Maine Elks Association

Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -07/17/2008

Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs

MEA State President Message-July 2008

Summer has finally arrived, kids are out of school, Grand Lodge Audit report is due and the Grand Lodge Convention is set to convene in Anaheim, CA the first weekend in July. Typically the months of July and August are slow months in our lodges and perhaps there are a few little things we can do to keep our membership active. I encourage lodges to: (1) plan a cook out accompanied with membership drive or youth activities day. (2) Contact delinquent members and give them an opportunity to pay their dues in conjunction with an invitation to attend a summer Lodge function. Even if we only gain one or two new members and retain a good number of our delinquent members it will be well worth the effort.

Remember always: “The Future Belongs to Those Who Care”.

Bob Drisko
State President

Paul D. Helsel Elected as Grand Exalted Ruler for 2008-2009

At the 2008 Grand Lodge Convention, Paul D. Helsel was installed as the new Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks for 2008-2009. Helsel, who is a member of the Newark Elks Lodge #1659 in Delaware, and has served the Order since 1970. He and his wife, Jane will be traveling across the country during the coming year to meet with members of the Order, and to promote the BPO Elks.

This year, the theme will be “Elks—Growing Elkdom and Strengthening America”

Here is GER Helsel’s Biography:

Here is GER Helsel’s Acceptance Speech

July is Emergency Educational Grant (EEG) Month

The Emergency Educational Grant program provides financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks, who wish to obtain or further their college education.

Grant amounts are based on the information submitted in the application and can range up to $4,000. The grant is for one year only; however, the student may submit up to three annual renewal applications for succeeding years as long as he or she meets all other eligibility requirements. The applicant cannot accept more than one ENF scholarship/grant in any one academic year.

New applications should be filed between July 1 and December 31. Renewal applications must be filed between July 1 and October 31. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The grant is for educational assistance only and not intended to cover the entire cost of a college education. Assistance cannot be extended beyond four years.

Before applying, please the applicant must meet the following eligibility guidelines.

The Elk parent or stepparent must have been a member in good standing for at least one year at the time of his or her death.

The Elk parent or stepparent must have been a member in good standing for at least one year before he or she became totally disabled and must continue to be an Elk in good standing when application for assistance is made.
All circumstances surrounding the death or disability of the Elk parent or stepparent are subject to the review of the Elks National Foundation. The outcome of the review may effect grant approval.
The applicant must demonstrate financial need to qualify for a grant under this program.
The applicant must be unmarried, under the age of 23 as of Dec. 31 in the year of application, and attending a U.S. college or university as a full-time (12 semester hours) undergraduate student.

All applications -- new and renewal -- must be submitted to, and processed by, the Lodge where the Elk parent or stepparent is or was a member. Be sure to use the checklist on the application to ensure that all necessary paperwork has been included.

The Lodge must investigate the application, and submit a letter of endorsement with the application. After the vote of the Lodge, the Lodge Secretary must complete the portion of the application as noted. These steps must be followed on all new AND renewal applications.

As soon as possible after the student has turned the application in to the Lodge, the Scholarship Committee should conduct its investigation, and the Lodge should follow up with a vote, so that the application can be submitted to the ENF office.

The ENF office does not mail applications for this program in bulk quantities. With each new printing, we may make several changes to the application, so we want to be sure that the Lodges have the most up-to-date application. The Lodge or the student may request an Emergency Educational Grant application from the ENF Chicago office by contacting 773/755-4732 or scholarship@elks.org.

MCCP “Cartridge Program” Still Collecting for Kids

Debbie Briggs, of the Rumford Elks Lodge advises that the Maine Elks Association MCCP “Cartridge Program” is still collecting inkjet and toner cartridges to raise money for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Lodges are encouraged to spread the word about the program which allows the Maine Elks to donate several hundred dollars each year to MCCP.

Briggs pointed out that she received a rather disturbing phone call where an individual tried to drop off the cartridges at a local Elks Lodge, but the bartenders and members there didn’t know anything about it. All Lodges are requested to inform their bartenders and members that the program exists, and that the Lodges should contact Debbie Briggs at the Rumford Elks Lodge at elk862@midmaine.com if they have cartridges to be picked up.

Millinocket Elks Hold Kids Day
From John Nicholson, PDDGER, Lodge Public Relations Chair

Millinocket Elks #1521 was a big supporter in the 2008 “Kid’s Day Event”, this year several hundred kids, parents and workers attended this free event in which the kids played games, received prizes and ate hot dogs. Millinocket Elks #1521 were pleased that State President Bob Drisko and Myra were here to enjoy the fun and the day in Millinocket. Below are some photos of the event.

Maine Elks State President Visits Millinocket
From John Nicholson, PDDGER, Lodge Public Relations Chair

While at Millinocket Elks #1521, State President Bob Drisko and Myra were presented with a set of wooden trays. On one tray was a wood burning of Bob’s pin and the other tray had a wood burning of a hummingbird for Myra. Earlier in the day Bob and Myra attended Millinocket’s “Kids Day Event”.

Togus VA Wish List for July 2008

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Drivers for statewide Volunteer Transportation Network – Caribou, Bangor, Lewiston

2. Veterans History Project- recording personal history of Veterans

3. Mealtime companions for long term care patients – During lunch and dinner all week

4. Nuclear Medicine –Office help & procedure buddies

5. 73 Patriot Place/Dialysis – 1 on 1 visitation/reading and talking with patient

6. In-Hospital Patient Transportation

7. Information Desk - Guiding patients and visitors throughout the facility (Mon, Wed, Fri)

ONGOING PROGRAM SUPPORT:

1. Comfort Item (travel and regular size toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)(no alcohol based products)

2. Diabetic snacks funds

3. Coffee & Newspaper funds – provides coffee/newspapers at waiting areas/wards/clinics

4. General Patient Comfort Fund including Memorial Donations

5. Adapted Sports Equipment/Outings – Recreation Therapy

6. National Rehabilitation Events (Golden Age Games, Winter Sports, Wheelchair Games, and Creative Arts )

SPECIAL REQUESTS/PROJECTS:

1. Unit 4 South activity sponsorship. (approx. $50 pizza party, $25 ice cream Social)

2. Televisions for patient rooms (approx. $285 ea.)

3. Organizations to sponsor entertainment on 73 Patriot Place

4. Parking Lot Shuttle Vehicle

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The Internal Revenue Service has announced that under the Tax Code, donations to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ General Post Fund for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable. The announcement reflects the tax law provision, which makes those donations deductible as “donations to the United States”. Donations to support any of the Department’s programs are deductible, whether the donor directs that the donated funds be used for a specific purpose or allows the Department to decide how the donated funds will be used. Donated funds made by check should be made out to “VAVS” and sent to the address above.

NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME! Afghans; Used Stamps; any clothing that is stained or torn; Jigsaw Puzzles; Playing Cards; Books (soft or hard cover); Magazines Over Three Months Old; Disposable Razors; Dental Floss; Soap; After-Shave; Hand Lotion; Writing Tablets; Pens; and Envelopes. Due to Infection Control policies we are unable to take used walkers, canes, or crutches at this time.

Wreaths Across America

In 2007, the Wreaths Across America project was a great success. Over 230 ceremonies were held all over the Country and wreaths were also laid at 23 off shore cemeteries. You can see some of the pictures and videos by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The organization extends its gratitude to all of those who helped us last year as we honored our veterans and their families.

Karen Worcester, Executive Director of the organization said “We have seen directly by our experiences at Arlington, how the scale of the event can dramatically impact people. Last year we placed 10,000 wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery. Over 3000 people showed up to help place those wreaths. Attendance at the other locations is estimated at over 20,000. During the week long journey from Maine to Virginia the wreath caravan encountered about 50,000 people and we were honored to share our mission with several thousand school children. Our goal is to reach out to even more people for 2008.”

On Saturday, December 31, 2008 at 12 Noon, the Wreaths Across America project will once again be honoring our nation’s veterans. The following are the locations in Maine where the wreaths will be laid.

· Maine Veterans Cemetery - Civic Ctr. Drive in Augusta

For more information on the program, or to get involved, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

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