WILTON — Three western Maine chambers of commerce welcomed U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to their annual Tri-Chamber Barbecue on Thursday night at Wilson Lake Inn.

“These chambers represent three counties, 30 towns and the sense of community spirit western Maine is known for,” Collins said to 125 members of the Franklin County, the Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls and the River Valley chambers of commerce.

“It reminds me of Aroostook County where there is a strong sense of neighbor helping neighbor, a can-do spirit and entrepreneurs who make their businesses work,” Collins said. “We’re here to celebrate what makes western Maine so special.”

The annual barbecue is an opportunity to network, Penny Meservier, executive director of the Franklin County chamber, said.

While each chamber supports doing business locally, the three chambers’ areas often overlap, with some business members belonging to more than one or all three, she said.

Along with a barbecue provided by Hotel Rumford from the River Valley Chamber, wine from Boothby’s Orchard & Farm Winery in Livermore and dessert from Wilton’s Collins Cakes & Bakes, the meal represents the three regions, Meservier said.

Members of Friends of Wilson Lake offered boat rides around the lake, after the barbecue.

“It is nice to mingle with other chamber members and network,” Leanne Gagne of Franklin Savings Bank in Rumford said. “All three chambers work together.”

The camaraderie of the three towns in the Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce appealed to Kim Turner, chairwoman of the chamber who works for Otis Federal Credit Union in Jay, she said.

Even with the issues caused by the Verso paper mill over the last few years, “It is the community’s roots, pride and perseverance that will overcome the hurdles,” she said.

River Valley chamber President Kevin Kaulback welcomed members.

Ten years ago Michael Blanchet, president of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, was invited to help the chamber pass out holiday meals.

“Families were so grateful, I knew this was an organization I wanted to be involved in,” he said.

Whether it’s raising funds for holiday meals, holding golf tournaments for scholarships, ribbon-cuttings for new businesses or attending the monthly Business After Hours networking opportunity, supporting businesses helps communities stay strong and vibrant, Blanchet said.

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