On Wednesday, July 5th, 2023, at the National Elks Convention in Minneapolis, MN, Donald E. Chesnel of Rochester, NH Elks #1393 was Installed as the Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Chesnel is now part of the Officer Suite of National Elks President Randy Shook, who hails from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
Prior to this assignment, Don held a number of leadership positions in the organization, including Exalted Ruler of the Rochester Elks, District Deputy, South District of NH, New Hampshire State Elks President, Grand Lodge Committeeman on the State Associations Committee, and Government Relations Committee. In addition, Mr. Chesnel has chaired numerous committees at the local and state levels of the Order.
Mr. Chesnel also served for over 20 years as an Officer and Board Member for the New Hampshire Association of Volunteer Administrators, appointed by Governor John Lynch and served on the Board of Volunteer NH for 6 years and was President of the Social and Fraternal Association of NH Licensed Clubs. Don also served for 2 years as the President of the Area 1 Interstate Ritual Committee and is currently the State Ritual Chair for NH. He is also the NH Government Relations Chair, a position he has held for 32 years. Donald is an honorary life member of Rochester, NH Elks #1393 and has been a member for 50 years.
Donald E. Chesnel is a lifelong Rochester resident. Upon graduation from Holy Rosary High School, Don began employment at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as an electrician trainee. He served in many positions at the Shipyard, retiring after 38 years in 2005 as the Electrical/Electronics Shop Resource Manager. Don has been married to his wife Joan Beaudoin Chesnel for 56 years. They have three daughters, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.