WOONSOCKET, R.I. – The Maine Elks Association Past Exalted Rulers’ Ritual Team, led by coach Phil O’Brion of Farmington, won the Area I Interstate Relations Past Exalted Rulers’ Ritual Contest. This year the Maine team dominated the contest by winning not only the team competition, but taking several individual titles as well.

The Area I contest was held on April 27 at the Woonsocket Elks Lodge. It included six teams from New England and New York. The contest purpose is to promote exellence in the performance of the initiatory ritual of the Elks and to foster better relations between state Elks associations.

The contest, open only to past exalted rulers, is particularly difficult, as each state typically sends only their best ritualists to the competition to compete for the title. Seven judges evaluate each team’s performance based on the following: impressiveness, pronounciation, word accuracy, movement (deportment) and appearance.

Earning recognition as Area I Past Exalted Ruler Champions are: Exalted Ruler:John Hill Jr., Biddeford-Saco; Leading Knight Roger Normandeau, Sanford; Loyal Knight David Strand, Bath; Lecturing Knight Joe Marquis, Bath; esquire, Rick Williams, Biddeford-Saco; Chaplain Wayne Cotterly, Lewiston; Inner Guard Floyd Howes, Biddeford-Saco; candidate, Gail Howes, Biddeford-Saco; and best coach, Phil O’Brion, Farmington. Also contributing to the team’s win were assistant coaches Harry Desjardins, Biddeford-Saco, and Bruce Brunelle, Sanford.

Individual titles were awarded to John Hill Jr., performing as exalted ruler; Roger Normandeau, leading knight; Joe Marquis, lecturing knight; Rick Williams, esquire; Floyd Howes, inner guard; and Gail Howes, candidate.