Recently I had the pleasure of talking with Walt Huffman of Old Town, who is a volunteer with the Speaker’s Forum of the Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

True to his word, Huffman provided me with information about “a renewed outreach effort” that is currently under way by the Maine chapter.

“This effort is in the form of a statewide Speaker’s Forum available to the various community, fraternal, educational and faith-based organizations in the state of Maine,” Huffman wrote.

Huffman and I agreed that today was the most opportune time to inform you of this renewed effort by members of the state chapter, since March 5-11 is MS Awareness Week.

Huffman wrote that “a select number of men and women, from across the state, who have taken an active part and interest in providing information about the prevalent disease of MS in Maine, are now ready to offer a presentation to the membership” of any of the organizations mentioned above.

“The presentations,” he continued, “are tailored to the agenda of the organizations, will not be focused on fundraising, but are centered on providing information about this debilitating and chronic illness.”

“‘Have Message, Will Travel’ could easily be a slogan of this group of volunteers,” he added.

Huffman hopes that interested representatives of organizations will seek out these willing volunteers as speakers for meetings or other gatherings, and “Join the Movement,” which “is the rallying cry of MS Awareness Week” with the hope of maintaining that awareness throughout the year.

If you are interested in having a volunteer from the Maine Chapter of the MS Society speak to your organization, call 942-8352 or 827-2384 or e-mail info@msmaine.org.

If you’re headed to the Bangor Mall now through the middle of the month, be sure to set aside a little extra time to view the wonderful art displayed there.

Once again, Kal Elmore, chairman of the Bangor High School art department, along with other art teachers who are fellow members of Art in the Heart of Maine, are offering you the opportunity to view the Our Students Art Exhibit.

You can view this special exhibit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, through March 17, at a storefront located near Filene’s in the Bangor Mall.

The exhibit will be judged by representatives of the University of Maine Museum of Art.

Selected works will become part of the Vincent Hartgen Traveling Art Exhibit, which is displayed in schools throughout the state.

I never miss this exhibit. It’s so very impressive and certainly worthy of your attention.

And who knows, you might even bump into one of the young artists!

While I have your attention focused on youth art, Sheri Walsh, president of the Acadian Community Woman’s Club, wants readers to know that Maine Federation of Women’s Club District 4 is holding its annual High School Art Contest from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Hancock Community Center on Route 1 in Hancock.

Walsh reports this Art Contest is open to students attending Sumner Memorial High School of East Sullivan, George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Ellsworth High School, Mount Desert Island High School and Bucksport High School.

Cash prizes will be awarded and the winning artwork will be displayed after the contest at Union Trust Bank in Ellsworth.

Winners also will compete for additional cash prizes to be awarded during the MFWC Spring Convention.

Students who are interested in submitting their artwork should contact the art teacher at their schools.

For more information, call Walsh after 6 p.m. at 963-0979, or e-mail shermike@verizon.net.

UPtown Business and Professional Women’s Club president Marie Saucier invites any working woman to attend a luncheon meeting at noon Wednesday, March 7, at the Muddy Rudder in Brewer.

The $10 cost includes tip. The program focuses on advocacy, which is part of the organization’s Individual Development Program.

For more information, call Saucier at 992-5042.

Despite the snow-covered ground, folks at Phillips-Strickland House in Bangor remind you to think about the links and “save the date” for the Phillips-Strickland House 10th annual Golf Tournament, which is Monday, Sept. 10, at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

The tournament is a major fundraiser for the nonprofit, residential care facility located at 21 Boyd St. in Bangor.

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