NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationENF 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.
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 alcohol. It 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:
- Alcohol: Nearly 40% of all substance abuse treatment admissions across the state 1.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.