Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -07/26/07

Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs

Owie Box Run Breaks another Record; Raises over $25,000 Dollars

The Maine Elks Association held its 5^th annual “Owie Box” Motorcycle event on July 21^st, attracting 126 motorcycle enthusiasts, who raised a total of $25,450 dollars for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and its "Owie Box” program. The "Owie Box Program" provides toys for children who have undergone a painful procedure to treat their cancer.

The ride began at the Augusta Elks Lodge at 9 AM, and followed a route that took the riders through the scenic parts of Central and Coastal Maine. The riders first stopped at the Rockland Elks Lodge, where the riders were provided with a snack before heading off to their next stop at the Waterville Elks Lodge for another snack, for their return to the Augusta Elks Lodge. Prize drawings were also held at each of the Lodges. Riding along with the group in support of the fundraiser were three Police Officers, from Rockland, Rumford, and Falmouth who provided a police escort throughout the event.

Upon returning to the Augusta Elks Lodge around 5 PM, the riders were to a barbeque dinner. Following dinner, the event concluded with a check presentation by Event Coordinator Skip Gay (Augusta Elks) and Maine Elks State President Bruce Brunelle (Sanford Elks) to representatives of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

The event began five years ago, with a modest group of 13 riders, who raised a total of $600 for the program, and over its five year history has raised approximately $75,000 dollars. Another ride is being planned for next year, with the hope of having even more participation and raising more money for children with cancer.  

Over the past 23 years, the Maine Elks Association has been a major supporter of the Maine Children's Cancer Program, donating over $2,000,000 during that time, including a donation of $188,082 to the program in May. Because of the Maine Elks generosity, MCCP has been able to grow from a small general practice serving only 25-30 patients per year to over 70 patients per year. In addition, MCCP provides new programs such as a post therapy wellness clinic, neurooncology clinic, hemophilia clinic, and the stem cell transplant program.

Pictured above are from left to right: MCCP Development Director James Bouchard, Owie Box Coordinator Reginald “Skip” Gay, MCCP Board Member Andrew Brenner, MEA State President Bruce Brunelle, and MCCP Development Coordinator Carol Cooper.

Grand Lodge Acquires Yuma Secretary Software; To Develop Own Program

At the Grand Lodge session in Charlotte, North Carolina, YumaSoftware donated all of the programs and technology of Yuma 6.0 to the Grand Lodge. With this new technology, Grand Lodge will develop their own program into which data from the Lodges can only be sent through Yuma 6.0. The Grand Lodge will not convert data from other programs. YumaSoftware has agreed to assist the Grand Lodge by converting databases from other programs to Yuma 6.0. to aid in this conversion program, YumaSoftware is offering a greatly reduced price structure as shown below:

Yuma 6.0 Prices effective July 23, 2007

All prices include all necessary conversions costs and S/H  

Note 1

Lodges upgrading from a previous version of Yuma, will not have a queue and Yuma6 will be sent by return mail. Lodges that have no computer program for membership tracking, newly instituted Lodges, and Lodges with less than 100 members will be priced the same as a Yuma6 upgrade. This group will enter all membership data or may order a file from GL that contains member number, name and address.

Note 2

Lodges that have a country club type program or “Manny Garcia Program” will be priced after examination of the program and

DUE TO THE VOLUME ANTICIPATED FROM JULY 23, 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007 THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR CONVERSIONS TO YUMA 6 FROM A NON-YUMA PROGRAM, UNLESS CHANGED MUTUALLY BY GRAND LODGE AND Yuma Software.

1.       A queue will be established and followed.

2.       To be entered in the queue, we must receive by mail the proper order form filled out and signed by either the Exalted Ruler or Lodge Secretary accompanied by a check for the amount shown above.

3.       No data will be required until you are notified that your turn in queue is in the next category.

4.        Once we have notified you to send data, any new data that you enter into your exiting program will not be in your new Yuma 6.0 program.

5.        When the conversion is completed, you will receive, by Priority Mail, a CDROM with installation instructions.

6.        Yuma Software will supply help until Grand Lodge begins support.

2007 GRAND LODGE CONVENTION FINAL RESOLUTIONS RESULTS:

There were 13 propositions in short form that were voted on at this past convention and the results are as follows:.

RESOLUTION 2007-1 was to establish a corporation for the National Home This Passed.

Passed; 2311 yes / 519 no

RESOLUTION 2007-2 was to allow an assessment of $1/member to fund the Home. Since one was a Constitution change and it did not get 2/3 vote, it failed.

Failed because required 2/3 majority; 1809 yes / 519 no

RESOLUTIONS 2007-3 to 6 dealt with reducing the age from 21 to 18 for membership. They were soundly defeated.

RESOLUTION 2007-3: Failed; 501 yes / 2329 no

RESOLUTION 2007-4: Failed; 511 yes / 2322 no

RESOLUTION 2007-5: Failed; 559 yes / 2272 no

RESOLUTION 2007-6: Failed; 573 yes / 2253 no

RESOLUTION 2007-7added Section 4.321 to the Statutes: "The National Anthem of the U. S. A. also known as the "Star Spangled Banner" is to be sung only with lyrics by Francis Scott Key and with melody adopted by Congress of the U. S. A. in the year 1931 in no language other than "English" and with no variations to the melody." This passed.
Passed; 2627 yes / 204 no

RESOLUTION 2007-8 added some language to Section 12.130. Basically, this section allows a lodge by majority vote to remove an officer for failure to learn the part in 30 days. The addition makes it a requirement that all members be notified of the vote in advance and that this vote will be at a formal hearing. Also changed to 2/3 vote. This passed.

Passed; 2090 yes / 740 no

RESOLUTION 2007-9, would have allowed a degree team to do the Ritual for the DD if the bylaws were changed to allow this. This failed.

Failed; 1337 yes / 1494 no

RESOLUTION 2007-10 modified 12.130 to allow a lodge to have a degree team for Initiation if the bylaws so provide. Officers can be a part of this team. This had a majority vote. The Judiciary never said pass or fail at the session when going over the results, but it should have resulted in a pass. With this, a lodge could have a degree team for all initiations EXCEPT DD night.

Passed; 1442 yes / 1386 no

(This gives the Lodges the right to form a degree team if they modify their by-laws to permit same. The other resolution that would have allowed the degree team to perform at the DD Visit was not passed, so, the Elected Lodge Officers still must perform the initiatory ritual from memory for the DD Visit. Also the degree team will not be permitted to perform in the ritual competition)

RESOLUTION 2007-11 clarified the GER's authority to suspend an officers club privileges and/or his eligibility to hold office. This can be for up to 3 years, Passed.

Passed; 2440 yes / 383 no

RESOLUTION 2007-12 just established a permanent depository for records of the Board of Pardon Commissioners. Pass.
Passed; 2625 yes / 188 no

RESOLUTION 2007-13 changed section 14.180 from 60 days to 2 months for a lodge to offer a reduced reinstatement fee.
Passed; 2514 yes / 295 no

Elks National Veterans Service Commission Director Passes Away
From Grand Secretary, Jack Jensen

It is my sad duty to inform you Mike Manning passed away last night (July 22, 2007) after being in hospice for a week.  He never fully recovered from his coronary by-pass surgery of February 2006.

As most of you know, Mike was an avid Elk who lived and loved the Elks principals of Charity, Justice, Fidelity and Brotherly Love.  He will long be remembered for his untiring devotion to both the Elks and to veterans all across the country.

Mike formed many friendships over the years and his passing will no doubt leave an ache in our hearts that will take some time to heal.

Visitation:    Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24 and 25, 2007
                   Drake & Son Funeral Home
                   5303 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL
                   (773) 561-6874

Funeral:      Thursday, July 26, 2007
                   10:00 a.m. Mass
                   St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church
                   5545 N. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL   

Condolences can be sent to his family in care of Loretta Martinez in this office.  Memorial donations may be made to the Elks National Veterans Service Commission or the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation.

Current-Year Lodge Per-Capita Donations
Lodge year through: 07/10/2007
(Per-capita based on 4/1/2007 membership totals.) Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Sanford Elks Ritual Team Returns From Charlotte
From Carol Spellman, Sanford Elks Public Relations



The Sanford Ritual Team returned from Convention in Charlotte North Carolina in 9th place in the East out of 22 teams. Competition and scoring was very close as usual and the team did an awesome job! Once again we were very proud to represent Maine in the competition. Individually we had members of the team come in very close, on the heels of the "All American" winners. The team is always proud and wants to thank our coach, Frank "Dad" Ricker for his patience and guidance. He always has his work cut out for him with this crew!!! Also thanks to co-coaches Bruce Brunelle and Roger Normandeau for their time and input.

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