Lodge chairmen-  You can be ahead of the game and start contacting your schools and community groups, such as boy and girl scout troops, boy and girl clubs, church youth groups, and before and after school day care centers for example.   Additionally, use the preprinted posters in your lodge, as well as the essay information.  Pass the information out to children and grand children of your lodge members as they visit, waiting for mom and dad or grandpa and grandma to finish their meeting, or as they wait for dinner  to be served, or Santa’s arrival. This program is a huge tool in promoting drug awareness education in YOUR lodge and community.   I strongly urge you to participate in it.  I know that most of our CT Elks lodges have participated in it over the years and I thank you for doing so.  You have probably saved someone’s life!

TRAILER:  It’s HERE and it looks fabulous, better than expected!  Although it is NOT really road ready yet as what we have is just the plain trailer.  We need to have it lettered, interior shelving constructed and installed, interior painting, and a few other things.  If you would like to help out with the needed items listed above, please contact me as soon as possible.   The trailer currently is sitting in my driveway crying to go out on the road.  Email me or call me.  It’s YOUR trailer!  I already have several lodges calling to reserve it and I can’t let it go without being road ready.  We did take it to the Northwest district soccer shoot in Winsted on Saturday and folks thought we were serving food from it as there was no lettering saying what it was.  I am currently looking for someone to letter it so if you know someone, please have them call me, we am taking bids!  They can come look at the trailer any time! We had to wait for the trailer arrival  to assure proper placement as vinyl ( not interfering with the doors, seams, etc).  I am looking to get all bids in this week so that we can move forward in a timely manner.

Drug awareness pamphlet: I will also add that I will soon be mailing each lodge a new drug awareness pamphlet.  It’s hot off the press and out of  9 pictures in the publication, CT has THREE, including the entire front cover, a full page of the young man from Rockville Elks who was named the overall state poster contest winner!   As I reported, I forward pictures to Grand Lodge as I receive them.  They choose the ones they wish to print, either in the magazine, or other publications.  This flyer is awesome.   Way to go Rockville!

Elks magazine: Have you seen the Elks magazine lately?  Again CT shines with 14 articles this month alone!  Congratulations are in order for Danielson, Bristol, Southington, and Wallingford and Winsted  for your drug awareness information printed in the magazine in the last two issues.  Keep up the great work!

Did you take the time to read the caption under the photo of James Hay?   He wrote his essay just two weeks after his brother succumbed to drug abuse.  The smile of James face shows his commitment to drug education,  although still he had too much pain still inside to read his essay at Bristol’s youth banquet.    His aunt Liz Thisdale, Southington (Northwest District Chairman) was there the night he received his state award.  It was her nephew that died.  I am sure that we all know someone who lost their life due to drug abuse.   With the help of all of us, maybe we can make a difference, I sure hope so, for our children’s future!

Reports: To Milford, Stamford, Winsted, Hamden, Wallingford and so many other lodges, thank you for sending in lodges drug awareness activity reports.

Materials: Many lodges have been waiting patiently for items.   Several items have been back ordered for weeks.  I just received notification that everything is now available, except the bookmarks.  I did receive information that the bookmarks have been improved.  As soon as they become available, I will order them for you.  Currently I have the following lodges waiting for bookmarks: Middletown, Danbury, Manchester, Hamden, Meriden, Stamford, Enfield, Naugatuck. Everything else has been ordered and your lodge should be receiving the items with in a week or two. 
 

• Fatal Vision goggles

• Drug Awareness Supplies

*long sleeve denim shirts, t shirts (new from Sterling), basketballs, soccer balls, lollipops, crayons, pens, pencils, Frisbees, event wrist bracelets, water bottles, balloons, etc… see State Chairman to order

Please let me, or your district chairman know if you need further assistance.