Be Part of the Friends of The Hill Story
Friends of The Hill helps us keep Harry’s Hill a vibrant gathering place for arts, culture, and community. Together we can nurture creativity, preserve traditions, and build a welcoming space for all.
Why We Exist
We come together to care for a place we’ve been blessed to gather on—tending the land, honoring our comrades who have gone before us, and keeping their stories alive.
We nurture creative community by supporting music, fire performers, visual artists, storytellers, artisans, and families.
In an increasingly uncertain world, Friends of The Hill exists to be a safe, welcoming place for folks—rooted in care, creativity, and belonging.
Nurturing Creativity
Supporting artists, makers, and performers
Steward the Land
Caring for The Hill and the Memorial Garden
Support the Future
Fundraising and grantmaking for community programs
How Members Participate
Care for the Land
Join us for stewardship days on The Hill, including our Memorial Garden Clean-Up Day in early June (the first weekend of June or the weekend after Memorial Day). These days are about tending the land, honoring those we remember, and working side by side in community.
Help Bring Gatherings to Life
Pitch in with the Craft Fair or Hippie Flea Market—planning, set-up, day-of help, or tear-down. Many hands make it lighter, and it’s a beautiful way to meet people.
Build Community at The Happening
Help with membership recruitment and community-building activities at the Friends of The Hill tent at The Happening 2026—welcoming new folks, sharing information, and helping people feel at home.
Gather as Members
Join our members-only Annual Meeting Gathering on The Hill in August—a day of activities, shared meals, community conversation, music at night, and camping. A time to reconnect and celebrate what we’re building together.
Help Shape the Future
Members can nominate individuals or groups for grants and awards, suggest ideas for projects, and help us decide what Friends of The Hill grows into next.
Ready to Join Us?
Participation is not about obligation—it’s about connection. Whether you volunteer regularly, attend when you can, or help shape ideas behind the scenes, you belong here.
Questions? Email MaineFriendsOfTheHill@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jodi O’Connor, President
Darlene Patrick, Clerk
Cindy Brown, Treasurer
Michele Neufeld
Casey O’Connor
ADVISORY BOARD
Wendy Blake
Brian Breton
Gwyn Rothert
Kyle Tremblay
What’s Coming Up
Annual Meeting on The Hill
CALL TO MEETING NOTICE 8/1/2026
Friends of The Hill members are hereby called to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting and to vote on the following amendments to the By-Laws
FRIENDS OF THE HILL – ANNUAL MEETING August 15, 2026
Proposed Bylaws Amendments — Articles 1.2 and 2: Clarification of Charitable Mission and Scope
Motion: To amend Article 1.2, “Definition of The Hill,” of the Friends of The Hill By-Laws to read as follows:
1.2 Definition of “The Hill”
For purposes of these by-laws, “The Hill” refers to the property located at 45 Abijah Hill Road in Starks, Maine, where Friends of The Hill originated and where the Corporation may conduct or support charitable and educational programs and activities. The Corporation’s purposes, programs, grantmaking, and other charitable activities are not limited to The Hill.
This vote shall constitute the first of the two member approvals required under Article 12.1 of the By-Laws.
Motion: To amend Article 2 of the Friends of The Hill Bylaws as presented, in order to clarify that Friends of The Hill raises and distributes funds and provides charitable support for qualifying arts, cultural, educational, and community programs; that its charitable activities are not limited to The Hill; and that grants and other support are available to qualifying applicants based upon charitable purpose and public benefit.
This constitutes the first of the two member votes required by Article 12.1 of the Bylaws.
2.1 Charitable and Educational Purpose
Friends of The Hill is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Corporation raises and distributes funds and provides other charitable support for arts, cultural, educational, and community programs and projects that provide a public benefit.
Friends of The Hill grew from the community associated with The Hill and may continue to support qualifying programs and projects presented there. However, the Corporation’s charitable activities and grantmaking are not limited to The Hill. Eligible individuals, organizations, community groups, venues, and projects may apply for support based on the charitable purpose and public benefit of the proposed activity.
The Corporation’s purposes include:
- Arts and Cultural Programming. Supporting public performances, exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, cultural activities, and other opportunities for the public to experience and participate in the arts.
- Creation and Presentation of Artistic Work. Supporting costs and resources necessary for artists and performers to create, develop, and present artistic work to the public.
- Performance and Production Support. Removing financial, technical, regulatory, safety, accessibility, equipment, production, and other practical barriers to presenting qualifying public arts, cultural, and educational programs.
- Arts Infrastructure and Venue Support. Supporting facilities, equipment, accessibility improvements, safety improvements, technical production, and capital improvements when such support directly enables or improves qualifying public arts, cultural, or educational programming.
- Arts and Cultural Education. Supporting educational programs, demonstrations, workshops, and opportunities that introduce the public to artistic forms, creative practices, cultural traditions, and cultural heritage.
- History and Cultural Heritage. Preserving and sharing history, cultural heritage, and the contributions of individuals and communities whose work has advanced artistic expression, civil liberties, cultural understanding, and community resilience.
- Charitable Grantmaking. Raising and distributing funds through fair and consistently administered grant programs available to qualifying applicants whose proposed activities further the Corporation’s charitable and educational purposes and provide an identifiable public benefit.
2.2 Public Benefit
The Corporation shall select and administer its programs, grants, and other charitable support based upon their furtherance of the Corporation’s exempt purposes and the public benefit to be provided.
No individual, organization, business, venue, property, or affiliated entity shall be entitled to financial support from the Corporation by reason of membership, ownership, affiliation, personal relationship, or historical association with Friends of The Hill.
2.3 Restrictions on Activities
No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. The Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
2.4 Limitations
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Holiday Craft Fair
December
Volunteer, help plan, or just come be part of the day.