Exciting New Changes Planned for PI Rotary Auction

When the curtain rises on the 69th Annual Presque Isle Rotary Auction November 29th and 30th, and December 1st, regular bidders and viewers will notice some exciting changes Rotarians are introducing this year.

First, the TV auction, which airs live statewide on Time Warner Cable Channel 9, will be more fast-paced than in previous years.  Rather than half-hour bidding segments with more than two-dozen items, this year's auction will feature 15-minute blocks with 12 items on each board.

Technology will enhance the "look" of the broadcast, which, for the first time, will include electronic boards featuring the name/description of an item, along with the item number and value. Aside from the new visual features of the television broadcast, the reach of the live auction will extend world-wide. It will be simulcast on the internet, in its entirety. Townsquare Media of Presque Isle will host the live webcast of the auction on its Big Country 96.9 website at www.bigcountry969.com.

Another change that will likely be noticeable to regular viewers will be a slightly new venue for the auction. The broadcast will be live from the Red Room on the first floor of the historic Northeastland Hotel in Downtown Presque Isle. This will mark the first year the auction originates from the main level of the hotel. In previous years, the broadcast was live from the ballroom in the hotel's basement.

With many new features, one tradition auction viewers and bidders can be certain has not changed is the large number of great products and services generously donated by local businesses and organizations that will be up for bid over the three evenings. Over 600 items, altogether valued at over $50,000, have been solicited by Rotarians and other community volunteers.

The six proceed partners selected for the 69th Annual Presque Isle Rotary Auction are as follows:

- Aroostook County Action Program, emergency funds for unmet needs County-wide

- Central Aroostook Association, construction of a recreational area and outdoor pavilion

- Friends of Aroostook, farming supplies to support Meals on Wheels

- The Northern Lighthouse, expansion of its Mental Health Resource Library

- Pregnancy Care Center, update of Prenatal Health and Parenting Education Materials

- United Way of Aroostook, expansion of the Dolly's Imagination Library Program

This year, the Rotary Club has selected Aroostook Football as the Special Project Partner.

Community members interested in learning more about Rotary can visit www.PresqueIsleRotary.org or contact any Rotary member.

This information was submitted to us as part of a press release. If you would like to share your community news or event with our audience, please email newspi@townsquaremedia.com.