NEWS

News from the Maine Elks Association

188 Dedicates their new Veteran’s Corner

On Friday, November 3rd, the officers and members of Portland Elks #188 were honored to have assistance of the Honor Guard of VFW Post #10643 in Windham to formally dedicate the Lodge’s new Veteran’s Corner.  This event was supported by many members of the Portland Lodge, many of whom are also Veterans.

WIndham VFW Post Honor Guard

VFW #10463 Honor Guard are; Craig Pride, Dave Rendall, Linwood Bailey, Keri Karsten, Roger Timmons and  Post Commander Willie Goodman who is also a Portland Elk.

The new Veteran’s Corner includes the United States’ national ensign and the service flags of our armed forces in order of their Congressional establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, displayed alongside the MIA/POW Missing Man table.

 

At the end of the dedication “Taps” were played by VFW member Linwood Bailey, and then the Lee Greenwood song God Bless the USA was played with all in attendance joining in.

The table is round, to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.
The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
The single red rose; displayed in a vase, reminds us of the lives of these Americans and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith while seeking answers.
The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate; captured and missing in a foreign land.
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty.
The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return, alive or dead.
The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted, symbolizing their inability to share a toast.
The chair is empty, the seat that remains unclaimed at the table.

Grand Exalted Ruler Randy Shook and First Lady Wanda Visit Maine

On November 7, 2023, the Grand Exalted Ruler (National President) Randy Shook and First Lady Wanda arrived in Maine for a two-day visit to the State of Maine. The couple are traveling the country to meet with Elk Members and visit Lodges, and to promote the good works of the Order. Maine was the 22nd State they have visited since July, so they are nearly half-way through their travels.

The two were picked up at the Rochester, NH Lodge by State President Sandi Anderson and First Man David, along with Special Deputy Andy Constantine, Grand Trustee Wayne Cotterly, and Past District Deputy Kathleen Cotterly. Also traveling with the Grand Exalted Ruler were Maine’s Past Grand Exalted Ruler Sponsor Michael Zellen and his wife Donna and Past Grand Esteemed Leading Knight Anthony Piccolo and his wife Maureen all of Massachusetts. The two were driven to the Gardiner Elk Lodge #1293 for a luncheon in their honor that afternoon. That afternoon, the couple, along with several Maine Elk dignitaries visited Waterville member Peter Reny’s home in Winslow to view several classic and antique cars in his collection. In the evening, the two dined at the Waterville Elks Lodge #905, where they had they had the opportunity to eat Lobster in the shell for the first time.

The next day, the GER and First Lady visited the First Amendment Museum in Augusta, which is located next to the Blaine House and near the capitol building. The museum focuses on the five freedoms guaranteed by the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, including Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion, Freedom to Assemble, and the Freedom to Petition the Government. Following the visit to the museum, the two were shown the Veterans Cemetery in Augusta before arriving at the Augusta Elk Lodge #964 for a luncheon, and an opportunity to meet members. That evening, the Grand Exalted Ruler and First Lady were the guests of honor at a banquet held at the Waterville Elks Lodge. Following dinner, the two had the opportunity to address the members in attendance. First Lady Wanda, who is a Past Exalted Ruler of her Lodge in Lawrenceville, TN as well as a Past Secretary of the Lodge explained her pin design. GER Randy Shook spoke about the importance of the Lodges and the membership’ involvement in promoting the Order, and the good works that we do. He focused on the Elks National Foundation’s Community Investment Grants, along with getting the word out to the communities in which the Lodge resides to show that “We are THE ELKS.”

The two were then presented with gifts from many of the Lodges in the State of Maine, thanking them for their service to Elkdom. Following this, the two signed membership cards for members, and collected donations for the Elks National Foundation and the Elks Disaster Relief Fund. On Thursday, November 9, 2023, the two headed to the State of New Jersey for their next State visitation.

Maine Elks celebrate Red Ribbon Week

This week, Maine Elks across the state will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week. This year, Red Ribbon week will run from October 23rd to October 31st. MEA Drug Awareness Director Anthony Gause encourages all 20 Elk Lodges in Maine to reach out into their communities to help parents and their children aware of the danger of drugs. Informative pamphlets provided by funding from the Elks National Foundation are readily available to inform parents about a number of drugs that are currently on Maine streets now.

According to the Maine Drug Data Hub, the most commonly abused drug in Maine is alcoholIt accounts for nearly 40% of all substance abuse treatment admissions across the state 1.

Here are the top five drugs abused most often in Maine:

  1. Alcohol: Nearly 40% of all substance abuse treatment admissions across the state 1.
  2. Marijuana: Marijuana use has seen a steady increase in Maine since 2012 across all age groups. Adults between the ages of 18 and 26 showed the highest rate of use at 34%. The total percentage of adults over 26 is substantially lower at 14% but shows a dramatic increase since 2012 1.
  3. Prescription Drugs: Prescription drug abuse or misuse plagues Maine much as it plagues other states. The highest rate of prescription drug abuse or misuse happens in the 18 to 26 age bracket at around 7%. High school students come in at 6%, while only 4% of adults over 26 abuse prescriptions. The relatively low level of prescription drug abuse among adults may be a result of Maine’s Prescription Drug Monitoring program 1.
  4. Cocaine: Cocaine use among Maine residents over 26 remains comparatively steady and low at around 1%. The news isn’t as good in the 18-25 age group where cocaine use has increased around 1.6% over the last few years and hovers a little under 7%. Maine’s Drug Enforcement Agency reports that cocaine arrests account for nearly 1/3 of all arrests in 2018. This suggests a recent surge in cocaine sales and use in the state 1.
  5. Inhalants: Around 7% of high school students report using inhalants. Unlike other legal and illegal drugs, inhalants are common products that make vapors that produce a fast high.

Drug abuse can lead to deaths. Last year (2022), there were a total of 10,110 overdoses that were reported, of which 716 were suspected or confirmed to cause death. That’s a 7% rate of death among drug abusers. While the above drugs are the most commonly abused or misused here in Maine, the drug that is causing the most deaths is Fentanyl. This drug accounted for nearly 77% of all drug deaths in Maine during 2021. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. While it can be used as a prescription drug primarily used to treat severe pain, typically cancer pain, it is being imported at an ever-increasing rate for non-prescription uses or drug abuse. In 2022, law enforcement officers in Maine seized more than 36 points of Fentanyl statewide, a nearly 60% increase over the prior year. Toxicology reports from overdose deaths show that Fentanyl is being mixed with other potent illicit drugs, especially cocaine, methamphetamine, or both.

With much of the drug abuse deaths taking place primarily among the 18-26 year old age bracket, it’s important that the Elks do what they can to inform parents and teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.

Red Ribbon week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the United States, and is observed annually. The program begin in 1985 to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle among children, youth, and adults. The campaign encourages individuals and communities to wear red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to living drug-free lives. The program was created as a tribute to Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was killed by drug traffickers while investigating a drug cartel in Mexico.

For more information on the Maine Elks Drug Awareness program, visit DRUG AWARENESS COMMITTEE | Maine Elks Association. Click here for information on the Elks Drug Awareness Program. 

Elks National Foundation News & Announcements

The Elks National Foundation announced several items of interest for members and Lodges as part of their e-news feed. These include the announcement of their Annual Report for 2022-23, a New Gratitude Grant Bonus, and information on the ENF’s Scholarship Programs.

ENF Annual Report

The Annual Report for the Elks National Foundation 2022-23 has been made available. According to ENF Chairman James McQuillan (PGER), During the past year, the ENF allocated nearly $40 Million Dollars, directly to its programs, and not to administrative or fundraising expenses [like so many other charitable organizations]. Every dollar donated helps Elks build stronger communities. During the past year, the ENF helped more than 850 high school seniors afford their college education and instilled the value of practice and hard work in tens of thousands of young people through the Hoop Shoot program. In addition, the ENF provided 4,340 Community Investment Grants, and 1,541 Lodges received at least one of those grants. An average total of $8,120.40 was granted per participating Lodge.

Last year, 504 New MVS Scholarship Awards were provided to deserving high school seniors, and 24 Emergency Education Grants were given as well. Did you know that the ENF also offers to specialized scholarships for deserving Elk Scholars who are pursuing a medical degree or osteopathic medicine degree?  In 2022, the ENF awarded 20 scholars with $22,000 scholarships through the Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarships.

Last year, a total of 1,037 Lodges hosted a Hoop Shoot competition where 110,749 kids participated. The contests were run by 12,779 Elks and volunteers. A total of 72 finalists made it to the Nationals after competing at the Lodge, District, State, and Regional Competitions. The National Event took place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

The ENF also funds the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, helping veterans in many ways, living up to the motto of “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Through this program, homeless veterans were provided with welcome home kits upon moving them from the street or shelter to a new home. A total of 2,416 Welcome Home Kits were provided. These are essential household items needed to start a new life in a place they can call home. They also provided Emergency Assistance to help veterans exit or prevent homelessness.  A total of 563 veterans were assisted through this part of the program. There were also 600 Freedom Grants issued to help Lodges serve veterans and military members in need. The Classic Freedom Grant Spark for $1,000, and Freedom Grant Classic for $3,000 were offered to Lodges to support veterans in their communities.  The ENVSC also had 607 Elk members stationed as Representatives and Deputy Representatives in more than 360 veterans facilities to provide monthly support.

Overall, the ENF received $10,395,849 in contributions, bequests, and grants, and gave out the following:

  • Community Investment Grants (CIP) in the amount of $12,649, 018
  • State Grants in the amount of $10,798,330 (Maine received $208,120 from ENF for MCCP, Scholarships, and Veterans last year not including CIP Grants)
  • Scholarships in the amount of $4,309,828 (MVS, Legacy, and others)
  • Veterans Service in the amount of $5,098,306 (Elks National Veteran Service Commission)
  • Youth Programs in the amount of $2,285,890 (Hoop Shoot & Drug Awareness)
  • Veterans National Memorial in Chicago in the amount of $931,219
  • Other program expenses in the amount of $15,214

All of this with management and general expenses of $1,772,468 to operate the Elks National Foundation office and support the program nationwide through Elk Lodges and their volunteers. This represents only 1.9% of the total assets of the ENF.

New Gratitude Grant Bonus

Thanks to the increase in donations to the Elks National Foundation, a new Gratitude Grant Bonus has been added that is worth $500 dollars, bringing the total possible in Gratitude Grant & Bonuses to $4,000. The new bonus grant will require Lodges to increase their fundraising over the previous year by 10 percent. As an example, if your Lodge raised $1,000 dollars for the Elks National Foundation, to obtain the bonus, you would need to raise $1,100 this year to qualify. Other bonuses include the membership bonus for Lodges with more than 15 percent of their membership donating to the Elks National Foundation last year, a Fidelity Club Bonus for Lodges in which 5 percent of the prior year’s donors were members of the Fidelity Club, and an ENF Chairmans Challenge Bonus for achieving 550 points or higher in the previous fiscal year.

Scholarship Deadline Reminders

The Most Valuable Student Scholarship application deadline is November 13 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. The ENF will award 500 four-year scholarships—ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year—to the highest-rated applicants. This year, the top 20 MVS Scholarship Finalists will each receive a $30,000 Scholarship, increasing the guaranteed scholarships for every finalist by 50 percent. This will undoubtably cultivate better relationships amongst the MVS Scholars, create opportunities for more engaging programming, and allow for more Champions of the Order. In addition, as part of this program, the ENF provides 480 four-year scholarships in the amount of $4,000 to deserving Scholars who are the top applicants in each State. This means that the ENF provides $2,520,000 in MVS Scholarships. Members are encouraged to reach out to high school seniors in your life to apply!

As a member, do you have a child, grandchild, stepchild, step-grandchild, or legal ward who is a High School Senior? There’s also a special scholarship opportunity available only to dues-paying Elks who have been members prior to April 1, 2021. These are $4,000 Four-Year Scholarships ($1,000 per year). Maine will be awarded with four (4) Legacy Award Scholarships to deserving scholars in this program. This is a great program that is exclusively for the families of Elk Members, so we ask that you encourage the high school seniors in your family, or of your fellow Elks to apply for the Legacy Awards scholarship. Applications are due February 5, but check them off your list before the new year.

The Legacy Award can also be used as a recruiting tool for new members, as it is one of the benefits of membership. It must be noted that any member who joins, must have been a member for at least two years prior to the application being submitted, and should be in good standing in the current year. Over that two-to-three-year period, the new member should be encouraged to learn all that Elkdom has to offer, beyond the scholarship programs.

Using Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) to Support the Elks National Foundation

There’s a special way of supporting the Elks National Foundation only available to Elks older than 70.5. These are called Qualified Charitable Distributions, which are tax wise gifts made directly from an IRA to a charity of your choice. These gifts can help alleviate tax burdens by helping people meet required minimum distributions. If you or another member of your Lodge is interested, they can give a QCD to the Elks National Foundation Online or by calling the ENF Development Department at 773-755-4762. These are simply an additional way to support the program.

The State of Maine receives back from the Elks National Foundation $1.467 for every dollar the ENF receives from Maine Elks. That’s a great return on the investment of our donations, allowing Maine Elks to better serve their communities and allowing Elks to build stronger communities. For more information on the Elks National Foundation, visit Elks National Foundation on Elks.org

President Sandi’s Message for October ’23

Summer is over now, and here we go into fall and then winter.  Time sure flies when you’re having a good time in Elkdom!

On my last report I forgot to mention our visit to York, and for that I apologize.  Dave and I were met by ER John and he took us inside and introduced us to the members.  He presented me with a beautiful necklace and Dave with a nice watch.  Their Lodge has a few members from other states that happened to be in attendance and we got to meet them!  They had a delicious Luau dinner and ended it with desert!

August 5th we went to the Augusta Lodge and were met by ER Tim and First Lady Vicki.  They got us settled into our room where there was a beautiful basket of books, snacks, and beverages, but my favorite thing in it was a cutting board that had my name and State President engraved into it! After we rested for a short time, we went back to the Lodge for their Music Festival.  All the bands were good but the treat of the night was the Bob Seeger Tribute band!  After the group was done I got pictures with the band!!  What a night!

Our next visit was on August 16th and we went to the Wells Elks Lodge and ER Melinda and First Man Richard greeted us at the door.  They brought a chef up from Massachusetts who prepared a wonderful Italian meal for us and their members!  They even let Tom Chase help cook and clean up!!!   Melinda had a nice basket for us with Maine coffee mugs, two beautiful shirts embroidered with our Lodge and names on them, some scratch-off-tickets (that I won $50.00 on) and some nice beverages.   To top the night off we had fresh strawberry shortcake!

August 24th, we headed up to The Forks to raise some money for the MCCP Kids.  The weather Friday was pretty rough but no one let the rain dampen their fun.  I hope to hear this coming meeting in Sanford what the total is for the event!  As you well know I love raising money for our major project!

September 3rd, we drove the Camaro up to Bangor and entered it in to the Bangor Elks car show.  We enjoyed the day walking around looking at all the old cars, a few of us were interviewed by WABI TV and after the car show hung out with everyone, enjoying a drink or two.

September 8th and 9th we attended the MCCP Golf Tournament in Sanford!  PSP Bruce Brunelle met us at the campground to make sure we got settled in.  Our cabin was so nice, and the lodge provided a nice basket of goodies.  We sat out on the back porch and watched a storm come in, then went to the Lodge and had a nice dinner and raised some more money for the kids.  The following day we went to the golf course where we met up with Bruce and Lisa Brunelle and cooked hot dogs for all the golfers.  What a nice way to get to meet some of our fellow elks and raise some more money for the kids!  We then had a nice meal at the golf course and went back to the cabin.  There was quite a bit of money raised for the kids over the weekend but I do not want to say as I am sure the Sanford Lodge will be reporting on the totals soon.  On our way home we stopped in Augusta and attended the drug awareness seminar.

Sept 22nd and 23rd we went to the Old Town Lodge, ER Debbie met us at the Black Bear Inn where she had arranged a beautiful room and had a nice basket for us along with some snacks and beverages.  We also have new books to read and she also got us each a bell for our bikes to keep us safe!  She took us downtown to meet up with her husband Randy, Mindy Voisine and Jeff Bosse to have a nice dinner at Kanu restaurant.  We then went up to the rooftop to enjoy the beautiful evening and enjoy the fireworks.  The next day Debbie picked us up for the parade.  We all dressed up in different costumes of Lobsters and Light houses.  And she had a lobster hat for each of us.  And we rode on the float and had “bubble guns” to shoot bubbles at the kids to pop, and had beads to toss into the crowd.  After the parade we went to their Lodge and had a good time catching up with some old friends and met new ones from the lodge membership. Of course, we had to play a few pull tabs!  Mindy and Jeff took us back to the hotel for a rest, and picked us up again later for dinner and an evening at the Riverfest where Motor Boody Affair was playing and brought in quite a crowd

Sept 29th and 30th we drove to Houlton and met ER Elizabeth, Mike and Denise Hannigan and Mike Powers at the lodge.  We stayed with Mike Powers for our visit which was nice of him to offer up his home.   Mike and Denise came over to the house after we left the Lodge and we all enjoyed the beautiful charcuterie board full of about everything you could think of, along with a fruit bowl and some beverages.  The following day Liz picked us up for Breakfast at Brookside Inn with Mike, Mike and Denise.  Liz took us on a little tour of Houlton and then back to Mikes house for a break.  Latr in the evening Liz picked us up for the Murder Myster Dinner back at the lodge.  Denise had heard about Dave’s fall, and his stitches, and she incorporated it all into the Murder Mystery.  In the end it turned out that Dave was the Murderer, who knew he had it in him?!   The dinner, prepared by lodge members, was wonderful.  We went back down to the lounge to visit more before going back to Mike’s.  In the morning Mike cooked us a great breakfast before we left for home.

Thank you everyone for the great visits.  It was a busy couple of months but we enjoyed every minute of it along the way.

Another Successful Weekend at The Forks

The Maine Elks Association MCCP/FORKS Steering Committee would like thank everyone that attended, donated or volunteered at our 3rd Annual Camping Weekend in the Forks, held from August 25th to the 27th at Three Rivers Whitewater in The Forks.

Incredible work by all Lodges on the Silent & Live Auctions! Collectively, we raised just over $24,000.00!!! The Augusta Elks took top honors with $3,462.00 fr their items. Second place was Waterville with $3,187.00 and with $3,076.00 Gardiner was third.

More than 250 Elks, representing 18 of our 20 Maine Lodges from across the state attended.  It was an incredible weekend of fun and camaraderie, as we worked together towards the common goal of raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for our major state project, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

 

The Steering Committee, including representatives from many of our lodges, worked year-round planning and organizing this large off-site event.  Everyone who came worked well together to ensure that this event was a huge success.  Without their commitment and dedication, an event of this magnitude would not be possible.  Collectively, over the three-day weekend Maine Lodges raised $61,221.73 for MCCP.

Congratulations and Thank You for your support!

Mark your calendars and Save the Date, for next year’s event, Thursday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 25, 2024

Elks Care ~ Elks Share

Fraternally yours,Co-Chairs:  Mike “Shu” Michaud PER and Lina Cloutier Michaud PER

Make Your Plans for GER Shook’s Trip to Maine

The honorable Randy P. Shook, Grand Exalted Ruler and his First Lady Wanda will be visiting the Central District of Maine from November 7th to 9th.

ERs should ensure that either they, or another member will be representing their lodge to the banquet at the Waterville Lodge the evening of November 8th.  Gardiner and Augusta are also on the agenda this visit.

Click HERE for all the details.  Letter with Corrected dates.

Information for the GERs banquet, 6:00 pm November 8th, at the Waterville Lodge #905.

September MEA Calendars

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SeptemberPrizeTicketNameLodge
1$251601Bernice DeBlois2743
2$50637Shirley Dyer244
3$501322Erick Anderson1008
4$100592Ricky Adams244
5$251124Tim Merchant2430
6$251648Nina M. Dalton244
7$25700Dee Francis244
8$25518Gerry Butler905
9$50363John Dascanio188
10$501172Cliasta Bither835
11$251847Jennifer Moscone1521
12$251057Lisa Koerber1597
13$25532Deanna & David Proulx905
14$25594Betty Robertson244
15$25668Mark Eldridge244
16$501751Shawn Eldridge1597
17$501883Jeff Beach1521
18$25448Donna Hathaway1470
19$25460Julie Lohnes1470
20$251846Brenda McLean1521
21$251706Anissa Allumbaugh2430
22$25227Diane Fennelly2743
23$501340Gail Fearing1008
24$501117Sherry Corbeil1597
25$251902Sheri Frechette1470
26$251268Ron Darling Jr.1521
27$251337Mindy Powell1008
28$251574Carmel Mazzocca2430
29$251015Paul Deschaine934
30$501897Kelly Plourde1521

President’s Visit to Farmington

I wanted to let everyone know that the State President and First Man are coming to the Farmington Lodge on October 28th, 2023.

We are planning to take Sandi and Dave for a foliage ride, and anyone that would like to follow along with us is more than welcome. The ride will be around about 5 hours long. After our ride we will be having supper around 5:00 pm at the lodge which will include hot open faced turkey sandwiches, squash, green beans, cranberry sauce and dessert.

We will be doing a Pan Game fundraiser for MCCP after dinner inside the lodge. Remember your quarters!

Please feel free to dress in casual attire for both events.

The hotel check-in time at the Comfort Inn, 1026 Wilton Rd, Wilton, ME 04294 is 3pm for Sandi & Dave.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

John Libby, Exalted Ruler

Sanford Elks Celebrate 30 years of MCCP Affiliation

The Sanford Elks Lodge #1470 has achieved a  30-year milestone supporting the Maine Elks State Major Project, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program; . which helps provide specialized care, psychosocial services, and research to help find a cure for childhood cancer and blood disorders.

This year’s fundraising events included an Ice Fishing Derby, our 14th annual Arnie’s Ride, the 500 Wish Club, our first Ray’s Day, and our 30th annual Golf Tournament which together allowed us to raise over $113,000 this year bringing our cumulative 30-year total to just under $3 million dollars!

On  September 8th, we hosted a 30th Year MCCP Celebration!  Many volunteers and sponsors of many of our fundraising events, elks members and members of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program helped us to celebrate this achievement.  A great meal was served and a DJ provided music, followed by a special champagne toast by lodge PERs Mark Caron & Rick Drouin, Sanford Lodge’s MCCP committee co-chairmen, highlighting the 30 years of dedication.

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