NEWS

News from the Maine Elks Association

November MEA Calendar Winners

NovemberPrizeTicketNameLodge
1$25235Terry EngstromEllsworth
2$25499Michael CaouetteWaterville
3$25483Chris McLainWaterville
4$50740Jeremy NormandSanford
5$50541Michelle DavisWaterville
6$25476Steffan & Stan MorinSanford
7$251347Corey LindseyRockland
8$251894Terry BarnesMillinocket
9$251674Barbara LawlerBangor
10$1001754Joe McDonaldBidd-Saco
11$5062Valerie LeemanBangor
12$501641Michael BunkerEllsworth
13$25799Bruce BrunelleSanford
14$25372Elliott NathansonPortland
15$25234Kelly RayEllsworth
16$25606Cindy MarstersBangor
17$251607Liz GordonEllsworth
18$50728Jamy StubbsBangor
19$50410Andy BolzSanford
20$2552Bonnie CochraneBangor
21$251896Natalie RaymondMillinocket
22$25786Dana WoodworthSanford
23$100899Charles StrattonWaterville
24$251626Maggie PerryEllsworth
25$50419Macklin GaynorSanford
26$501295Bruce BeebeMillinocket
27$25651Bernice AdamsBangor
28$251700Jennifer WightFarmington
29$25392Richard RumneyPortland
30$25211Darci RobertsonEllsworth

ENF Fidelity Club Members Make a Big Impact on Elk Programs

The Elks National Foundation’s (ENF) Fidelity Club automated donation program has made a big impact on the Elk programs, including the Scholarship, Hoop Shoot, Veterans, and Community Investment Grant programs. Here is what the ENF Has been able to accomplish through Fidelity Club contributions over the past year:

  • $59,204 for Scholarships of which 898 were given out through the ENF’s Scholarship programs.
  • 587 Elk Scholars served with an Elks Lodge to continue the Elks legacy of Charity.
  • 22 Elk Scholars served on a winter service trip to Florida to help communities impacted by Hurricane Ian
  • $12,401 for the Elks Hoop Shoot program where 110,749 kids participated nationally, of which 72 made it to the National Finals.
  • $34,101 was used to support the Community Investment Grant Programs, where 83% of all Elk Lodges received at least one grant to help build stronger communities. Some of those grants were used to fund reading programs that teach children disaster emotional and social readiness,
  • $130,646 was used to support Veterans, including 2,312 Welcome Home Kits for homeless veterans.
  • $800,467 was used to support all Elk programs.

The Fidelity Club was created just over 16 years ago to make it easy for members to automatically contribute to the Elks National Foundation on a monthly basis. The Club’s goal is for 5-10% of all ENF Donors to participate.  Last year, a total of 4.9% of ENF Donors were members of the Fidelity Club, and nearly half (46%) of all Elk Lodges have at least 5% of their donors in this program. Currently, the Fidelity Club receives over $1 Million Dollars in donations by Elks across the country.

Signing up for the program is easy, safe, and secure, and YOU determine how much you would like to contribute each month. (Minimum donation is $5 per month). Once you sign up, you can increase, modify, or cancel your donations at any time. There are a few benefits to the program that you will receive, including a fidelity club sticker, your name is added to the Fidelity Club “Honor Roll,” accessible through Elks.org, and a Fidelity Club Pin, along with attachments based on the number of consecutive donations you provide. If you are going to the Grand Lodge Convention, you will be invited to attend “Bagels with the Board” which is an open-house breakfast where you have the opportunity to meet other Fidelity Club members from around the country and meet with members of the Elks National Foundations Board of Trustees.

MEA Past State President Al Ingraham and Past First Lady Stephanie were recently featured on Elks.org for their support of the Elks National Foundation and the Fidelity Club. You can read about their accomplishments here: news (elks.org)

To sign up for the Fidelity Club, visit here: Make a Recurring Gift – Elks National Foundation
Fidelity Club members generosity puts money directly into ENF programs and out into Elks communities. When you join, you become a sustaining force for the Elks’ legacy of Charity. Every Elk member is encouraged to participate, as the program makes it easy to show that Elks Care–Elks Share by giving to the great heart of Elkdom.

Help in the name of ER Rori Dargie

ER Rori Dargie of Biddeford-Saco Lodge # 1597 was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash Saturday.  She has since needed several pints of blood and remains in Intensive Care at Maine Medical Center.  The family has requested all who desire to offer some manner of assistance could contact their local Red Cross or Blood Bank and make a donation.

November 17th: Rori’s Family has set up a page on the Caringbridge website.   Everyone who’s interested in how she is doing can get updates as her family posts them.  You will find her page listed as Rori Crossman

 

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.

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