#1 District Meeting - Be a Winner!!

On Saturday October 22, 2011 Caribou lodge served as the host lodge for the District #1 Annual Meeting.  The evening opened at 6:00pm with a potluck supper, followed by the meeting at 7:00pm.  As usual the cooks of

The Dining hall filled up rather Quickly

district one put on quite the spread with each of the eight lodges providing some unique and new flavors along with many of our potluck favorites.

In planning the event RW Neil Haines was confident that we would see attendence near eighty people.  This however posed a bit of a challenge for our lodge logistically as our dining room can only seat about forty people comfortably.  Therefore on Friday night a few of the brothers and their families got together and did some preparation.  This included setting up enough tables and chairs to seat an additional 54 individuals in the lodge hall.  With all of the preparations in place and additional food at the ready, our District Deputy appeared to

Overflow dining in the Lodge hall

have everything under control.  Now the big question was how many would show up.

The evening was very successful with eighty-two people in attendance.   There was plenty of good food and even more laughs and fellowship.  Seven of the eight lodges in District #1 were represented at the event, although all eight lodges did contribute to the effort, which was much appreciated.

Caribou lodge was very pleased to receive our Most Worshipful Grand Master Louis Greenier along with his Suite of officers back into his home lodge for the evenings events.  Some of the members of the Suite traveled from as far away as Lubec and south of Portland.

After receiving the Grand Master and his Suite, those in attendance were led in an opening prayer and the

Wor. Bob Ellinwood and RW Neal Haines

Pledge of Allegiance and then the gavel was turned over to DDGM Neal Haines who provided a wonderful program for all.  Neal started off by explaining much of what the district has been involved in, over the last year.  Including a new lodge hall being dedicated in Fort Kent and a major renovation to Monument Lodge in Houlton.  He discussed the Chips programs, Books for Bikes, Masters & Wardens, the Mentoring Program, and the breakfasts at the Veterans Home in Caribou.  He then in turn brought up brethren from each of these programs to provide a more detailed outline of the activities within the district.   This was highlighted by a representative of the Veterans Home that provided the group with an overview of the facility and the activities that they provide for the residents.  It was surprising to me that the Caribou Veterans Home has a waiting list of over ninety people on it waiting to get in. The floor was then given to Worshipful Bob Hancock who gave an often touching and yet comical tribute to first our Grand Master and then our District Deputy Grand Master.  He concluded his time by recitation of a wonderful poem which he dedicated to RW Haines.

The Gavel was then passed to M.W. Greenier who spoke about the Grand Lodge of Maine and the importance of the support we receive from our wives to do the good works that we do.  He then invited his wife to the East who gave a nice talk explaining the significance of the "Little Blue Slipper" pins that many of the wives were wearing.  The Grand Master then had several of his suite come up and provide information about some of the activities going on at the State level.  One of the most interesting bits of information that was provided was that Grand Lodge is in negotiations to purchase a building in Holdon, ME to serve as the New home form the Grand Lodge of Maine.  The final speaker for the evening was RW Richard Rhoda who provided an interesting history of the District #1 Lodge that was almost but never formed on Loring AFB back in the 1950s.  MW Greenier then closed Caribou Lodge in Piece and Harmony around 8:30pm.

Here are a few more pictures from the evening for you to enjoy.