Biddeford-Saco News
Exalted Ruler's Message
To My Fellow Elks:
I would like to begin by con gratulating Lynn Girard on receiving the Elk of the Month award for November. As I pointed out in the December Newsletter, Lynn co-chaired our annual Craft Fair this year and solicited food items for our Thanksgiving baskets. She has also spearheaded raffles to raise money for a new popcorn machine. Great job Lynn!! I'd like to also thank everyone that bought turkeys for their children and grandchildren to enter the coloring contest.
This helped defray the cost of items we had to purchase for the baskets. The winner this year was Mia Taranko. Good job Mia. Mia and her family were treated to free pizza at our last pizza night. Grand Lodge mandates that we keep track of the number of volunteers, miles traveled, hours and monies spent for charitable purposes. The IRS is always looking at changing the Elks tax exempt status, so we must continuously keep these records to justify our status. There were 16 people that spent a total of 61 hours and drove 185 miles soliciting, purchasing and picking up food items, putting the baskets together and delivering them. Thanks everybody.
We conducted our annual Memorial Service on Sunday, December 4th. Several families were in attendance and were very appreciative. I would like to recognize and thank the Officers for conducting the service. A special thank you to Loyal Knight David Guay for organizing the service and creating and printing the programs. You did a great job. The food was prepared and served by Dick and Paulette Fontaine and Betty Cymbrack. The Lodge thanks you for all you do for us. Following the Memorial Service, we set up for the children's Christmas party.
There were 55 children in attendance plus parents and grand parents. great time. Chairperson Rita Smith and her helpers did a great job as usual. Thank you The children were treated to games, prizes, face painting, balloon art,entertainment and, of course, Santa and presents. A big THANK YOU goes out to Rita, her helpers, and the people who baked and donated food.
Another part of our Youth Activities Program, the annual Hoop Shoot, will be held at the Saco Recreation Center on January 8, 2012 from 9AM to 12 noon. Chairman Chris McCallum needs a lot of help in order for this program to be successful. He needs volunteers to register participants, scorers and ball retrievers.
Chris will be posting a sign-up sheet at the Lodge or you can call Chris at home 282- 0501 or his cell 229-2454. This is an important program as it relates to our community image as an organization that supports our community's youth. Also part of our Youth Activities Program are the Americanism Essay Contest for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders (contest theme - "Why I Am Proud To Pledge Allegiance To Our Flag") and Drug Awareness Contests: Coloring Contest for 3rd graders, Poster Contest for 4th graders and Essay Contest (contest theme - " I Choose Not To Use") for 5th graders. We were fortunate this year that Mary Sicard, a teacher at Burns School in Saco, convinced the other teachers to participate in these contests. Thank you Mary for doing this for our Lodge. The local Lodge winners will advance to the District, State and National levels as long as they keep winning.
By the time you receive this newsletter, my wife and I will be in Florida for the winter. I want to thank all of the members and their spouses for helping me with our programs and activities so far this year. I trust you will continue to support Loyal Knight John Desjardins and the Lodge for the final 3 months of the Lodge year. My wife Mary Ellen and I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We'll see you around April 1st.
Fraternally,
Harry J Desjardins
Exalted Ruler
Get your newsletter via email
Did you know that you could receive your newsletter in a timelier manner? All you have to do is give me your email address. You will still receive your paper copy thru the US mail.
If you want to get your newsletter about 2 weeks sooner, send an email to: DA47Guay@Gmail.com and I will add you to my list of Elks that get a copy of their newsletter via email. You will receive your email copy of the newsletter before the printer can print them.
New bingo chairperson needed
As of April 1 Glenn McCallum will be stepping down from his position as the Bingo Chairperson. Glenn has been the chairperson for Bingo since 1998. Therefore a new Bingo Chairperson is needed. Bingo is the major source of the income for the Lodge, so it is imperative that someone fill this vacancy.
The good thing is, if you step up now, you will have four months to learn everything that is involved with Bingo.
Annual Cribbage Tournament
It's time to sign up for the Annual Cribbage Tournament! Sign up sheet is located at the Lodge. The Tournament will begin on Monday January 9th and continue for ten weeks. Please arrive by 6:30 on the first Monday. Thereafter, playing begins at 7PM. If you have any questions, please contact Harvey Beaulieu at 282-4657.
New popcorn machine
Over time, many members have commented about the age of our popcorn machine and its reliability.
Well, Lynn Girard has taken it upon herself to raise funds for a new popcorn machine. Lynn has started a 50/50 raffle for a new popcorn machine. The winner will collect $700. Each ticket is $1, which of course means we must sell a total of 1,400 tickets before the winner is chosen. Please purchase one or more chances for this raffle so we can get a new popcorn machine as soon as possible.
Thank you, Lynn, for all your efforts.
Meat Raffles
Beginning Sunday, Jan. 29 meat raffles will be held once a month, for a total of four months on the following Sundays: Feb. 26, March 25 and April 29. This is the perfect time to start filling your freezer for those hot summer days when you don't want to cook in the kitchen.
Bulletin Board
Jan. 5: Lodge meeting, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6: Twin lobster dinner, $12
Jan. 8: MEA meeting, Portland
Jan. 9: Trustees meeting; cribbage tournament starts
Jan. 19: Lodge meeting, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20: Fried shrimp dinner, $8
Jan. 27: ER Pizza Night, $6
Jan. 29: Meat raffle
Lodge Hours
Monday - Thursday, 12 - 9 p.m. (Minimum)
Friday - Saturday, 12 p.m. - 1 a.m. (Minimum 10 p.m.)
Sunday, 12 - 8 p.m.