NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationFirst Lady kicks off Fundraiser
First Lady Stephanie’s Fundraisers to equally benefit the MCCP, ENF and Veterans committees have been kicked off. All tickets are $5.00 each, or twenty-six tickets for $20.
Stephanie will be offering tickets in person at the Association’s Spring Meeting at the Portland Elks #188 and during our convention in May at the Augusta Hilton River Walk. Go to the First Lady’s page For information on the drawing and prizes.
January 2023 MEA Calendar Winners
State Hoop Shoot
Begun with the local lodge events in December, the BPOE’s 51st Hoop Shoot season continues throughout our nation. On Sunday, January 29th, eighteen young athletes and their families gathered at the Bath Middle School to continue the program by competing at the Maine Elks’ Association’s State Hoop Shoot, hosted by the officers and members of the Bath Elks lodge 934.
3 boys and 3 girls from each Maine district competed, segregated by gender and age into groups of 8-9 years old, 10-11 and 12-13.
Dignitaries were on hand, including the MEA State President Al Ingraham and First Lady Stephanie and BPOE Region 6 Director Mike Stewart and his wife Karen, from Putnam CT lodge 574.
First place Boy and Girl for each age group will be advancing to compete at the BPOE’s Region Six competition in the gymnasium on the USM-Gorham campus the weekend of March 10, 11 & 12. Advancing girls are Elliana Dyer (Skowhegan-Madison), Audrey Gould (Bath) and Jaelyn Lydick (Biddeford-Saco) and the boys are Landon Magnusson (Augusta), Mason Thayer (Bangor) and Evan Haskell (Ellsworth).
Helping in the gymnasium were Gage Suitter, Edie McKay, Camdyn Johnson and Calin Gould from Morse High School Sports to retrieve and return the balls, and calling the shots as Referees were Elks Joe Winchel from Portland #188 and Danny Daigle from Brunswick #2043. Scorekeepers for the day were Pete Hudson, Warren Hewes, Rod Bauer, Dewey Fraser, Chris Wallace and Fred Mitchell.
Photos of the State Shoot were captured by the MEA PR Director, and can be accessed Here
State 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