Public Relations Committee
Newsbriefs -04/10/08
Send a Greeting
to our National Hoop Shoot Finalist
At the Regional Hoop Shoot,
Alexandra P-L, won the 12-13 year old division, and is now a finalist at the
Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest, which will take place in
http://www.elks.org/hoopshoot/greetings.cfm?CFID=17758443&CFTOKEN=86923496
Millinocket Elks
Hold Benefit Dinner
From
John Nicholson, Millinocket Elks Public Relations 
A benefit supper was held at the Millinocket Lodge of
Elks #1521 for a member who is in need of assistance to defray medical costs.
It was a big success because of the help from the community of caring
people.
Government
Relations Committee Update
From MEA
Government Relations Director Bob Drisko
FEDS GRANT
AUGUSTA,
MAINE - Mainers will not face added hurdles when they try to board airplanes or
enter federal buildings next month because the Federal Government has given the
State a last - minute extension to comply with the Real ID Act.
The U.S. Department of
Homeland Security announced the decision Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Gov.
John Baldacci sent a letter to Secretary, Michael Chertoff saying the state is
willing to implement security measures that the federal government is demanding.
The Real ID Act is
designed to fight terrorism by making the states' requirements for issuing
driver's licenses and identification cards more uniform and stringent.
Most of the changes
Baldacci has embraced, which include barring illegal immigrants from getting
drivers licenses, will require legislative approval. Lawmakers are divided on
the wisdom of doing what Baldacci has proposed, partly because of concerns about
protecting the privacy of Mainers if personal information is stored in
government databases.
The Department of
Homeland Security had given the state until 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 2nd to agree
to revamp its licensing practices.
Baldacci's decision
"buys us some time”, said Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, whose office
oversees driver's licenses. But Dunlap said fundamental questions remain about
the federal government's ability to safeguard privacy, and
Until the current
stalemate ended, Wednesday afternoon,
Maine’s Bureau of
Highway Safety, its Federal counter part and other safety organizations have
been getting the word out that if you plan on driving or being a passenger in a
vehicle in Maine you best be buckled up.
First time violators
can be fined $50.00 – second time violators $125 and subsequent offences can
lead to fines of $250.
Under the new law, the
operator of the vehicle is responsible to see that passengers 18 and younger are
secure in seat belts. Operators and passengers older than 18 are responsible for
themselves -accordingly, individual fines can be imposed on each operator or
passenger found nor to be wearing a seat belt.
PROPOSED INCREASE IN STATE CIGARETTE TAX IGNITES
DEBATE
Health Policy Partners
of Maine, which includes heart, lung and cancer groups, also announced survey
results that show 76 percent of Mainers support a cigarette tax increase. "Maine
people understand the importance of high tobacco prices and are counting on
their state legislators to use this power¬ful tool to reduce the physical and
financial toll of tobacco use," said Ed Miller, CEO of the American Lung
association of Maine.
If
The announcement came
just one day after Gov. John Baldacci said he would support increasing the
cigarette tax to help pay for the state’s “Dirigo Health Plan”. Last year
Baldacci proposed a $1.00 cigarette tax increase as part of his budget revenues
which was defeated by the lawmakers.
Small business in
Maine oppose the tax increase stating that past increases saw drops in cigarette
sales in Maine as citizens would travel to neighboring New Hampshire to
purchase cigarettes at a lower cost.
In 2005
(Back
Row, L-R)
Jane Stevens,
Inner Guard; Donna Moore, Chaplain; Tom Richards, Trustee; Frank
Heller,
Trustee; Don Susla, Trustee;
Hank Rosenberg, Tiler
(Front row,
L-R)
Elizabeth
Butler, Esquire; Kathy Kastberg, Loyal Knight; Jack Clines, ER; Carol
Putnam,
Secretary; Barbara Ropke,
Treasurer
New Leadership
Team at
From Greg
Sirpis, Exalted Ruler
On Saturday April 5th, the Portland Lodge conducted it’s installation of Officers. The evening began with a social hour, the ceremony, a fabulous turkey dinner, then entertainment provided by Steve Clancy. The event was attended by 125 people. It was an evening of fellowship, great food, and good friends, a great time was had by all, and the Officers look forward to hosting many more events of the kind.
The
2008-2009 Leadership Team is-
Front L-R: David Perry PER/PSP
Esquire, Lorna Endreson-Secretary, Greg T. Sirpis- Exalted Ruler, Sandra
Richard- Treasurer, Paula Monaghan- Chaplain,
Back L-R: James Worthley- Inner
Guard, Larry Slade- Tiler, Paul Flanagan- Trustee, Joanne Gagnon- Trustee,
Janice Parker- Trustee, Ernie Philips- Trustee, Kristie Twombly Durgin-
Lecturing Knight, Bob Rickett- Trustee Chairman
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
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information provided has been read and approved by the MEA State
President