NEWS

News from the Maine Elks Association

St. Patrick’s Day heralds the 20th Lodge Visitation

Last Saturday, March 15th, Denise and I visited the Rockland Lodge.  This marked our 20th lodge visit and completed our successful tour of all the Maine Lodges.  Upon arriving Saturday afternoon, we were greeted at the hotel by Exalted Ruler Pam and her husband, Al.  They took us to the Lodge for a tour and a visit to their lounge.  We saw their beautiful building, showcasing classic architecture, an excellent commercial kitchen, and a grand ball room with an impressive central fireplace, and we also received a fascinating lesson on the Lodge’s rich history.  Downstairs, in the lounge, we met several Lodge officers and members.
Denise and I returned to our room briefly before Pam and Al took us to a wonderful dinner at the Park Street Grille, a local restaurant.  The food was excellent.  Following dinner, we returned to the Lodge for the lodge’s awards night and a St. Patrick’s Day dance.  Pam presented her Elk of the Year, Officer of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and several other special awards, each well-deserved and a credit to the lodge and the community.  The live band, playing classic rock, country and popular dance music, did a fantastic job, and we had the opportunity to dance, catch up with old friends, and meet many warm and welcoming new members.

Another busy weekend for the President and First Lady

This weekend, Denise and I attended the New England Regional Hoop Shoot contest in Portland, Maine. It was a spectacular event. We drove out of a blizzard in the county and into a sunny but blustery day in Portland on Friday. On Friday, we attended a banquet with other Maine Elks who were instrumental in our Hoop Shoot.

On Saturday, we attended the “Breakfast of Champions” at the Portland Lodge. I must say, they really outdid themselves. Following breakfast, we were bused with the kids and families to South Portland, where the shooting venue was located. I will leave the announcement of winners to the Hoop Shoot committee, but I am pleased to report that Maine will have two representative shooters at the national competition in Chicago in April. The awards banquet on Saturday evening featured an excellent meal, and seeing the kids excited about the day was quite refreshing.

Sunday morning, we packed up and drove over to the Bath Lodge to participate in the 11th Hour Toast contest as well as the Flag Charge contest. I am happy to report that we have again increased participation in these contests this year, although we are still short of all 20 Lodges participating. I was extremely pleased that we had a competitor in the open division. Hopefully, next year these contests will grow even more. Again, I will leave reporting the winners to the committee, but I would add that I improved my score for the Flag Presentation contest.

Next week is my final Lodge visit, and it will be to Rockland. Keep checking this site for a detailed report

Homecoming to the County

Denise and I celebrated our homecoming weekend in Houlton from February 28th to March 3rd.  As I’ve always maintained, Lodge 835 is exceptional, and this weekend proved it once again.  Friday night featured a trivia contest, bowling, the Queen of Hearts drawing, and a fantastic pub food menu.  Elks from around the state gathered, and everyone had a wonderful time.
On Saturday, following the pre-budget meeting, preparations commenced for the evening meal.  The kitchen crew outdid themselves, preparing a superb dinner offering prime rib cooked to order or baked haddock.  With the help of several area youth groups the meals were served quickly, and everyone seemed delighted.
After dinner, everyone moved to the Lodge room for a roast and toast in my honor.  I was thoroughly roasted, all in good fun.  My good friend Shawn Stacey even made a donation to the ENF after I put on his Red Sox pullover.  I wasn’t the only one roasted; State Chaplain and Past State President Mike Powers also received his share of good-natured ribbing.  My boating prowess was also humorously mentioned by an anonymous Facebook follower, who thankfully provided me with an emergency gas can for the boat.
The evening continued with live music from the local band Dirt Bag Jenkins and the Dust Pans, who put on a great show.  We danced the night away, followed by the 11 o’clock toast, and then retired to our comfortable beds.  The next day the state meeting concluded smoothly, allowing those who had traveled from afar to begin their journeys home on Sunday.

Next week we are off to Portland for the hoop shoot and then to Bath for the Toast and Flag contests.

MEA Calendar Winners for February ’25

FebruaryTicket #AmountNameLodge
111$50.00Ken Stinson2743
2699$50.00Jeff & Sheri Arsenault1521
350$25.00William Robinson2743
4713$25.00Susan Williams1521
51186$25.00Dick Vigue905
61459$25.00Cathy Boscoe244
71175$25.00Donald Dorr905
81252$50.00Joel Bogan2788
9189$50.00Max Worster244
101523$25.00Brittany Hart2743
11867$25.00JoAnn Sparks188
12880$25.00Gary Murphy188
13648$25.00Ray Ivey835
141455$25.00Jerry Woodman244
151119$50.00Angel Mott2531
16721$50.00Gerri Bosse1287
171634$100.00Flo lloyd244
181574$25.00Claire Morrison1470
191261$25.00Peter Farrell2743
20114$25.00Emily Lathrop964
21511$25.00Donna McLaughlin2430
22216$50.00Linda Mahan244
23117$50.00Tim Rodrigue964
24322$25.00Judy Deion934
251180$25.00Danny Adams905
26254$25.00Linda Ward244
279$25.00Robert Hubbert Sr.2743
28590$25.00Ian Marson1293
0

President Mike’s Address to the March MEA Meeting

Greetings, everyone.
Welcome to the county seat of Aroostook, the Shiretown. Since our last meeting Denise and I visited Millinocket for a great comedy show, been to the State Hoop shoot, the Skowhegan-Madison Lodge for a toast to ENF, and the Augusta Lodge for a wonderful variety show as well as the State Ritual contest in Waterville. As always, detailed reports on these visits can be found on maineelks.org and I encourage you to go and check them out.

During homecoming festivities at the Houlton ELks, MEA President Michael Hannigan eschews his customary Yankees attire for a stylish Red Sox pullover, thanks to an ENF donation by Shawn Stacey.

Well, I am rapidly approaching the end of my term. I have just one visit left to complete and am look forward to Rockland in a couple of weeks. Many of you exalted rulers are also winding down your year. Some of the people here however, are looking forward to taking over the reins of your Lodge. Some will even be new E.R.s and beginning next month you’ll start a journey you should never forget. I know you’ll greet Corey and Jolene with the same enthusiasm your predecessors met Denise and I. It is to you incoming E.R.s that I have some leadership advice for this morning. In late March or early April you will be placed into the role of the captain of the ship which is your Lodge. Your installer will remind you to be the able mariner steering your vessel as calmly in storm as in fair weather. I would like to share with you advice that may help you as guide your vessel. That advice is to always remember, you can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails to reach your destination. Use your local, state, and national resources to both find your way and achieve your ultimate goals for your Lodge. A great place to start is your contest A checklist.
Finally, some advice for not only new E.R.s but for everyone. Recently at a school workshop I heard some good advice for Elks. As we left the workshop the presenter suggested that we come up with an elevator speech to give to colleagues when we went back to our schools. An elevator speech is a brief explanation of something, short enough that you could give in on a ride in elevator but informative enough that it explains your point. I want to suggest to you come up with an elevator speech explaining what the Elks are. Inevitably, someone this year is going to ask you, so what are the Elks. If your caught of guard you may struggle to give a quick answer and you’ll likely miss some important details. Plan ahead, have your speech ready and promote this great organization. Thank you very much, and continue to show Maine in thought word and deed, that Elkdom is the heart of America.

A Great Visit to Augusta

On Saturday, February 22nd, Denise, Heather, and I visited the Augusta Elks Lodge #964. We arrived in the early afternoon and were greeted by Lisa and Tony. The Lodge had provided us with a wonderful welcome basket, filled with Maine-made treats.

At suppertime, Lisa and Tony took us to a very exquisite restaurant, where we met Claris, Roberta, Kip, Bob, and Myra. The restaurant, Otto’s on the River, is one I would highly recommend.  After supper, we went to the Lodge to see their variety show. The show was amazing; the crew had obviously put a tremendous amount of efforts into preparation for it. In addition to the preparations, enthusiasm was exuding from the stage. I even had a chance to go on stage and help one of the acts with some dancing. After the show, we talked with many people at the Lodge for a while and then returned to the hotel for a peaceful night’s sleep.  Augusta was the last Lodge in the central district that I visited this year, and I had a great time.

The next day, we went a short distance to Waterville Lodge #905 for the State team ritual contest. This year’s competitors were Sanford Lodge #1470 and Waterville #905. Both teams were very impressive. I won’t reveal the outcome, but I will share that the teams were very close. This weekend, I look forward to the homecoming celebration in Houlton and hope to see you all. My next visit will be to Rockland in mid-March. Spring is coming; take heart, the weather will improve!

Maine Elks Website Receives 5-Stars for Second Year in a Row

5 Star Vector at GetDrawings | Free downloadAs reported in the Elks Grand Lodge Newsletter, the Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee has announced the winners of the State Website Contest. Maine was one of eleven states receiving 5-Star recognition: the highest recognition level in the contest. Six other state associations received 4-Star recognition in the contest.

The Website was evaluated on a periodic basis for content that covered the Grand Lodge and State Association programs as well as keeping the content current and up to date. It was also evaluated for its layout, menu system, table of contents, accessibility, and ease of use, the use of graphics and effectiveness in telling the Elks story.

Keeping the website updated and maintained takes a dedicated group of members to make it happen. Special thanks go to State Internet Administrator and Public Relations Director Leon “Mac” McCreary for helping to keep the website maintained behind the scenes with security and module updates as well as updating the many stories that have appeared over the past year. Also, thanks go to Special Representative Scott Monroe for keeping the Calendar up to date. This is not an easy job as there are many events that are submitted each year by Elk Lodges. Also thank you to our other contributor and editor Kathleen Cotterly for her contributions to the website. In addition, a thank you goes out to David Chasse who serves as our technical guru to help us to correct issues that may affect the website. Finally, thank you to State President Michael Hannigan for supplying us with updates on his visits and messages to the membership, and to all who used the website this past year and contributed news and events. Without your participation, it would not have been possible to have a 5-Star rating on the website.

Wayne Cotterly
PSP Advisor/Internet Administrator
Public Relations Committee

MEA Visit to Skowhegan-Madison Benefits ENF

On Saturday, February 1st, Denise and I visited the Skowegan-Madison Lodge. We arrived at our Madison Ave hotel mid-afternoon and were very quickly greeted by E.R. Gregory and his wife, Barbara. They presented us with a wonderful fruit tray and promised to pick us up as soon as we were ready to go to the Lodge.

After dressing for the evening, we arrived at the Lodge and were greeted by many old friends, including Claris and Roberta. After some time reminiscing, it was time to settle down for a great meal. The Lodge did a wonderful job with Bourbon steak tips, cooked to perfection, and some excellent homemade pies for dessert.

After the meal, it was time to raise funds for the Elks National Foundation (ENF). They began with their 150 Club raffle. Many winners were crowned, but the real winner was the Lodge ENF fund. Following that, donations to ENF were accepted, and a lot of money was raised. The last part was a presentation of a beautiful round cribbage board made of cherry colored wood, personalized with Denise’s and my names. Along with the board was a wonderful hardcover book about the history of the New York Yankees.

The evening ended with a wonderful band playing classic rock music. We talked and danced the night away. Eventually, it came time for the 11 o’clock toast, and the evening was over. We were driven back to the hotel and enjoyed a good night’s sleep. We are going to be going to Rockland around Valentine’s Day; keep checking here for that report.”

MEA Calendar Winners for January ’25

JanuaryTicket #AmountNameLodge
1994$100.00Shawn LegerSanford
2236$25.00Brian WestmanBangor
3520$25.00Dennis McCabeFarmington
4873$50.00Greg IvesPortland
5717$50.00Shawn ReardonMillinocket
6643$25.00Mary LoweHoulton
7231$25.00Jan WinklerBangor
8776$25.00Lisa GallantOld Town
91449$25.00Paul DubayBangor
10514$25.00April BlouinFarmington
11393$50.00Gerry InkelBiddeford-Saco
12805$50.00Ruby LaFrancePresque Isle
131576$25.00Richard YoungSanford
14122$25.00Stacy CoffinAugusta
15860$25.00Paul PoorePortland
16182$25.00James StubbsBangor
17701$25.00Tim WhelldenMillinocket
18609$50.00Matt GagneGardiner
19111$50.00Theresa BarrounAugusta
20507$100.00Sandra WymanFarmington
21823$25.00Martin BinettePortland
22238$25.00Nina DaltonBangor
231448$25.00Chris A. NileBangor
24572$25.00Danny GrayGardiner
25383$50.00Paula GilbertBiddeford-Saco
261136$50.00Betty PellitierWaterville
27151$25.00 Michelle BatesBangor
2875$25.00Lewis GordonEllsworth
29323$25.00Jay T. MerryBath
301268$25.00Susan PiperEllsworth
311189$25.00Lee PoulinWaterville

Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest

The Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest is a highly anticipated annual event that provides an excellent platform for children aged 8 to 13 years old to showcase their basketball skills. This prestigious competition is organized by the Maine Elks Association and is part of the national Elks Hoop Shoot program, which aims to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition among youth.  The program for the Fraternal Year 2024 to 25 took place on January 26th at the Bangor High School gymnasium.

The Elks Hoop Shoot program has a storied history dating back to 1946 when it was first introduced by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The purpose of the program is to engage young people in a positive and supportive environment where they can develop their basketball abilities, learn the importance of physical fitness, and build self-confidence.

The Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest is open to all children residing in Maine who fall within the specified age range, beginning their journey through one of the twenty local lodge contests. The competition is divided into three age groups for each boys and girls:

  • 8-9 years old
  • 10-11 years old
  • 12-13 years old

Participants must meet the age criteria as of April 1st of the year in which the contest is held.

The journey to the state finals begins at the local level, where Elks lodges across Maine host preliminary contests. Winners from each local lodge advance to the district level, where they compete against other local champions. The top shooters from the three district competitions then progress to the state finals where they vie for the title of Maine State Hoop Shoot Champion.

The Hoop Shoot contest follows a straightforward yet challenging format. Each participant is required to shoot a series of 25 free throws from the designated foul line: children 10 to 13 years of age shoot from the official fowl line and 8- to 9-year-olds from a line four feet closer. The boy and girl with the highest number of successful free throws in their respective group is declared the winner and move on to the next stage.

Our six State Champions have earned the honor of representing Maine at the New England regional in March where they compete against youths from Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont.  Those six winners will then compete at the national level. The national finals are held annually in Chicago, Illinois, where state champions from across the United States compete for the coveted title of National Hoop Shoot Champion and be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts. This prestigious event offers participants the opportunity to meet and compete against some of the best young basketball players in the country.

Benefits of Participation

The Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest is not just about basketball; it is also about community and family involvement. Elks lodges across the state work tirelessly to organize and promote the contest, ensuring that it is a memorable experience for all participants. Family members, friends, and community supporters are encouraged to attend the competitions, creating a festive and supportive atmosphere for the young athletes.

Participating in the Hoop Shoot Contest provides numerous benefits for young athletes. Beyond the excitement of competition, the contest helps participants develop essential life skills, such as:

  • The Day’s Top Shooters were Charlotte, 8-9 year-olds from Brunswick #2034 and Jackson, 10-11 year olds from Houlton #835.

    Discipline: Regular practice and preparation for the contest teach children the value of hard work and dedication.

  • Sportsmanship: Competing in a respectful and supportive environment fosters a sense of fair play and camaraderie among participants.
  • Confidence: Successfully competing in the contest boosts self-esteem and helps children build confidence in their abilities.
  • Teamwork: Although the Hoop Shoot is an individual competition, participants often practice and support each other, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

The Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest is a fantastic opportunity for children to engage in a fun and competitive basketball event. It offers a platform for young athletes to hone their skills, make new friends, and experience the thrill of competition. By promoting physical fitness, discipline, and sportsmanship, the Hoop Shoot program plays a vital role in the development of well-rounded and confident individuals. Whether a participant or a spectator, the Maine Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest is an event that brings the community together and celebrates the potential of our youth, and no matter where they finish, we believe EVERY participant is truly a winner!

Like all such events, the Elks depend heavily on volunteers from within their own ranks and this event was no exception.  Shown below in no particular order are (from the Bangor Lodge) Peter Duff, Mark Gregory, Mike Murphy, Steve Jones, Sherry Pinkos, Heidi Worster, Jake Worster, Gary Turner, Dorreh Montieth, Bob Phair, Shawn and Shane Stacey, Scott Monroe, and Jan Winkler, (from the Waterville Lodge) David Hammond and Felice Gaulin, and (from the Augusta Lodge) Wayne and Kathleen Cotterly.  Back at the lodge the lunch was readied and served by Heidi Wood, Lynne Noyes and Marietta D’Agnostine.

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