The History of REM      

What's your REM story?

One way to look at an organization's history is through stories. This one is from a "new kid on the block,"  who first made contact with REM in early 1999. Feel free to skim this because what we really want is your REM story.

My REM Story

I'm Fritz Weidner of East Vassalboro, Maine. I believe in community building and first heard of REM some years ago during a conversation with  Trish Newcomb, then owner of the Town Line, a weekly newspaper. I was saying how socially responsible money issues always lead you to want to do as much locally as you can.

It is partly using less gasoline, partly helping your friends, partly giving back some of what you receive, it is partly about helping children have a place to grow and stay if they wish, partly about fairness. Trish and I agreed that there were so many "partly's" that it made a whole. And she told me, "You've got to meet Faye Nicholson." I  saw a newspaper made by REM and just loved how it was convening all kinds of people within miles of where I thought I would live some day. (I was over in Waldo County then.)

Years passed. Then a friend told me of a class at the old Sterns Building in Waterville that sounded interesting. I joined it in February, 1999 and met Jim Nicholson. Another friend had told me years ago, "You've got to meet Jim Nicholson." That friend knew that I worked in ethical investments and she felt Jim exemplified that view.

I do not remember exactly how the next part happened. I can't recall if Jim introduced me to his wife or if I walked into the REM offices while trying to find my way around the revived Stern Building. But I met Faye and my memory jogged, I could hear Trish saying, "You've got to meet . . . " And here she was. Next thing I knew I was going to REM as a volunteer on Wednesday afternoons to bring some computer know how to REM and in the process met Judy, the wife of still another old friend from where I had retired (Togus VA). Judy and I have been working together since. And joined with more volunteers who are building REM's web site, developing a community newspaper which will be print and here online this summer, working with Lauren at Mid Maine Arts Partners, and teaching artists, crafts persons, cultural heritage aficionado's how to use the internet, E Mail and other new stuff.

Why am I writing this history page of REM with almost no history of REM on it? Because I want you to tell your REM story. We will put at least a part of each story you send here. Just let us know enough about you to give you credit for your story. Click below. It's that simple.

Tell us your REM story!