Frequently requested names, numbers . . . 2

Get your Elks news published online . . . . . 2

Spirit of Americanism evident in election . . 2

Great Heart of Elkdom continues to grow . 3

Stay on top of charity records . . . . . . . . . . 3

November for Veterans Remembrance . . . 4

Soccer Shoot takes center stage . . . . . . . . . 4

Message from the Grand Exalted Ruler

With year half over, it’s time to reflect

USA

http://www.elks.org Care — Share October 2008 Volume 44 • No. 3

GrandSecretaryBryan R . Klatt

Replacementcollars available

Grand LodGe MeMbership CoMMittee

inside

Tracking progress toward +1

Paul D .Helsel

Please see +1 Page 3

To all District Deputies, Exalted Rulers, Officers and Members:

October brings us to the halfway point of the Subordinate Lodge year and the time to once again reflect on how far we have come, as well as to plan and initiate actions that will permit us to reach or exceed our goals in the time remaining.

Lodges must be sure they are on track or are making the necessary adjustment to ensure that, through the next six months, they reach or exceed the $4.50 per capita donation goal for the Elks National Foundation, increase Membership through improved retention and recruitment efforts, improve the financial performance and stability of their Lodge through better controls and management, increase overall participation in our Youth and Veterans Programs, and expand the level of service effort provided to their community.

The key to our success in these five areas,

the key to our success in growing Elkdom is involving more Elks. This is certainly not a one-person effort or even that of the 10 percent of Members who routinely work to get the job done. We need to enlist all card-carrying, able-bodied Elks to be a part of this effort.

As Jane and I travel throughout Elkdom we are continually impressed with the dedication, commitment and achievement from hard working Elks as it relates to our programs and service efforts and the operation of Lodges.

The Elks we meet are truly the “Best People on Earth,” and they are putting forth a herculean effort on behalf of their Lodges, their State Associations and our Order.

However, those we see and those who are working so diligently are small in numbers compared to our total Membership or the Membership of an individual Lodge. They simply need more help! Every Lodge and every active Elk should be working to reach a larger portion of the Membership for their involvement. Those less active Members need to be shown the positive attributes of our organizations and the joys and benefits from more active involvement. Just imagine what we could do if we could get another 10 percent of our Members active in what we do.

Please join with me in encouraging more Elks to participate in our efforts to Grow Elkdom and show to all that “ Care – Share.”

by Charles W. lesterCommittee Member

Over half of the Subordinate Lodge year is history. Only four months remain to bring in new Member applications and collect dues before initiating actions required to drop a Member for nonpayment. Therefore, the Lodge should be two-thirds of the way toward reaching the Membership goal established at the beginning of the year. The +1 Program provides a template that lodges can use to guide activities that will result in attaining their Membership goal.

Implement a monitoring program to maximize the probability of success. Tracking progress toward ending +1 is like checking a road map when making a trip. Doing so tells one if he or she is on the right road and on schedule or needs to change course to arrive at the destination as planned. Monitoring activities listed in the +1 Program brochure are:

n Reports at Lodge meetingsn Articles in the Lodge bulletinn Use of the Lodge Progress Chart.n Monthly reports to the State Association

Membership Chairpersonn Completion of the Grand Lodge Mid-

year ReportIt is important that reports on the Lodge

floor and articles in the bulletin include the number of Members not dues current. Doing

Do your Officers’ Jewels need to be fixed? Is the velvet worn, faded and frayed? Now available from the Elks National Headquarters are purple velvet collars to which to transfer the old metal parts. Code No. 543600, Purple Velvet Collar, $24.35 each. The collar

fits most of the old Jewel types, but call the ship-ping department at (773) 755-4826 before ordering.

—————October reminders: Register Web

site by Oct. 1 to enter State Association Web Site Star Award • ENF Month • Lapsation Committee Report at first regular meeting • Auditing & Accounting Committee shall use guide for lodge review and report to Lodge • “Hoop Shoot®” Chairmen — be prepared for local, district and state competitions

Page 2 Grand LodGe newsLetter • October 2008

More Public Relations awards announced

Online access offers means for newspapers to address local users’ needs for information about their communities

Look to your local newspaper for publishing Elks news online

Grand LodGe aMeriCanisM

CoMMittee

Here’s a list of the most frequently requested Grand Lodge names, addresses and telephone numbers for inquiries in 2008-2009.

Grand Exalted Ruler — PAUL D. HELSEL. P.O. Box 8173 Newark, DE 19714-8173. O (302) 737-4460. F (302) 737-4465

Grand Secretary — BRYAN R. KLATT. 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614-1889. O (773) 755-4708. F (773) 755-4709

Grand TrusteesChairman — jOSEPH H. RiLEY jR.,

P.O. Box 1642, Tucson, AZ 85702-1642. O (520) 444-3934. F (520) 622-0049. e-mail: jriley@psemail.com

Building Applications East (Areas 1, 2, 3, 4) — jAMES ST. GEORGE, 282 Marni Lane, Lakewood, NJ 08701-7328. H (732) 451-0049. e-mail: jsgpsp1505@msn.com

Building Applications West (Areas 5, 6, 7, 8) — jAMES f. KiLE, 18174 Madison Road, Nampa, ID 83687-8040. O (208) 334-6021. F (208) 332-7558. e-mail: jamesfkile@aol.com

Grand LodgeCommittee on judiciary

Area 7 (AZ, CA, GU, HI NV, RP, UT) — THOMAS S. BRAziER, Chairman, 1570 The Alameda, Suite 150, San Jose, CA 95126-2331. O (408) 280-6800

Area 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT) — ViTO C. CARUSO, 1013 Fairlane Road, Schenectady, NY 12306-4209. O (518) 285-8415

Area 2 (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA) — PRiSCiLLA A. SCHWAB, 3547 S. Leisure World Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD 20906-1702. O (202) 693-6372

Area 6 (AR, CO, KS, LA, NE, NM, OK, TX) — jOHN D. AMEN SR., 15128 Wagon Wheel Drive, Brighton, CO 80603-5746. O (303) 637-7908

Area 3 (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, PN, PR, SC, TN, VA) — RONALD L. HiCKS, P.O. Box 508, Fredericksburg, VA 22404-0508. O (540) 371-2505

Area 4 (IN, KY, MI, OH, WV) — jAMES R. DEAMUD, 4419 W. Nestel Road, Houghton Lake, MI 48629-9288. O (989) 275-7688

Area 5 (IL, IA, MN, MO, WI) — jEROME C. SHAPiRO, P. O. Box 175, Aroma Park, IL 60910-0175. O (815) 939-7150

Area 8 (AK, ID, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WY) — MiCHAEL L. SPENCER, 3522 Coronado Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603-7605. O (541) 883-7139

Frequently requestednames & numbers

Grand LodGe pubLiC reLations CoMMittee

The Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee announced the 2007-2008 winners of the Golden Mike and William Hansch Award of “Elksellence” at the National Convention in Anaheim. (Other committee awards had been published in the September Grand Lodge Newsletter)

Golden Mike Awards (for the top State Association Public Relations Chairpersons) were won by:

Area 1 – Wayne Cotterly, Maine Elks Association

Area 2 – Connie deYoung, Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Elks Association

Area 3 – Pat Heller Jackson, Florida Elks Association

Area 4 – Roger Crowe, Ohio Elks Association

Area 5 – Carl Jacob, Iowa Elks AssociationArea 6 – Ginger K. Field, Arkansas Elks

AssociationArea 7 – Fred Bianchini, California-

Hawaii Elks AssociationThe William “Bill” Hansch Award of

“Elksellence” (for the State Association Chairperson with the highest quality and most effective PR program) was won by:

Fred Bianchini, California-Hawaii Elks Association, Stockton, CA Lodge #218

by BOB stePhensCommittee Member

In September we celebrated National Patriotism Week. A significant part of the mission statement of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is “to quicken the spirit of American patriotism.” As Elks, we are the founders and promoters of Flag Day and fervently promote the support of our active military throughout the world as well as remember and assist our veterans. This is as it should be, but we are approaching one of the most important times in our lives. This is the time of the national election to determine who will be the person to lead the free world for the next four years.

We are so fortunate that our forefathers thought to include the freedom of elections in our constitution, thus eliminating our fear of going to the polling booth.

We have all seen the picture of the woman in Iraq who had just completed casting her ballot and was proudly displaying her purple stained finger. This is the spirit we need to instill in our communities by promoting the “get out the vote” campaign. Free

election of our leaders is one of the greatest rights any nation can have and thank God we have that right here.

Promote the spirit of patriotism in America and exercise your right to vote on November 4, 2008.

by riChard GathenCommittee Member

Local newspapers are well positioned to present community news online. There is an unmet need, particularly in secondary markets where many of our suburban Elks Lodges are situated, to present timely community news on local newspaper Web sites.

This online information is presented in a way that addresses local users’ needs to get more information about what is going on in their community. Local newspapers already have many capabilities and an understanding of how to gather community news.

Now local newspapers have learned how to repackage community news online.

Broad search engines currently fail

to deliver good enough results for local information. Targeted Web sites fail to deliver both breadth and depth, particularly in smaller suburban markets.

I recommend using a “start simple, start small” strategy. Many local newspapers have

a fairly broad portal for local businessmen and the chamber of commerce. Most newspapers’ online sites have search capability and basic calendar functionality. Categories are based on directory data. Many newspapers have niche strategies that can be developed individually and plugged in over time. They include pets, shopping, services, young

families and community features. Talk to your local newspapers about how you can be included.

Spirit moves get-out-the-vote campaign

Grand LodGe newsLetter • October 2008 Page 3

Since its inception, the foundation has received more than $180 million in contributions and bequests

+1 From Page 1

Stay on top of charity records

Grand LodGe LodGe aCtivities/state assoCiations CoMMittee

Great Heart of Elkdom continues to grow

April 1 Membership _______________Gains Projected Actual Initiated _________ _________ Reinstated _________ _________ Total Gains _______________Losses Projected Actual Deaths _________ _________ Transfers out _________ _________ Transfers in _________ _________ Absolute Dimits _________ _________ Total Losses _______________Members on roll__________________ _______________ (date)Number Members Not Dues Current _______________Net Paid Members _______________

so ensures the entire Lodge membership is aware of how lapsation may affect ending +1 even if recruitment and reinstatement are above projected levels. See the chart below for how this might be displayed.

Print the table in the lodge bulletin. Post it next to the Membership Progress Chart

and include a statement that a list of Members not dues current is available in the lodge secretary’s office.

Contact a member of your state association or the Grand Lodge Membership Team for assistance with developing and implementing a monitoring program and actions to reduce the number of Members not dues current.

by Gary t. sChenkCommittee Member

The Elks National Foundation has often been referred to as the “Great Heart of Elkdom” from which flows the “Lifeblood of Our Order.”

The majority of contributions are made by our Members who contribute annually. When new Members are properly informed about this program during indoctrination, they are willing to make donations because they are aware of the good works performed with their donation.

Since inception, the Foundation has received more than $180 million in contributions and bequests. All unrestricted donations go into a permanent endowment fund, where each gift earns interest for lifetimes. Today we boast more than 180,000 active donors and an endowment fund valued at more than $430 million. The ENF has contributed $293 million toward Elks’ charitable projects nationwide. These funds support our three college scholarship programs, the Elks National Drug Awareness Program, the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program, the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, the Community Investments Program and grants to State Elks Associations.

ENF Chairpersons should take note that ENF donations earn awards. Contests E, F, G, H, and J are sponsored by the Grand

Lodge Lodge Activities/State Associations Committee.

“E” – Per Capita Contributions to the ENf – Granted for the largest per capita contributions made by Lodges. Based on ENF records. Deadline: March 31, 2009

“f” – ENf Lodge Chairman Challenge – Granted to Lodges for having a broad-based fund-raising program in three areas: (1) per capita including percent increase over previous year and meeting GER’s goal; (2) New donors as a percentage of Membership; (3) participation in an ENF Month fund- raiser. Scored by ENF. Deadline: March 31, 2009

“G” – State ENf Per Capita Donation – Granted to states for largest per capita contributions. Based on ENF records. Deadline: March 31, 2009

“H” – ENf State Chairman Challenge – Granted to states for a broad-based fund- raising program. Each Lodge receives a score. The state’s score is equal to the total score of all its Lodges divided by the total number of Lodges in the state. Refer to the ENF Chairman Handbook for additional information

“j” – Special Recognition Awards

for ENf – Granted to specific groups in recognition of outstanding contributions to the ENF. Based on ENF records. Granted to the top Grand Lodge area and to Members at the Elks National Home for contributions to the ENF. Deadline: March 31, 2009

Maintaining a communication system to keep Lodges informed earns awards for State Associations.

“i” – State Association Bulletin Contest (Sponsored by LA/SAC) – Granted to State Associations for producing an effective bulletin and keeping their respective Lodges well-informed.

Contest Rules – (1) Submit three copies of any two issues of your state bulletin, newspaper or

newsletter published between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2008; (2) Judging is based on content {0-100 points}; layout and typography {0-50 points}; pictorial {0-25 points}; and general {0-25 points}; (3) Submit copies in printed format, not in bulky notebooks or binders.

Deadline: Must be postmarked no later than Jan. 15, 2009. Granted in three levels: Five Star, presented at Grand Lodge Session; Four Star and Three Star, mailed to State Presidents for recognition at state conventions – Deadline: Jan. 15, 2009

by JaMes W. MartsfieldCommittee Member

Sometimes October can be uneventful as far as Elkdom is concerned. If that’s the case at your lodge, I would ask that each of you, along with your Lodge Secretary and Government Relations Chairman, sit down and spend a little time with your Charity Record Booklet. I know it’s one of those duties that you may say, “Oh, I’ll get to it later.” It’s easy to put off until next week or even later next month. Or, “I’ll just get someone else to do it.” It’s one of those things we just don’t get excited about doing.

Should you wait until March or April to fill out your booklet, it is very likely you will forget what happened and what you did for the previous 12 months. Then your Annual Report may be missing a lot of information, which is very important to your Lodge and the

Order. The information in your Charity Record Booklet will assist you in filling out your Annual Report, which is due May 1.

For these statistics to be effective, your job as Exalted Ruler, Lodge Secretary and Government Relation Chairman is to keep these statistics current and realistic.

That information is valuable in promoting Elkdom when we meet with our elected national, state and local representatives. If we do not have accurate records it will be difficult to justify our tax-exempt status and help us politically.

For your convenience you may now go online and send your information directly to Grand Lodge. This may be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Check it out at www.elks.org

Keeping your records up to date now, will make it easier for you in April.

Grand LodGe LodGe GovernMent reLations CoMMittee

JACK M . JENSEN, Grand Secretary

Benevolent and ProtectiveORDER Of ELKS

2750 N . Lakeview AvenueChicago, Illinois 60614-1889

October 2008NON-PROfiT ORG.

U.S. PostagePAiD

CHiCAGO, iLPermit No. 5244

November is VeteransRemembrance Month Soccer Shoot takes center stage

ELKS NATIONAL VETERANSSERVICE COMMISSION

Grand LodGe Youth aCtivities CoMMittee

Page 2 Grand LodGe newsLetter • October 2008

by dWayne e. ruMney, PGerPast Chairman

November is Veterans Remembrance Month within the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Our national holiday, Veterans Day, is November 11.

Throughout the year most Lodges conduct activities to benefit our nation’s Veterans. Does your Lodge have specific activities planned during November to recognize and say thank you to our Veterans?

What better time is there to display to your community through local media, the Grand Exalted Ruler’s Proclamation declaring November as Veterans Remembrance Month? This would be a good time to join the Army of Hope, to provide wheelchair gloves, to Adopt-A-Veteran, to supply Comfort Care Kits, to provide entertainment or activities for our Veterans — more importantly, just to let the Veterans know we appreciate what they have done to protect our precious freedom that we all enjoy today and to say thank you.

As Elks, we must never forget our pledge, “So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Please join us in recognizing our Veterans, and we ask that you do your share to show your appreciation to our nation’s heroes.

Thank You, Elks!Elks National Foundation

Fulfilling America’s Dreams...Lodge by Lodge!

RedRibbonWeek

By OttO G. saylesCommittee Member

This is the time of the year when (1) school starts and (2) the Elks Soccer Shoot gets under way. Exalted Rulers and District and State Soccer Chairpersons should already have plans under way. Local Shoots are in August, September and October with the State Shoot in November. Results should be in to the Grand Lodge Soccer Representative as soon after that as possible.

Soccer, the world’s largest participant and spectator sport, is the nation’s fastest growing youth sport. State Association Presidents should select a State Soccer Chairperson to help YOUR Elks take advantage of this growing interest. The Grand Lodge Youth Activities Committee has provided every Lodge with an Elks Soccer Shoot Manual (Code 513800). More manuals may be ordered from the Elks National Headquarters in Chicago.

In 2007-2008, Elkdom served 126,743 young soccer shooters involving 26 State Associations. What if ALL State Associations had participated? What a tremendous achievement that you all have been doing for our youth.

A congratulatory, participatory plaque was sent to each of these states to be presented at their next State Convention. In addition, a plaque was prepared for the state

with the highest per capita participation (the number of participants divided by the number of State Association Members) and one for the highest percentage of participating Subordinate Lodges. The Texas Elks Association won the first-place plaque and the Vermont Elks Association the second-place plaque. Congratulations to all states that participated.

Remember that one of our charges, as Elks, is to provide wholesome out-of -school activities. BE THERE FOR THE KIDS!

We must build this program from the grass roots. We must continue to provide this opportunity and prove to our communities that we are there to serve. As we do this, the name of Elks will become prominently fixed in the minds of our neighbors as a premier part of our community’s youth offerings.

I am privileged to serve on the Grand Lodge Youth Activities Committee to oversee the Soccer Shoot. All correspondence and questions concerning the program should be directed to me: Otto G. Sayles, 8104 East 133rd Terrace, Grandview, Missouri 64030; (816) 223-0981; email gvhm2088@aol.com.

I will also continue as the committee’s Antlers representative, and all questions pertaining to that program should be directed in the same manner.