09.29.04
Music Fund-raiser gains King's support
by Amanda Dumond of the Aroostook Republican

CARIBOU -- A student initiated project continues to make great strides in just the few short months since fund-raising efforts began.

The Caribou Music Building Fund currently has collected more than $20,000 to build an addition to Caribou High School. The music program lacks adequate space and facilities, and several recent graduates of CHS decided that they needed to do something about the problem.

Organized by recent CHS graduates, letters of support sent to 400 are businesses and foundations was expected to raise between $2,000 and $5,000, but the response far exceeded the fundraising committee's expectations.

"I met with one woman downstate who has run several campaigns over $2 million, and she said that they normally take seven to ten years to complete," Brandon Bouchard, chairman and Bowdoin College sophomore, said. "In the past eight months, the committee of students has accomplished what should have taken between two and three years to complete."

Bouchard has approached various state and national players seeking their help on the project. Recently, former Gov. Angus King expressed his support for the project in a letter. Bouchard met with King, who lives next to the Bowdoin College campus.

"To my knowledge, this is the first time in Maine that a project of this magnitude has been led by students, and their vision and dedication are truly astounding," King wrote. "They have already been met with a wonderful reaction from the community and are determined to make the project one which will benefit Caribou and the surrounding communities for years to come."

The determination of the students who founded this project was duly noted by the Caribou Board of Education at a recent meeting. The group of students has aggressively sought financial support for the project while juggling their busy school schedules.

"I want to thank Brandon publicly for his work," Shawn Foster said. "He has worked his heart out and done everything with such thoroughness. It's heartwarming to see a Caribou graduate with such drive. This is a long-term commitment for such a young person at college."

With a portion of the $2.4 needed to erect the new addition, committee members turned their focus on "foundation pieces," Bouchard said.

On July 21, 2004, the committee officially organized as the Caribou High School Music Building Fund and filed with the government for non-profit status and tax-exemption.

Now that the fundraising committee has gained the support of not only King but also Sen. Susan Collins and others of prominence, Brandon said that people from all over the state are beginning to ask about what this group is doing in Caribou. Donations are being sent as far away from Portland and Farmington.

The project has become a learning process for the students involved. Bouchard said he has worked with Mary Walton of the Caribou Community Development Office in researching more than 100 grants that the fund is eligible for. The group has also been involved in the process of selecting and architect for the project and soon hopes to announce who has been chosen to design the building.

On Sept. 22, the Caribou Board of Education also approved a decision giving them the authority to vote on each decision made on the project. The board also stressed that no school funds would be allocated for the project.

While the school system is unable to contribute financially, board members, administration, teachers and community members are providing advice while serving on various subcommittees formed for the project.

Bouchard and Superintendent McElwain also have investigated the future possibility of obtaining a revolving loan from the state 40 percent of which would need to be repaid and has a $1 million limit. The school system would have to apply for the loan.

"At some point, if it would help the project and if the board felt they (the fundraising committee) had the money locally to commit to the loan's repayment, they may consider taking the loan," McElwain said.

Members of the fundraising committee are confident too that it will not take 10 years to collect the necessary funds for the music building.

"We are on the brink of a major grant push across the state, in which we will write grants for money we are highly eligible for," Bouchard said. "It is no longer a question of if this facility will be built, but rather, a question of when."

Currently, 10 CHS students have joined the ranks of the fundraising committee, and Bouchard said it is not difficult to recruit them.

"Everyone at the high school knows about the project now, so whenever I announce there will be a meeting, new high school members show up," he added.

With so much enthusiasm from so many different people, the student group is confident the project will become a reality sooner than expected.

"I predict that the next year will be a very exciting time for everyone in Caribou as this student- intiated project will be much closer to its goal of being able to provide our students will a better music education," Bouchard said. "I, and the other students working on the project, will not waver in our drive to build the facility, regardless of how long it takes or how hard it is to complete,"

For more information or to make a donation, contact Brandon Bouchard at (207) 227-6611.