NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationVeterans Committee Connects with State Veterans Organizations
PER & ENVSC Deputy Representative Lina Michaud recently had the opportunity to attend the Maine Military & Community Network’s 13th Annual State Conference at the Augusta Civic Center on June 18th.
Lina reports this was an awesome opportunity to connect and network with other veterans’ organizations from across the state of Maine. Lina was honored to represent the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and share our phenomenal works on behalf of our veterans.
Lina highly recommends this event to Lodge ER’s and their Veterans Chairpersons. Anyone that may wish to attend next year, please contact Lina or Chairman Shu and we’ll gladly connect you with Lorana Laliberte at AdCare for more information, she was a great help getting the Maine Elks Association set-up to participate this year.
“So long as there are veterans the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Fraternally yours, Shu
Summer BBQ & Concert at Togus VA Hospital for of Veterans
The ENVSC & Maine Elks Association teamed up with the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at the Togus USVA Hospital and the 195th Maine Army National Guard Band to bring a Summer BBQ and concert to our Veterans honoring the upcoming July 4th Holiday.
Over 100 people joined in the festivities and celebrated this special event. The Band was amazing and played for over an hour and a half, with a mix of music for all to enjoy. Their initial instrumental tune of “Taps” brought tears to the eyes of many and was very well received.
We are grateful for everyone that worked hard and contributed to this event, today. The staff, volunteers, band and Sam’s Club were amazing to work with. Thank you to the Elks from Augusta, Skowhegan and Waterville Lodges that teamed up with Shu and I to host this event on behalf of the ENVSC & Maine Elks Association.
It was truly heartwarming to share in this beautiful tribute to our country’s independence and America’s heroes that have afforded all of us the freedoms that we enjoy, today! We are already looking forward to planning next year’s celebration!
MEA Lodges putting ENF Money to Work
The Bangor Lodge received a $2,000 Spotlight grant to support the Bangor Union St Brick church. Shown here presenting the check are Bangor Leading Knight Darryl M, Dollar Tree manager Mark, Jeff & Al from Brick Church, and Bangor ER Randy Bates.
Join President Corey on a Casco Bay Cruise
For their visit to the Portland Elks Lodge join President Corey & First Lady Joleen on a 2-hour Schooner sail on Casco Bay, leaving from Portland Wharf with Portland ER Joe Winschel.
Later on we’ll be hosting the first couple to a Lobster Lover’s Dinner at Portland Elks Lodge 188, and you’re welcome to join us for dinner at 6 pm.
It’s Owie Box Time Again!
The links are for the FLIER and pledge sheet for the 23rd Annual Owie Box Run!!! Download them to post in your lodges, and feel free to share this information with members or friends of your lodge that would be interested in joining us. We have also created an event on the Maine Elks Association Facebook page that can be shared on your lodge page.
Owie Box Run Pledge Sheet 2025Portland Elk receives “Humanitarian of the Year” Award from American Legion
| Portland Elk Lodge #188 member Willie Goodman of Windham recently received the “Humanitarian of the Year” award for his support of homeless veterans. He received the award from American Legion Commander Tricia Thurston on June 7, 2025 in Brewer. He is currently serving on the Portland Elk Lodge’s veterans committee.
Willie served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1993 and retired as an E-9, Command Master Chief. He served on eight different ships during his Navy career including on three aircraft carriers and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Stockton and Oakland, California; Brunswick, Maine and spent two tours of duty overseas including three years in Spain and three years in the Philippines. |
Association Calendar Winners for May 2025
May 2025 Calendar Winners
| May | Ticket # | Amount | Name | Lodge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 91 | $25.00 | Lynda Sperry | 2743 | ||
| 2 | 1227 | $25.00 | Sheila Calabro | 2788 | ||
| 3 | 119 | $50.00 | Lauren Pease | 964 | ||
| 4 | 832 | $50.00 | Barbara Pilejgi | 188 | ||
| 5 | 688 | $25.00 | Adam Darling | 1521 | ||
| 6 | 1580 | $25.00 | Anna Hall | 1470 | ||
| 7 | 567 | $25.00 | Jim Lebrun | 1293 | ||
| 8 | 703 | $25.00 | Jim Lebrun | 1521 | ||
| 9 | 909 | $25.00 | Makenna Cameron | 1008 | ||
| 10 | 280 | $50.00 | Shannon McLain | 244 | ||
| 11 | 963 | $50.00 | Freida Carpenter | 1008 | ||
| 12 | 323 | $25.00 | Jay T. Merry | 934 | ||
| 13 | 220 | $25.00 | Deb Cates | 244 | ||
| 14 | 796 | $25.00 | Craig MacFarline | 1954 | ||
| 15 | 1527 | $25.00 | Donald Piper | 2743 | ||
| 16 | 813 | $25.00 | Matthew Madore | 1954 | ||
| 17 | 795 | $50.00 | Alan Harding | 1954 | ||
| 18 | 607 | $50.00 | John Small | 1293 | ||
| 19 | 1557 | $25.00 | Jonathan Shaw | 1470 | ||
| 20 | 580 | $25.00 | Halely Christie | 1293 | ||
| 21 | 968 | $25.00 | Georgianna Allen | 1008 | ||
| 22 | 657 | $25.00 | David McCluade | 835 | ||
| 23 | 719 | $25.00 | Marion Fidler | 1521 | ||
| 24 | 161 | $50.00 | Michael Murphy | 244 | ||
| 25 | 549 | $50.00 | Claris Ranger | 2430 | ||
| 26 | 1009 | $100.00 | Wendy Stiles | 1470 | ||
| 27 | 938 | $25.00 | Eric Overlock | 1008 | ||
| 28 | 1193 | $25.00 | Beth Sylvester | 905 | ||
| 29 | 14 | $25.00 | George Blumenschein | 2743 | ||
| 30 | 1307 | $25.00 | Bethany Oliver | 905 | ||
| 31 | 686 | $50.00 | Nocole Smith | 1521 | ||
Presque Isle’s Annual Youth Fishing Derby
In preparation for the annual Presque Isle Elks’ “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs”, Youth Fishing Derby, the Enfield Hatchery of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will stock Mantle Lake in Presque Isle with six hundred (600) 8 to 11 inch-long trout on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Third and fourth grade students from the Easton Elementary School will be assisting with the stocking by distributing the trout around the lake with five-gallon buckets. Then on Saturday, May 31, 2025, during “free fishing weekend”, the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, will host its 25th annual fishing derby at Mantle Lake Park.
Registration for the free fishing derby will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 10:00 a.m. that Saturday morning. The fishing derby begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at noon. The fishing derby is open to all youth from 3 to under 16 years old, a responsible, supervising adult must accompany each young angler registering for the fishing derby.
The young angler registered for the fishing derby who catches the longest fish will get first choice from a wide array of prizes, including a lifetime fishing license donated by the Aroostook Sportsman Association. Every registered fishing contestant will be able to choose an outdoor activity prize to take home.
Adults accompanying a registered young angler will also be eligible to win prizes, including a weekend stay at a lakeside cabin, donated by Macannamac Camps and a season pass donated by North Maine Woods, Inc.
For any youth desiring to fish, but who is unable to supply a fishing pole on his own, a beginner’s fishing rod and reel will be given to that youth’s family to keep.
Moosehead Bait and Tackle of Rockwood, Maine, is again this year supplying worms free of charge for use by the young fishermen as bait.
The Presque Isle Elks will be providing, free of charge, grilled hot dogs, chips, juice, Houlton Farms Dairy ice cream, and water to all in attendance at the fishing derby.
For more information contact the Presque Isle Elks at 764-0985 or 764-0131.
MEA Convention 2025 is Now Behind Us
The nineteen lodges of the Maine Elks Association held their 97th annual convention over the weekend of May 2nd through 4th at the Elks Lodge in Waterville, Maine. During the weekend we welcomed aboard new President of the Association, Corey DeWitt PDDGER from the Sanford Elks’ Lodge and his wife Joleen.
Photos from the weekend are available HERE
First Lady Joleen’s Thoughts for the Association
Good morning, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about my charity fundraiser that I will be working on this year.
Eighteen years ago, our eldest daughter Courney passed away at the age of 15. She was a passenger in a car accident on her way home from a sophomore class meeting. Shortly after her death, Michaela, our youngest daughter who was 10 at the time, and I started going to the Center for Grieving Children in Portland, Me. It is a peer support program that is free to the participants, so all my proceeds from my raffle will go to them.
After Michaela decided she had spent enough time there to heal, we finished going to our weekly meetings. A year of so later I decided that I was ready to give back, I took the facilitator training class and became a facilitator at the Sanford location of the Center for Grieving Children. I continued my volunteer work there until my work hours changed and I was no longer able to volunteer. This organization stayed near and dear to my heart.
Two wonderful people made items for my raffle. Mark Therien, a Sanford lodge member and special friend for many years, has made a live edge console table. My daughter, Michaela has hand made a pottery set. Thank you both so very much.
My pin will be available after this program. You will notice a gerber daisy, that was Courtney’s favorite flower. Another flower is the orchid, which is Michaela’s favorite flower, the yellow rose is in honor of my mother in law, Nellie who passed three years ago and the butterfly is in memory of my mom who passed six years ago, I love them very much. The middle of the pin is the logo for the Center for Grieving Children, I look forward to sharing my pin with you all year.
I would like to take this time to thank three special ladies who have helped me prepare for this upcoming year; Trisha Bolz, Lisa Brunelle and Denise Hannigan, I treasure your friendships.
I look forward to visiting all the lodges in the state with Corey. It will be my pleasure to participate in the great work that you all do for this wonderful organization of Elkdom.
Thank you to the Waterville lodge for your gracious hospitality, it’s been a wonderful weekend.
Joleen
MEA First Lady