Ohio Elks Association State Officers Installed - New State President's Message
State President's Message
Greetings Fellow Elks,
Ohio Elks State President Lugene Ignaffo and Jennifer Anderson of Greenville Lodge #1139
Today, April 18, 2020, I was honored to be installed into my role as your State President of the Ohio Elks Association. Obviously, it is without the traditional fanfare to which we have become accustomed. Unfortunately, this is not the time for traditions or fanfare. This is the time to figure out new solutions and new ways of doing things.
I know we have heard it over and over, but these are unprecedented times. But are they really?
Unprecedented means something that has never happened before. This situation, a catastrophic global pandemic, has happened before. A century ago, in 1918, a new type of H1N1 virus spread around the globe and killed nearly 700,000 Americans. The reactions to our current pandemic are very similar to the reactions in 1918. The governments shut down all businesses, people hoarded supplies, and there was an extreme shortage of the medical supplies necessary to treat the sick.
However, in those desperate times, Elks Lodges across the country stood true to their purpose and mission, serving the people and communities. In the New-Orleans Times, a headline from October of 1918 reads, “Elks Are Doing Splendid Work for the Needy.” The New Orleans Elks Lodge bought food and medicines and their lodge was used as a free hospital. The Elks also made it possible to get more automobiles to get doctors transported to the influenza victims.
In Chicago, the headline from October 26, 1918, reads “Elks Go to Rescue of Flu-Bound Actors.” Elks invited out of work actors to “make free of their dining room.” They said, “We don’t make the offer as charity. It’s a matter of decency. Order what you wish and sign the check. If in the future you wish to settle, well and good; if you don’t get around to it, well and better.”
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Elks worked with the Red Cross to help with the supply of medical supplies and caskets. All across the country, our Elks Lodges were answering the call with their acts of charity, patriotism and brotherly love. In that time of fear and uncertainty, just as we are experiencing now, Elks were doing what needed to be done to support and help their communities.
Let’s follow their lead. Let’s think about what we can do for our communities. It could be things as simple as a phone call to check on a neighbor. It could be donations to a local food bank. It could be helping the elderly to get meals. If we put our heads (and hearts) together, the possibilities are limitless.
Let’s lean on our younger, more tech savvy members to find ways for us to continue to “get together and meet” virtually. Let’s lean on our not so young for their wisdom and experience. Let’s use the Ohio Elks website to share our ideas and accomplishments so although we can’t be with each other physically, we can still work as a
Brotherhood. Together we will get through this, just as our Brothers a century ago did. Together we can make a difference and show our communities that Elks Care, Elks Share.
Be Safe and Take Care of Each Other,