Submitted by Alvah Chalifour - MA Elks Plate State Chairman

As Elks, we all know that Elks care, and Elks share. The Massachusetts Elks Scholarship is one of the many ways in which we live up to that motto, by helping young people across the Commonwealth achieve a college education by providing them with the financial assistance needed to pay for the ever growing cost of higher education.

I am writing to let you know about an exciting initiative by the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship. During the past year, we have been generating interest and taking applications for the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship license plate (see the attached image). Proceeds from the plate will go to fund the Massachusetts Elks scholarship, while you will be able to display your pride as an Elk on your vehicle.

The price of higher education has been escalating over the past decades at incredible rates. According to the National Center for Education Statistics the average cost to educate one full-time student in the US was $33,952 during the 04-05 school years. As energy and labor costs as well as the cost of living have increased so has the cost of education. With state budgets shrinking due to the national economic crisis, the financial burden on students is quickly becoming to heavy to bear. Tuition and fees are only a part of the costs associated with higher education. Students spend and average of $900 per year on textbooks alone. Now more than ever, scholarships are needed to help students carry the ever growing financial burden of pursuing a higher education.

By getting the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship plate, you are not only showing that you care and that you share by helping Massachusetts’ students achieve their potential, but you will also be showing that you belong to an organization which is deeply invested in it’s community. These plates won’t only go to help the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship, but also help increase the public profile of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in the Commonwealth and its work in our communities.

The plates cost $40 plus any additional fees to exchange your current plates. The DMV will collect a one time $12 fee when you first register, which means $28 from every plate goes directly to the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship. When you renew your plates every two years, all of that money will then go towards the scholarship.

You can also have the chance to be the number 1 Elk in the Commonwealth by winning the “ELK 1” license plate by purchasing $1.00 raffle tickets. The Massachusetts Elks Scholarship will be giving away numbers 1 through 100 (excluding 10, 61, 65, 73, and 87) in a state wide plate raffle to raise additional money for the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship. In addition, the numbers for every lodge in the state will be given to their respective lodges to do whatever they see fit.

Please mail your application and check to the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship at 63 Bay State Road, Lynnfield, MA 01940. Even though the application will ask you to make the check for your registration fee to the DMV, you must make your check out to the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship. For this initial registration the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship will pay your registration fee for you and send you application to your closest DMV location. For more information please talk to your lodge secretary, or e-mail us at masselksplate@hotmail.com.

The Massachusetts Elks Scholarship plate is one of the most innovative and exciting initiatives in the country. These plates have the potential to raise thousands of dollars over the years for Massachusetts’ students, but not without your help and your commitment. Please support the Massachusetts Elks Scholarship and Elks state-wide by purchasing the Massachusetts Elks license plate for your vehicle. Thank you. 

Cookie and Tom Showtead and the Showstead  family want to say THANK YOU  to all the Elk members for their kind remembrance to the passing of Audrey Showstead, Tom's mother