The Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross is trying something new for its annual benefit art auction, and CEO Joyce Henckler hopes it will be well-received.

This year’s fund-raiser, which features a preview at 5:30 p.m. and the live auction at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Black Bear Inn in Orono, is being coordinated by Marlin Art of New York.

Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at Patrick’s Hallmark in the Broadway Shopping Center, Studio 2000 at the Bangor Mall, the Grasshopper Shop in downtown Bangor, The Store-Ampersand in Orono and Boysenberries in Brewer.

Marlin Art features contemporary and traditional works in all media and in varied price ranges that Henckler believes should make it an appealing auction for all.

Henckler said “prices are as low as $45,” and that this particular company has been staging such auctions “for 30 years.”

She attended a recent auction to benefit the American Red Cross in eastern Maine that was conducted by the same company, and concluded it would be a worthwhile fund-raiser for the Pine Tree Chapter.

Henckler stressed the need for continued good fund-raisers for this particular chapter.

“We are pleased to say that, in spite of lower sponsorship levels, our holiday gift-wrapping at the Bangor Mall came in on target,” she said.

“However, our other contributions continue to be lower than our budgeted goals for the year,” she pointed out. “In addition, we were challenged by the needs created by 14 fires that occurred over 14 days in December.”

Proceeds from the auction help underwrite assistance dispersed in 177 communities to support victims of disasters in eastern and northern Maine as well as chapter operations.

If you cannot attend but want to help the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red Cross continue its service to this area, send your donation to Pine Tree Chapter, 133 Mildred Ave., Bangor 04401.

I commend Richard Hogue of Kennebunk, president of the Funeral Consumer Alliance of Maine, for writing to the Bangor Daily News about a situation being confronted by the nonprofit, voluntary education organization he heads and also may be affecting other organizations throughout Maine.

FCAM “enrolls lifetime members” who wish to plan ahead and make funeral arrangements “with informed choices,” Hogue wrote.

One benefit of FCAM membership is receipt of its quarterly newsletters, he explained.

However, “it was noted, at our annual meeting that many newsletters are not reaching those members,” Hogue wrote.

“Since the adoption of new street names in many places throughout the state in response to the implementation of 911 emergency numbers, many addresses have changed, and notice of such has not always been forwarded to us as senders of first-class mail.”

Hogue, therefore, asks FCAM members who are not receiving newsletters to contact the organization with their new addresses. You can call FCAM at (800) 218-9885 or write FCAM, P.O. Box 3122, Auburn 04212-3122.

The same situation may apply to others who receive mail from nonprofits, so if you are missing information you previously received on a regular basis, you might want to make sure the organization has your current address.

Wow! is the appropriate word for the splashingly grand success of Washington County Technical College’s third annual Polar Dip, which took place Friday, Jan. 24, at the Fish Pier Beach on the Passamaquoddy Reservation.

On that unbelievably cold January day, more than 120 students, faculty and friends of WCTC from throughout Maine, Canada and even Mexico (including my brave colleague Jeff Strout of Bangor) dove into the icy waters of Passamaquoddy Bay to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor.

WCTC public affairs director John Miller reports the fund-raiser exceeded all expectation.

“Our goal was $10,000 this year,” he wrote. “I am delighted to report we were $8,000 off our target: We have raised $18,000 with donations still coming in.”

Proceeds from the dip were supplemented with those raised at a beach party at La Sardina Local in Eastport.

I join members of the Maine Bar Foundation in saluting Bangor lawyer William Devoe.

That organization recently presented Devoe an award for his service with the Volunteer Lawyers Project.

A member of the Eaton, Peabody law firm, Devoe handled the most VLP cases referred in 2002.

For 20 years, the VLP has served Maine residents in need of legal aid, and annually recognizes participating lawyers.

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