(July 1st) The Maine Delegation has been arriving at the 158th session of the Benevolent and Protetive Order of Elks Grand Lodge session, being held at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Early arrivals representing Old Town, Houlton, Millinocket, Skowhegan/Madison and Bath met up for dinner Friday afternoon, day one in Minneapolis and having fun!
The Maine Elks’ Association booth is set up and welcoming visitors already.
State MCCP Chairman Mike Desjardins takes a shift in the MEA Booth.
(From the Elks National Foundation Facebook feed) What inspired the members of Elks Lodge #188 Portland Maine to donate more than 450 pairs of socks to the ENF’s supply 
drive? Past MEA President Albert Ingraham’s answer was simple, “You asked.” (Shown L to R: Martha Binette PER, Portland member Stephanie Ingraham and PSP Al Ingraham)
The generosity was even recognized by @delta! When Delta Airlines found out what was in these two big suitcases, they flew them to Minneapolis free of charge! That is the power of giving back #elksalwayscare
(Grand Lodge Convention News, July 2nd) Maine Lodges Receive National Recognition
COMMUNITY PROJECT CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to all the Winners! Elks Lodges across the country continued to show that “ Care— Share” by conducting Community Projects. These projects were showcased in the Grand Lodge Activities Committee’s Community Projects Contest and PRESQUE ISLE #1954 received 2nd Place for Division IV lodges, 301-450 members.
Every Lodge is encouraged to have a project that it conducts in its community.
Does your Lodge have a Junior Golf program, or have you considered starting an Antlers Lodge? Perhaps participating in the Public Service Medal program is the right move for your Members?
By doing a project that benefits the people in your community, your Lodge increases its visibility, and offers opportunities for your Members to communicate to the public about who we are and what we do. Information on the process of developing a community project can be found on the ENF Community Investments Program page of Elks.org. If your Lodge conducts a project in the coming year, remember to showcase it in the Community Projects Contest.
For the ENF PER MEMBER CONTEST, April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023, WELLS #2738 received first place in Division I — lodges with 150 Members or fewer, with $27,017.00 total raised, for $482.446 average per member. (This is also the highest per capita for all lodges!)
(July 3rd) How Many Elks attend Grand Lodge? The Credentials Committee Director, Phil Claiborne, has announced that the Registration figures from Saturday and Sunday were completed just in time for Opening Ceremony and show the current total attendees at 5,072.
Preliminary scores are in, and the officers’ Initiatory Ritual Team from Sanford #1470 has scored 95.0846. Final competitions will be taking place Monday afternoon between the teams from Carlsbad, NM #1558, Santa Clarita, CA #2379, Lake Hopatcong, NJ #782 and Kenton, OH #157
The afternoon of Monday, July 3rd, the Minnesota Twins hosted the BPOE to their home game against the Kansas City Royals, and GER Bruce A. Hidley threw out the evenings first pitch.
(July 4th) We have selected the new GER – The leadership of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks got down
to business with the first business session of the 158th Grand Lodge Session and elected Randy P. Shook, of Lawrenceburg, TN Lodge No. 2206, as Grand Exalted Ruler for the 2023–2024 year. The announcement of the election was followed by an exuberant celebration as supporters from Shook’s Area 3 streamed into the hall. Once the celebration subsided, the newly elected Grand Exalted Ruler spoke about his vision for the Order, which is encompassed in his theme “We are THE Elks!” Urging the assembled Elks to help the Order move forward, he repeatedly prompted them to finish the phrase, “We are…” and was met with resounding responses of “..THE Elks!” He asked the assembled delegates to channel that enthusiasm into a resolution to become known in every community across the country.
As of Monday’s meeting, attendance has grown more, now with 5,776 leaders of our order, from our local ERs an PERs, to the GER and several PGERs.
(July 5th) On the second day of the Grand Lodge Session, delegates passed 14 and rejected 4 resolutions to amend the statutes and Constitution of the Order during the Legislative Session. Your Enxalted Ruler will be presenting the details when they return to their lodges. While the results of the voting were being tabulated, Grand Secretary Bryan Klatt gave an update on the Disaster Relief Fund, which provided $75,000 in assistance to Florida following Hurricane Ian and $25,000 in assistance to Montana following serious flooding.
Secretary Klatt reported that the Disaster Relief Fund has $125,255 on hand to respond to disasters.
As of Tuesday’s meeting, attendance has grown more, now with 5,793 leaders of our order are now in attendance.
See more Daily News from the Grand Lodge Convention. See Monday’s edition for more information on Constitutional and Statutory resolutions to be considered during the Tuesday session. Also included in Monday’s Convention News are information on the conventions Opening Session, ENF’s Most Valuable Student recipients, Americanism Contest winners, the Elks Veterans Leather Program and discussion of several training seminars being offered to delegates and attendees.