The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to run an online and live auction fundraiser.

Starting on September 20, 2010, the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce will be auctioning off a number of fun and unique items to bid on to raise money for our organization - and the more items we have the more money we can raise, so we're asking for your help.

The online auction will run from September 20 through October 11, with about 100 items heading to our live auction on October 15 at the Rockland Elks Lodge, 210 Rankin St., Rockland.

The featured item this year is a FISHER HT Plow from Fisher Engineering, valued at $5240! The FISHER HT Series snowplow is engineered for today's half-ton trucks, providing all the features you expect from FISHER in a standard-duty snowplow. The HT Series feature's FISHER'S Minute Mount 2 On/Off system, INTENSIFIREHalogen headlamps and the original FISHER trip edge design. Based in Rockland, Maine, dedication to quality and service has been a FISHER tradition for more than 60 years. Through the years their plows have earned a solid reputation for reliability and strength - among residential and commercial plowers.

Thank you to our current sponsors:  Fisher Engineering, Gamage Antiques, Global Packing & Shipping, Bangor Metro/Maine Ahead,  The Free Press and VillageSoup/The Herald Gazette.

Thank you to our special $250 Cash Raffle Prize donor: Steve & Edie Bryant - Needful Things & Services.

Thank you to our $100 Cash Raffle Prize donors: James W. Brannan, Bruce Gamage - Gamage Antiques, Mike Jones - Camden National Bank, Rolf Winters - Knowlton Moving & Storage Corp. and Steve Hale - Captain Jack Lobster Boat Adventure.

There will be live auction items, cash raffle prizes, raffle items, $500 Elimination Drawing (tickets, $20 each), cash bar and a concession stand.  Bruce Gamage will be our auctioneer. 

The live auction items will be clearly identified on the web site and absentee bidding will be available for those that cannot attend the live event.

Auction items will include lodging packages, gift baskets, a biplane ride, photography services, airline tickets, train rides, boat trips, festival tickets, artwork, landscaping supplies, business services, gift certificates for lodging, restaurants & services and much, much more. There will be hundreds of items and gift certificates to bid on. 

We are a membership organization located in Rockland, Maine, serving coastal Knox and Waldo counties. This auction is one of our most important fundraisers and supports the many community and business initiatives of the Chamber in making the Rockland area a great place to live and do business. These initiatives include:

• Marketing & public relations
• Economic development
• Publications, including the Maine Discovery Coast Magazine and Chamber Business (newsletter)
• Government & public affairs
• Maintaining & building our membership and volunteer base
• Operating annual events
• Education initiatives

Donations are being accepted from now through September – show your support by clicking site on the “Donate Items” button or you can call Shari Closter at the Chamber with your donation at 596-0376, ext. 22 or shari@therealmaine.com.

Give a little and get a lot in return.
Whether you have 1 item or 100 to contribute, your participation is an invaluable part of our fundraising efforts. By donating an item or service directly online, you'll be helping to raise money for our organization, and you'll receive a mention on our site that can link back to your own web page.