Rochester Elks Lodge takes top honors in annual Toast Contest

ROCHESTER - The New Hampshire State Elks Ritual Committee on Sunday conducted its annual 11 O'Clock Toast and Flag Presentation Contest at the Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 in ots function hall.

More than 35 people were in attendance. Chairman for the event was Don Chesnel, New Hampshire State Elks Ritual Chair. There were seven different competitors from five New Hampshire Elks Lodges.

Results were as follows:

Exalted Ruler Contest - 11 O'Clock Toast

1^st Place - Matthew Sanborn, Rochester Lodge #1393 Score 99.1729

2^nd Place - Dawn Croteau, Portsmouth Lodge #97 Score 98.1649

3^rd Place - Richard "Bear" Freeman, Manchester Lodge #146 Score 96.2668

Past Exalted Ruler Contest - 11 O'Clock Toast

1^st Place - Kelly Dorgan Cote, Nashua Lodge #720 Score 99.3280 (High Score of the Day for this contest.)*

2^nd Place - George Labonte, Franklin Lodge #1280 Score 98.9662

3^rd Place - Larry Hart, Portsmouth Lodge #97 Score 98.9147

Exalted Ruler Contest - Flag Presentation

1^st Place - Matthew Sanborn, Rochester Lodge #1393 Score 97.2356

Past Exalted Ruler Contest - Flag Presentation

1^st Place - Jerry Skidds, Rochester Lodge #1393 Score 98.2887 (High Score of the Day for this contest.)*

2^nd Place - Larry Hart, Portsmouth Lodge #97 Score 98.0505

3^rd Place - George Labonte, Franklin Lodge #1280 Score 97.0014

*High Score Contestants will be eligible to compete at the Grand Lodge Contest in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, July 2.

According to the national Elks website, the 11 o'clock toast is at the heart of Elkdom, which states.

"You have heard the tolling of 11 strokes.
This is to remind us that with Elks, the hour of 11 has a tender significance.
Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour falls upon the dial of night, the great heart of Elkdom swells and throbs.
It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more.
Living or dead, Elks are never forgotten, never forsaken.
Morning and noon may pass them by, the light of day sink heedlessly in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message,
To our absent members."

Judges for the contest were from the State of Maine. Floor Judges - Sanford, Maine Elks - Andrew Bolz, Roger Normandeau, Bruce Brunelle (Area 1 Grand Lodge Member for Ritual). Word Judges were Frank Ricker (State of Maine Ritual Chair) and Robert Shaw, Exalted Ruler of the Sanford, Maine Elks. The Computer Room Judge was Lisa Brunelle from the Sanford Lodge.

Also assisting as Contest Inner Guard was PER Jeanne Bernard from the Rochester Elks and Contest Tiler was Bill Roy, PER, PDD from the Manchester, NH Elks #146. Norman Gervais, PER and Rochester Lodge Secretary was the Candidate for all Contestants in the Flag Presentation Contest.

Awards for this contest will be presented at the NH State Elks Convention in May at the Town and Country Motor Inn in Gorham, NH.