Maine Elks Association

MEA State Ritual Contest This Weekend

The Maine Elks Association will hold its State Ritual Competition at the Houlton Elks Lodge on Sunday, February 17, 2008. Lodge Ritual teams from across the state will be meeting to determine which Lodge will represent the State of Maine at the national contest to be held in Anaheim, California in July. Teams expected to compete include last year’s State Champions; Sanford, also Augusta, Houlton, Bath, and returning to competition is the Biddeford-Saco Lodge. Teams will be competing beginning at 9 AM, and will continue throughout the day. The teams will be judged on their word accuracy, movements, pronunciation, appearance, and impressiveness.

There will be a reception for those competing, state officers, and judges, along with their significant others on Saturday, February 16, 2008 from 4 PM to 5 PM. Following this reception, the MEA State President Bruce Brunelle and First Lady Lisa will be honored at a dinner as part of their official visitation to the Houlton Lodge. There will be live entertainment beginning at 5 PM in the Lounge, and dinner will be served at 7 PM. Dress for the afternoon and evening will be casual. Dinner will consist of Steamship Round(Beef) or Chicken Cordon Bleu, Baked Potato, Veggies, Full Salad Bar, Coffee, Tea. The cost is $ 25.00 per couple and we would like you to please call the Lodge between 3:00PM and 8:00Pm Monday-Saturday to sign up for the Dinner.

4. Mealtime companions for long term care patients – During lunch and dinner all week

10. Telehealth Support – Provide support in communities to patients using home telehealth devices (Aroostook, Washington, and Oxford counties)

2. Comfort Item Program (travel and regular size toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)

4. Coffee & Newspaper funds – provides coffee/newspapers at waiting areas/wards/clinics

7. National Rehabilitation Events (Golden Age Games, Winter Sports, Wheelchair Games, and Creative Arts )

1. Unit 4 South activity sponsorship. (approx. $50 pizza party, $25 ice cream Social)

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The Internal Revenue Service has announced that under the Tax Code, donations to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ General Post Fund for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable. The announcement reflects the tax law provision, which makes those donations deductible as “donations to the

United States

”. Donations to support any of the Department’s programs are deductible, whether the donor directs that the donated funds be used for a specific purpose or allows the Department to decide how the donated funds will be used. Donated funds made by check should be made out to “VAVS” and sent to the address above.

NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME! Used Stamps; any clothing that is stained or torn; Jigsaw Puzzles; Playing Cards; Books; Magazines Over Three Months Old; Disposable Razors; Soap; After-Shave; Hand Lotion; Writing Tablets; Pens; and Envelopes. Due to Infection Control policies we are unable to take used walkers, canes, or crutches at this time.

Skowhegan Holds Annual Elks National Foundation Night
From Michael Lange, MEA Central District Public Relations Chairman

The 2008 Elks National Foundation banquet is now history. While the turnout wasn’t very good, everyone seemed to have a good time. The meal was excellent and the members and guests really enjoyed the oldies-but-goodies from the band “The 45s.”

A few things held back the crowd, in my humble opinion. The weather forecast called for heavy snow, which really didn’t materialize; there was a benefit at the Waterville Elks Lodge for PER Glenn Leavitt, who suffered a massive stroke late last year; and the Knight’s Seminar was taking place in Sanford on the same weekend. So many of the state officers who normally attend our ENF banquet were either in Waterville or Sanford.

But the major purpose of the ENF banquet was accomplished. We raised almost $2,000 that evening and I’ll recognize most of the donors in the upcoming March newsletter. Some prefer that their names not be published, and I respect their privacy.

The big winners of the 140 club raffle were:

$500 Don Richard, Rumford Lodge, MEA Past State President

I’d like to thank Bobbie Alley, Leslie Korhonen, Alfred Carpenter, Erkel Gallant, Richard Corson, Louann Barnes and her decorating crew and everyone else who pitched in to help with the event. It certainly made my job a lot easier.

Patriotism Week—February 18-24, 2008

As a reminder, Patriotism Week will be held from February 18-24, 2008. A proclamation that can be used by the Lodges is available at

http://www.elks.org/grandlodge/americanism/files/patriotismweekproclamation.pdf

The Grand Lodge Americanism Manual has the following recommendations for activities during this week. They include:

1) Call upon the people in your community to commemorate National Patriotism Week with appropriate celebrations and observances. Request Governor and Mayor to issue a proclamation designating this week as “National Patriotism Week” (Your Grand Lodge Area Americanism Committee Member can furnish a sample proclamation).

2) Encourage primary and secondary schools to adopt an appropriate curriculum for the week, including such elements as the study of the Pledge of Allegiance; the National Anthem; National Symbols, Seal and Motto; and National Heroes.

3) Encourage Junior High and High Schools to establish a HeritageCornerin their school, and present the school Principal with an American Heritage Corner Kit.

4) Request local, state and federal agencies to recognize the week by such action as they may deem appropriate.

6) Contact your Grand Lodge Americanism Committeeman for additional information.

Inkjet & Toner Program to Benefit MCCP
From Debi Briggs, MEA Inkjet/Toner Program Chairman

Let’s make Maine State President proud of his STATE by saving all your empty inkjet and toner cartridges!!! Pass the word around in your community to friends and businesses. It is a very rewarding program. It helps our environment by not having them in our landfills and it helps our children with cancer. So please take part in this program!!!

Inkjet and toner cartridges range from $0.20 to $15.00 depending on what is on demand during the month. Each month the price changes, so get them in as soon as possible. We are always at State Meetings for collections and we meet somewhere to collect them. Publish it in your newsletter or even in your daily papers. Every inkjet or toner cartridge helps out!

If you have any questions, you may contact us by e-mail or phone:=

Debi Briggs
64 Swift River Road, Byron, ME 04275 (home)
(207) 364-2479
60 River Street, Rumford, ME 04276 (Lodge)
(207) 364-4022
e-mail at: elk862@midmaine.com

Presque Isle Lodge set to honor Walter L. Morrison, Jr., PER, PDDGER
From James Ferland, Past State President

On Saturday, February 23^rd, the Presque Isle Lodge of Elks will be celebrating the 140^th birthday of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America, in conjunction with Past Exalted Rulers Night at the lodge. At the same time the lodge will be honoring Walter L. “the Deacon” Morrison by unveiling a commemorative plaque in his honor and memory.

One year, Paul “Big Foot” Tourigny, from the Lewiston Lodge, then Maine Chairman for ENF, walked the Appalachian Trail to raise money for ENF. Walter was so inspired by that kind of effort and dedication to the Foundation that he made up his mind then that he would, someday, become the chairman of ENF, which he did.

For 10 years Walter worked diligently to motivate all of us to contribute to this very worthwhile cause. Maine never finished lower than 5^th in the nation in per capita contributions during that time. Walter led Maine to, two first place finishes in a row and followed that by a second place finish. He was recognized by Grand Lodge for his philanthropic work. To show the gratitude of the State Association, Walter was recognized as Committee Chairman of the Year and in 1995-1996 he was presented with the Rowland “Duke” Morgan – Mr. Elk Award; but most importantly he was respected and loved by all of us for what he did for others.

An untold number of young people in Maine have benefited from receiving scholarships, participating in the soccer shoot and hoop shoot, being provided worthwhile information about the dangers of drug abuse, and learning the value of being an American. Likewise, children with cancer and people with hypertension and diabetes, as well as our veterans all benefited from funds from ENF. There would have been fewer people helped in all of these areas were it not for Walter’s tenacious sales pitch. His famous call, “Give me a Dollar!” is the phrase that adorns the plaque given each year at the Maine State Elks Convention to honor the lodge that raises the most money for ENF.

If you would like to attend the PER night celebration and dinner, please contact Greg Daniels, PSP, PDDGER. If you would like to send a letter, or e-mail recalling some of your memories of Walter, please send those to Greg as well.

Greg’s contact information is as follows:

Gregory C. Daniels PSP, PDDGER
97 Marston Road
Presque Isle, ME 04769
(H) 207-764-3236
(W) 207-768-9580
Fax 207-768-9583
gregory.c.daniels@umpi.edu

Benefit for Mike McCollett, Augusta Lodge

As you may or may not know Mike McCollett has recently had a series of small strokes and is currently home recuperating. Mike has been a member of the Augusta Lodge for many years and has represented the lodge on several different committees and in many capacities.

As you could imagine the burden on the family has been great. On March 8th the Augusta Lodge will be holding a benefit for the McCollett family. Their will be a spaghetti dinner, a silent auction and a dance with music by Archie and Friends to follow. The dinner will be $7.00 per person. It would be greatly appreciated to see a donation of $1.00 from each Elk member of the Augusta Lodge 964 or a donation of some-thing for the auction. We will also be accepting donations at the door the night of the benefit.

Any checks being sent for donations please make payable to the Augusta Lodge with reference to the McCollett benefit. Please send to the attention of Judy LeVecque or Dan Howlett.

For more information contact Judy LeVecque - 737-2885 or Dan Howlett - 623-1389.