NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationLodge 188 Supports Foster Kids
Portland Lodge #188 used their $2,000 Spotlight Grant to support Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine buy filling 100 backpacks for children entering the foster care system. Known nationwide as Comfort Cases, these backpacks are filled with essentials, based on age, as to what a child may need to provide them some comfort, dignity, and pride in having their belongings in a new backpack and not a trash bag when they are taken from their home and placed in the foster care system.
FRONT L-R: Patty Amico, Jeanette Conley, Gale Murphy
BACK: L-R: Colleen Hilton, Margaret Poulin, Beth Gilboy from Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, Susan Smythe, ER Joe Winschel, Kim Toppi
The 100 backpacks were filled with ALL NEW pajamas, personal care items, a blanket, stuffed animal, socks, journals, and a book. We were able to fill each backpack with all of these supplies thanks to the generosity of our members who stepped up and made this project possible.
A representative from the agency was at the Portland Lodge on December 12 to accept the backpacks.
“Welcome Home” from the Augusta Elks
During the month of November, the Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Veterans Committee organized a Home Kit Supply Drive to honor November Veterans Remembrance Month.
The initiative aimed to gather essential supplies to support homeless veterans as they transition into new housing. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of our lodge members the drive was a great success!
Approximately 275 items were collected throughout the month, demonstrating the commitment of our Elk community to supporting veterans in need. The collected items will be used to put together Welcome Home kits for recently housed veterans, giving them much-needed essentials for use in their new homes.
ROCKY’s Travels Continue
The Maine Elks Association Roaming Elk Committee is pleased to report that on December 6, 2025, ten Brunswick Elks joined the Bath Elks lodge in enjoying Bath’s annual Jingle Jam event to deliver Christmas cheer to less fortunate neighbor families, as well as to help welcome MEA President Corey Dewitt and First Lady Joleen for their official visit to Bath. In the process the Brunswick members re-captured Rocky – once again. The Coastal District Trophy can now be captured from the Brunswick Elks Lodge #2043 at a future meeting or event.
As Brotherly Love is one of the four great principles of the Order, the Roaming Elk program was instituted in 2011 as a way for members to have fun traveling to another Lodge in their district to attend events or Lodge Meetings. For a Lodge to capture the trophy in their district, they must have five members of that Lodge travel to a Lodge that holds the Roaming Elk Trophy and attend an event at which they must participate or attend a Lodge meeting. They must remain at the Lodge for at least one hour to capture the trophy. If more than one Lodge attempts to capture the trophy at the same time, the Lodge that has the most members in attendance will take the trophy home. If the number of members is tied, then the Lodge that traveled the furthest will claim the trophy. For more information on the Roaming Elk Program, including the full set of rules, visit https://maineelks.org/roaming-elk/
(L -R) Reggie LeClair, Debbie Brooks, Dottie Contreras, Debbie Brooker, Craig Johnson (Bath), Rae Duval, MEA Prez Corey Dewitt, Dan Daigle, Alisha Barter, Emily Rollock, Mindy Wright, Pamela Wright
Lodge Supports Vets at Christmas
The Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Veterans Committee participated once again in the Adopt-A-Veteran Program for the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta. It was such an honor to fulfill the gift requests for these amazing Veterans!
Pictured at right are Kenneth Gotreau, Exalted Ruler of the Augusta Elks Lodge #964 presenting the Christmas gifts to Mona Boucher, Director of Life Enrichment & Volunteer Services at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta along with FIrst Lady Jean.
November Calendars
Nov 2025 Calendar Winners
| Nov | Ticket # | Amount | Name | Lodge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 605 | $50.00 | Thelma Cusiak | 1293 | ||
| 2 | 1266 | $50.00 | Jenny Brown | 2743 | ||
| 3 | 783 | $25.00 | Frenchy Beauheu | 1287 | ||
| 4 | 114 | $25.00 | Emily Lathrop | 964 | ||
| 5 | 1498 | $25.00 | Kent Stanley | 2743 | ||
| 6 | 572 | $25.00 | Danny Gray | 1293 | ||
| 7 | 732 | $25.00 | Phyllis Goddine | 1521 | ||
| 8 | 386 | $50.00 | Sherry Covbeil | 1597 | ||
| 9 | 540 | $50.00 | Courtney Leeman | 2430 | ||
| 10 | 20 | $25.00 | Michael Marino | 2743 | ||
| 11 | 357 | $100.00 | Floyd Howes | 1597 | ||
| 12 | 1387 | $25.00 | Sue C. Bassi | 244 | ||
| 13 | 970 | $25.00 | Tom Wenchus | 1008 | ||
| 14 | 42 | $25.00 | Christa Scott | 2743 | ||
| 15 | 15 | $50.00 | John Owen | 2743 | ||
| 16 | 547 | $50.00 | Alison Laverdier | 2430 | ||
| 17 | 1178 | $25.00 | Carlette Eaton | 905 | ||
| 18 | 1447 | $25.00 | Joshua Devlin | 244 | ||
| 19 | 891 | $25.00 | Joe Winschel | 188 | ||
| 20 | 1254 | $25.00 | John H Rossmeisl Sr. | 2788 | ||
| 21 | 1296 | $25.00 | Scott Dorval | 905 | ||
| 22 | 711 | $50.00 | Margaret White | 1521 | ||
| 23 | 502 | $50.00 | Vicky LaBree | 2430 | ||
| 24 | 1408 | $25.00 | Eric Baxter | 244 | ||
| 25 | 585 | $25.00 | Roberta Whitney | 1293 | ||
| 26 | 338 | $25.00 | Gary Henderson | 1597 | ||
| 27 | 290 | $25.00 | Shannon Richardson | 244 | ||
| 28 | 1175 | $25.00 | Donald Dorr | 905 | ||
| 29 | 120 | $50.00 | Linda Walter | 964 | ||
| 30 | 1632 | $50.00 | Karen Bloom | 244 | ||
Augusta Elks Earn Community Award
On November 12, 2025, the Kennebec Journal held its annual “Readers’ Choice” awards ceremony at the Augusta Elks Lodge #964. The Lodge was one of three finalists in the Civic/Fraternal Organization category, and the readers of the newspaper chose the Augusta Elks Lodge as the #1 Civic/Fraternal organization in the Augusta area. Other nominees included the Calumet Club and the Augusta Rotary.
This award is part of the Kennebec Journal Readers’ Choice, an annual community contest that recognizes the best local businesses and organizations in Kennebec County. Readers nominate and vote for their favorites, and the winners are celebrated at a live awards ceremony and featured in a special edition of Central Maine Sunday.
Augusta Elks Serve Homeless Veterans
The Augusta Elks were honored to participate in the annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down that was held on November 5, 2025, at Mill Park in Augusta. The Veterans Committee donated ten $25 Hannaford Gift Cards for the event as well as 40 To-Go Lunches. Pictured are LeeAnn Trask presenting the Gift Cards to Sarah Goodman of VA Voluntary Services. The Augusta Lodge Veterans Committee members Nanci Kittredge, Harvey Bubier and Jimi Searle along with Waterville Elk, Brenda Crocker spent the day handing out the To-Go lunches.
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services and community partners with Elks and other community organizations to host a series of Homeless Veterans Mobile Stand Downs to connect homeless and at-risk veterans to housing resources, benefits, healthcare services, employment and training opportunities, personal care items, winter clothing, haircuts, food, and other community resources.
October Calendars
Oct 2025 Calendar Winners.xlsx
| Oct | Ticket # | Amount | Name | Lodge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1416 | $25.00 | Mark Johnson | 244 | ||
| 2 | 1136 | $25.00 | Betty Pellitier | 905 | ||
| 3 | 289 | $25.00 | Khloe Atkinson | 244 | ||
| 4 | 1483 | $50.00 | Sherry Pushaw Casas | 1008 | ||
| 5 | 392 | $50.00 | Rachel Panik | 1597 | ||
| 6 | 243 | $25.00 | Dale Ruggeiri | 244 | ||
| 7 | 1143 | $25.00 | Sue Hubert | 905 | ||
| 8 | 307 | $25.00 | Allison Arsenault | 934 | ||
| 9 | 640 | $25.00 | Mike Brown | 835 | ||
| 10 | 1405 | $25.00 | Adam Freeman | 244 | ||
| 11 | 508 | $50.00 | Katelyb Bachelder | 2430 | ||
| 12 | 81 | $50.00 | Nicole Boutin | 2743 | ||
| 13 | 129 | $100.00 | Myra Drisko | 964 | ||
| 14 | 1472 | $25.00 | Linda Ward | 244 | ||
| 15 | 1436 | $25.00 | Scott Wheeler | 244 | ||
| 16 | 857 | $25.00 | Joan Harmon | 188 | ||
| 17 | 644 | $25.00 | Roger Graham | 835 | ||
| 18 | 152 | $50.00 | Randy Bates | 244 | ||
| 19 | 1300 | $50.00 | Getson Miranda | 905 | ||
| 20 | 654 | $25.00 | Robbie Aucoin | 835 | ||
| 21 | 1525 | $25.00 | Eric Butters | 2743 | ||
| 22 | 976 | $25.00 | Maggie Moody | 1470 | ||
| 23 | 18 | $25.00 | Michael Marino | 2743 | ||
| 24 | 1464 | $25.00 | Kevin Overlock | 244 | ||
| 25 | 1363 | $50.00 | Cindy Millett | 1470 | ||
| 26 | 1398 | $50.00 | Mark Cushing | 244 | ||
| 27 | 355 | $25.00 | Jane Caron | 1597 | ||
| 28 | 599 | $25.00 | Amy Grecenko | 1293 | ||
| 29 | 1290 | $25.00 | Ollie Stratton | 905 | ||
| 30 | 29 | $25.00 | Rhonda Boynton | 2743 | ||
| 31 | 1558 | $25.00 | Katie Shaw | 1470 | ||
The MEA Welcomes GER Klatt
Maine Elks Association President Corey & Joleen Dewitt are excited to welcome the BPOE’s Grand Exalted Ruler Bryan and Mrs Susan Klatt for their official visit to our great state from November 11th to 13th.
During their visit the First Couple will be meeting Maine Elks during a luncheon at the Biddeford-Saco Elks Lodge on November 11th.
Additionally, GER Bryan and Susan will be hosted at a banquet the evening of November 12th at the Portland lodge.
GER Klatt Biography GER Visit Information
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Augusta Elks Supporting Their Community
Elk Care, Elks Share
Giving back to the community is at the heart of everything we do!
Ken Gotreau, Exalted Ruler of the Augusta Elks, Lodge #964, proudly presents a check for $250 to Anna Cooney, Director of Donor Engagement at the Maine Children’s Home, also known as the Home for Little Wanderers.
Founded in 1899, the Waterville-based organization has evolved with the changing needs of families and children. MCH supports individuals and families of all ages throughout the state of Maine through four core programs that provide essential items during the winter-holiday months, young-parent support, mental health counseling, and adoption.
Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Click the link to learn below to more about the Maine Children’s Home:
https://www.