SEGUIN’S 2006 CARETAKERS

Jackson (Jack) and Rose Speight currently live in Orlando.  While visiting friends in Phippsburg years ago, Jack took a day trip to Seguin and met the caretakers.  He was so enchanted by the rugged beauty of the island that he has waited years for things to fall into place so they could apply to be the Seguin caretakers.

To quote from their application letter: “We will leave the property in better shape and condition than we found it. We will represent the Friends diligently and use all our talents to make sure the visitors always find the island in pristine condition and have a great experience on the island.  It will be our personal goal to make 2006 the best and most profitable year ever for donations from visitors as we will look forward to touring the visitors and explaining the historical importance of preserving the Sequin Island Light.”

Both Jack and Rose exuded energy and enthusiasm during their interview.  Jack was a fighter pilot in the US Air Force and then went on to positions in aerospace corporate management retiring from that career in 1998.  They have moved 29 times and lived 5 times overseas in Germany, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.  Jack loves the outdoors especially the seashore environment.  Rose is a “people person” and loves gardening and cooking.

The Friends of Seguin Island are pleased to welcome Jack and Rose to Seguin and are confident that they will be excellent stewards for our island during this summer. Please come and visit Seguin’s beautiful lighthouse.

 

BOAT ACCESS TO SEGUIN

The only regularly scheduled charter boat service to Seguin is on the Atlantic Seal out of South Freeport each Thursday beginning July 6th through August 31st. Captain Tom Ring’s boat comfortably holds 28 people. Check-in time is 9:45 with the boat leaving at 10:00 am. There is a two hour stop on Seguin and the boat returns to South Freeport at 4:00 pm. The price is $50.00 per adult and $35.00 for children over two years. Part of this charge is a $5.00 contribution to the Friends of Seguin Island. This landing fee is waived for members. The Atlantic Seal will also offer a special cruise from Fort Popham on the day of Seguin’s Annual Meeting, July 15th at 10:15 am, if there is sufficient demand another trip will leave Popham at 11:45 am. For further details call Atlantic Seal at (207) 865-6112 or (877) 285-7325.

Small charters boats (up to six passengers) are also provided by the Maine Maritime Museum (207) 443-1316, Fish & Trips (207) 841-7977, DASH, (207) 319-4126, Sea Wife, (207) 371-2288 and Son-Rae (207) 371-2813.

 

REMEMBERING SEWALL

This is a personal note from his daughter, Anne Webster and below is a picture of Dad’s last trip to Seguin. I wished I could have gotten a frontal view after his three mile row in his eight foot dinghy at eighty years old, but as always he did his own thing and wouldn’t pose. I asked if he would go ashore so I could take that picture. He said, “I touched.”

Twenty years ago, Sewall Webster was one of the three incorporators of the Friends of Seguin Island. When Anne said that she wanted to preserve the Seguin Light Station and needed someone to sign on as founder, Dad said fine. Sewall was Seguin’s first Secretary and served on the Board of Directors for ten years, always making his opinion known in a kind and direct manner.

I have fond memories of Sewall, Nat Chandler and myself going to meet with Capt. Gerald Underwood of Group Portland to facilitate obtaining a lease for Seguin Island. I had extensive non-profit executive experience, but no military or lighthouse experience. Those two elder gentlemen lent me credence to establish what Seguin has become today. The Friends of Seguin Island was a forerunner in lighthouse preservation when the US Coast Guard’s priorities changed and stations were being automated.

Sewall was a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy class of 1944, but was “fast tracked” with his other classmates to serve in World War II. Contributions in Sewall’s name will be placed in the Webster Endowment Fund.  

 

ISLAND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Friends of Seguin Island relies extensively on the efforts of our volunteers. As all know in Maine we have a very short summer season and all maintenance work on Seguin’s five historic structures and tramway has a short window of opportunity.

If you would like a trip to Seguin and are in fairly good shape, can hold a paintbrush, pound a nail, or otherwise be generally useful, call President Cyndy Carney at (207) 442-7145 for more information.

 

ONSHORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Currently the most critical need for experienced volunteers is on the Museum/Education Committee. Those with experience in updating and adding to museum collection cataloguing are a skill greatly needed. Archival experience is also a gap we have.

In addition, we need educational volunteers to bring established lighthouse curriculum to local schools for 4^th through 6th graders. This a fun “job” and well suited for those who like working with grade school students. Lighthouse history training will be provided.

Extra hands are always welcome for the Publicity Committee which handles newsletter mailings and organizes fundraising events. If interested in either of these call Anne Webster at (207) 371-2508.

 

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2006 ANNUAL MEETING & BARBECUE

The Friends of Seguin Island Annual Meeting will be help at Popham Chapel with accompanying events at the Library and Chapel House on July 15, 2006. The festivities begin at 2:00 starting with a Silent Auction and Seguin memorabilia gift shop. Again, the main event following a very short business meeting will be a presentation by our 2006 caretakers, Jack and Rose Speight. A barbecue will follow with Grill Master Dave Power at the helm. After all have eaten, a live auction featuring many special items will be conducted by a noted local auctioneer.

 

SEGUIN MEMORABILIA & GIFTS

Under the direction of Barbara Paiement with excellent assistance from Claudia Hayward, the Friends of Seguin has many new items for sale and replenished many of the old favorites. These can be purchased when visiting the Seguin gift shop, at the Seguin office on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at the Annual meeting, at the Georgetown Working League Fair.

  

FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

At the January Board Meeting, the Friends of Seguin Island voted to have term limits on officer positions. They also did not want to lose the historical memory of the organization. At that meeting it was brought and unanimously voted to elect Anne W. Webster, founder and current President, to be the first Executive Director of the Friends of Seguin Island.

During her twenty years with FOS, Anne has worn many hats from starting the organization with her father and Pat Moffatt, being the first President, then later the Vice President, and most recently President. Anne also chaired the Publicity Committee for many years. During her tenure as the Director of the Maine Lights Program she was instrumental in facilitating the transfer of the Seguin Island Light Station to the Friends of Seguin Island.

 

NEW MEMBERSHIP RATES

Due to the higher cost of everything, the Board of Directors of the Friends of Seguin Island  voted to revise the past membership structure and dues. Some increases are due to the fact that we reimburse our volunteers for boat gas. Some membership categories remain the same and others have been elevated.

The new categories are:

            Individual          $25.00

            Family              $50.00

            Best Friend       $100.00

            Lightkeeper       $250.00

            Life Member     $1,000.00

We understand that many are on a limited budget and certainly will honor renewals at past rates, starting with an individual membership of $15.00. Your membership renewal date is noted above your address on your mailing label.

Membership benefits include receiving the twice yearly newsletter, a Seguin car decal upon request, a 50% discount on barbecue tickets at the Annual Meeting and a waiver of the $5.00 landing fee if arriving by commercial charters. There is no landing fee for those arriving on personal boats.

The Seguin Island Light Station is open to the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Caretakers during that period greet visitors and offer tours of the museum and light tower.

 

FLEXIBLE CHARITABLE OPTIONS

The Friends of Seguin Island accepts tax deductible donations in a variety of ways.  In addition to memberships donations, we have a plan for capital contributions, and the Webster Endowment Fund.  The Friends of Seguin accommodates estate planning donations, gifting from living trusts & charitable remainder trusts. Donations and gifts may be in the form of cash or securities.

All monies are gratefully accepted. A note on your check or accompanying the check will insure that donations received are directed to where you desire. If there are no instructions, donations are placed in the general operating account.

For further information either call Anne Webster, Executive Director at (207) 371-2508.

 

LENS RESTORATION UPDATE

The Coast Guard’s restoration of Seguin Island’s First Order Fresnel lens is still under consideration. The project has been placed out to a limited bid to experts in Fresnel lens restoration. We know that two bidders have applied for the contract and the contract is “funds permitting.” 

 

Courtesy of Steven Norris