Maine Past Exalted Ruler's Reclaim Championship

On April 25, 2010, the Maine Elks Association Past Exalted Ruler's Ritual Team, lead by coach Bruce Brunelle, reclaimed their status as Area 1 ritual champions at the Area 1 Interstate-Relations Past Exalted Ruler's Ritual Contest. This year, the Maine team beat out second place Rhode Island with a score of 96.1316 out of 100.

The contest was held at the Woonsocket Elks Lodge in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Six teams competed, including teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. New York chose not to send a team.

This particular contest, open only to Past Exalted Ruler's, is particularly difficult, as each state typically sends only their best ritualistic teams to the competition to compete for the coveted title. During the contest, five judges evaluate each team's performance based on the following Criteria: Impressiveness, Pronunciation, Word Accuracy, Movement (Deportment), and Appearance.

The purpose of this contest is to promote excellence in the performance of the initiatory ritual of the Elks, and to foster better relations between State Elks Associations.

MEA 1st Vice-President Wayne Cotterly was recognized as the only individual chair winner from Maine. Cotterly served in the position of Esteemed Loyal Knight.

Below are the final standings:

1 Maine 96.1316
2 Rhode Island 95.4389
3 Connecticut 95.0706
4 New Hampshire 94.7416
5 Massachusetts 94.3619
6 Vermont 94.3083

The Maine team will need to win two more times to retire the trophy.

Pictured above are: (L-R) : Bruce Brunelle (Coach), Irvin Pillsbury (Inner Guard), Phil O'Brion (Chaplain), Wayne Cotterly (Loyal Knight), John Caron (Exalted Ruler), Robert Drisko (Leading Knight), Floyd Howes (Lecturing Knight, Gail Howes (Candidate), and Roger Normandeau (Esquire).

York Elks Install Officers

On April 10, 2010, the York Elks Lodge held its annual installation of officers. The officers were installed by members of the Sanford Elks Lodge.

Seated: Barbara Ropke, Tres,  Don Susla, Loyal Knt, Elizabeth Butler, ER,  Kathy Kastberg, Leading Knt,  Roger Cote, Lecturing Knt,  Carol Putnam, Sec, Back Row:  Andy Baker, Esquire, Frank Heller, Trustee, Bob Carr, Chaplain, Tom Richard, Trustee, Charlie Pautler, Trustee, Dale Bryant, Tiler, Hank Rosenberg, Inner Gd, Dana Putnam, Trustee.  Missing from photo Don Leeman, Trustee. 

Elks National Hoop Shoot Update 

The Elks National Hoop Shoot competition was held this past weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts. Seventy two Boys and Girls from across the United States competed in this event, having beat out their peers at the Lodge, District, State, and Regional Contests. There were three youngsters from Maine who advanced to the national contest. Here is how they did:

Gabrielle D.. (Rockland Elks Lodge) finished 10th  in the Girls 8-9 year old division.

 
Sam B. (Bangor Elks Lodge) finished 10th in the Boys 12-13 year old division
 
Abby P. (Bangor Elks Lodge) finished 4th in the Girls 12-13 year old division

Maine Elks to be Honored by VA for Service to Vets 

Tonight, April 29, 2010, several members of the Maine Elks Association will receive recognition for their service to our nation's veterans at the Togus VA Medical Center. These dedicated volunteers have donated a tremendous amount of time to live up to the Elks motto of: "So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.

The following will be recognized at an awards banquet to be held at the Waterville Elks Lodge:

James Robertson    300 Hours

Kathleen Cotterly    750 Hours

Edwin Emerson      750 Hours

Paul Poulin            1000 Hours

Fred Lincoln           Hours & Years of Service Certificate

Rodney Woodrum   2500 Hours

Thomas Elliott        10,000 Hours

Congratulations to all of those who were recognized

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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