NEWS

News from the Maine Elks Association

With the New Year comes Ritual Season!

Oct 14, 2024

All Maine Elks:
On Sunday October 27, 2024, there will be a Ritual Clinic at the Waterville #905 lodge at 9 a.m. The Clinic will be presented by Grand Lodge Ritual Chairman Bruce Brunelle.
All areas of our initiatory Ritual will be explored and discussed.  As the Toast & Flag Presentation are part of the initiatory ritual those contests will be covered as well.
Certifications for floor, word and computer judges will be offered.  Any member of the order can certify as word or computer judge and Past Exalted Rulers and Exalted Rulers can take first & final approvals for floor judge certification.  Information on
coaching and officer aids will be reviewed.  Lunch will be at noon followed by a live performance by the Waterville officers for the judging test.  Word and computer certification will also be presented.
All certified judges whose certification expires this year should make plans to attend this clinic for recertification.  This will be the only clinic offered in Maine this lodge year for Grand Lodge Certification.
Please contact me as to how many members of your lodge will be in attendance so they may plan for lunch accordingly.

Fraternally,
Frank L Ricker, PSP, PDDGER
Ritual Chairman, Maine Elks Association

DOWNLOAD THIS LETTER to Post in your Lodge                    DOWNLOAD the Ritual Contest Package

Update to Mike’s Sanford Visit Post

Oct 13, 2024

The first evening of Denise and my visit to the Sanford lodge we were hosted by Andy and Trish Bowles, but I couldn’t help but notice a glaring shortcoming in the composition of their barware, mainly that Andy’s pint glasses were only adorned with the emblem of the Red Sox.

Consequently, during our fall

Association meeting in Farmingtion I took the opportunity to supplement their bar with a couple of glasses adorned with the logo of the more successful NY franchise.

Many thanks again to you both for your hospitality! 

Final Totals from the Forks

Oct 12, 2024

THE 4TH ANNUAL MAINE ELKS ASSOCIATION WEEKEND IN THE FORKS RAISES NEARLY $80,000.00 FOR THE MAINE CHILDREN’S CANCER PROGRAM 

This year the Maine Elks Association MCCP/FORKS Steering Committee set a goal of $75,000.00 to bring our 4 year total up over $200,000.00.
We are proud to share that we exceeded our goal by raising $79,485.11 at our MCCP Christmas in the Forks Camping Weekend!  This brought our 4 year total just shy of $206,000.00!
We had 15 Lodges participate, with 240 registered Elks & Guests.
The top 3 Lodges raising the most funds for the entire weekend of events were:
# 1 – Waterville Lodge #905 – $16,528.00
# 2 – Skowhegan Lodge #2531 – $10,131.00
# 3 – Augusta Lodge #964 – $10,109.11
At the Event the Skowhegan-Madison Lodge won the large trophy by raising the most funds through the Silent & Live Auctions and the Festival of Trees.  They raised a whopping $5,119.00.  GREAT JOB!!!
We also filled a trailer full of toys for the Owie Box.  A BIG Thank You to Aaron Allumbaugh and Gary Pierce for delivering them for us to the MCCP Program.
Every Lodge made phenomenal strides, this year, many doubling their fundraising efforts from previous years.  This year we had nearly $20,000.00 in Corporate Donations, this gave us a great boost.  To all of the participating Lodges, congratulations on a job well done!
The MCCP/FORKS Steering Committee will plan to meet directly after the State Meeting this morning for a quick recap of this year’s event.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shu & Lina Michaud 
MCCP/FORKS Co-Chairs

A Scholarship Season note from our Chairman

Oct 12, 2024

Greetings from the Elks world of scholarships, a reminder the Most Valuable Student Scholarship deadline is November 12, 2024.

This contest is open to all high school seniors who are U.S. Citizens.  Judging is based on leadership, service, academics and financial need.
This year the 2025 MVS Leadership Weekend will be in Chicago May 1 – 4, 2025.  The Top 20 Scholars, selected from the 500 national semi-finalists, will receive an Invitation to the weekend and scholarship awards of $30,000.00.
The Elks National Foundation has (2) seats open on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board.
They are looking to fill the openings with a 2024 Legacy Scholar and the other with a 2024 MVS Scholar.
This would give the scholars the opportunity to share their ideas, become a member of a national board and assist ENF with shaping the future of the Elks scholar experience.  This is an awesome opportunity and I am hoping that we have a Maine Scholar that may be interested in applying.  I will be sending the information out to our  (4) 2024 Legacy and (6) MVS Scholars.
Also, the Legacy Awards application deadline is February 3, 2025.
Lodges, please remember, Legacy Award Winners have a Service Requirement, please help your student meet that requirement by reaching out to them and working with them to volunteer at your lodge, during school breaks, etc.
There is a form that needs to be completed and sent in to the Elks National Foundation, as they complete their Service Requirement, each year.
Scholars are required to volunteer with an Elks Lodge at least once every year after their first year of college for a total of three instances of service throughout their undergraduate career.
There is no time requirement, we just ask that you serve with a Lodge or Elks members in a meaningful way.
They can serve with any Elks Lodge across the nation, it does not have to be your sponsoring lodge.
 
Emergency Grant Applications for children of fully disabled or deceased Elks, must be submitted by December 31, 2024.
These are renewable one year grants, up to $5,000.00.  If you know of a student that may qualify, please give them my contact information and I will be happy to work with them through the application process.
Respectfully submitted,
Lina Michaud 
MEA Scholarship Coordinator

Note from the Coastal Soccer Chairman

Oct 12, 2024

  On September 15, volunteers and shooters headed to Shulman Park in Brunswick.

  The Bath,Rockland and Sanford Lodges had shooters. Bath had 4,Rockland had 8 and Sanford had 7 Shooters.  At the end of the morning we had 8 moving onto the State Shoot. 

   On Tursday it came out 2 of the original winners could not go on, so the second  place champions moved up.
   A big Thank You to the volunteers from the three lodges, and a very special Thank you to the Brunswick Lodge for hosting the event. Rod ,Mike  and Brad were great .
  Today October 5th ,we are preparing  for  the state shoot in Waterville at 10. Good Luck to all of the contestants.
Alan Heal, Coastal District Soccer Cairman

Septemer 6th MEA Soccer Shoot is in the Books

Oct 12, 2024

Denise and I attended the State Soccer Shoot last weekend. We want to thank the Waterville Lodge, Nikole Nadeau, and her entire team of volunteers. It was a wonderful experience watching the kids compete. All the kids did a great job, and it was always a pleasure catching up with our Elk friends. We look forward to seeing everyone in Farmington this upcoming weekend.”

Photos from the State Shoot are now available for use in lodge Bulletins or to share with our competitors’ families.  Enjoy!

Mike Hannigan
MEA President 2024-25

GER’s Visit to Maine

Oct 5, 2024

State Officers, Committee Persons, Exalted Rulers, Lodge Secretaries, and Members

I am honored to announce that on WEDNESDAY November 6th, our Grand Exalted Ruler the Hon. Douglas A. Schiefer and First Lady of Elkdom, Julia, will make their official visit to Maine.

A reception and dinner will be held in their honor at the Bangor Elks Lodge #244 starting at 6:00 p.m.  Information and costs will be sent out by the Lodge shortly, please make your reservations with them.  All Lodges should have a representative attend this important event.

Gift presentations will follow his address, and following the presentations they will sign your dues card and present you with their pins.

Exalted Rulers or a designated appointee presenting gifts, are reminded to fill out a 3 x 5.00 index card, stating your Name, Lodge, Title, and what you are presenting. The card needs to be given to Scott Monroe, the master of ceremonies, when you arrive.

Attached to this email is GER Schiefer’s biography and their personal data sheet, it also contains their mailing address should you need to ship your gifts.

Lodge secretaries, please inform your members of this opportunity to meet and greet the Grand Exalted Ruler.

I look forward to seeing you as we give Doug and Julia a warm Maine welcome during their visit.

Also, during their stay in Maine, they will visit the Augusta Elks Lodge #964 for lunch Tuesday November 5th at 12:00 p.m. and the Old Town Elks Lodge # 1287 on November 6th for lunch at 12:00 p.m. These Lodges will send out a notice with pricing and reservation information.

 

Fraternally yours.
Andrew Constantine
Andrew Constantine SDGER

AED Donated to the Portland Elks Lodge

Oct 2, 2024

On September 25, 2024, Elk member and founder of the Westbrook Strong 5K Foundation, Gary Rairdon, presented to ER Joe Winschel a new AED device for the Portland Lodge 188. Gary and Laurie Rairdon started the Westbrook Strong 5K Road Race in 2013 after the death of their son Matthew. Matt was a graduate of Saint Joseph’s College School of Nursing and was employed as an ER nurse at Mercy Hospital at the time of his death.

The road race was started in his memory and now a decade later, the Matthew Rairdon Scholarship Fund at Saint Joseph’s College is given annually to a nursing student. In addition, they continue to purchase medical equipment for Mercy Hospital and most recently started supporting other businesses in the community close to their hearts. When the Portland, ME Lodge looked into purchasing an AED machine, Gary and Laurie quickly stepped in, and the Westbrook Strong 5K Foundation agreed to purchase the equipment. The Westbrook, ME Fire Department has offered to do an on-site training for Elk members now that the device has been received by the Lodge.

Fall State meeting is Near

Oct 1, 2024

Wow, can you believe how quickly fall is flying by?   The second meeting of the Maine Elks association is only a couple of weeks away.   It will be held in Farmington on October 13th.
A couple of reminders: 
First email your reports to  maineelks.sec@gmail.com before the meeting, it really helps with keeping the minutes.
Second, we did a great job getting through all the reports in a timely manner in Portland.  I’m working hard to make my report as concise as possible and I know you guys are too.  Just keep in mind if you find yourself saying “just one more thing” ask yourself if it’s necessary.  If you say “oh and just one more” more than once, consolidate your report.
We don’t have to hit them with every detail every time, just an important message you want to stick.  With only about 3 minutes per report (myself included), remind them of things like due dates, recent changes, and brief summaries.
Remember to use the website to continually update all the details you’d love to have time to discuss at a meeting.  In a perfect world the web site should be a bigger audience than a state meeting.
Your hard work is greatly appreciated and I look forward to seeing all of you in Farmington.  I am attaching the order of business to this email.  If you are going to be absent please let me know so I can plan.
Keep up the good work.
Mike
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