LEWISTON – Elmer Berry, second vice president of the Maine Elks Association and chairman of the trustees and governing body of the Lewiston Lodge of Elks, and Exalted Ruler Christopher Gendron announce that the Lewiston Lodge was awarded the All-American Lodge Award, highest award given to an Elks Lodge by the National Grand Lodge.

The lodge received the award at the national convention in St. Louis, Mo.

The award is given for the most outstanding performance in Grand Lodge programs, such as Americanism, community service, drug awareness, youth programs, hoop shoot, soccer shoot and lodge activities.

Many of the programs have several categories such as community service and youth activities. A youth group is now open for ages 12 to 20.

The award was won under the leadership of Past Exalted Ruler Jackielynn Farrell, Lewiston’s first female exalted ruler, with Gendron accepting the award in the presence of approximately 12,000 members and guests from around the United States.

The new grand exalted ruler (national president) is Amos McCallum from Biddeford-Saco Lodge 1597. He is the first national president from Maine. For more information, contact the local Elks Lodge.