Youth Activities winners announced . . . . . . 2

Americanism winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Patriotism Week now in September . . . . . . 2

Much to gain by entering contests . . . . . . 3

ENF per capita winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

+1 Membership Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Get active with Adopt-A-Veteran . . . . . . . . . . 4

Message from the Grand Exalted Ruler

Time to get down to growing Elkdom

USA

http://www.elks.org Care — Share August 2008 Volume 44 • No. 1

GrandSecretaryJack M . Jensen

Call for flag bearersgets much response

Grand LodGe Government reLations Committee

inside

Tell all we do in Charitable Report

Paul D .Helsel

The Grand Lodge Americanism Committee was overwhelmed with offers to carry the military flags during the opening of the Grand Lodge Session in Anaheim on July 7.

“We received over 50 offers to help, but only had five flags to carry,” said committee Chairman Rick Palanzo. “Thank you to ev-

eryone who helped and those who of-fered to help.”

—————August

reminders: District Deputy First Clinic

– required Officers must be in attendance; Lapsation Committee Report at first regular lodge meeting (Sec. 13.090); File Federal Income Tax Forms 990 and 990T; Receive “Hoop Shoot®” package at District Deputy Clinic and then start planning for lodge events; Obtain and disseminate Elks Training Course

To All district deputies, exalted rulers, officers and members:

Thank you one and all for electing me as your Grand Exalted Ruler. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you and our Order in this high capacity, and I pledge that Jane and I will do our utmost to promote the great works of our Order wherever our travels take us.

As I spelled out in Anaheim, my theme for the year is “Elks – Growing Elkdom and Strengthening America.” Well, the National Convention is over now and it is time to get to the work at hand. Hopefully, you are as enthusiastic as I am after that most inspiring week in Anaheim, and are already busy “Growing Elkdom.” Looking at the calendar, only eight months remain in this lodge year to “get ‘er done”!

Where does your lodge stand relative to

membership growth and/or retention? Are you attracting new members? Do you have an action plan in place to build and improve the relationship between the members and the lodge? Is it working and making them feel welcome, wanted and needed? If you can answer yes to the last three questions, you are well on your way to showing a gain in membership and Growing Your Lodge and Elkdom. If any answer is “no” you have some

work to do and need to “get to it.”By now your work with our programs

should be well under way. You should be close or even past the $4.50 per capita goal for ENF donations. The Hoop Shoot and Soccer Shoot dates should be set and plans in motion, as should be the case with all the other youth programs. Your service work with the veterans and others in your community should be occurring routinely. You should be well on your way to a very successful lodge year with many positive things to report with each passing day.

Best wishes to you and your lodge for the remainder of this lodge year. Jane and I look forward to visiting each of your states and learning firsthand how you are working to grow Elkdom and demonstrate that “ Care – Share.”

By Don D. Prochnowcommittee member

Another fraternal year has come to a close and though the Grand Lodge does not have the final tabulations finished for our Annual Charitable Report, I am sure we will have another banner year of giving.

As hard as you have all worked to accomplish these results, now is the time that we must get down to the really hard work of presenting these results to the people outside of Elkdom. This is where the real image of our Order can be enhanced.

What you have done to help our youth, veterans, communities and many other activities will only be known to those we have helped if these reports end up in a desk drawer in your lodge.

It is time to blow our horn and let our communities and local and state officials know about our efforts to help others and that we are not just a social organization or another restaurant or local watering hole.

Each Government Relations chairman and

officer should enlist anyone in the lodge who might have access to the right people at the television or radio station, city council or state legislature. This is where we can make an impression and show that “ Care — Share” so that we might go to these people when there are movements that could adversely affect our Order.

This can be accomplished if everyone will take this seriously and follow through. It would be wise if the chairman were selected carefully and not just a name on paper. Another good tip would be to keep the same state and local chairman from year to year so he or she becomes familiar with the program.

Page 2 Grand LodGe newsLetter • August 2008

Grand LodGe Youth aCtivities Committee

Youth Activities contest winners announcedYouth Week Contest winners for 2007-08Division 1, 1-300 members 1. Katy, TX Lodge No. 26282. Wheeling, WV Lodge No. 283. Bountiful, UT Lodge No. 2442

Division 2, 301-500 members 1. East Stroudsburg, PA Lodge No. 3192. Jonesboro, AR Lodge No. 4983. Casa Adobes, AZ Lodge No. 2663

Division 3, 501-700 members 1. Wickenburg, AZ Lodge No. 21602. Escanaba, MI Lodge No. 354 3. Danielson, CT Lodge No. 1706

Division 4, 701-1100 members 1. Prescott, AZ Lodge No. 3302. Fredericksburg, VA Lodge No. 8753. Lompoc, CA Lodge No. 2274

Division 5, 1101-1500 members 1. Bordentown, NJ Lodge No. 20852. St. George “Dixie,” UT Lodge No. 17433. Phoenix, AZ Lodge No. 335

Division 6, 1501 + members 1. Sun City, AZ Lodge No. 25592. Green Valley, AZ Lodge No. 25923. Lake Havasu City, AZ Lodge No. 2399

The Grand Lodge Americanism Committee has announced the 2007-08 winners of its Essay Contest addressing the topic, “What is an American?”

DIVISION 1, GRADES 5 AND 6First: Cortney FoleyCarl Sandburg Middle SchoolSponsor: Old Bridge, New Jersey Lodge No. 2229Second: Brian SnoufferBucyrus Middle SchoolSponsor: Bucyrus, OH Lodge No. 156Third: Peter FornettiDickinson Area Catholic SchoolSponsor: Iron Mountain, MI Lodge No. 700

DIVISION 2, GRADES 7 AND 8First: Treyce M. SandersonSault Area Middle SchoolSponsor: Sault Sainte Marie, MI Lodge No. 552Second: Emily SuchevichRiverview High SchoolSponsor: Oakmont, PA Lodge No. 1668Third: Joseph PerryWhitefish Christian AcademySponsored by: Kalispell, MT Lodge No. 725

The Grand Lodge Americanism Committee has announced the winners of the Outstanding State Associations Contest for the year 2007-2008.

Division 11. Kansas Elks Association, Zona Price, Area 6 chairman2. Idaho State Elks Association, Thomas G. Tuttle, Area 8 chairman3. Kentucky Elks Association, Gary Hayden, Area 4 chairman

Division 21. Connecticut Elks Association, David J. Acanfora, Area 1 chairman2. Maine State Elks Association, Richie Philbrick, Area 1 chairman

Division 31. Missouri Elks Association, James L. Syverson, Area 5 chairman2. Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia Elks Association, David S. Smith, Area 2 chairman3. Arizona Elks Association, Patrick A. Riley, Area 7 chairman

The Grand Lodge Youth Activities Committee has completed its judging for the following contests for 2007-08 and is proud to name the listed winners:Best Lodge Youth Program Brochure contestDIVISION 1 (Under 300 Members)1. Las Vegas, NM Lodge No. 4082. Fayetteville, NC Lodge No. 10813. Wheeling, WV Lodge No. 28DIVISION 2 (301-500 Members)1. Winsted, CT Lodge No. 8442. East Stroudsburg, PA Lodge No. 3193. Rifle, CO Lodge No. 2195DIVISION 3 (501-700 Members)1. Potsdam, NY Lodge No. 20742. Danielson, CT Lodge No. 17063. Sanford, NC Lodge No. 1679DIVISION 4 (701-1100 Members)1. Osage Community, MO Lodge No. 27052. Oswego, NY Lodge No. 2713. Vancouver, WA Lodge No. 823DIVISION 5 (1101-1500 Members)1. St. George “Dixie,” UT Lodge No. 17432. Bordentown, NJ Lodge No. 20853. Apache Junction, AZ Lodge No. 2349DIVISION 6 (Over 1500 Members)1. Lima, OH Lodge No. 542. Sun City, AZ Lodge No. 25593. Santa Marie, CA Lodge No. 1538

State Association Youth Brochure contest1. New York State Elks Association, Jan Pashley, Chairman2. Georgia State Elks Association, Larry Capes, Chairman3. Arizona State Elks Association, Lee Frye, Chairman Junior Golf Brochure contest, Subordinate Lodges1. Eatonton, GA Lodge No. 25492. Wheeling, WV Lodge No. 283. Grapevine, TX Lodge No. 2483Student/Veteran Volunteer Program,state associationsNew York State Elks Association, Jan H. Pashley, chairmanColorado Elks Association, Gary E. Salberg, chairmanMichigan Elks Association , Geno Grabinski, chairmanMarvin M. Lewis Scouting Award1. Jean Shergalis, Fairbanks, AK Lodge No. 15512. Matthew J. Stropes, Pekin, IL Lodge No. 12713. Christopher L. Deaton, Sisterville, WV Lodge No. 3334. Miles T. Nakatsu, Hilo, HI Lodge No. 759

The GLYA Committee thanks these winners, lodges and state associations that participated in our Youth Activities programs.

Grand LodGe ameriCanism Committee

Americanism contest winners announced

The Grand Lodge Americanism Committee, with the approval of the Grand Lodge Advisory Committee, has moved the observance of National Patriotism Week from the third week in February to the second week in September to coincide with September 11, Patriot Day.

After the terrorist attacks on New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. when nearly 3,000 Americans died, Congress approved 407-0 to designate September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day.” President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-89 into law

on December 18, 2001. On this day the flag of the United States is to be flown at half-staff. The president also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) marking the first plane crash on Sept. 11, 2001.

It is fitting that the members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America observe Patriot Day as part of its National Patriotism Week festivities.

— Richard M. Palanzo, chairmanGrand Lodge Americanism Committee

Patriotism Week moved to September

Grand LodGe newsLetter • August 2008 Page 3

By recognizing the winners at the national level, the Grand Lodge contests bring prestige and increased involvement to the Order’s lodges and state associations

+1 MembershipProgram developedto ‘Grow Elkdom’

By FreD w. ruFFcommittee chairman

By participating in the contests offered by Grand Lodge, your lodge not only shows that Elks’ pride is alive and well, it also continues to show that “ Care – Share.” Please enter the available contests and make sure that your lodge or state association is properly recognized for its contribution and involvement.

The contests and postmark deadlines are: Contest “A,” All American Lodge, March 15, 2009; Contest “B,” Community Service and Image, March 15, 2009; Program “C,” Elks Memorial Service, February 15, 2009; Contest “D,” Lodge Bulletins Contest, January 15, 2009; Contest “E,” Per Capita Contribution to the Elks National Foundation, March 31, 2009; Contest “F,” Elks National Foundation Lodge Chairman Challenge (Information contained in the ENF Chairperson Computer Based Training Disk); Contest “G,” State Elks National Foundation Per Capita Donation, March 31, 2009; Contest “H,” Elks National Foundation State

Chairman Challenge (Information contained in the ENF Chairperson Computer Based Training Disk); Contest “I,” State Association Bulletin Contest, January 15, 2009; Contest “J,” Special Recognition Awards for Elks National Foundation, March 31, 2009.

By recognizing the winners at the national level, the Grand Lodge contests bring prestige and increased involvement to the Orders’ lodges and state associations. Because entries are judged only against other lodges or state associations of the same membership level, each lodge has an equal opportunity to be a winner. As a leader, your real challenge is to help develop committees that will work to perfect your lodge’s activities in each of the aforementioned contest areas. Then all you have left to do is properly document those

activities and submit the materials in a timely manner, paying close attention to the deadline date assigned to each contest. Chances are good that your lodge’s committees are already doing most of the things that these contests cover.

For full information regarding requirements, deadlines and how to do,

consult the Grand Lodge, Lodge Activities/State Associations Committee 2008-2009 Program Brochure that you received in your packet while attending the Grand Lodge Session in Anaheim. If extra copies are needed, contact your district deputy or your area representative on the Grand

Lodge, Lodge Activities/State Association Committee.

Your lodge or state association has everything to gain by participating in the various contests. The committee is looking forward to seeing your entries.

ENF Per-Capita Contest winnersApril 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008

State winners Members Donations Per Member1. Nevada 5,080 75,692.38 14.9002. Utah 5,055 73,740.85 14.5883. Texas 17,242 189,280.11 10.9784. New Jersey 42,405 424,629.74 10.0145. Arizona 30,568 260,694.30 8.528

Lodge winners Members Donations Per capita300 members or less1. Reading, PA Lodge No. 115 197 $37,569.70 $190.7092. Waukegan, IL Lodge No. 702 147 $22,832.72 $155.3253. Elizabeth, NJ Lodge No. 289 228 $33,595.00 $147.347301 to 500 members1. Asbury Park-Wall, NJ Lodge No. 128 369 $15,941.68 $43,2022. Redondo Beach, CA Lodge No. 1378 362 $12,735.90 $35.1823. Oak Harbor, WA Lodge No. 2362 423 $13,910.29 $32.885501 to 700 members1. Fremont, CA Lodge No. 2121 541 $18,727.00 $34.6162. Sullivan, IN Lodge No. 911 555 $18,171.23 $32.7413. Washington DC-Rockville, MD No. 15 593 $17,565.00 $29.621701 to 1,100 members1. Elyria, OH Lodge No. 465 1050 $29,873.33 $28.4512. Mount Vernon, IL Lodge No. 819 1034 $25,182.50 $24.3543. Owatonna, MN Lodge No. 1395 894 $20,657.06 $23.1061,101 to 1,500 members1. St. George ‘Dixie’ Lodge No. 1743 1111 $44,475.50 $40.0322. Burlington, VT Lodge No. 916 1243 $19,481.50 $15.6733. Annapolis, MD Lodge No. 622 1477 $22,667.40 $15.347More than 1,500 members1. Sun City, AZ Lodge No. 2559 3242 $63,329.10 $19.5282. Bremerton, WA Lodge No. 1181 1718 $29,339.64 $17.0783. Greater Wildwood, NJ Lodge No. 1896 2590 $38,272.77 $14.777

Grand LodGe, LodGe aCtivities/state assoCiations Committee

Much to gain by entering events, contests

By DenniS c. cLArkecommittee chairman

Membership in the Order has declined during the past 30 years. The decline has reached the stage where there is concern regarding the Order’s ability to continue its unparalleled 140-year record into the future.

To address the challenge the Grand Lodge Membership Committee partnered with then-Endorsed Candidate for GER Paul Helsel and selected Grand Lodge committees, lodges and state associations to develop and field test the +1 Program, which was introduced at Grand Lodge in Anaheim last month.

The program is designed to provide the lodges and states with a template to guide in developing and implementing lodge-based programs that focus all lodge activities on member recruitment, activation and retention to:

• Ensure our record of service continues.• Reverse the membership decline and “Grow

Elkdom.”The program goal remains, as in past years, to

attain a net gain of at least +1 in each lodge by: 1. Actively recruiting new members.2. Reducing lapsation to 2 percent or less.3. Reinstating lapsed members in an amount

equal to 10 percent of current lodge membership.

Please see MeMBer Page 4

Grand LodGe membership Committee

JACK M . JENSEN, Grand Secretary

Benevolent and ProtectiveORDER OF ELKS

2750 N . Lakeview AvenueChicago, Illinois 60614-1889

August 2008NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. PostagePAID

CHICAGO, ILPermit No. 5244

ELKS NATIONAL VETERANSSERVICE COMMISSION

Page 4 Grand LodGe newsLetter • August 2008

*

By roGer r. True, PGerPast chairman

In 1983 the Elks National Veterans Service Commission implemented the Adopt-A-Veteran program. With more than 124,000 veterans adopted last year, it has become one of our most popular programs. Every lodge should be participating in the program today. The question often arises, which veterans are adoptable?

1. Veterans in state or federal veterans hospitals.

2. Veterans in assisted-care facilities, nursing homes, convalescent homes and retirement and senior-living centers.

3. Any veteran with limited or no family contact who is lonely or shut in.

4. Veterans in homeless shelters.More than one lodge can adopt veterans.

Feel free to adopt from afar.How does the program work?1. The VAVS representative at a state

facility secures the names of veterans without family or friends nearby from the hospital or facility and forwards the list to the state National Veterans Service chairman. Nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and some senior facilities have activities or social directors who can give you a list of veterans who reside there. It is often helpful to contact local churches, veteran groups, the American Legion, VFW

posts or even your lodge secretary to get a list of veterans nearby who are lonely and unable to get around on their own.

IMPORTANT: Due to privacy laws, it is highly recommended that written permission is granted by the veteran, stating that he or she would like to receive cards, invitations and visits. Under no circumstances are names and birth dates of veterans to be published in lodge bulletins or Web sites. This information must be held in confidence

and only given to those who will actually make contact with the veterans.

2. The state chairperson will divide the list among the lodges in close proximity to the facility and forward the names to the appropriate district chairperson.

3. The district chairman will determine how many veterans each lodge wishes to adopt and provide the lodge with their names.

In addition to visits and greeting cards, gifts of personal-care items, reading material, games and similar items should be considered. Luncheons and dinners at a restaurant or the lodge are highly recommended.

Now is the time to make a difference. Now is the time to get active in your lodge’s program or help your lodge start an Adopt-A-Veteran program if it doesn’t already have one.

4. Using the Grand Lodge membership incentives program to recognize success.

5. Identifying members who have moved using the Stray Elks Program.

To support the lodges and associations, the Grand Lodge Membership Program materials have been revised to provide user friendly how-to publications. The centerpiece of the revised materials is the +1 Program brochure. The brochure outlines the steps involved in initiating a membership program that address the five actions listed and lead to attaining the +1 goal.

When implemented as described, the lodge membership programs initiated are expected to result in “Growing Elkdom” as pride in membership increases and positive member/lodge relationships are cultivated. The lodge-state-Grand Lodge partnerships developed will provide support for program development and implementation and information that will trigger assistance and identify need for program changes in a timely manner.

A copy of the +1 brochure was included in the packets provided to the ER’s at Grand Lodge. A copy may also be obtained by accessing the membership page on the Elks Web site or contacting your Grand Lodge area committeeman or state association membership chairperson.

Member From Page 3Adopt-A-Vet gaining popularity

Implementing the program can result in “Growing Elkdom”

Visit Local Lodges for a

1-Tank Vacation!