Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -05/03/07

Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs

Maine’s Past Exalted Ruler’s Ritual Team Regains Trophy

The Maine Elks Association Past Exalted Ruler's Ritual Team, led by Coaches Phil O'Brion, Harry Desjardins, and Frank Ricker won the Area I Interstate Relations Past Exalted Ruler's Ritual Contest. The team took the trophy back from Connecticut, who had won the event last year. The Maine Elks PER Ritual Team has won their event four out of the last five years.

The Area I contest was held on April 29, 2007, at the Danielson Lodge, in Danielson, Connecticut. Six teams competed, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 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.

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.

Earning recognition as Area I Past Exalted Ruler Champions for 2007 are: Exalted Ruler: Scott Gray. (Augusta), Leading Knight: Rick Williams (Biddeford-Saco), Loyal Knight: Andrew Bolz (Sanford), Lecturing Knight: Debbie Hamblen (Portland), Esquire: Bruce Brunelle (Sanford), Chaplain: Wayne Cotterly (Lewiston), Inner Guard: Robert Drisko (Augusta), Candidate: Roger Normandeau (Sanford), and Coaches: Phil O'Brion (Farmington), Harry Desjardins (Biddeford-Saco) and Frank Ricker (Sanford).

Several members also received recognition for winning their individual chairs. The individual winners were: Rick Williams as Esteemed Leading Knight, Bruce Brunelle as Esquire, and Robert Drisko as Inner Guard. Here are the final standings:

Pictured above are L-R: Phil O’Brion, Frank Ricker, Robert Drisko, Wayne Cotterly, Rick Williams, Scott Gray, Andrew Bolz, Debbie Hamblen, Bruce Brunelle, Roger Normandeau, and Harry Desjardins.

Maine Elks to Hold 78th State Convention This Weekend

The 78th Annual MEA State Convention will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland on May 4-6, 2007. The State Convention Committee is looking forward to welcoming everyone for what will become a most memorable event.

The event will begin on Friday, May 4, 2007, with registration in the main lobby during the afternoon. The Nominating Committee Meeting will be held at 4:30 PM, followed by a special MCCP Toast at 5 PM. The Toast will celebrate the Maine Elks Association surpassing the $2 Million Dollar mark for donations to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. At 6 PM, a welcome dinner and award presentations will be held, followed by a casino night in the Sebago Room.

On Saturday, May 5th, registration will begin at 9:00 AM, with a continental breakfast being served from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. The Maine Elks Past Exalted Rulers Association will hold its annual meeting at 8:30 AM, followed by the MEA State Trustee Meeting at 9 AM, then the general meeting at 10 AM. At the general meeting, the annual budget will be voted upon, as well as elections for the 2007-2008 State Officers. During the afternoon, from 2-3 PM, a Pre-National Convention Meeting will take place in the Sebago Room. Anyone planning to attend the National Convention in Charlotte should attend this important meeting.

Later that afternoon, there will be a social hour beginning at 5 PM, followed by a dinner buffet and awards presentations. This will be the night to recognize our youth scholarship, Americanism, and drug awareness winners, and will also be the night that the Maine Elks Association presents a check to the Maine Children's Cancer Program. Following this, a casino night will be held in the Sebago Room.

On Sunday, May 6th, the State Association Memorial Service and Officer Installation Ceremonies beginning at 10 AM. MEA Memorial Service Director, Tom Callahan reminds all Exalted Rulers for 2007-2008 to be dressed in White Tux Jacket, Black Pants, Black Tie, Black Socks and Shoes for the memorial service. Also, please remember to bring your GOLD JEWELS as well.

Augusta Elks Present Drug Awareness Awards


The Augusta Elks Lodge recently presented two Drug Awareness Coloring Contest awards in Lisa Ward’s 3^rd Grade Class at the Hussey School in Augusta. Presenting the awards were Drug Awareness Chairman Anthony Gause and Exalted Ruler John LeVeque. Receiving the awards were Kaylee S. and Graham F..

Pictured above are: L-R:  Anthony Gause, Kaylee S., Graham F., and John LeVeque

 Elks Honor Eagle Scouts



The Portland Elks Lodge recently hosted a banquet honoring the 2006 Eagle Scouts and the 2007 Silver Beaver Recipients for the Pine Tree Council. The Pine Tree Council encompasses all of Western Maine from York County to Somerset County. The recognition Banquet and Award Ceremony was hosted by The Portland Elks Lodge #188. The event was co-sponsored by the Sanford, Waterville, and York Elk Lodges.

Guest of the Elks were the 139 Eagle Scouts in the class of 2006, 7 Silver Beaver 2007 recipients and their leaders. The affair was well attended by 220 scouts, their families and others. Master of Ceremonies was Eagle Scout, Dan Warner “Class of 2006” from Lisbon Falls.

The Scouts presented the colors, and after the opening ceremonies, the Silver Beaver awards were presented. The Silver Beaver is the highest award for Adults in scouting. Following dinner, a presentation ceremony was held to honor the Class of Eagle Scouts. Each New Eagle Scout received and American Flag, an Elks Eagle Scout Certificate and Eagle Shoulder Patch. Guest speaker for the evening was Kevin Hancock of Hancock Lumber.

Pictured above are L-R Ross Woodside of Troop 92 in North Yarmouth, Portland Elks Youth Activities Chairman Bruce Jordan, Dan Warner of Troop 109 in Lisbon Falls, Portland Exalted Ruler Richard Barter, and Andrew Cotterly of Troop 125 in Poland

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.