When it comes to getting publicity, Rachel Morin of Auburn is an expert.

She recently volunteered to do publicity for a mid-February production called “A Taste Of Broadway” at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston. She had a detailed publicity plan that included a series of press releases and photos that would be released to the media on schedule over a few weeks time before the show. Morin made it look easy, while implementing the plan with military precision.

And what were the results? “Every single seat at the Franco Center was filled,” said Denise Marois, the show’s director. “When it comes to getting the word out, Rachel is a whiz!”

A registered nurse by profession, retiring from General Electric in 1998 after 17 years as occupational health care manager, Morin has always had a knack for combining public relations with community service.

“My writing began very young when I would sit at the kitchen table and write to my aunts who lived out of state,” said Morin. “Then, when I was 11 years old in Girl Scout Troop 21 at St. Joseph’s Church, Lewiston, I was elected Scribe for the troop which involved sending a monthly article on what our troop was doing to the Lewiston Evening Journal. This piqued my interest in writing for a newspaper.”

It was later on at Lewiston High School that Morin really began to learn the craft of newspaper writing.

“In high school, I met Johnny Robinson who was the editor of the Journal School Page that came out every Friday in the Lewiston Evening Journal. This was for all the area schools (back) in the 1950s. This was so much fun and I learned a lot from Johnny Robinson,” said Morin, paying tribute to one of her mentors. “I think of him every so often to this day.

“When I married, I branched out and did public relation pieces for churches and non-profit organizations for their fund raising events and social activities, like the Knights of Columbus, American Red Cross events… ,” said Morin. “In later years, the list grew to include schools, libraries and Habitat for Humanity’s fund raising activities.”

As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, Morin also served as the editor of The Philippian, the newsletter for St. Philip’s Church and more recently, Backstage Whispers, Community Little Theatre’s newsletter.

Morin was married for 38 years to Gerard L. Morin who passed away in 1997. She and her husband raised three children including daughters Cathy and Liz of Portland and South Portland, and son Gerry of Turner. She’s a proud grandmother to Cathy’s children, Sam, Emma and Adam.

Her personal time is often spent among her perennial flower beds; planting, transplanting, and visiting all the plant and flower sales. She’s also traveled extensively citing Ireland, Italy, France, Turkey, and Egypt among her favorite locations.

Now retired and in the seventh decade of life, Morin still maintains a hectic schedule, much of it centered on writing, theatre, and community service.

“I remain active in PR for Out of the Box Theater and Community Little Theatre where I appeared onstage in productions of ‘The Mouse Trap’ and ‘Inherit the Wind,’” said Morin. “I (also) attend every play I possibly can in Lewiston-Auburn and beyond.”

Morin also writes a weekly column, Out and About, for the Twin City TIMES, in which she covers a variety of community events.

“I have always been service minded and oriented,” said Morin. “I feel volunteers are the backbone of America and without volunteers, non-profit organizations would fail.”

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