West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association

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Fall / Winter 2008

The West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association (WQHLKA) ended the 2008 season on October 18th.

A heartfelt "thank you" from the WQHLKA Board of Directors, to the excellent volunteers who staffed the Visitor Center seven days a week, from Memorial Day weekend to closing, donating an impressive 907 hours of their time. Our wonderful volunteers are; Leona MacBride, Ron Pesha, Ginny McCaslin, Hovey Hall, Dick Hoyt, Paula Mathews, Elaine Simmonds, Sylvia Boomer, Norma Leighton, Carolyn MacMillan, Paul Ivan, Bob Frazier, Ruth O'Neil, Suzanne McCurdy, Steven and Marilyn Welsch, Gerry Green, Gwen Wasson, and Rose Arsenault

The Board of Directors also extends their sincere thanks to the behind-the-scenes volunteers, who contribute their time to the many Committees responsible for the following work: Planning, Budgeting, Fundraising, Public Relations, Website, Memberships, Art Gallery, Museum Exhibits, Event Planning, By-Laws and Archives.

A well-deserved dinner of appreciation for all the volunteers was held at Uncle Kippy's Restaurant on October 5th (see article in the Special Events section).

This season, the exhibits in the museum continued to educate and enlighten, and the art gallery proved to be a popular stopping point yet again. With seventeen local artists and fifteen local students exhibiting their work, there was much to choose from. One hundred and ninety five pieces of art, including nine students' works, were purchased. The WQHLKA expresses many thanks for the donations received from the artists whose work was sold.

This busy 2008 season saw 18,748 visitors register at the Center. They hailed from all fifty states and from thirty eight countries. Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, China, Chili, Denmark, France, Germany, Granada, Guam, India, Ireland, Israel, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands and Wales. Visitors also represented the Provinces of Canada.

Events at the Visitor Center during the season included our 200th "birthday" celebration held the week of Saturday July 19th to July 26th, and the very first annual Lights Across the Border Lighthouse Challenge on August 9th. Several hundred visitors came to enjoy excellent musical entertainment; a short speaker program; good food supplied by local vendors plus three visits by the U.S. Coast Guard to supervise the opening and climb up the tower. The raffle table was well patronized and winners of the many fine prizes were Mary Helen Robichaud, John Gaudet, Becky Napoli, Brian Greenlaw, Bob Frazier, Jane St. Amaad, Ed Blazer, Ben Harper, Tim Hall, Phil Akins, Sylvia Boomer, Jane Gale, Kathy Daye, Steven Welsch, Sue Melochick, Dorothy Tinker, Richard Ford, Robbie Pole, Sonja Bailey, Anna Maxsimic, Bill Daye, Kate Jans, Nadia Soloman, Junia Lehman, Dan Fritschle, Liz Alley, Jim Peidro, and Sally Brown. The fabulous, week-long international silent art auction organized by Isabel, Moriah, and Margaret Curley-Clay was a huge success, enjoyed by all.

The Association's raffles were equally popular this year. On October 18th, the drawing of the winning raffle ticket for the Light House Throw took place and Bruce Horton of Huntsville, AL held the winning ticket. Also on October 18th, the winning ticket for the Lighthouse Replica print was held by Mary Ellen Dehlke of Dallas, TX and the beautiful handmade anniversary quilt went to Susan McCormick of Rowley, MA. Congratulations to all!

The Annual General Meeting was held in July in accordance with our By-Laws and Officers and Directors were voted in as follows, Junia Lehman, President; Leona MacBride, Vice President; Andrea VanThiel, Treasurer; Sylvia Boomer, Secretary; Directors: Ron Pesha, Deane Hutchins, Virginia Hutchins, Bruce Wilson, and Ruth O'Neil.

West Quoddy Lighthouse will be participating in the "Lights Across the Border Lighthouse Challenge" again in 2009 with the Friends of Head Harbour Light from Campobello Island, Canada, and the Friends of Little River Light in Cutler, Maine. Participants will visit four other lighthouses besides West Quoddy, they are Lubec Channel Light, Head Harbour Light (East Quoddy), Mulholland Light, and Little River Light. For more information check out our Special Events Page.

Our work continues during the winter months, planning the 7th Anniversary Celebration of West Quoddy Head Visitor Center and Museum, which will be held on July 11, 2009. This year's celebration theme will be Hopley Yeaton, Father of the Coast Guard. WQHLKA wishes you all joy and peace throughout the coming Holiday season and winter months. We look forward to seeing you next year!

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