West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association

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Fall / Winter 2004

Greetings to members and friends of the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association!

The Visitor Center closed on October 17, 2004, with a heartfelt "THANK YOU", from the Officers of the Association, to the twenty-one volunteers who contributed 846 hours, working in 3-hour shifts, to staff the Center six hours a day, seven days a week, from opening day to closing. Thanks also to the many individuals, families and business members, for their behind-the-scenes support.

Endless thanks go also, to the 18,536 visitors who signed in at the Center. They came from every State in the Union and from 8 Provinces of Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ottawa and Quebec; and from 43 far-away places. Namely, Africa, Australia, Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, India, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nine Island-South Pacific, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saipan, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Spain, Taiway, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Wales and the West Indies. The Visitor Center volunteers are proud to have hosted so many diverse people from around the globe.

Freshly painted tower
© H. B. Reed 10/03

Activity at the Center was brisk throughout the late Spring, Summer and early Fall. Our June 19th, Second Anniversary Celebration was well-attended and enjoyed by all, despite chilly winds and rain showers. The Coast Guard was on hand to open the tower for just that day and to supervise those wishing to climb the 50 cast iron steps, and the short ladder through the bulkhead, to reach the lamp deck.

Throughout the season, each day found visitors satisfying their curiosity by browsing the Art Gallery, Displays and Exhibits, and by asking the volunteers countless questions about the history of the Lighthouse, and for information on Where to Stay, Where to Eat, What (else) to Do/See, and Where to Shop in Lubec, and the surrounding area.

Our website continues to be of real benefit to local business members, who have their listing on our website under of of those four categories mentioned above - Where to Stay etc. No doubt, this Spring will see WQHLKA volunteers targeting renewals of current business memberships, as well as seeking new business members in Lubec, and the surrounding communities. Level 2 and Level 3 business Members get not only instant on-line visibility, offering various options to website visitors when they are planning Where to Stay, Where to Eat, Where to Shop and What to Do/See in our area, but also a free listing on www.visitlubecmaine.com courtesy of anonymous friends of the Association. Renewed and new memberships will support the ongoing operating costs for 2005. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member of WQHLKA go to our Memberships page on our website and read about the benefits you will receive.

Displaying works of art, placed on consignment in the Art Gallery this season by local artisans and school students, proved to be very successful. Many local artists and local school students delighted visitors with their skill and talent, to the extent that 78 pieces of art were purchased. Donations by the artists, realized by the Association through these sales - added to the sale of memberships, raffle tickets and visitor donations - contributed to the Center's 2004 operating costs.

The fund-raising raffles held this Season were won by:

Lighthouse Rug drawn on July 18th - Marjori Murton of Sharpsburg, GA.

Lighthouse Rug drawn on October 17th - Deb Berard of Leicester, MA

West Quoddy Print drawn on October 17th - Scott Boutilier of Houlton, ME

James O'Neil Painting drawn on October 17th - Cheryl Christie of Machiasport, ME

On closing day, the President of WQHLKA, Deane Hutchins commented, "Progress has been a virtue which has characterized the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association. We have measured our progress by the increasing number of registered visitors this year, while many other organizations have had a decrease in attendance. Equally important, our progress is also measured by the many compliments our visitors give us orally, in writing, in donations, and in return visits to the Visitor Center with their friends and relatives.

It is important that we continue to maintain and improve our stated mission and we are currently in the process of developing a 5-year plan to accomplish that goal. The combination of dedicated WQHLKA members and volunteers will be the key to meeting realizing our 5-year plan. We welcome all, to continue being active in our future activities and look forward to new participants joining us."

Be well throughout the Fall and Winter months! We hope to see you at the Center again next year. Best wishes for the Holiday Season from all of us at the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association, Inc.

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