FARMINGTON – Nancy Morgan, executive director of the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, is gearing up for Tuesday’s 2004 campaign finale and annual meeting. A silent auction that features a Shaker-style cherry dining room table will be one of the highlights of the evening.

Although the campaign is about $100,000 short of the 2004 goal of $400,000, Morgan said the campaign has done well.

As of Thursday, the agency was $32 shy of $290,000.

“I’m still very optimistic; I feel very good,” Morgan said about the campaign.

The loss of manufacturing campaigns, including the one at the G.H. Bass Distribution Center in Wilton, which closed in May, and lower amounts raised through corporate campaigns were cited as reasons for the lower amount, Morgan said.

The agency supports 24 programs in the greater Franklin County area.

“We’re still working to provide at least equal to the dollars we had provided last year,” Morgan said.

The finale begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by a 6 p.m. buffet dinner and a 7 p.m. campaign award presentation at the North Dining Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington.

The Western Maine Trash Can Band will provide the entertainment.

Among the items offered at a silent auction are four tickets to the mystery dinner show April 9, an L.L. Bean certificate, an antique child’s snow scoop, an elegant bird feeder, and an Up Front & Pleasant gourmet basket.

Bouffard’s Furniture in Farmington donated a 3-foot wide by 7-foot long cherry wood, Formica-topped table for the occasion. The table has a $500 reserve price, Morgan said.