What a wonderful weekend! Denise and I arrived in Portland on Friday evening to a beautiful room filled with gifts from the Portland Lodge. We met Joe, the ER, who welcomed us and later took us to the Lodge for a delicious meal, enjoyable rounds of three-card draw, and great music. We had the pleasure of meeting several friendly members of the Portland Lodge, including one who generously gave us pull-tab tickets. To our surprise, we won $10, which, as infrequent gamblers, we decided to donate to MCCP. We also distributed many pins and had the opportunity to meet visiting Elks from Massachusetts. It was wonderful catching up with Marybeth and Joe, Al and Stephanie, and enjoying a fantastic evening overall.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the three-masted schooner cruise around Portland Harbor on Saturday. Although the morning started somewhat threatening, the sun emerged as soon as we left the pier, creating perfect touring conditions with low humidity, a cool breeze, and calm waters. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough wind to fill our sails, so we relied on the engine, but the experience was still delightful. The Millinocket Elks provided onboard music, and we entertained ourselves and passing vessels alike. Marybeth even gave a ship’s bell salute to a wedding party, and we serenaded Casco Bay with “Sweet Caroline.” While we had a blast, it was clear that only the ship was truly “three sheets to the wind.” The crew was fantastic, and I highly recommend sailing with the Portland Schooner Company.
Later that evening, we enjoyed a delicious smorgasbord at the Lodge and connected with even more MEA members. I had a great time signing membership cards to raise funds for MCCP, and I was thrilled when the Portland Elks presented me with a $200 check for MCCP. The music was wonderful, and there were plenty of photo opportunities. It was a perfect weekend – fast-paced enough to be productive but slow enough to relax and enjoy. Thank you, Joe, Marybeth, and Martha. I look forward to sharing the amazing photos at the next state meeting.
On Sunday, we held our successful State Meeting, the primary purpose of our trip to Portland. I’m incredibly proud of my committee chairs for their hard work in creating clear and concise reports. We efficiently covered important information, distributed DD materials and new calendars, shared website updates, announced upcoming events, and provided other essential details. Please stay informed by regularly checking the website, and if you brought home any information, be sure to share it with others. Our next visit is the Waterville Elks Convention Homecoming Celebration next Friday.
Mike Hannigan, MEA President 2024-25