Lawrence is special speaker at club meeting
The PROBUS Club of Aroostook met recently at NMCC’s Reed Commons with a total of 15 members and two guests.
President Dana Crory introduced special guest Mary Lawrence, a new member of the United Way of Aroostook board of directors, who has worked specifically with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Committee. She is the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s community liaison for facility usage and summer program coordinator. One of her passions is community service, with special interest in services to children.
A lifetime resident of Aroostook, she lives in Mars Hill with her husband of 38 years, Dean.
Lawrence described Imagination Library as an investment in Aroostook’s future. Children can be registered at birth and receive free monthly books by mail until age 5. Over 1,345 children are currently supplied countywide. The program’s total yearly cost is $33,571, which is funded by a grant.
The Imagination Library is seeking partnerships; recent partners have included the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Clubs of Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Fairfield, and the four County hospitals.
Serving on the committee with Lawrence are Ashley Corriveau of The County Federal Credit Union and Sherry Locke of MMG Insurance.
Club members learned volunteer opportunities are available on committees such as allocations, the fundraising campaign and the Imagination Library. The United Way of Aroostook’s fundraising goal this year is $490,000, accomplished through workplace campaigns, grant writing, fundraising activities such as Northern Star, and direct donations. The campaign chairperson is Luke Rossignol of Bemis and Rossignol, LLC, of Presque Isle.
Tax preparation is available at no charge for seniors on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at UMPI and at the United Way of Aroostook office, 9 Dyer St., Suite 2, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. beginning Feb. 3. Additional help will be available Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and on two Saturdays, March 28 and April 11, in Houlton.
The PROBUS Club’s next meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. at NMCC’s Reed Commons.
