Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -05/28/08


Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs


New “Avenue of Flags” Dedicated in Augusta



For the past year and two months, the Augusta Emblem Club #233 and the Augusta Elks Lodge #964 have been working on a joint Americanism & Veterans Project called the “Avenue of Flags.” The project culminated with a dedication held on Memorial Day at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. The dedication was attended by approximately 200 people, including many veterans, veteran groups, Emblem members, and Elks. Also, attending the event were representatives of Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan Collins, who could not attend in person. The representatives each read a letter expressing their heartfelt thanks and support for the project, which will give a sense of pride for those who have given so much in service to our country.

The project was the brainchild of Augusta Emblem Club President Louise Dorr, who approached then Exalted Ruler John Levesque about the Augusta Elks helping with the project. The project began with an effort to raise enough money to erect eighteen flag poles at the cemetery. The cost for each pole would be a total of $850 dollars, or a total of $15,300 dollars for the entire project. To raise that much money, the two approached the Maine Elks Association and the Maine State Association of Emblem Clubs, and requested their assistance as well. Five individual Elks Lodges contributed, as did four Emblem Clubs, and individual Elk & Emblem members. Individuals, Businesses, and other Organizations in the community also joined in to help make the project a success. Though the original project goal was to erect eighteen flag poles, enough money was raised to erect a total of twenty-six poles at the cemetery.

The purpose of the project was to honor all Veterans, and to provide an impressive setting for veterans arriving at their final resting place. “There could be no better symbol than the Flag of our country. The very flag that these men and women served under and fought to protect, whether we were at peace or conflict, home or away,” said Levesque during his remarks.

Pictured above are L-R: Kym Dorr, Louise Dorr, John LeVecque, Judy LeVecque, Myra Drisko, and Maine Elks Association President Robert Drisko.


MEA Fall State Meeting Rescheduled

The MEA State Meeting originally scheduled for October 19, 2008 has been rescheduled. The new date for the State Meeting will be on October 12, 2008 at the Waterville Elks Lodge. Also, the MEA State President Visit to the Waterville Elks Lodge has been rescheduled to be held on October 11, 2008.


Grand Lodge Convention to Be Held in Reno in 2013 and 2017

Click here: Channel 4 KRNV.com: Local News and Weather for Reno-Tahoe Region: Elks return to Reno, tourism economy gets a boost


Grand Lodge Public Relations Contest Deadlines Approaching

The Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee is reminding members that the deadline for the third trimester of the Focus on the Community and Best Image of Elkdom Contests are fast approaching. The deadline for submission of newspaper articles and photos will be June 3, 2008. These need to be sent to Area 1 Grand Lodge Public Relations Committeeman Louis Connolly at 16 Floyd Avenue, Tewksbury, MA 01876.

To enter the Focus on the Community Contest, all you need to do is cut out two copies of the same newspaper article; include your name, address, telephone number, and Lodge to the address above. For the Best Image of Elkdom Contest simply send him a copy of your photo that best tells the Elks story without words. You can e-mail the photo to loujudie@verizon.net . Please don’t forget to include your Name, Address, Telephone Number, and Lodge.


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