ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS

2011 Information

The Educational Bureau of Ocean Park is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and improvement of the community through activities providing for spiritual, mental and physical needs. Founded in 1885 and incorporated in 1888, the Bureau provides the the Vacation Bible School, craft classes, Theatre Dance Camps and Summer Talent Week for children. The Bureau owns the Curtis Guest House and the Blake Cottage. The Educational Bureau Annual Meeting will be on June 27 with an Adjourned Meeting date of August 22. Call President Beth Keene at 207-934-7010 for more information.

Founded in 1873 in Sandwich, New Hampshire, the Free Baptist Woman’s Missionary Society was one of the "first national women’s societies in the country. The mission fields, both national and international, are the primary focus of interest and concern. The Society Board will meet on June 1(10 am) and August 3 (10 am) in Porter Hall and the Annual Meeting of the Society will be on July 14 (11 am), also in Porter Hall. For more information, please contact President Judy Dean.

New England Baptist Council (N.E.B.C). Continuing a program started in 1915 and founded in 1968, the N.E.B.C. is under the auspices of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM). N.E.B.C. maintains and operates the facilities of the combined areas bounded by Randall Avenue and Goosefare Brook, and West Grand Avenue and the Boston & Maine Railroad line. Programs emphasizing older youth, families and specialized ministries to senior citizens and disabled adults are offered at the Oceanwood camping facility and The Pines retirement center.

Ocean Park Bates Club. Recognizing the mutual debt of gratitude to our common founder, Oren Cheney, alumni, current students, and friends of Bates College living or summering in the Ocean Park area traditionally gather in Porter Hall the first Monday in August (the 1st this year) for a light meal, fellowship, and to hear representatives from the college. Call Sally Poland at 207-934-5890 for more information.

Ocean Park Conservation Society. The Conservation Society is a non-profit corporation founded in 1971 to foster, preserve, conserve and promote the natural physical beauty and setting of Ocean Park and its surroundings and to provide education in the ideals and goals of conservation. The annual meeting is on July 21 (see Daily Calendar). Call John Bird at 207-934-4009 for more information.

Ocean Park Religious Society. Founded in 1889, the current officers of the organization are Elizabeth Morse, President, and Patricia Lutz. The purpose of this organization is to see “that a regular Sabbath service” is held in Ocean Park year-round. This year it will sponsor Sunday community worship services at 10:30 am in Porter Hall on June 5, June 12 and June 19.

Ocean Park Seacoasters. This club meets on the second Thursday of the month, October through May, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Pines Retirement Community. Its purpose is to bring together local citizens from Ocean Park and elsewhere who are interested in the physical, spiritual, and moral welfare of each other, and social activities for the good of all concerned, as well as community. Olive Benway, President.

Saco Bay Artists was founded by Elizabeth Horton Shore in 1995 as the Art Center at Ocean Park. Art Shows will be held on the Library lawn on July 4, August 6. (See page 14 for additional information.)

Toilers-By-!e-Sea. For the 109th year, this “earnest little band of women” will hold its Sunday morning service on Memorial Day weekend - May 29. The Toilers were organized in 1902 as a winter auxiliary for the Free Baptist Womathin’s Missionary Society.

Writers’ Conference at Ocean Park. The Conference began in 1941 to provide, “an informal meeting place of inspiration and instruction for all persons interested in the writing arts, whether prose or poetry, whether or not they themselves are writers.” This statement, written by the conference’s cofounder, Del Jakeman, Sr., continues to set the tone of the Conference today. Come to the Writers’ Conference and find recognition, enthusiastic response, and kind encouragement to be the very best writer you can be. Open to all writers and would-be writers. Jim Brosnan, P.O. Box 172, Assonet, MA, 02702 (or e-mail jbrosnan@jwu.edu) is conference coordinator and may be reached by phone at (401)598-1424. Visit the Writers conference page for more information.