NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationMEA Calendar August Winners
First Man’s Fundraiser for MCCP
For Fraternal Year 2023 MEA First Man Dave Anderson is conducting a Statewide Association raffle to raise funds for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
Dave has acquired to Elks’ Tooth pendants and is offering them to go to two winners of the year-long event, to be drawn at the 2024 State Convention May 3rd to 5th, 2024 at the Augusta Elks #934.
See the Flier for contact information.
Maine Elk Receives National Recognition
PRESDENT’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to PDDGER KATHLEEN COTTERLY
During the Summer meeting of the Maine Elks Association in Ellsworth, PDDGER Kathleen Cotterly was presented with a National Award in recognition of her long service to the Elkdom and her community.
At the state convention in 2021, Past State President & Drug Awareness Director Anthony Gause announced Kathleen to be the recipient of this prestigious award, but due to changes in BPOE organization at that time meant the official Certificate, and accompanying pin and challenge coin, and congratulatory letter from the President of the United States were not able to be presented.
Grand Lodge Trustee Wayne Cotterly thought it unfortunate and disappointing that the recipient would be able to be provided with the award actually be provided, so after some effort he found that the Points of Light Foundation and Americorp still offered the award. The Points of Light Foundation is a worldwide organization that exists to provide tools, insights and connections to help motivated and civic-minded people organize charitable efforts, and actively utilizes the Presidential awards program as a means to acknowledge their “success stories.” As a foundation that exists to promote charitable work Kathleen’s lifelong efforts fell right in line with their vision, and they gladly submitted the nomination on her behalf.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism is awarded by the President of the United States, and presented to individuals who have contributed exceptional time and energy throughout their lives toward the betterment of their community. Kathleen’s nomination documents years of service as a mentor, friend and role model to all who know her, not only in the Elks family but in several other fraternal and community organizations as well. She has been generous with her time and talents in providing guidance for youth in the Boy Scouts of America, International Order of Rainbow Girls and the International Order of De Molay.
Kathleen has been a Regular Service Volunteer at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, logging over 800 hours serving as a patient representative, helping hospitalized veterans receive the proper care. She has also worked tirelessly to help children with cancer through her service on the Board of Directors of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and was instrumental in the development of a Maine Elks’ program called Youthfest that ran for nine years. All this passion and effort over the years far exceeds the award’s minimum eligibility of more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service; much of which was accomplished while working full time as an airline pilot flying internationally for a professional career, and as a wife and mother for her more personal vocation.
Shown L to R: MEA Sponsor Michael Zellen joins MEA Past President Anthony Gause and Current President Sandi Anderson in presenting the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award to PDDGER Kathleen Cotterly.
State ENF Raffle
As a statewide fundraiser for the Elks National Foundation, state ENF Chairman Dave Hammond has announced a raffle to be conducted through the fraternal year.
Two prizes are being offered for these raffles “1 Raffle, 2 Winners” fundraiser: a diamond necklace and earrings set, valued at $2,071;
and a Henry Repeating Arms “Big Boy” rifle in .357/.38 caliber, valued at $1,175.
Tickets for both drawings have been distributed to the lodges and are selling for $5 apiece, or five for $20. The two winning tickets will be drawn at the state convention in May 2024, or once all the tickets have been sold, whichever happens first, so don’t delay. See your Exalted Ruler for yours today or check out the flier for more details!
President Sandi’s Summer ’23 Report
I hope everyone is having a great summer. Dave and I have had a busy one. After State Convention we had our first visit on May 20th at the Brunswick Lodge and were met by ER Rod Bauer and his wife Linda. After a short visit, they took us down to a bed and Breakfast I never knew was even there. The accommodations were beautiful! We rested a bit and dressed for Prom Night Enchantment 2023. We had a great meal and a good band that played lots of dance music. The night was also a fundraiser for Maine Children’s Cancer and was a great success.
Our next visit was the weekend of June 3rd in Presque Isle, Mary and Alan Harding met us at the hotel and later went to the Country Club with Alan and Mary for a great dinner with ER Melanie, Greg and Barbara Daniels, Mary and Alan’s son and a few others. We then went to the Lodge and talked to the Bingo players and the member’s, we had a nice relaxed time with great Elks. The following morning, we attended the Hooked On Fishing Program. It always fills our hearts to see the kids
catching fish and getting so excited. I want to let Mike, Corey and Kip to be prepared to be on TV as you will get an interview. At the end of the afternoon, they gave away lots of toy and camping items, pools etc. all things to do outdoors!
We had a delicious dinner at Rodney’s Restaurant and then back to the Lodge for a Lip Sync Contest. We had a great weekend and headed for home.
On the weekend of June 10th Dave and I went to the Biddeford-Saco Lodge and met with Joan Howard. She drove us to our hotel on the ocean with a wonderful view of the water and then to the golf course where we met Hollywood who arranged a day of golfing with carts. I realized how rusty I was at golf but had a blast anyway.
Back to the hotel to freshen up and Joan picked us up and took us to the Lodge for a steak and chicken dinner. ER Rori had a photo booth to have pictures taken with some of their members like Barbara McCallum, Joan, Lauren, David Guay and Glenn McCallum and many others. The photo’s were a great keepsake of our visit!
Our next visit was to York Lodge on June 18 th where John Navish met us at the lodge for a Hawaiian Laua. He gave us beautiful gifts of a Black pearl necklace for me and a nice watch for Dave. We met a lot of their members and then had a big feast of sushi, fish, pineapple and all kinds of fruits, vegetables, egg rolls and much-much more. His chef outdid himself! We all took a group photo before we left for home!
We left for Convention the end of June stopping in NY for a few days to visit some of the grandkids and great grands then off to Minneapolis. After unpacking we checked out the Hospitality Room. It was a great room for our hospitality room, nice and big and set up well to accommodate everyone. I would like to thank Mike and Denise Hannigan for doing a great job, we know how tiring it can be but they had quite a people sign up to give them a break. Thank you toall those who helped and also to the people who helped Mike and Allison at the MCCP Booth.
Of course, the very best part of Convention for the State President is the openingCeremony and having the honor of carrying in our State Flag! Another nice surprise I had was when I signed the flag and put my pin on it, I found that someone had moved Dave’s pin onto that flag! The flag he had signed was full and they retired it so what a treat to see they brought a few pins over from the retired
flag. So, both Dave and I are on there as well as Donnie and Sue Piper, our other husband and wife that are PSP’s!
I had the pleasure and honor to be an Assistant Grand Esquire, recommended by Mike Zellen, PGER at the Grand Lodge Session! We handed out ballots and collected them for the tally of the votes. Thank you, Mike for allowing me that honor!
We attended the Twins game and thanks to Mindy Voisine for arranging Box seats where we had a great view and were provided with hotdogs and sausages along with other snacks, soda and water.
After Convention Dave and I continued onto the West Coast to see some good friends and our son and his family along with all the grandkids and 3 new great grands. We made it to Haystack Rock on Cannon beach with the family to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean.
We had a few days of driving back visiting an Elks Lodge or two along the way back to my sister’s home to see another son and 2 grandkids. Then finally made it back home to recuperate!
“Thank you” to the Maine Elks Assoc. for letting me represent you all!!