Grand Exalted Ruler to Visit Maine 

On November 8, 2009, the Grand Exalted Ruler, James L. Nichelson and First Lady Mary Carolyn will arrive in Bangor for a visit to the State of Maine.

During his four day visit, the GER and First Lady will be touring Central and Northern Maine.

On Monday, November 9, 2009, the GER and First Lady will be taken on a tour of Acadia National Park. Following the tour, they will visit the Ellsworth Elks Lodge #2743 where a luncheon will be held, affording members with an opportunity to meet with the national president of the Elks. Please make reservations to attend by contacting Exalted Ruler Scott Butters at P.O. Box 85, 317 High Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605-0085; (207) 667-3073

If members cannnot attend the luncheon, a Banquet will be held in their honor at the Bangor Elks Lodge #244 on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.  The banquet will begin with a social hour beginning at 6 PM, followed by Dinner at 7 PM, and the Program at 8 PM. Dress for the banquet will be Buisness Suits or Sport Coats and ties for men, and appropriate dress for the season for the ladies.

At the banquet, all Lodges traditionally have presented the Grand Exalted Ruler and First Lady with a gift. Gifts should be presented by each Exalted Ruler or their designate if necessary. Make sure you have a 3x5 card containing the Lodge Name and Number, presenters name and title, and gift presented. It will be the Lodge's responsibility for mailing the gift after presenting it to the Grand Exalted Ruler.

State Pin Program Request 
From Greg Sirpis, MEA Lodge Activities Committee 

Dear Lodge Secretary & Exalted Ruler;
 
At today's MEA State meeting, I made a proposal for a MEA fund raiser at the National Convention that involves each lodge. A committee of Greg Sirpis from Portland Lodge #188 and Tom Chase from Wells Lodge #2738 was established to explore the possibility and interest of each lodge; I have enclosed the proposal below:
 
Lodge Activities Committee Proposal
 
I would like to propose that the Maine Elks Association consider a lodge pin program similar to that of the Alaska Elks Association that is conducted every year at the National Convention.

The Alaska Elks program has become very popular each year, by simply producing a unique set of pins (one from each lodge), they have turned this small cost (by each lodge), into a huge fund raising opportunity for the Association. They tempt visiting Elks by serving appetizers (local fare i.e. crab), and producing a limited number of pins to make them rare and difficult to get.

This organized event is not an expense... it is an investment. It has given them the opportunity raise funds through many different ways in front of a national audience. Because of their unique location and the mystique of their state, this program is very popular and successful. I believe this is a missed opportunity for us if we don't attempt to duplicate it.

We have the same mystique and local fare to be as successful as Alaska as evidenced by the popularity of "The Taste Of Maine" at the conventions. The only way this will be successful is if all 22 lodges are committed and on board. Before I ask my committee to develop a plan of action, I would ask for feedback from the lodges to see if there is support for this proposal.

Please feel free to contact me, or my committee members with any questions or concerns you may have. My email address is gregsirpis@roadrunner.com

Calendar Raffle Winners for October 

Calendar Winners for October 2009 can be found here:

http://www.maineelks.org/calendarwinners.html

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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