NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationEndorsed Candidate Pins & Pendants Now Available
Endorsed Candidate for Grand Exalted Ruler Douglas Schiefer of the Ohio Elks Association has made his fundraising pin and pendent set available through Lina Michaud. The pin or pendant can be purchased for $100 each, or a set can be purchased for $150 for both the pin and pendant. Purchasing the pin, pendant, or both will allow the recipient and a guest to be invited to the Grand Exalted Ruler-Elect’s Reception at the Grand Lodge Convention to be held in Austin, Texas this July. The event is scheduled for the evening of July1st, following the election of the Grand Exalted Ruler for 2024-2025.
To order the pin, pendant, or both, please download the order form by clicking the button below/ Fill out the form, and send it along with your payment to:
Lina B. Michaud
27 Bunny St.
Augusta, ME 04330
Coastal District Hoops Rescheduled
Good afternoon Brothers and Sisters.
Elks Scholarship News
This year the Most Valuable Student Contest had 100% participation with all Lodges having at least 1 Scholarship application. There was a total of 110 Applicants from Maine. Bangor #244 led the way with 11 Applicants, followed by Ellsworth #2743 and Farmington #2430, each with 10 applicants. District Level Scoring is currently underway and will end on January 10, 2024. State Scoring will begin on February 1 – 20, 2024
Congratulations, to Kathy Stevens of Augusta Lodge #964. She is moving up from Central District Chairperson to a MVS State Judge. Mike “Shu” Michaud, PER will step into the Central District Coordinator position. Please update your directory to include this change. Mike’s contact information is noted below:
Mike Michaud
27 Bunny St.
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 441-2838
shumichaud@gmail.com
Thank You, Mike! He’s been an enormous help through the years, and I am confident he’ll do an amazing job.
Legacy Awards deadline is February 5, 2024. Please make sure your fellow Elk members know that this deadline is upcoming.
The Emergency Grant Program was open May 1 – December 1, 2023, for children or stepchildren of a deceased or totally disabled Elk. These are $5,000.00 one-year, renewable grants. If you know of someone that may qualify, please have them contact Lina Michaud, so that she may review the guidelines with them and assist with the application process.
The Gunther & Lee Weigei Medical School Scholarship applications opened January 2, 2024. Last year, the 2023 contest, awarded ten (10) $22,000.00 scholarships to Elk Scholars, entering their 1st year of medical school in the Fall of 2023. This scholarship is open to current or former scholarship recipients of the Elks National Foundation Awards, ONLY.
Also, nominations are being accepted for the prestigious Maine Elks Association Scholarship Special Recognition Award. If you know of someone that has worked diligently at the local, district or state level on behalf of youth of their communities and the Elk Scholarship Programs, please submit a nomination by February 29, 2024 for this year’s award. You may e-mail the nomination to: Lina Michaud, PER, 27 Bunny St., Augusta, ME 04330 or E-Mail: slaale@hotmail.com.
I wish each and every one of you, a phenomenal New Year with good health, fortune and most importantly the love and support of your Elk Family.
Fraternally,
Lina Michaud PER
Maine Elks Association
State Scholarship Coordinator
(207) 485-4710
slaale@hotmail.com
President Sandi’s Third Quarter Message
Dear Maine Elks Association Members:
I am hoping everyone made it through the wind storm we got without too much time without power. At our house we have about thirty trees down but we have a generator so did not lose any food, and we stayed warm.
As for my visits, including our last meeting where we stayed at Sanford in the nice cabin again while we were there for their 100th Anniversary weekend. We missed spending time with Sheri Frechette, as she was still recovering from surgery, so Bruce and Lisa Brunell took care of us for the weekend.
We arrived on Friday, checked in and when to the Lodge for their Pub Night dinner. The following day Andy and Tricia Bolz drove us to Wells where along with other Elks who joined us, we had a great lunch at a nice restaurant. After freshening up we attended the 100th Anniversary Banquet and enjoyed the delicious dinner along with lots of Elks for company. We even met some new people from Grand Lodge that night, and saw some Elks we had not seen in a few years! Sunday came the October State Meeting hosted by the Sanford Lodge. We even had a few additional “Mikes” in the room that day! Business was attended to and I thank the Sanford Elks for a fun-filled weekend and for hosting our State Meeting.
October 14th Dave and I attended the Learning Seminar held at the Augusta Elks Lodge. No matter how many of these I go to, I always learn something I did not know before!
October 21st and 22nd we attended the State Association Soccer Shoot hosted by the Waterville Lodge. What a great day watching the kids compete and a nice meal was served in the pavilion after the shootout. Nikole Nadeau did a great job organizing this and had lots of great help from everyone on the committee. A big thank you goes to the volunteers.
October 25th I attended the Veterans’ standdown at Togus with George Luckhurst and Darelyn and enjoyed spending the dg ay with all our Veteran’s and workers at Togus.
On October 27th we drove to Portland where we were met by ER Stephanie and Al Ingraham at the hotel, before heading to the Lodge for their annual Halloween costume party. A nice dinner was served, and then we played 3 card challenge with their members and enjoyed the DJ. If you have not seen the Stained-glass window Portland was able to recover you should make a trip down to see it. This window is actually an unused panel from the original lodges’ Memorial Tablets. PER Martha Binette found it, and was able to negotiate a deal to get it “repatriated” back to Maine. It really is a quite spectacular artifact of turn-of-the-century grandeur of our order, you really should make the trip to Portland.
On October 28th we headed to Farmington for our visit. We arrived at “The Pentagon,” the home of Jo and Steven Spielvogel, and got a tour of their beautiful home. A short time later ER John Libby, Aaron Allumbaugh, Claris Ranger and their wives took us and Jo along for a tour of the Farmington area. Aaron gave us an interesting and entertaining history of each landmark we visited. Upon returning to Jo’s home Stephen took us down to their cabin, which is where we stayed for the visit. It was more of a house than a camp, with a beautiful view of the lake! We relaxed with some snacks and a few beverages till Jo and Stephen retrieved and took us to the Lodge for a Turkey dinner with all the fixings. Then came the moment that every State President looks forward to – the presentation of “The Jacket”!! I also presented a gorgeous hand carved eagle head cane to their oldest living Member that night. In the morning we were joined by ER John, Aaron, Claris and their wives for a delicious breakfast prepared by Stephen and Jo at their home before leaving Farmington to head home.
November 3rd to 5th we traveled to Windsor, Connecticut for the Regional Soccer shoot. Nikole again outdid herself with here arrangements for the MEA competitors and their guests. Nikole drove down with me in the morning, we got checked into our hotels and then drove over to the Enfield Lodge to set up the greeting table for our winners, and distribute their warm-up suits to wear at the competition the next morning. There was a fun pizza party that evening during which we were joined by Dave and Darryl who’d had to work that morning. On Saturday we had breakfast at the Lodge and then drove to the Sports bubble for the competition, and I was able to help calculate the scores. We then went back to the Lodge for the awards banquet, and Sunday morning had us back on the road home to refresh our suitcases.
November 6th we checked into the Fireside Inn in Waterville to prepare for Grand Exalted Ruler Randy Shook and his wife Wanda to arrive in New Hampshire, where we picked them the next day. Taking Randy and Wanda back to Waterville we had the chance to rest for a while, then took them over to Peter Reny’s home for a viewing of his classic car collection. Later in the afternoon we took our guests to our Lodge for a lobster and steak dinner and socializing, then back to the hotel. After breakfast the next day we took them to the First Amendment museum in Augusta for a tour, then back to the hotel to change for the banquet held at the Lodge. The next afternoon we drove Randy and Wanda to the airport to jet away for their next stop in New Jersey.
November 11th we met ER Darelyn and George from the Gardiner Lodge at the Senator Hotel in Augusta. We got checked in and settled a bit before attending a delicious ham dinner and country show that evening. The following morning Darelyn and George took us to breakfast before we checked out of the hotel.
November 19th we attended the 4th annual Train Ride for MCCP, Raising $3,616.00 for MCCP!! Thank you, Jackie and Peter Reny and the crew of volunteers, and to the Belfast and Moosehead Railway for providing the train, fuel and crew all for a job well done!
November 22nd, we drove to Pittsfield and met ER Jeremy Thurston of the Sebasticook Valley Lodge for their annual pie and cake auction. ER Jeremy presented me a nice bag of goodies to take home including some Harley glasses and more. Dave and I took home a few pies that night which were delicious by the way!
After a much needed break, December 9th we arrived in Bath for our visit. We then went over to the lodge and met ER Craig Johnson and his friend Annie where we visited with the members for a while before they took us to the Maine Maritime Museum. I can tell you that you need more than a few hours to see all that they have to offer concerning the mid-coast’s maritime history and we found it all very interesting. That evening we returned to the Lodge for their Jingle Jam and silent auction, along with a great meal. I even won three of the baskets offered that night!! The following morning, we were back to the Lodge for a huge breakfast, prepared by their volunteer kitchen team, before driving home.
What a busy but fun few months since I last wrote, Dave and I hope every one has a Happy and fun filled New Year and look forward to our next visits.
Fraternally,
Sandi and Dave
State President and First man
December MEA Calendar Winners
Elk Lodge News from around the State
Lodges of the Maine Elks Association have been busy living up to our Order’s motto of Elks Care-Elks Share. Here is some of what the Lodges have done and are doing around the State:
Augusta Elks Lodge
The Augusta Lodge with over 1,000 members has been very active. In December, the Lodge held its 3rd Annual Festival of Trees at which over 2,500 people came through the Lodge in support of the event. There were many positive comments on the appearance of the trees and the Lodge, as well as obtaining a few new membership applications. There were also a few new businesses interested in having a tree in next year’s event. Though all the numbers have not been reported yet, there will be a significant amount being given to the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP). KVCAP is a non-profit community action program which has been providing services to the people of Kennebec and Somerset counties since 1965. They offer a variety of services geared towards helping clients achieve economic and social self-sufficiency.
The Augusta Lodge’s “Edge Program.” was also busy during the month. This program is a collaboration of several local electricians and plumbers several who are members that work with local high school students to provide hands on experience teaching the basics of house wiring and plumbing. This program is funded in part by an Elks National Foundation Impact Grant.
The Veterans Committee delivered gifts to the Maine Veterans Home as part of the Elks Adopt-A-Vet program. The Lodge adopted five veterans in the home, who provided a list of five items they wanted for Christmas. The Lodge then went shopping for those items, wrapped and tagged them, and then delivered them in time for the holiday. The items will hopefully brighten their holiday and show that the “So long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them.” and their service to our great nation.
Sanford Elks Lodge
The Sanford Elks Lodge is also an active Lodge with over 1,000 members. The Lodge has been promoting to their members access to the “My Elks” app. Members can download the app onto their phone or tablet, and access all of the events and happenings at the Lodge. Access to this app for members is free, though there is a fee paid by the Lodge’s that use the app. Many other Lodges across the country also use the app as well, which works great if you are traveling and want to see what is going on at a Lodge near you.
The Lodge officers have been working on preparing for the State Ritual Contest, which is scheduled to be held at their Lodge on February 25th. This contest is open to any Lodge that wants to compete and improve their presentation to new members during initiation. This is the Lodge contest, but later in March, there will be an 11 O’clock Toast and Flag Presentation competition that is open to all Exalted Rulers and Past Exalted Rulers. The winner of this contest will be offered the opportunity to compete at the national contest held at the Grand Lodge Convention in Austin, Texas in July.
The Lodge has also been busy raising money for the State Associations’ major project the “Maine Children’s Cancer Program.” The Lodge has a large committee that is focused on raising money for this great cause. On Sunday, February 18th, the Lodge plans to hold its 14th Annual Square Pond Fishing Derby, provided that there is ice on the pond.
The Lodge throughout the year has also been celebrating 100 years of service to the community.
Bath Elks Lodge
The Bath Elks Lodge also has been busy. The Lodge also hosted MEA State President Sandi Anderson and First Man David at the Lodge for their annual “Jingle Jam” event on December 9th which raises money for needy people in the community. The Lodge also donated $500 dollars to the Bath Area Backpack Program, and another $500 to the Morse High School Project Graduation. In addition, like many other Lodges, they held their annual Children’s Christmas party which was attended by 36 young people who were entertained by a local magician and provided with sweets and refreshments, as well as a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Lodge is also held its annual Hoop Shoot contest on December 16th with 16 youngsters competing. The winners will be advancing to the District Contest to be held on January 7, 2024, at the Bath YMCA.
Want More News?
If you want to provide news for the MEA Website on what your Lodge is and has been doing for the community, please submit the information using the form that as accessed at the top of the Members Only home page of the MEA Website. The link can be found here: MEA LODGE NEWS SUBMISSION | Maine Elks Association. The form also has the ability for your Lodge to submit a photo from the event. Please use the best photo that shows your Lodge members in action, as only one can be submitted for each news story.
Elks Float in Tournament of Roses Parade-January 1, 2024
It’s almost New Year’s Day, and many across this great country and around the world will be celebrating by watching the 135th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2024. This will be the second year in a row that the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks will have a float in the parade. The theme this year is “Celebrating the World of Music: The Universal Language.
The Elk’s U.S.A. float is titled “Chimes of Liberty / Protecting our Future” The float showcases the Elks’ impactful community work and their commitment to supporting the armed forces. The float features classic Revolutionary War fife and drum icons, highlighting battlefield communication, regimental pride, and identity. It also features the Preamble to the United States Constitution which takes center stage on the float, adorned with a revolutionary war bugle featuring intricate gold braiding. An oversized quill, representing the power of words, is also displayed next to the iconic BPOE clock. At the heart of the float, a majestic elk, the emblem of the BPOE, is nestled amidst the stars and stripes of the American flag, signifying the organization’s deep patriotism. The floral materials have no limit in creativity, with the big drum made of fine white ground rice and white mums and the Declaration of Independence made of ground oats, dark brown coffee, walnut shell, and black beans. The float is adorned with celebratory fireworks of red carnations and yellow strawflower at the rear, symbolizing the BPOE’s longstanding commitment to community service and its founding principles since 1868.
Riding aboard the float will be representatives from each of the six military branches including the Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force representing the Elks support of our nation’s veterans. Also, on board will be three young people from the Elks Antler’s Youth Program representing our nation’s future.
The parade will be broadcast live starting at 8 AM PST on ABC and NBC. To the right is a preview of the float and an interview with Past Grand Exalted Ruler Robert Duitsman.
Wells Elks Lodge to Receive ENF Impact Grant
The Wells Elks Lodge may be small with only 71 members but is a powerhouse in their community. The Elks National Foundation (ENF) recently announced that the Lodge will be receiving a coveted Impact Grant through their Community Investment Program. This is a highly competitive grant offered by the ENF which are designed to set a standard of excellence in community leadership through service through volunteerism. Only 14 Lodges in the country will receive one of these grants in 2024.
The Wells Lodge will be receiving a $10,000 grant for their “Elks Caring for the Caregiver Program;” a program that seeks to provide emotional, social, and material support for adult caregivers in their community. The support group will meet monthly at the Lodge where caregivers will receive educational sessions and caregiver essential tips. Speakers will be brought in for a variety of topics such as stress management, nutrition elder law, Medicaid planning, basic first aid and CPR, medication management, and more.
This idea was brought to the Wells Elks Lodge after at least three of their own lodge members were experiencing this lack of finding support through 2021-2023. These Elks members and new Caregivers were caring for diagnosed family members of dementia and cancer. After hearing their stories detailing the amount of care and lack of support, some members took it upon themselves to start researching and finding financial and emotional support for their fellow Elks in their time of need. This opened up a wider discussion to see if this was a community wide issue. During the Lodge’s discussions with residents, home health care owners/aides and members of the local Elder Abuse Task Force they found that there was definitely a lack of education for new Caregivers as well as the need for a support group with evening hours available. In addition, the Lodge researched and found statistics on caregiver financial strain which was also confirmed in talking with the Elks members that were currently going through this. Currently, according to the CDC 20% of the population of the United States provide caregiving services for a friend or family, and according to AARP, those caregivers provide over $600 Billion in volunteer service, so being a caregiver has become an important need in this country. The Wells Elks Lodge is doing its part to help support those caregivers through this program.
The Wells Lodge joins the Augusta Lodge in being the only two Lodges in Maine to receive an Impact Grant. The Augusta Lodge is currently receiving a renewal of its impact grant for supporting local teenagers through their “Edge Program,” which is the second of two Impact grants the Augusta Lodge received: the first being a program in support of the Augusta Boys & Girls Club.
Impact grants are not the only grants offered by the Elks National Foundation. The ENF also offers Elk Lodges four other grants including the Beacon Grant, Spotlight Grant, Freedom Grant, and Gratitude Grant, each with their own requirements and uses to support communities across the country. Statewide, the Elk Lodges in Maine have received $117,500 to support their communities, helping to show that Elks Care–Elks Share. For more information on these grant programs, visit Resources (elks.org).
November MEA Calendar Winners
ENF Fidelity Club Members Make a Big Impact on Elk Programs
The Elks National Foundation’s (ENF) Fidelity Club automated donation program has made a big impact on the Elk programs, including the Scholarship, Hoop Shoot, Veterans, and Community Investment Grant programs. Here is what the ENF Has been able to accomplish through Fidelity Club contributions over the past year:
- $59,204 for Scholarships of which 898 were given out through the ENF’s Scholarship programs.
- 587 Elk Scholars served with an Elks Lodge to continue the Elks legacy of Charity.
- 22 Elk Scholars served on a winter service trip to Florida to help communities impacted by Hurricane Ian
- $12,401 for the Elks Hoop Shoot program where 110,749 kids participated nationally, of which 72 made it to the National Finals.
- $34,101 was used to support the Community Investment Grant Programs, where 83% of all Elk Lodges received at least one grant to help build stronger communities. Some of those grants were used to fund reading programs that teach children disaster emotional and social readiness,
- $130,646 was used to support Veterans, including 2,312 Welcome Home Kits for homeless veterans.
- $800,467 was used to support all Elk programs.
The Fidelity Club was created just over 16 years ago to make it easy for members to automatically contribute to the Elks National Foundation on a monthly basis. The Club’s goal is for 5-10% of all ENF Donors to participate. Last year, a total of 4.9% of ENF Donors were members of the Fidelity Club, and nearly half (46%) of all Elk Lodges have at least 5% of their donors in this program. Currently, the Fidelity Club receives over $1 Million Dollars in donations by Elks across the country.
Signing up for the program is easy, safe, and secure, and YOU determine how much you would like to contribute each month. (Minimum donation is $5 per month). Once you sign up, you can increase, modify, or cancel your donations at any time. There are a few benefits to the program that you will receive, including a fidelity club sticker, your name is added to the Fidelity Club “Honor Roll,” accessible through Elks.org, and a Fidelity Club Pin, along with attachments based on the number of consecutive donations you provide. If you are going to the Grand Lodge Convention, you will be invited to attend “Bagels with the Board” which is an open-house breakfast where you have the opportunity to meet other Fidelity Club members from around the country and meet with members of the Elks National Foundations Board of Trustees.
MEA Past State President Al Ingraham and Past First Lady Stephanie were recently featured on Elks.org for their support of the Elks National Foundation and the Fidelity Club. You can read about their accomplishments here: news (elks.org)
To sign up for the Fidelity Club, visit here: Make a Recurring Gift – Elks National Foundation
Fidelity Club members generosity puts money directly into ENF programs and out into Elks communities. When you join, you become a sustaining force for the Elks’ legacy of Charity. Every Elk member is encouraged to participate, as the program makes it easy to show that Elks Care–Elks Share by giving to the great heart of Elkdom.