Houlton Elks Hold Soccer Shoot 

On Sunday, September 20, 2009, the Houlton Elks Lodge #835 held its annual soccer shoot. The photo above depicts the winners and runner up's for 2009.
 
Pictured above are: Left to right Front row: Dillon S. Winner Boys age 7 and under, Abigail W. Winner Girls age 7 and under, Cole W. Winner Boys age 8-9, Hunter S. Runner-up Boys 7 and under, Samantha C. Runner-up Girls 7 and under, Cody S. Runner-up Boys 8-9.
 
Left to Right Back Row: Brad Butler Exalted Ruler Houlton Lodge of Elks, Kelsey S. Runner-up Girls 8-9, Mariah O. Runner-up Girls 10-11, Kolleen B. Winner Girls 8-9, Hunter M. Winner Boys 10-11, Kyle B. Runner-up Boys 12-13, Jacob C. Winner Boys 12-13, Devan D. Runner-up Boys 10-11, Emily M. Winner Girls 12-13, Kaitlin C. Winner Girls 10-11, Tim Tweedy. Houlton Elks Soccer Shoot Chairman

The American Dream; What is it? 
By James E. Desmarais, GL Americanism Committee

The Grand Lodge Americanism Committee completed a very successful Essay Contest at the July Convention in Portland. There was great participation with 100 percent of the states taking part. Thank you for your efforts. Lodges that did not participate last year, please consider doing so this year.
It's that time again to get your action plan in place and implement it.

This year's exciting theme is The American Dream: What Is It? This should bring many great essays. It will also tell us what students in fifth through eighth grades think about the American Dream. I can't wait to see these essays.

The Essay Contest depends on the local Lodges to get out the information to local schools, Boy and Girl Scout Troops and YMCA's. Place posters in any public place that will let you. Give yourselves time to judge each essay, forward the top three of each division to your District Chairman for further judging by January 30, 2010, or the date established by the District Chair.
Please don't forget to recognize all participants in your local program.

The top three essays in each division will be sent to the State Americanism Chairman for judging by February 28th, 2010. Once the state judging is complete, please send the top state winners in each division to me, the GL Essay Contest Administrator. I look forward to reading these essays. I am sure they will be great.

All the detailed information to run a successful Essay Contest can be found in the Americanism Manual or at www.elks.org/americanism.

The Americanism Committee looks to you to make our program bigger and better than ever. Without your help our program will not grow.

Thank you in advance for your help in making this year's The American Dream: What Is It? Essay Contest an overwhelming success. 

New Drug Awareness Video

The Elks National Drug Awareness Committee and the Elks National Foundation have teamed up with well known motivational speaker Milton Creagh to produce a Drug Awareness music video that uses a mixture of hip hop and rock to get the message across about the dangers of drug use. The video shows Creagh as the personification of "Dope."

To check it out, visit the Maine Elks Drug Awareness Committee page.

Need a Manual? 

Have you been appointed the Chairman of a Committee, but are not sure where to begin? Well, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks has just the thing for a new Committee Member or Chairman. In fact, veteran committee members might do well to look at their committee's manual refresh their memories, and to obtain some new ideas for their committee.

On Elks.org, you can download a PDF files of manuals for different committees. To do this, just sign in at Elks.org and click here: http://www.elks.org/grandlodge/manuals/

If you've ever run into the problem of the manuals being locked up in the Secretary's office, or you were at home when you needed an answer quickly, the downloadable manuals are just the thing.

This can also be a benefit to your Lodge financially, as the manuals can be distributed at no cost via e-mail. Check it out!

Take the Drug Awareness Quiz

Think you know about the drugs our kids are using today? Well challenge yourself and take the Drug Education Quiz on the Grand Lodge Website: The quiz can be found by clicking on the button at the top right of this page http://www.elks.org/dap/

You may be surprised at what you learn. (You do not need to sign in for this link)

Time to Focus on Topping ENF $4.50 Goal 
From Grand Exalted Ruler, James L. Nichelson

October is Elks National Foundation Month. This is the time to schedule an ENF fundraising event and to focus attention on ENF in your Lodge Bulletin. This month is also a good time to make some long range plans for ENF giving in your Lodge.
My goal for ENF donations this year is $4.50 per Member. Goals are made to be surpassed, and I certainly hope you surpass this one.

In 2009-2010 ENF will expend $3.6 million for scholarships, $1.375 million directly to Lodges for Promise, Gratitude and Impact Grants, $6.9 million to State Major Projects, $737,000 for Hoop Shoot, $848,000 for Veterans Service and $689,000 for the Drug Awareness Program. These are $17.6 million reasons to support the Elks National Foundation!

Exalted Rulers, please make sure your Lodges apply for Promise and Gratitude Grants of $500 each. Impact Grants are available for larger projects, with as much as $10,000 available. Applications are user-friendly, and the grants fund projects in your hometown while generating good public relations for your Lodge.

The Elks National Foundation proves once again that Elks Make A Difference.

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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