Although we know they didn’t coin the phrase, “nothing succeeds like success,” employees and members of the Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union can certainly claim it as their own.

For the fourth straight year, the DRFCU led the way in the Maine Credit Union League’s 2000 Campaign for Ending Hunger, helping the MCUL set a record for funds raised to help end hunger in Maine.

The MCLU raised $143,817 in its campaign this year, besting last year’s record by $10,000.

Once again, at the top of the list was the Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union.

The $12,204.47 it raised far exceeded the total of the second-place Greater Portland Municipal Credit Union of South Portland, which raised $8,500.

And while DRFCU was tops in the total raised, its 98 cents per member was second to the GPMCU in that category. CGMCU raised $1.10 per member.

Sixty-two Maine Credit Unions, as well as all eight Credit Union Chapters in Maine, participated in the campaign, which raises funds through the Maine-based, non-profit Partners In Ending Hunger organization.

“For us, it’s a yearlong effort,” explained DRFCU president Rhonda Taylor.

“In fact, we already have more than $1,000 toward next year’s goal.”

There are many reasons Dexter retains the honor of giving the most to this particular fund-raiser.

Among them is the fact that “we have a lot of ongoing projects,” Taylor added.

For example, the organization uses payroll deductions to make it easier to give.

When this program started, Taylor said, “We said only 25 cents weekly, but, with 12,000 members, if we could get that from everyone, we’d still be right up there.”

The organization always sponsors “at least two 50/50 raffles, each year, so our members get a benefit,” Taylor added, “and we use change drop buckets, too.”

A portion of the sales of its Monty Moose Chocolate Moose Pops, which is associated with its children’s savings program, also goes to the Campaign for Ending Hunger.

When the new state quarters were minted, DRFCU added that to its campaign, as well.

“We sell it at 75 cents above our costs and the profit goes toward” the campaign, Taylor said.

Its annual bowlathon was another successful event.

“We have a lot of community spirit. A lot of our members are involved, too,” Taylor said of those who work hard on this fund-raiser.

This year, the organization sponsored a “jail and bail” which proved to be not only fun but a good revenue-producer as well.

Town officials, teachers and local business people were jailed “and all told to raise X amount of dollars before they could get released,” Taylor said. They met that challenge well.

But there is a change in this campaign that folks at DRFCU would like to see, Taylor said.

“We’re hoping someone would beat us.

“We’re looking for another credit union to come along and challenge us.”

So there you have it: DRFCU has issued the challenge.

For the sake of the hungry among us, we hope it is met.

On behalf of the Friends of Maine Hockey, Gayle Killam invites members of the public to enjoy a pre-game gathering from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, March 3, at Sampan Grill on Bangor Mall Boulevard.

Guests have the option of ordering from a Pre-game Hockey Menu consisting of quick-order items, or from the full Sampan Grill menu.

Sampan Grill will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from the dinner orders to Friends of Maine Hockey.

Proceeds will benefit the University of Maine men’s hockey team scholarships fund, and its team equipment fund.

Friends members will have their names entered in a drawing for a door prize.

Anyone who attends, Killam said, can try his or her luck at the Bingo board and have the chance to win one or more prizes.

Also, a limited number of lottery tickets will be given out at random.

If you are not a member of Friends of Maine Hockey and you are interested in joining the organization, a membership form will be available during the event.

However, you do not have to be a member of Friends of Maine Hockey to attend this pre-game fund-raiser.

Alberta Shaw of Millinocket knows for sure what the term “good Samaritan” means, because she has met not just one, but several.

Driving home from Camden one day with her 4-year-old granddaughter, Bethany, and 6-year-old grandson, Nicholas, Shaw’s car broke down in Searsport, right across the street from Knox Bros. Auto Parts.

When Shaw went into the store looking for help, customer Otto Procter offered his assistance.

“He spent almost two hours trying to fix my car,” Shaw wrote, and someone named “Ralph also stopped for a while to see if he could help” as well.

Procter finally went home and “got a battery out of one of his vehicles, put it in my car, and fixed it enough so that I could return to Camden,” Shaw wrote.

While Procter was working on her car, “Steve and employees of Knox Bros. were entertaining my grandchildren,” Shaw wrote of the folks who kept the youngsters occupied “with food, pen and paper, and funny stories.”

Shaw extends her public thanks to all the people who helped her and her family that day.

She wrote she hopes “if something like that ever happens to them or their family, that there will be someone as nice as they were to help them.”

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.