The Wrack

We enjoyed a fantastic 26th crafts festival. Take a look at these stats:

• 2nd largest attendance this century (~3,500)
• most crafters ever (109)
• largest gross profit ever (maybe net profit too? we're still counting)
• oodles of member renewals, new members, and rejoining-after-many-years members
• 219 high-fiving volunteers
• 30 businesses donating goods
• 104 raffle items donated, valued at $8,324

We tried something new this year  awarding three People's Choice awards based on the number of raffle tickets entered into each donated piece's box.

Congratulations to these inaugural winners:

Would a neat package stuffed with a fresh Watermark, a daringly long President's letter, and a ready-to-write snow globe card inspire more gifts to the annual fund? Or would it have little more impact than a simple request for year-end donations?

The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is special. Not a day passes that we dont think of this unique place as a gift to those of us who work here, to the wildlife that abounds here, to the coast of Maine and to the international community of estuaries, and of course to our members and to the public.

Because so much of our operating support comes from our members and donors, we believe it is in the best service to you and your gifts that we operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Truthfully, I'm more of a Thanksgiving person than a Christmas person. I prefer rich food to rich presents; giving thanks to getting gifts (though I never say no).

I'm thankful that the United States Postal Service is still solvent (as of this writing). Because they are, and because of our great partners at local printer Edison Press, Laudholm members should shortly receive in their mailboxes our latest gift and thank-you: the fall issue of our Watermark newsletter and one-of-a-kind greeting card.

T'is the season, so in the Watermark package?we're also asking our friends and members to send a contribution to our Annual Fund before December 31st. Even if you've never given to us before, you can start by signing up as a member on Giving Tuesday (November 27) or any time this holiday season.

Watermark went to press before we could put in a mention of something else we're recently thankful for: some great new friends at the Corning plant in Kennebunk.

FairPoint Communications Release dated November 16, 2010

The Laudholm Trust in Wells recently received a $750 contribution from FairPoint Communications on behalf of employee Leslie Robertss volunteer work for the organization. Roberts, who lives in Kennebunk, is senior manager of internal communications at FairPoint and has been on the board of trustees of the Laudholm Trust since 2008. She is chair of the Trusts nominating committee and also serves on the public relations/marketing committee and strategic planning committees.

Sanford Institution for Savings release dated November 8, 2010 Sanford Junior High students are getting a chance to explore estuaries, beaches, and other coastal habitats thanks to a new partnership formed by Sanford Institution for Savings (SIS), the Sanford School Department, Laudholm Trust, and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. This fall, the Sanford Students to the Sea outd…

Kennebunk Savings customers voted this spring on the bank's Community Investment Ballot and Laudholm Trust has just received its portion of the funds awarded throughout the region. On hand for the donation ceremony are Kennebunk Savings President and CEO Brad Paige, Wells …

The Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation has stepped forward with a $50,000 challenge grant to help make the final payment on the 2?-acre Diane and Frederick Lord property. Just after sunset on December 22, 2005, Wells Reserve manager Paul Dest and Laudholm Trust president Susan Rouillard signed closing papers on the Lord Parcel. This final legal step marked the end of several years of discussion with the Lord…

Long-time Laudholm supporter Alice Freeman Muchnic is 99 today. She's long been a strong supporter of Laudholm Trust and the Wells Reserve.

Laudholm is as close to a home as I could want.