House & Senate Flag Amendments - Show Your Support
By James E. Desmarais PSP PDD, Grand Lodge Americanism Committee Area 1

Please see below the email I received from the Citizens Flag Alliance. It is extremely important that we get this information out to all Elks, their families and friends and urge them to contact their Representatives and Senators we could get this amendment passed.

Make contact with these individuals and thank them if they are cosponsors of the bill and write to those who are not on the bill and ask them to support it.

Call, write and be polite and express our support to protect our Flag.

Courtesy of the Citizens Flag Alliance

 

With the recent introductions of flag amendments in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate, the cosponsor list grows. House Joint [H.J.] Resolution 47, introduced in late April by Representatives Jo Ann Emerson [R-MO] and Jim Marshall [D-GA] enjoys co- sponsorship from 59 members of the House. Senate Joint [S.J.] Resolution 15, introduced in early May by Senator David Vitter [R-LA] has 25 cosponsors.

 

More than 200 Representatives have indicated support for the House amendment, and more than 50 Senators have indicated support there.

 

The language of the amendments is identical: “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” Adoption of an amendment requires a two-thirds affirmative vote from the House [290 ayes] as well as from the Senate [67 ayes]. Adoption of the amendment, making it part of the US Constitution, then requires ratification by three-fourths [38] of the states.

 

The lists below are of current cosponsors. If your Senators’ or Representative’s names are not shown, contact them and encourage them to get in touch with Sen. Vitter or Rep. Emerson, respectively, to become an official cosponsor of S.J. Res. 15 or H.J. Res 47.

You can reach any of your congressional delegation here.

Grand Lodge Honors CEA Americanism Committee for Patriotic Programs
By David J. Acanfora PDD, Americanism Chairperson

The Connecticut Elks Association has been awarded First Place, Division II, in The State Association Americanism Contest, 2008 – 2009. This marks the fourth consecutive year that our state has been honored with this prestigious award.

 

Special thanks are extended to the following lodges that contributed in helping our state association achieve this honorable patriotic recognition: Bridgeport No. 36, Milford No. 1589, Wallingford No. 1365, Windsor No. 2060, Hamden No. 2224, Wethersfield/Rocky Hill No. 2308, New Haven No. 25, Danbury No. 120, Stamford No. 899, Willimantic No. 1311, Danielson No. 1706, Manchester No. 1893, Groton No. 2163, Waterbury No. 265, Naugatuck No. 967, and Southington No. 1669.

Click on the image for a larger version of the award.

Let’s keep up the good work and concentrate our effort into extending this positive streak another year or…….more!

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to promoting patriotism throughout the great state of Connecticut.

Grand Lodge Americanism Contest Winners
By David Acanfora PDD, State Americanism Chairman

Congratulations to Danbury Lodge No. 120 and Stamford Lodge No. 899 for winning third place honors in the Grand Lodge Americanism Brochure Contest. This contest is an easy and fun program offered by our order that gives each lodge the opportunity to showcase in a yearbook type format, the patriotic events conducted in their respective community during the year. Nice job Danbury and Stamford!

Bridgeport Lodge No. 36 Recipient of the 2008-09 Patriot Trophy Award
By David Acanfora PDD, Americanism Chairman

 “The Patriot Trophy is awarded to the lodge that best exhibits the patriotic spirit within their respective community.”

Bridgeport Lodge supports little league, veterans, firefighters, and police officers. They have volunteered services and donated funds to various citizen projects within their lodge district. Bridgeport assists students by providing support for events that benefit the education process.

 

Through a Grand Lodge Impact Grant, Bridgeport Elks serve a bountiful dinner to homeless veterans once a month, throughout the year. They are on a constant mission to provide help to those in need while spreading the word that “Elks Care, Elks Share”. They participate in the Grand Lodge Americanism Essay Contest and Americanism Brochure Contest. The members of Bridgeport Lodge No. 36 proudly spread the patriotic spirit throughout their community by these actions and many more. Therefore, the Patriot Trophy is awarded to Bridgeport Elks Lodge No. 36 for lodge year 2008-09.  

Connecticut Elks Association Americanism Essay Contest Winners 2008-09

Division -1 (Grade 5 + 6)

1st Place: Joseph, I. - Willimantic Lodge No. 1311

2^nd Place: Gina, W. – Waterbury Lodge No. 265

3^rd Place:  Nicholas, B – Milford Lodge No. 1589

Honorable Mention:

Jaclyn, C. –Danielson Lodge No. 1706

Luke, Z. –Milford Lodge No. 1589

Margaret, L. –Milford Lodge No. 1589

Division – 2 (Grade 7+8)

1^st Place: Megan, T. –Danbury Lodge No. 120

2^nd Place: Kaitlin, S. –Naugatuck Lodge No. 967

3^rd Place: Jordan, B. –Danielson Lodge No. 1706

Honorable Mention:

Konstantinos, F. –Danbury Lodge No. 120

Corey, O. –Waterbury Lodge No. 265

Umar, S. –Hamden Lodge No. 2224

*** 1^st Place winner of each division has been forwarded to the Grand Lodge essay contest for national competition. Contest winner announced in June.

Connecticut Elks Association

Americanism Brochure Contest Results 2008-09

First Place: Bridgeport Lodge No. 36

Second Place: Hamden Lodge No. 2224

Third Place: Danbury Lodge No. 120

To download the Grand Lodge Americanism Committee Manual click here: