Exalted Ruler Linda Douglas presiding.
MESSAGE FROM THE EXALTED RULER ELECT

Dear Members,
By the time you read this, Spring should have sprung. Days are getting longer, lawns greener, and the heart of Elkdom should be getting stronger. There are many things that are going on this year in Elkdom that you should think about and feel free to participate in. The more people get involved in all activities of the Elks (our lode as well as state and other lodges’ activities) the more we will get out of our membership We are setting up a homepage now for Leominster Elks (Leominster Elks.com) and are putting our bulletin as well as calendar on it. This will be updated once a month! If you want to be involved—let an officer know.

Our lodge is only as good as its members—watch for activities; be involved!! Have a wonderful Spring—hope to see you around the lodge. Fraternally yours, Linda Douglas, ER ELK AWARDS2008-2009 On Wednesday, April 1, 2009, I had the honor of presenting the following awards for the year 2009-2010. Elbert Burdett was given the Elk of the Year award.Linda Douglas was chosen as Officer of the Year.Benjamin Parker, P.E.R. and Charles Milhans, P.E.R. were both given Commendation Awards for all they did for the sprinkler system and membership.I also had the pleasure of presenting Ginny White of Ginny’s Thrift Store the Elks Citizen of the Year award for all that she does for our community.

Again, I would like to thank all the members who helped on committees and who supported me this past year. Thank you. Gail Creed, P.E.R. LAST CALLCELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS I would like to thank everyone who donated their old cell phones for soldiers. As of Feb. 8, 2009, over 1,200 cell phones have been collected from Elks throughout the state of Massachusetts. Thank you for all your support.If anyone else has cell phones they would like to donate, the final deadline is May 3, 2009 at the May District Meeting. Please leave cell phones in the box in the Members’ Lounge. Elks Care – Elks Share! HAVE YOU MARKED YOUR CALENDAR??

Attention all golfers and want to be's: On Saturday August 22nd we will be holding our 9th annual Leominster Elks Scholarship Golf Tournament. ?Once again it will be held at Monoosnock Golf Club in Leominster.?Once again the price is ONLY $95.00 per person. If you have seen the prices for other golf events you know that this is a real bargain.
So, get your 4 person team together for a day of fun and laughs. Remember the cost includes golf, cart, raffle and a fine meal following the event.?Remember, this event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC not just members of the Elks.This is an early reminder of this event and there will be a sign up sheet for workers as well as players in the near future.If you have any questions please call Brent at 978-534-8737 ANNUAL FISHING TRIPThe annual fishing trip will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009 with the time TBA. We will be sailing out of Gloucester, MA. The cost is $68.00 per person ($30.00 due by April 1st) and we will car pool toGloucester. If you have any questions, call Bill Buchanan at 978-537-0909. MOTHERS’ DAY SERVICE Our Mothers’ Day Service will be held on Sunday, May 10 at the Lodge.

Collation at 9:00 a.m. and the service will start at 10:00 a.m. Reminder to officers: This is a tuxedo event. MA ELKS LICENSE PLATES Applications for MA Elks License Plates are posted in the Members’ Lounge. Anyone wishing to request a license plate should fill out an application, write a check for $40.00 payable to the Mass Elks Assn. and mail the order form and check to: Mass. Elks Scholarships, Inc. 63 Bay State Road, Lynnfield, MA 01940. MA ELKS SPRING CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT Congratulations to Ben Parker and Fred Lane for coming in fourth in the Elks Cribbage Tournament held in Auburn on April 19, 2009. There were six teams from Leominster and fun was had by all.The next Cribbage Tournament will be held in the fall in Weymouth. If you are interested in participating, please see Linda Douglas for an application. 2009 MA ELKS CHARITY FUND DRIVE “Elk’s Care – Elk’s Share” Elk’s Care about the less fortunate and Elk’s Share the fruits of their success with others. How do we do this? We do this by supporting all Elk’s sponsored charities, in addition to our own in-house charitable raffles and programs. Time is running out to purchase and turn in the raffle books that you received in the mail.

Today, at every turn, someone is asking for donations, buying tickets for a specific fundraiser or purchasing tickets to a fundraising event. All worthy causes. Your purchase of a raffle book will support the many charities and programs that your lodge sponsors. This is the only State Association Raffle. Please support it. If you have misplaced your raffle book, see your lodge chairperson or secretary for another book. Raffle winners will be drawn at the State Convention on June 13, 2009.

MA ELKS ASSOC. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS May 3, 2009 MA Elks Association 4th Regional Meeting Norwood Lodge #1124 May 23, 2009 MA Elks At Suffolk Downs12:00 Noon May 30, 2009 MA Elks State President's Testimonial 6:00Lombardo's, Randolph, MA June 12-14 MA Elks Association Annual 2009 State ConventionSeaCrest, Falmouth, MA June 20, 2009 MA Elks Association Elk on the Trail, Florida, MA June 24, 2009 MA Elks Annual Senior's Golf Tournament SPRING RAFFLE The spring raffle for the lodge has started.

If you are interested in selling tickets or buying some, please see Bob Creed. Tickets are also available in the Members’ Lounge. Tickets are only $2 each, please support this endeavor and buy some tickets today! The drawing is scheduled for May 29. SIX LODGE RAFFLE FOR VETERANS Raffle tickets are available to benefit the Steamship Round Dinner held at the Northhampton Lodge for the veterans. Tickets are available from Cathy Michaels or Burt and Bertha Burdett.