Greetings to the members of the Maine Elks Association:
I am proud to be your State President and prepared to lead us on
our continued path of good works. As I said in my speech during installation,“
democracy is based on the thought that there are great possibilities in everyday
people. The Maine Elks are a group of everyday people doing great things. We do
the things that most think cannot be done.”
The Maine Elks Association will be the strongest when every
member feels a part. Unity means strength, a Maine Elk should have their feet
planted in their lodge but their eyes should survey the entire Association. I
pledge my best efforts to continue the good works of the Association. We should
all proud of our past and prepared for the future of the Maine Elks Association.
Congratulations to all the newly installed officers of each
lodge. Your Exalted Ruler needs your support and confidence as you work together
for the future of your lodge.
Dottie and I look forward to a visit at each lodge throughout
the year, as well as attending as many ENF/MCCP fundraisers as possible. I am
eager to hear from each Exalted Ruler to setup a visitation date and support
your good works.
Fraternally,
Luis Morales, State
President
Bangor Elks Lodge #244 Zachary A. Growe
Bath Elks Lodge #934 Heather S. Gray
BPOE/Basketball Hall of Fame Partnership Announced
Recently, Area 1 GL Hoop Shoot Committeeman and Hoop Shoot
Hall of Fame Fund Chairman, Walter Kettelle, announced that the Benevolent &
Protective Order of Elks has formed a partnership with the Naismith Basketball
Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA, to house the Elks "Hoop Shoot" Exhibit. Key
elements will include the Elks "Hoop Shoot" Exhibit on Center Court (pictures of
national champs with name of home town, Lodge, etc.), a Recognition Plaque in
the New Hall of Fame; recognition of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks on the Donor Wall of Fame; an inspirational Kiosk
(information about the Hoop Shoot Program); recognition on the electronic
Message Board (names of national champions) and Basketball Hall of Fame Website.
Kettelle stated that "This partnership will create a strong and permanent
bond between the Elks and the Basketball Hall of Fame by positioning the BPOE
with the "Best of the Best" in the game of basketball, and by providing a
permanent home for the Elks National Hoop Shoot program, and its champions for
all to enjoy." The Basketball Hall of Fame currently has 400,000
visitors annually.
To
complete this project, a major fundraiser is underway to raise $200,000, Anyone
interested in contributing to this project is asked to make checks out to "Hoop
Shoot Hall of Fame Fund" and mail it to 2750 N. Lakeview Ave, Chicago, IL
60614-1889.
Cam
Cronk, National Hoop Shoot Director has submitted the following proposed
fundraising plan:
PROPOSED FUND RAISING
PLAN
- State Association
Challenge
Asking each State Association
to raise a minimum of $500.00.
- National Director’s
Challenge
Asking these directors to
raise a minimum of the following:
|
National Director
|
$1000.00
|
|
Regional Directors
|
$250.00
|
|
State Directors
|
$100.00
|
|
District Directors
|
$50.00
|
|
Local Directors
|
$25.00
|
- Commemorative Pin
Sales
Pins will sell for $10.00
each and will be available at the National Convention and there
after.
- Membership
Donations
Contributions from interested
members and others
MONEY IS TO BE RAISED BY JANUARY 1,
2005
Donor Recognition:
- All donors will be listed on the “Hoop
Shoot”® web site
- Donors giving $500.00 or more will be listed in
the 2005 National Finals Program
- Donors giving $1000.00 or more will receive
complimentary tickets to the 2005
National Finals Friday night reception and tour of the Basketball Hall of
Fame
For more information on this program, contact:
Walter Kettelle,
Chairman
“Hoop Shoot”® Hall of Fame
Fund
594 Lafayette
Road
N. Kingstown, RI
02852
Phone:
401-294-4982
Fax:
401-295-7607
E-mail kettelle@juno.com
Maine Elks "Year in Review" Video Still
Available
At the MEA State Convention in Waterville, the members were given the
opportunity to preview the Maine Elks Association "Year in Review" Video, a
project of the Maine Elks Public Relations Committee. The video is approximately
1 hour 25 minutes in length, and is available in either DVD-R format or VHS
Tape. The cost is a $10 each, with the proceeds to help defray the expense of
the Public Relations Program.
The video covers highlights of the 75th Anniversary of the Maine Elks
Association. It features State Association Events and Lodge Activities,
beginning with the installation of officers in 2003, and culminating with the
MEA State Convention in Waterville. The following is included on the video:
- Welcome (including a message from Grand Exalted Ruler Amos McCallum)
- Maine Elks Year in Review
- Grand Lodge Convention & GER Amos McCallum
- Grand Lodge Convention - Demonstration
- Grand Lodge Convention - MEA Members & Friends
- MEA Youthfest 2003
- MCCP Golf Tournament-Sanford
- Miss Ugly Contest- Augusta
- MEA State Soccer Shoot
- GER Visit to Maine
- MEA State Hoop Shoot
- Tribute to MEA State President James Ferland
- MCCP "Thank God for Kids"
These videos will only be available for a limited time, so if you are
interested, contact MEA Public Relations Director Wayne Cotterly at
cotterly@pivot.net for an order form. If
you place an order, you will have the option of picking it up at the MEA State
Meeting in August, or having it mailed to you for a $5.00 shipping and handling
fee.
This video makes a great keepsake of the year when the Maine Elks
Association celebrated to special events...It's 75th Anniversary Year and for
the first time, a Grand Exalted Ruler coming from our State. Don't let this
offer pass you by, order your Maine Elks "Year in Review" Video today.
An Anniversary to Remember: ENF Goals Surpassed and
New Records Established
CHICAGO, Illinois--The 75th Anniversary year of the Elks National
Foundation (ENF) has ended, but its accomplishments have launched a new era of
giving. The ENF closed the 2003-2004 fiscal year with a per capita of $5.11, a
new record that toppled last year's record of $4.744. Donations for the year
totaled $5,360,721.19 with more than 20% of those donations submitted in March,
the ENF's most successful month in at least nine years.
Each state's commitment to supporting the Foundation allowed for the
momentous close to an extraordinary year. The Elks of Maine contributed $11.215
per member. A total of 20 Lodge's in the state met or exceeded the goal of $3.75
per capita, with 11.09% of members from Maine donating.
Other ENF achievements include raising $179,728.80 through the Leadership
Challenge. The goal was to raise $75,000 and establish a 75 percent rate of
participation. While the participation numbers fell a little short, the total
amount of donations significantly transcended expectations. The Leadership
Challenge began last year to encourage ENF district, state, and lodge volunteers
to lead by example by making a gift to the Foundation.
Urging Elks to continue their generous support of the Foundation, the GER
has set the 2004-2005 per-capita goal at $3.85. Reaching and surpassing the goal
again next year is not only obtainable, but also necessary for the Foundation to
move forward with new programs.
The ENF's current programs, including its Scholarship Programs, Hoop Shoot
and Drug Awareness, are thriving, with distributions amounting to more than $13
million this year. Without increasing contributions, however, new objectives
will never be realized. The Foundation has already established a task force
to develop the community grant program, a project that will allow Lodges to
request funds to benefit their communities.
Exceeding $5 per member once seemed impossible, but the past year proves
that the Great Heart of Elkdom is beating strong. With dedicated members
committed to helping Elks build stronger communities, 2004-2005 will undoubtedly
be another notable year.
Robert "Bob" Godin Appointed MCCP Private Sector
Chairman
SKOWHEGAN - Robert T. Godin of the Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge has been
appointed chairman of the Maine Elks Association's (MEA) Maine Children's Cancer
Program Private Sector Committee. The announcement was made by MEA President
Luis Morales at the recently-completed state convention at the Waterville Elks
Lodge.
Godin, who just finished his term as Exalted Ruler of the Skowhegan-Madison
Elks Lodge has successfully raised over $30,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer
Program through numerous fundraisers at the Lodge. Godin's goals are to raise
more than $10,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer Program on behalf of the MEA
as well as asking each of Maine's 22 lodges to start their own private sector
committees. Plans are being discussed to run a statewide telethon on behalf of
the charity later this year. Collectively, Maine's Elks Lodges raised more than
$171,000 for the MCCP in 2003 with the Sanford Elks leading the way with over
$80,000 in contributions.
Godin said that he is very open to comments and/or suggestions, and would
like to hear from anyone who wishes to help him on this committee. He can be
contacted at 474-5121 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 858-8957
evenings or via e-mail at
bgodin@rfgh.net
From the MEA Inter-Lodge Relations
Committee
Happening's around the
State
The Sanford Elks Lodge announces that there will be a Car
Show on Sunday, June 6, 2004 at the Sanford Airport in conjunction
with the airport's annual open house. The event will feature a
fly-in of aircraft from across the region, and static displays will be available
for viewing.
The event will begin at 7 AM with registration for the Car Show, followed
by a Pancake Breakfast from 8 AM-11 AM in the big blue hanger. The Sanford Elks
will have their concession stand up and running by 11 AM for burgers, fries,
cold drinks, etc. At 12 Noon, a special skydiving event will take place,
performed by Skydive New England. At approximately 1:30 PM, awards will be
presented for the Car Show.
This event is scheduled to be held either rain or shine. For more
information contact Steve Horne at 324-2960 for more information.
--------------------------------------------------
On May 21 the Lewiston Elks Lodge will be holding a Skit
Night and Dinner beginning at 7 PM at the Lodge. The cost will be $10 per
person, which will include an Italian dinner and the show. This year promises to
be funnier than ever with all new acts and stars. For more information, or for
tickets, contact the Lewiston Elks Lodge at 784-4801.
--------------------------------------------------
On July 24, 2004, the "Owie Box" Bike Run will be held to raise money for
the "Owie Box" program of the Maine Children's Cancer Program. The bike run will
start at 9 AM from the Rockland Elks Lodge, then proceed to the
Augusta Elks Lodge, leaving there at 10:30 AM, followed by the
Lewiston Elks Lodge, departing there at 12 Noon, continuing on
to Portland Elks Lodge, before finally moving on to the Maine
Children's Cancer Program in Scarborough for a cookout at 1:30 PM. Riders will
be getting Pledges for "Owie Box" purchases. The "Owie Box" is a box full
of toys. Children in the cancer program get to choose one toy from the box
whenever they undergo a painful procedure. For more information on this event,
contact Skip Gay of the Augusta Elks Lodge at 445-2064 or Dwayne Guy of the
Rockland Elks Lodge at 594-7225
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The Farmington Elks Lodge and the United Bikers of
Franklin County will be holding a Family Fun Day at the Farmington Fairgrounds
on July 24, 2004. Activities will include: Lawn Mower Racing, Bike Show, Antique
and Street Rod Car Show, Horseshoe Tournament, Motorcycle Games, plus many games
for the kids and a bounce house. There will also be a Chicken BBQ from 4 PM to 6
PM for $5.00 per person with Children under 5 Free. A dance will be held in the
Car Barn from 6 PM to 10 PM, with music provided by the band "Mistaa'rif" (must
be 21)
The Gate fee will be $5.00 per person, and the Entry Fee for the Lawn Mower
Racing will be $10.00. Ages 16 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Tent sites are also available for Saturday evening for $20 each. Fee includes
two adults and two children under seventeen, and there will be a $5.00
additional charge for each extra adult. For more information, would like to
enter the Lawn Mower Racing event, or reserve a camping spot, please contact Jon
at 645-2825, Ed at 778-9837, or Butch at 562-9017.
-------------------------------------------------
If your Lodge has an event that would like to have members from
other Lodge's attend, please sent this information to MEA Inter-Lodge Relations
Director Wayne Cotterly at cotterly@pivot.net