Public Relations Committee
Newsbriefs -01/31/08
Thank You from
Glenn & Cindy Leavitt
We've had such
a wonderful response from Elks, we wanted to send a BIG thank you to all who
send their well wishes and prayers to Glenn. Keeping spirits high aren't always
so easy for him and considering the challenges he faces each day he
still refuses to give up. Progress isn't going as quickly as it seemed to when
he was in Physical therapy @ Seton hospital. We get so much less at home but I
try to do as much with him as possible. He hasn't lost his sense of humor or his
wonderful heart. The stroke takes a toll on the entire family; it certainly
makes us realize many things, one of which is how much we take for granted every
day.
Glenn would
still love to hear from friends and fellow Elks. Most of the day tends to be
busy but if anyone would like to call in the evening or any time on the weekend
they can reach us @ 207 649 3266. Visits are also welcome, especially on the
weekend but a call first would be appreciated.
Positive words
are so welcome and do encourage Glenn to not give up this fight he
faces.
Again , please
forward our gratitude to all who send prayers and well
wishes.
Sincerely,
Glenn and Cindy
Leavitt
Legislative
Update
Maine Elks
Association Government Relations Director Robert Drisko has reported that the
Maine Legislature is considering a bill to authorize low-stakes cribbage
tournaments for charitable and fraternal organizations. A copy of the bill’s
text is below:
An Act To
Authorize Low-stakes Cribbage Games by Charitable and Fraternal
Organizations
Be it enacted by the People of the
State of
Sec. 1.
17 MRSA §333-A,
first ¶, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 205, §1,
is amended to read:
The Chief of the State Police may
issue a license to conduct tournament games as provided in this section to an
organization eligible to conduct beano games under chapter 13-A and games of
chance under this chapter. For purposes of this section, "tournament game" means
a game of chance played using a deck of cards with rules similar to poker or
other card games cribbage. The Chief of the State Police may not
issue a tournament game license to an organization for poker more than
once per month. The Chief of the State Police may issue a tournament game
license for cribbage only once per calendar year and only if the purpose of the
license is to host a tournament for the benefit of a national organization
representing competitive cribbage players.
Sec. 2.
17 MRSA §333-A,
sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 205, §1,
is amended to read:
4. Tournament.
The organization licensed to conduct
a tournament game under this section shall display the rules of the game and the
license issued to conduct the tournament. The maximum number of players allowed
is 100 for poker games and 1,000 for cribbage. Winners are determined by
a process of elimination. The use of currency is prohibited as part of
tournament play. The maximum entry fee to play in the tournament is $100, except
the organization may add $5 to the entry fee to defray the cost of the license
application. Only one entry fee is permitted per person. A tournament must be
completed within 48 hours. Other games of chance are prohibited, except for
lucky seven or similar sealed
tickets.
Sec. 3.
17 MRSA §339,
as amended by PL 1997, c. 684, §6,
is further amended to read:
§ 339. Fees;
games of cards
1. Original application fee.
The original application for a
license to operate a game of chance must be accompanied by a fee of $7.50. This
is not a fee for a license and is not
refundable.
2. Operation of games of chance.
Except as provided in subsection 3,
the fee for a license to operate a game of chance is $15 for each week computed
on a Monday to Sunday basis or portion thereof. The license may be issued for a
calendar month for a fee of $60 or for a calendar year for a fee of
$700.
Any combination of
monthly or weekly licenses may be issued. Except as provided in subsection 3,
licenses to conduct any authorized game of chance may be issued for a period not
to exceed 6 months on one application.
2-A. Operation of electronic video machines.
The fee for a game of chance
license to operate an electronic video machine is $15 for each week computed on
a Monday to Sunday basis or portion of a week. The license may be issued for a
calendar month for a fee of $60.
Any combination of
monthly or weekly licenses may be issued. Licenses to operate an authorized
electronic video machine may be issued for a period not to exceed 6 months on
one application.
3. Games
of cards. The fee for a
license issued to an organization to operate a game of cards, when the
organization charges no more than $1 daily entry fee for participation in the
games of cards and when no money or valuable thing other than the $1 daily entry
fee is gambled by any person in connection with the game of cards, is $7.50 for
each calendar year or portion thereof. An organization, as defined in
section 311, may operate a game of cards for up to 60 players at any one time
and may award prizes to the players as long as:
A. The
organization charges each player no more than $5 per day as an entry
fee;
B. Prizes are
awarded exclusively from the entry fees;
and
C. Each player
gambles in the game no more than the $5 entry fee on any one
day.
The fee for a license
to operate a game of cards under this subsection is $30 for each calendar year
or portion thereof.
4. Distributors.
The fee for a license issued to a
distributor is $625 for each calendar year or portion
thereof.
5. Printers.
The fee for a license issued to a
printer is $15 for each calendar year or portion
thereof.
6. Application.
Licenses to operate any authorized
game of chance may be issued for a period not to exceed 6 months on one
application.
All fees required by this section
must accompany the application for any license issued by authority of this
chapter.
Fees submitted as license fees must
be refunded if the license is not issued. Rebates may not be given for any
unused license or portion of an unused license. If any license is suspended or
revoked as provided by this chapter, fees paid for licenses issued may not be
refunded.
Sec. 4.
17 MRSA §341,
sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 716, §9,
is further amended to read:
1. Limits.
A licensed game of chance is
limited as to the amount to be gambled for any one chance to $1, except that an
organization may operate and conduct a game of cards and charge no more than
$1 daily entry fee for participation in a game of cards, as long as no money or
valuable thing other than $1 daily entry fee is gambled in connection with a
game of cards in accordance with section 339, subsection
3.
summary
This bill makes the following
changes to the laws governing games of cards, including cribbage, sponsored by
charitable and fraternal organizations.
1. It increases the allowable daily
entry fee from $1 to $5.
2. It increases the license fee from
$7.50 to $30.
3. It specifies that a game of cards
may not consist of more than 60 players at any one
time.
This bill also authorizes the Chief
of the State Police to issue a tournament game license for cribbage, with a
maximum of 1,000 players, once per calendar year.
Smoking Issue
Update
MEA Government Relations
Director Robert Drisko has reported that the Department of Health and Human
Services has missed the last step in putting rules together for private clubs to
vote on smoking. Representative Lisa Miller has sponsored a bill to get a waiver
so that the Legislature does not have to go through the entire process again. As
of now, a vote on smoking would require a 45 day notice to the full membership,
sending absentee ballots only to those members that request one. The result of
the vote is determined by a simple majority of the members voting—not a majority
of the total membership as was required two years ago. If you have any
questions, please contact Bob Drisko at Drisko@roadrunner.com.
Order of Elks
Celebrating its 140th Year
From
the Grand Lodge Newsletter
To all district
deputies, exalted rulers, officers and members:
February is a busy
month for our Order. First and foremost we celebrate the birthday of our own
existence. Feb. 16 is the 140th birthday of the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks. From Charles Vivian’s small band of Jolly Corks, we have grown to be
the largest fraternal organization in the
February is also the
month we honor our past exalted rulers. They have served our Order in the past
and hopefully are continuing to be a vital resource in your lodges. I hope your
lodge has an appropriate program planned to recognize these valued members of
the lodge.
One of the more
important events that occur this month is the nomination of officers for the
ensuing lodge year. I would hope your lodge has a group of dedicated members who
are willing to step forth and help lead your lodge in the upcoming lodge year.
Make sure you give them the support they will need to ensure a successful year
for your lodge.
During the week of
Feb. 16-22 we celebrate National Patriotism Week. Work with your lodge and state
Americanism Committees to plan a program to let our communities know of our
loyalty to the American Dream.
Along with the
celebration of our patriotism, February is when we celebrate Presidents Day.
National Patriotism Week and Presidents Day are excellent times to reflect on
our heritage as a nation along with all that we have accomplished as a
nation.
Patriotism, birthday, nominations and
honoring our past exalted rulers make February a busy month. However, it is not
too busy that we should forget Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. Make sure to let
others know that you care about them, whether they be loved ones or just
friends. And, by the way, make sure you let everyone
F. Louis
Sulsberger
Grand Exalted Ruler
Youth Week ideas,
suggestions, recommendations
By
Jack Warter Jr., Grand Lodge Youth Activities
Committee
For your use
and guidance, here are some Elks National Youth Week Program ideas, suggestions
and recommendations that have been used effectively in the past by lodges and
state associations.
1. Have
the mayor of your city or president of your town or city council issue a Youth
Week proclamation. It is suggested that the request be made by the exalted ruler
or chairperson of the Youth Activities Committee.
2.
Governors of states should likewise proclaim the first week in May 2008 as Elks
National Youth Week. This request should be handled by the state association
presidents or state association chairpersons.
3.
Suggested drafts of a mayor’s Youth Week proclamation and a governor’s Youth
Week proclamation are part of this release.
4. A determined effort
should be made by each of our more than 2,100 subordinate lodges nationwide to
stage or sponsor a Youth Week parade, with all high schools, public, parochial
and private, within the jurisdiction of each lodge, invited to participate with
their bands, drill teams and cheerleaders. An invitation should be extended to
all Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and any other organized groups, such as
church groups and other youth community service groups, to march in uniform.
Prizes should be awarded to the school or troop with the best drill team, for
the greatest number in line march, for the best band and the best
appearance.
5. Every type of
media, newspaper, radio and television should be requested to give your lodge
and state the coverage that such a promotion deserves. Such a demonstration
would prove to the citizenry of this great country that the Grand Lodge of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, with the cooperation of the subordinate
lodges, are doing their part to recognize the outstanding youth in our
communities, states and country.
6. Suggest to your
city or state officials for a Student Government Day. The boys and girls could
take over the offices of the elected officials for one
day.
7. Arrange with
your chief of police to engage and swear in high school seniors to work on
school patrols, ride with the police in police cars, observe handling of cases
at headquarters and spend the entire day in the police department
to observe
its various functions and learn about what goes on in this department of city
government.
8. Sporting events
are another project that creates public interest and in which boys and girls are
eager to participate, such as track and field meets, basketball, baseball,
soccer, bowling and fishing tournaments.
9. There are many
other suggestions as to how Youth Week can be served in the Youth Activities
Manual (Code 512100).
The Grand Lodge Youth Activities
Committee realizes that the success of this Youth Week program depends on the
measure of cooperation received from subordinate lodges and state associations.
We feel confident of that cooperation and, again, pledge the assistance of our
committee in every possible way. Make Elks National Youth Week, the first week
in May 2008, an outstanding youth observance and one that will reach out to more
boys and girls and serve them in a helpful, honorable and constructive way. We
reiterate that you are at liberty to adopt such Elks National Youth Week
programs as best meet the need in your area and such as your facilities and
budget will permit. We do urge each and every exalted ruler to plan some
appropriate observance of the Elks National Youth Week and strive for
If
you have news or information of interest to the members of the Maine Elks
Association, please send your articles to Public Relations Director Wayne
Cotterly at
meapr@fairpoint.net
for inclusion in the MEA Calendar, Newsbriefs, and/or Website. Also, if you
would like to be removed from this mailing list, please send an e-mail to Public
Relations Director Wayne Cotterly at
meapr@fairpoint.net.
In addition, if you know of someone who would like to be added to this list,
please have them forward their e-mail address to the same address. All
information provided has been read and approved by the MEA State
President