LEWISTON — As members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks from across the country gather in Austin, Texas from July 1-5 for the order’s 148th National Grand Lodge Convention, Kathleen Cotterly, exalted ruler/president of the Lewiston Elks 371, will represent the lodge by voting on key issues facing the order and electing its new national leaders. She will be accompanied by her husband Wayne, who served as the lodge’s secretary, and served as state president of the Maine Elks Association this past year.

In addition to helping set the course of the BPO Elks in the coming year, Cotterly will also learn the national results of each of the order’s many programs, and to take part in the many sessions that allow the Elks to learn how to improve their service to the community. One of those includes a program on the Elks Community Investment Program, which allows lodges to apply for grants that help the community.

The Lewiston lodge recently applied for and received a $2,000 dollar grant which will be used to replace a flag pole at the Lewiston Armory. An application for another grant has been completed, and the lodge is awaiting a response from the Elks National Foundation later this year. This grant will be used to help fund a training weekend for area Civilian Emergency Response Team members.

Last year, the 900,000 members of the Elks made charitable contributions totaling more than $349.5 million (cash and in-kind donations), which went to support scholarships, education programs, aid to the nation’s veterans, youth athletics and the Elks State Associations’ major projects, which provide funding for everything from cancer treatment and research to shelters for victims of domestic violence. For more information, visit elks.org or call the lodge at 784-4801.

Copy the Story Link