Presque Isle Elks lodge member
nominated for national office
The name of James A. Ferland, a member of Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954, will be placed in nomination to be Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United State of America at the Elks’ national convention in Austin, Texas, on July 5.
In announcing this great honor, local Elks Exalted Ruler Michael LaFrance stated, “In his service as the local Exalted Ruler, as president of the Maine Elks Association, and as chairman of the Elks Grand Lodge Activities/State Association Committee, Jim Ferland has served with distinction and has brought great honor to the Presque Isle Lodge of Elks.
“The Presque Isle Lodge has expressed its great pride in Jim as a member of this lodge in adopting a resolution to be read on the floor of the Grand Lodge in placing the name of James A. Ferland 
in nomination for Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight,” LaFrance added.
Ferland was initiated into Presque Isle Lodge in 1977 and immediately became active and served on or chaired several committees. He was elected as Exalted Ruler in 1986 and 1987 and is a Past Trustee of the Lodge, a member of the Past Exalted Rulers Association, and in 1995 was named “Citizen of the Year.”
He has diligently served the Maine Elks Association for several years and in 2007 was recognized as “Elk of the Year” by the Maine Elks Association.
Ferland has served the Grand Lodge with distinction as District Deputy Grand Lodge – Lodge Activities/State Association Committee since 2007 and is the current chairman of the committee. He currently serves as a Special Representative of the Grand Lodge in the Central District of Maine.
He served as a medical technician in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971 and enjoyed a successful and distinguished 40-year career in public service — first as a police officer for the City of Presque Isle for 25 years (from 1971-1996). He was promoted to detective in 1974 and was appointed chief of police in 1988.
He was appointed as the first Administrator of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Maine in 1997 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2011.
Ferland was named Presque Isle’s Citizen of the Year in 1996.
“My attendance at the Elks National Convention is certain to be an experience of great pride in the Presque Isle Lodge of Elks as the home lodge of the Elks Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight, equivalent to a national second vice-president, as well as in the accomplishments of our lodge’s most accomplished member, James A. Ferland,” LaFrance said.
