They Shoot...They Score 

On March 27^th, 36-young free-throw shooters hailing from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont will descend on Gorham, Maine to display their impressive skills as they compete in the regional championship of the Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Free Throw Contest. These net-stuffing boys and girls, who already have local, District, and State championships in hand, face their next challenge here in Gorham.

With free-throw percentages that would make many in the NBA weep with envy, these talented youngsters have already proven themselves to be the standouts in a competition that started last Fall with more than 3-million participants, ages 8 to 13. Now as the top free-throw shooters from 6-states gather at the University of Maine, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME at 9:00 AM, they will continue to make news as they take all their hard work, talent, and concentration to the line. At stake is a chance to advance to the national finals, where just 72-participants will compete April 22-25 at the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Now in its 38^th year, the Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Free Throw Contest, sponsored by Elks-USA, has grown into the largest co-educational sports program in the country, allowing boys and girls to compete separately in three age-groups, 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13. Each contest consists of 25 free throws --10 in round one, 15 in round two -- with ties being resolved in 5-shot shoot-offs. The 6-New England regional winners from the competition in Gorham will have a chance to stake their claim to one of six coveted spots on the Elks "Hoop Shoot" plaque in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside past Elks "Hoop Shoot" champs who have become Olympic champions and sports celebrities.

The Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Free Throw Contest is entirely funded by the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Last year, the Foundation disbursed more than $13-million in support of youth programs, Veterans' services, drug awareness education programs, college scholarships, and aid to people with disabilities. Elks-USA  is  a  patriotic  and  philanthropic  fraternal organization with nearly 1-million members in more than 2,100 communities.

Portland Elks Donation to Haiti Relief 

From Pat Roberts, Portland Elks Lodge

"Dave Thompson, Executive Director of the Southern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross, was presented a check in the amount of $1,075.00, raised by Elks #188 Bingo Players for Haiti Relief. Pictured with Mr. Thompson is Joann Gagnon, Elks Bingo Chairman; Diana Jenkins, volunteer in charge of the 50/50 sales for this effort; and Lorraine Cavallaro, whose suggestion led to this fundraising effort to benefit the victims of the Haiti Earthquake. Mr. Thompson personally addressed the Bingo Players, expressing his appreciation and advising them that this money will help buy filtered water, food, shelter, and assist with providing vaccines to help combat diseases that "threaten the victims.

York Elks Announce Coloring Contest Winners 

The York Elks Lodge#2788 recently completed their Elks Drug Awareness Coloring Contest. A total of 77 children participated in the program.

Pictured above are: L-R: Principal Maureen Goering, Winner Emery G., Kayla D., and York Elks Drug Awareness Chairman Kathy Kastberg

Charitable Record Reporting Reminder
From Robert Drisko, MEA Government Relations Director
 

The time is growing near to have your lodge Charitable Records ready for submission to the Grand Lodge. As you are aware, the Grand Lodge will only accept electronic submissions.

In reviewing the current Grand Lodge Charitable Records that have thus far been reported, nine Lodges in Maine have not yet filed a preliminary report.

If needed, I am available to assist you in preparing your 2009-2010 Charitable Records report electronically.
 

Robert Drisko
MEA Govt. Relations

March Calendar Winners 

The March Winners for the MEA Calendar Raffle are posted here:

http://www.maineelks.org/calendarwinners.html

Maine Elks get "A" on Elks Training 

Each year the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks offers members of the Order an opportunity to learn more about the internal workings of the organization.

During the past year, MEA 1st Vice-President Wayne Cotterly has administered the program for the association. Below are the final results of Elk participation in the program:

Lodge Participation: 100% (22 of 22 Lodges)

Number of Members taking the Exam: 194

Lodge Participation Breakdown

Lodge                            Members

Each member receives a completion certificate for have. First Vice-President Cotterly thanks each of the Lodges, officers, and members for participating in the program.

Wish a Hoop Shoot Winner Good Luck

The Hoop Shoot National Finals are right around the corner, and the national finalists are practicing hard for their trip to Springfield.
 
You can send congratulations and good luck wishes to any of the national finalists from the Elks website. Prior to the contest we'll print these messages and present them to the finalists when they arrive in Springfield. It only takes a minute, and this is a great way to let the kids know there are people cheering them on all over the country!
 
To send a message to a Hoop Shoot finalist, go to www.elks.org/hoopshoot/greetings.cfm. The Hoop Shoot finals are April 24, 2010, at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass.

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, the MEA Website, or future issues of this newsletter.

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