NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationState President Message-February 2023
Hello,
The last two months have been very busy. I was in and out of the hospital most of December. I feel fine now and getting better with each day. Stephanie and I are looking forward to our visitations to both Rockland on Saturday February 11 and Skowhegan-Madison on Saturday February 18.
We were at the Coastal Hoop Shoot at Brunswick. It was an excellent event. Professionally run. I want to thank the Bath Lodge for providing brown bag lunches to the participants and their families, to enjoy on their way home. Thanks to all who volunteered. Hope to see everyone at the next level.
I’m sorry to have received First Vice President Corey Day’s resignation. I along with all our members, wish him well in the future. PSP Scott Monroe was appointed to finish out Coreys year. This position is now opened as well as the Second Vice Presidents position. Both will be voted on during the meeting of the Maine State Association Convention in May 2023.
The MEA is in the process of updating our by-laws. If you have not seen the recommended changes, please visit the Maine Elks website and read them. You can make any recommendations to Bruce Brunelle @ bruce.brunelle76@gmail.com before February 10,2023. They will be voted upon at our state convention in May 2023.
Winter had official arrived!!! Please be safe. Keep your lodges (and homes) walkways, driveways and parking lots clear, salted, sanded and safe. A reminder that the State Trustees budget meeting will be held at Skowhegan-Madison on Sunday February 19,2023 at 1: PM. This meeting is geared toward all State Chairman who want to have their state budget adjusted (up or down) to be heard. You are encouraged to attend.
Thank You
Fraternally Yours,
Albert Ingraham
MEA State President
Interested in a Cornhole Tourney?
Old Town Lodge #1287 will be hosting a Cornhole Tournament for the Maine Elks lodges on February 25th, 2023.
This is for winning lodge bragging rights, and to raise money for Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
More info is on the FLIER.
It’s Hoop Shoot Season in Maine’s Districts
(See the MEA Flickr File for more Photos)
In the Northern District
8/9 Girls: 1st Charlotte Kenny- Bangor #244, 2nd Alivia Deprey- Presque Isle #1954, 3rd Rachel Page- Millinocket #1521
On January 15th the Coastal District Hoop-Shoot was held at the city Rec Department quartered on the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick. The event was conducted as a joint effort between the Brunswick and Bath lodges. Lodge chairmen Kevin Leeman (Brunswick) and Ron Nygaard (Bath) have long been Hoop Shoot collaborators.
The Maine Elks Association it’s Coastal District Hoop Shoot assistant when Kevin passed away this past year, but he and Bath’s Nygaard finalized their arrangements for the district event before Kevin became unable to participate.
It was a fine clear day for the event, and the competition was quite exciting with shoot-offs called for to decide final results in several of the sub-groups.
Awards were presented in the field house once the scores were finalized and totaled up. Members Craig Johnson, Scott & Kristee Bubar put together bag lunches the competitors and their families could take with them for the trip home.
The Coastal District Results are:
8-9 girls: 1st Sandra O’Hara- Biddeford-Saco #1597, 2nd Tessa Waddel- York #2788, 3rd Sadie Anderson- Rockland #1008.
8-9 Boys: 1st Orris Blake- Portland #188 , 2nd Robert Masi- York #2788, 3rd Blake Paige- Rockland #1008.
10-11 Girls: 1st Audrey Gould- Bath #934 , 2nd Saylor Maloney- Rockland #1008.
10-11 Boys: 1st Greyson Banville- Biddeford-Saco #1597, 2nd Emmett Myer- Brunswick #2043, 3rd Julian Elkevizth- York #2788.
12-13 Girls: 1st Jaeiyn Lyduck- Biddeford-Saco #1597, 2nd Olivia Breen- Rockland #1008, 3rd Grace Roak- Brunswick #2043.
12-13 Boys: 1st Enzo Santini- York #2788, 2nd Trenton McKinnon- Brunswick #2043, 3rd Lessie White III- Bath #934.
Supporting the event were Camdyn Johnson from the Morse H.S. Shipbuilders and Dakota Shipley of the Brunswick H.S. Dragons along with Elks Bryan Champagne, Chris Wallace, Warren Hewes, Pete Hudson, Mark Westrum, Fred Mitchell, Craig Johnson, Mac McCreary and Cam Johnson. Also a big Thank You goes to Dave Coffill and the Brunswick Recreation Department for the use of their great facility.
Next up is the Statewide competition, to be held at the Bath Middle School gynasium at 6 Old Brunswick Road, Bath, ME on January 29th, 2023. Registration begins at 9:00 am and the competition is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am. Lunch and awards to be conducted afterward at the Bath Elks Lodge #934, behind the Bath Town Hall.
How is the Elks National Foundation Helping Maine?
When you give to the Elks National Foundation, you’re doing more than funding the Elks National Drug Awareness and “Hoop Shoot” programs. You’re doing more than supporting the Community Investments Program and providing Emergency Educational Grants to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks. You’re doing more than meeting the needs of today’s veterans and maintaining the Elks National Memorial.
Maine Elks are doing all that, and more in support of Elkdom in the state.
During the 2021-22 Lodge year, the Elks of Maine donated $113,149.45 to the Elks National Foundation. This year, the Foundation will give back the following:
These grants support Maine’s major charitable project-the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, as well as other philanthropic projects. Portions of these grants will also support your state’s Drug Awareness Program, Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot and educational programs.
State Charities Grant: $72,490.00
Special Projects Grant: $52,310.00
Bonus Grant: $13,350.00
The ENF will award a total of 6 Most Valuable Student scholarships to high school seniors from Maine. (Click here to check out Maine’s Recipients.) In addition, we will award up to 4 Legacy scholarships to children, grandchildren and stepchildren of Elks. (Click here to check out Maine’s recipients.)
Most Valuable Student: $24,000.00
Legacy Award: $16,000.00
We also provide the Elks National Veterans Service Commission with funding to support its volunteers working in veterans’ hospitals and medical centers.
Funding for VAVS Volunteers: $3,480.00
Grand Total: $181,630.00
That’s a ratio of 1.605 for every dollar the Foundation received from your state last year. And that doesn’t even include the money Lodges in your state will get back through our Community Investments Program. For the 2021-22 fiscal year, for example, the ENF awarded a total of $130,500.00 to 17 Maine Lodges.
For more information about the Elks National Foundation, contact your local chairman, State ENF Director David Hammond, or write the Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, enf@elks.org.
Annual Memorial Day event departs from Portland Lodge #188
On the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend Portland Lodge #188 will again be hosting a leg of The Summit Project , honoring Maine’s fallen heroes lost since September 11th, 2001. Portland has been involved since the beginning in 2013.
Family members meet at the lodge early in the morning, and enjoy a continental breakfast arranged by the lodge through donations from area businesses and friends. Both Boy and Girl Scouts are on hand to conduct a ceremony in which the scouts lead us in the pledge and national anthem.
As the scouts pass stones to gathered motorcycle riders and state police on motorcycles, the scouts read a few words about the fallen service member who’s name is carved into the stone, which was donated by the serviceman’s family. As each stone is handed over to the bikers safely pack away their stones in their saddlebags or back packs and begin their journey north, leaving the lodge under the flag suspended between two fire trucks.
The motorcyclists transport their precious cargo to Millinocket where volunteer hikers take over, carrying the stones into Baxter State Park or to other treks throughout Maine and even across the world.
To register to join the convoy or even transport a memorial stone, whether across the road or up the mountain, see The Summit Project for more information.
Portland Elk caught for a Random Act of Kindness
In early December, a mystery woman in a white coat bought a little girl a stuffed animal. The Minnie Mouse was out of her mother’s price range — that’s when Kimberly McDonough stepped in.
For more on the story go to WMTW
Planning Underway for the Weekend at The Forks
1st MCCP/FORKS first Steering Committee Meeting will be Sunday, January 29 at 1:00 p.m. at the Waterville Lodge.
All Lodges are encouraged to have a representative or two on the Steering Committee, and a Zoom Link will also be available: for the link E-Mail Jennifer Young at jenniferandjake711@gmail.com
For more information contact: Lina – #485-4710 or Shu – #441-2838
Maine Elks 3rd Annual Mariners Hockey Game to Support MCCP
The 3rd annual Mariners Hockey for a Cause fundraising partnership between the Maine Elks Association, Maine Children’s Cancer Program and the Maine Mariners will be held on Saturday March 11th at the Cross Arena in Portland, Maine. With the tremendous success of our last event, we are very excited to bring Elks together from across the state in support of our major project – MCCP!
Tickets can be purchased via the following link (https://www.fevo.com/edp/Maine-Elks-0rJnTiXa) at a cost of $18.00 per ticket (plus $2 online purchase fee) for a total of $20 per person. At the game, the Elks along with the Maine Children’s Cancer Program will be recognized as the Stick Taps Program Non-Profit of the Night. The Mariners Stick Taps Program is designed to give exposure and promotion to the chosen program for the evening.
The Stick Taps Program includes:
• Table on the concourse that will be set up with information on MCCP and the Elks
• 1 on-screen interview during an intermission with Mariner’s emcee
• PA mention in game directing fans to our table
• Only 1 Stick Taps non-profit per game so we will be the only ones mentioned
• An autographed stick from the Mariners that will be raffled off at the game
• To cap the night off, the Mariners will provide the opportunity for all members of the group to take a photo on the ice after the game with the team mascot.
The Holiday Inn by the Bay is directly across the street from the arena. Please call the hotel at 207.775.2311 for reservations.
A Facebook event has been created for this fundraiser to keep everyone updated. Please like the “Maine Elks Association” page for the most current information on this fundraiser
With your support, we hope this will be the restart of a long and impactful relationship between the Elks, MCCP, and the Maine Mariners. Any questions you have regarding this project can be directed to:
Melinda Voisine (Event Chair)
(207) 453-6936 or Melinda.voisine@gmail.com
Thank you for your support and we hope to see you there!
Bath Lodge Makes Impact on their Community
Prior to opening the December 8th lodge meeting Bath ER Craig Johnson and the lodge officers took the opportunity to distribute some of the funds they’d been raising since April, into their local community.
ER Johnson procured a grant from the Elks National Foundation to assist students and teachers after fire destroyed Bath’s Dike Newell elementary school. Katie Roulliard Walker, school Secretary at Dike Newell, received the $2,500 check from ER Craig and Leading Knight Mark Westrum. Katie has a long history with our Lodge. As a young child she served as one of the elves at our Children’s Christmas parties and her father, Jimmy Roulliard, was a great Elk member who left us too soon.
Through the fundraising efforts of Chairman Ronald Nygaard and his Youth Activities team, the lodge was able to present the Kennebec Sturgeons young mens baseball team, of the Pine Tree Baseball League, a $1,300 donation to Team Manager Tyler Rose for a fence at Varnum Field. The baseball diamond has been without a fence since that area was upgraded several years ago. It is a very important field for the children in the area, also benefitting our Little League and Babe Ruth League as well as the Sturgeons.
Youth Activities funds were also available to put the American Legion over the top in their fundraising effort to replace the scoreboard at Legion Field, directly across the street from the American Legion Post. The Bath Elks logo will be prominently displayed. Past Sons of the American Legion Commander Donald Allisot was on board to accept our $2,000 donation.
It was a heartwarming to precede a lodge meeting by giving back to our community, and it was one of the best meetings that we’ve had in years. Thanks to you ALL our members for your continued hard work and helping our lodge be as generous and giving as we are!
Presque Isle Lodge Serves Christmas Dinner to Hundreds
On Christmas Day, the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954 hosted its annual Elks Family Christmas Dinner for anyone who would otherwise be celebrating Christmas alone.
Dinner began with the Northeastland Hotel’s renowned tomato bisque soup. A choice of country baked ham or roast turkey and gravy was offered along with Aroostook mashed potatoes, baked squash and a vegetable medley. The Governor’s wonderful dinner rolls were served. Dessert was a choice from a wide selection of pies, including Governor’s popular chocolate, coconut, and banana cream pies, as well as chocolate peanut butter and Boston cream pies, in addition to traditional apple, pumpkin, and assorted berry pies.
Everyone attending the sit-down dinner at the Elks Lodge was entertained by the “Soggybottom Boyz“, comprised of Wendell Hudson, Dale Hudson, James “Sheldon” Wright, Leland Clark,, and Agis Clark. Prior to departing, all received a Christmas stocking stuffed with assorted goodies.
In addition to serving dinner to those at the Elks Lodge, the Presque Isle Elks delivered over two hundred meals to individuals requesting delivered meals, Presque Isle Public Safety workers, residents of the Aroostook Homeless Shelter, and residents at Mapletree Estates, who had been without electrical power for nearly two days.
Over thirty volunteers gave up several hours of their Christmas day in order to cook, serve, and cleanup after the noontime meal, as well as to transport guests and to deliver meals outside the Lodge. Ten members of the family of the late Cassidy Charette again volunteered at the Elks Family Christmas Dinner as part of the work of the Shine on Cass Foundation, in memory of Cassidy Charette, who died at the age of 17 in a tragic hayride accident. Shown above at the Presque Isle Elks Lodge on Christmas Day, from left to right, Mark Wilcox, Sharon Parent, Alley Wilcox, Karson Wilcox, David Bernier, Ryan Bernier, Angela Bernier, and Randy Charette, Monica Charette and Colby Charette, parents and brother of Cassidy.
The family of Cassidy and the Shine on Cass Foundation, through their example, seek to inspire others and promote the importance of volunteerism in tribute to Cassidy, whose passion was volunteering.
Dana Dickinson, chairman of the Elks’ annual Family Christmas Dinner stated, “It was truly a Christmas blessing to have been able to help so many people in a meaningful way this Christmas. Elks care and Elks Share.”