickets are $1.00 each or books of 6 for $5. The product will be delivered anywhere within the Houlton-Patten and Aroostook County Dead River district. The drawing will be held the Monday following the auction, Dec. 2, to allow people to purchase tickets at the storeroom.
The Houlton Rotary Club extends its thanks to all of the generous businesses and individuals who contributed items to this year’s auction and encourage 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 chair Katie Hill, club president Tracy Rockwell or any member of the Houlton Rotary Club. Information is also available at www.houltonrotary.org .
