NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationAugusta 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
Screenshot
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.
Ellsworth Supports School Backpack Program
ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Elks Lodge, with its motto “Elks care, Elks share,” has begun donating a total of $10,000 to backpack programs at area schools this fall as part of its efforts to support local communities and youths.
Hancock Grammar School recently received a donation of $2,000 to support its backpack program.
Cave Hill School in Eastbrook, Mountain View School in Sullivan, Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor, Surry Elementary School, Trenton Elementary School, Ella Lewis School in Steuben, Peninsula School in Prospect Harbor and Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School have received or will receive $1,000 each.
October 12 MEA Agenda
Good morning officers, GL members and committee chairs. Please see attached Order of Business for the upcoming state meeting in Skowhegan. In order to move the meeting along, please be prepared to give your report in a timely manner following the report prior to yours. Also, please forward your report to the state secretary so that it can be incorporated into the meeting minutes.
I look forward to seeing you all at the Skowhegan-Madison Lodge this weekend. Safe travels and see you then. AGENDA
Thank you,
Corey DeWitt, PER, PDDGER
Maine Elks State President
September Winners Drawn!
| Sept | Ticket # | Amount | Name | Lodge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 541 | $100.00 | Claris Ranger | 2430 | ||
| 2 | 1408 | $25.00 | Eric Bxter | 244 | ||
| 3 | 1482 | $25.00 | Mary Pushaw | 1008 | ||
| 4 | 634 | $25.00 | Jason Clayton | 835 | ||
| 5 | 1388 | $25.00 | Patti Genthner | 244 | ||
| 6 | 833 | $50.00 | Barbara Pilejgi | 188 | ||
| 7 | 1593 | $50.00 | Brandy Clough | 1470 | ||
| 8 | 672 | $25.00 | Peter Premkumar | 1521 | ||
| 9 | 517 | $25.00 | Stephen Spielvogel | 2430 | ||
| 10 | 329 | $25.00 | Annie Wright | 934 | ||
| 11 | 721 | $25.00 | Kelly Mason | 1521 | ||
| 12 | 977 | $25.00 | Maggie Moody | 1470 | ||
| 13 | 587 | $50.00 | Anthony Marson | 1293 | ||
| 14 | 1560 | $50.00 | Fred Daniels | 1470 | ||
| 15 | 1613 | $25.00 | Dwayne T Guy | 2743 | ||
| 16 | 854 | $25.00 | Tim Smith | 188 | ||
| 17 | 1428 | $25.00 | Cathy Burke | 244 | ||
| 18 | 708 | $25.00 | Monda Drew | 1521 | ||
| 19 | 825 | $25.00 | Michael Binette | 188 | ||
| 20 | 288 | $50.00 | Kya Atkinson | 244 | ||
| 21 | 692 | $50.00 | Laura McDonald | 1521 | ||
| 22 | 104 | $25.00 | Susie Sampson | 964 | ||
| 23 | 1158 | $25.00 | Mary Hodgdon | 905 | ||
| 24 | 647 | $25.00 | Shelly Ledger | 835 | ||
| 25 | 1417 | $25.00 | Ken Dunn | 244 | ||
| 26 | 961 | $25.00 | Robert Walker | 1008 | ||
| 27 | 901 | $50.00 | Ralph Post | 1008 | ||
| 28 | 400 | $50.00 | Rick Savoy | 1597 | ||
| 29 | 1389 | $25.00 | Erika Payson | 244 | ||
| 30 | 295 | $25.00 | Heidi Gilman | 244 | ||
| 31 | 378 | $25.00 | Donna Gilbert | 1597 | ||
Beacon Grant Augments Portland’s School Supplies Drive
L-R: Elks Susan Smythe, Karen Emerson, Windham teacher Lindsey Pettus, Elk Kim Toppi, Principal Kyle Rhoades, Admin Sandra Vujanic
For the fourth year, the Portland Elks Lodge #188 has held a School Supply Drive in August, coordinated by the Lodge’s Activity Committee. Three schools were selected to receive supplies: Presumpscot School in Portland, Village Elementary School in Gorham, and Windham Primary in Windham. With the use of a $4,000 Beacon Grant, and more than $1,400 worth of supplies donated by Lodge members, each school received approximately $1,800 worth of supplies.
The school principals are contacted and asked what “special items” they could use in their school to help teachers out and these items were purchased with the Beacon Grant. Requests included: board games for after school, sweatpants/sweatshirts, clean underwear and socks, snowpants, adult scissors and staplers for all 50 classrooms, puzzles, widgets, play doh, etc etc. Our Lodge members donated the pencils, crayons, notebooks, colored paper, colored pencils, glue sticks, erasers, and so much more.
In addition to the school supplies, each school received 125 Drug Awareness Bags for their Third graders.
Groups of members from the Lodge helped sort all the supplies, pack boxes and cars, collate drug awareness bags, and make the deliveries to the schools the week of September 17.
DEA Surge Targets Sinaloa Cartel Networks Worldwide
The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a week-long operational surge aimed at dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most violent and powerful drug cartels, responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
The Sinaloa Cartel remains one of the most significant threats to public safety, public health and our national security. DEA is committed to breaking their command, control, and distribution networks.
From August 25 through August 29, 2025, DEA agents across 23 domestic field divisions and seven foreign regions carried out coordinated enforcement actions that resulted in:
- Arrests: 617
- Drug Seizures:
- 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder,
- 714,707 counterfeit pills,
- 2,209 kilograms of methamphetamine,
- 7,469 kilograms of cocaine, and
- 55 kilograms of heroin
- Currency Seizures: $11,111,483
- Assets seized: $1,697,313
- Firearms: 420
“These results demonstrate the full weight of DEA’s commitment to protecting the American people,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Every kilogram of poison seized, every dollar stripped from the cartels, and every arrest we make represents lives saved and communities defended. DEA will not relent until the Sinaloa Cartel is dismantled from top to bottom.”
There are tens of thousands of Sinaloa members, associates, and facilitators operating worldwide, in at least 40 countries who are responsible for the production, manufacturing, distribution, and operations related to trafficking dangerous and deadly synthetic drugs.
This coordinated action was a combination of DEA’s increased focus on enforcement, intelligence, and domestic and international collaboration, utilizing every resource in DEA’s arsenal to degrade the Sinaloa Cartel’s command and control.
This surge reflects DEA’s unwavering commitment to confronting the fentanyl crisis and dismantling the cartels responsible for it. DEA continues to take decisive actions to protect American families and communities.
As part of a larger whole-of-government approach to dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel and protecting U.S. communities, DEA is committed to working with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and other federal partners to ensure current and future operations advance broader U.S. efforts to combat designated terrorist organizations and transnational organized crime.
Sincerely,
Frank Burr
Assistant Director –
Elks National Drug Awareness Program
Holiday Fundraiser for ENF & Scholarships
The Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Annual Holiday Craft Fair will be held on 11/15/25 and offers Free Admission and is open to the public from 9am to 2pm.
Over 40+ crafters will be highlighting their handmade creations!
Proceeds from the event benefit the Augusta Elks Scholarship Fund and the Elks National Foundation. There will be a raffle table of items donated by our generous crafters with all proceeds going to the Scholarship Fund.
The Kitchen will be open for Breakfast and Lunch with proceeds supporting the Augusta Elks Veterans Committee. There will be something for everyone on your gift list!
November 15th, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Augusta Elks Lodge #964, 397 Civic Center Dr
Augusta, Maine 04330
Jean Gotreau, 207 623-9623 or jeangotreau@gmail.com