SOUTH PORTLAND — More than 250 lodge members and guests are expected to convene at the 84th annual Maine Elks Association (MEA) Convention at the Merry Manor Inn Friday through Sunday, May 3 to 5.

The festivities will begin Friday night with the presentation of individual lodge awards for various achievements, including service to youth programs, veterans, the Elks National Foundation and the MEA’s major project, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, based in Scarborough. It serves infants, children and adolescents from across the state.

On Saturday morning, delegates from the 22 Maine lodges will elect new officers for the association during the business portion of the meeting. The current state president is John Nicholson of the Millinocket Lodge, and this year’s president-elect is Dwayne Guy of the Rockland Lodge.

On Saturday night, the Youth Scholarship winners, Americanism Essay Contest winners and Drug Awareness Contest winners will be honored and this year’s contribution to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program will be announced.

There are approximately 11,000 Elks Lodge members in Maine. More information about the Maine Elks Association may be found by visiting www.maineelks.org.