Jackson Elks #466 Raises Drug Awareness at Apple Festival Days.

Jackson Elks Lodge #466 had Elroy the Elk ride on the new "Elroy Mobile" at the Jackson Apple Festival parade.  Lodge members passed out drug awareness coloring books and materials to the children and parents along the parade route. With about a thousand people in attendance,  the lodge ran out of the materials just as the parade ended, but more will be set up at the booth in front of the lodge for the remaining Apple Festival Days!

Group picture with Elroy are Keith Denny-State Elks Officer, Elroy (Dallas Lloyd, Leading Knight), Dorothy Riepenhoff-Elks member and orgainizer, Dave Williams-SC District Drug Awareness Chairman, and some area kids that just had to have a picture with Elroy the Elk

Berea Elks #1815 Take Vets to the Zoo

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 hosted their annual “Vets to the Zoo” outing, bringing approximately 45 veterans from the Louis Stokes VA Hospital at Wade Park to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for a fun day away away from the hospital.

The Berea Elks partnered with the Columbia Station V.F.W. for the third straight year to make this event a success. Veterans enjoyed free admission to the zoo, a free box lunch, and companionship from Elks and V.F.W. members throughout the day.

Several therapy dogs were also in attendance making an already amazing day even better!

Funding from this event was partly made by an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant.

Berea Elks #1815 Host Annual "Elktoberfest" Endowment Fundraiser

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 hosted their annual “Elktoberfest” celebrating the end of the summer and raising funds for the Ohio Elks Association Endowment. The event featured an amazing pig roast, corn hole, a craft beer and wine garden along with live music by Cougar Trap.

Berea Fire Department stopped by to enjoy dinner.

All local first responders were provided free dinner all night long and the event raised over $700 for the state endowment.

Trustees Nate Moore and Hank Nest worked hard to prepare the pig.

Berea members enjoy a friendly game of cornhole

An Elk is Never Forgotten...

The Elks is an organization that is committed to its members and one of the core principals is to quicken the American Spirit. When we think of American Spirit in terms of Sports our mind immediately goes to a game where all you need to play is a ball and stick. We are talking about the American pastime of Baseball and no matter where you go in the United States you’ll find connections to the great game, but the Kenton Elks Lodge #157 has a wonderful history with this timeless sport.

At a recent lodge meeting at the Kenton Elks Lodge #157, Ohio First Vice President Mark Ratliff presented Exalted Ruler Todd Daquino with a framed collection of William “Billy” Southworth memorabilia for which Ratliff has personally collected. Billy was a professional baseball player who started his career in 1911 for the Kenton Reds and went onto becoming the Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. He won three straight National League championships with Cardinals from 1942 to 1944, including beating the New York Yankees to win the 1942 World Series and the St. Louis Browns in 1944.  Billy was also a dedicated member of the Kenton Lodge and he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in 1943.

Left: Current Kenton Exalted Ruler Todd Daquino Right: First Vice President Mark Ratliff

The framed collection of items includes a photo of Billy receiving his Life Membership from Past Exalted Ruler Charles R. Price, with Mike Clabaugh standing by his side. Also included is a replica 1943 Cardinals-Yankees World Series badge and a Billy Southworth Playing card.

The collection will be on display in the Kenton Lodge and you should visit our sister lodge in Upper Sandusky #83 and thank Mark for his generous and thoughtful contribution to our Elks Lodge.

Holding Frame: P.E.R. John Hines

Gallipolis Elks #107 Work To Raise Awareness About Drugs

The Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 along with the Gallipolis Emblem Club #199 set up a Drug Awareness booth at the community square this summer. Despite the rainy day the event was well attended.

PER Walt Brown staffs the booth with the Emblem Club ladies prior to the event starting.

Columbus-Grove City Elks Host CP Fundraising Brunch

The Columbus-Grove City Elks Lodge#37 hosted their monthly brunch to support Cerebral Palsy.  This year, as we did last year, the lodge invited local fire and police departments to attend.  We served a total of 52 meals, 5 being local fireman. This was one of our largest brunches and raised $431!

Scholarship recipient, Luisa Parrish enjoyed the brunch!

Local firemen attended the brunch

Van Wert Elks Helps Local Group Improve Youth Activities.

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is happy to announce that the Van Wert Elks Golf Committee recently donated $400.00 to the Wren Ball Park Association.   The monies will be used to help with the youth activities at the ball park.   

Shown are, left to right, Shane Mills representing the Golf Committee presenting the check to Jeremy Kitson of the Wren Ball Park Association.

New Philadelphia Elks Help Raise Drug Awareness in Community

On behalf of the New Philadelphia Elks Lodge #510, Jeff Warner distributed dictionaries to over 250 New Philadelphia 3rd graders. Jeff also spoke about drug awareness and handed out "Say No To Drugs" bracelets to each of them.

Ashland Elks Lodge #1360 Hosts Anual Labor Day Parade

The Ashland Elks Lodge #1360 hosted the best Labor Day parade in the history of Ashland. Growing in their 3rd year of organizing the parade, this year's parade had 61 units including Elroy the Elk and our ER Michele Larue.

Hundreds of people braved the heat to line the streets to celebrate all the hard work done by the community and get as much candy as possible.

The event was also covered by the local newspaper: http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180903/hundreds-watch-ashland-labor-day-parades-61-units

OEA Fall Newsletter - Available For Download

Greetings All!  The Fall 2018 OEA News is now available for download.  It can be found at the new OEA website under "State Resources - Quarterly Newsletter", or you can click the link below to download it right now.

Thank you to all who contributed articles, reports, and photos. 

If you you like to submit a story for the Winter edition, please send it to webmaster@ohioelks.com

Remember, the latest news and information will always be available at www.ohioelks.com/oea-news

New Membership Tools Available

At the 2018 Ohio Elks Fall Reunion, we had the great fortune to have Rick Gathen, Grand Lodge Membership & Marketing Manager, delivered a great presentation on strategies for attracting and retaining members.

The presentation was full of ideas and tools available to all lodges to help bring in new members, re-instate past members, and retain the current membership.  This presentation is now available on the OEA website, under "State Resources - Membership Tools".  It is available as a PowerPoint file or as a printable PDF file.  Download it today!

https://ohioelks.com/membership-tools/

This new page on the website will host future tools and information about membership, so be sure to bookmark it.

Many thanks to Rick for putting this together.

Fremont Elks Lodge #169 Present $3,500 Grant to Sandusky County Food Pantry

Fremont Elks #169 presented a check totaling $3500 to the Sandusky County Food Pantry to provide healthy, well balanced food items to families in need in Sandusky County.

 This year the lodge used their Gratitude and 150th Anniversary Grant monies which are funded by the Elks National Foundation.

Picture left to right:  Presentation of Check by Exalted Ruler Mike Mowry to Director Roy Wilhelm.  Other left to right: Jim Faist,  Nancy Francis, Mark Foos, Diann Hamons, Richard & Ann Foos, Rick Franks, Mary Beaston, Jeff & Pastor Jody Rice.

The pantry was first organized in February 1977 and in October 2017 moved to their new location on Bidwell Ave.  The Volunteer staff purchase food, picks up and sorts donated food, stocks shelves and distributes the food each week Monday through Friday 12:00PM till 2:30PM. In the past year the pantry handled 2,800 referral forms which provided 9,000 family members with 190,000 meals.

We are very grateful to the Food Pantry and Staff for all their dedicated Volunteer hours giving back to our Community.

“Elk Share Elk Care”

Lebanon Elks #422 Host Veterans Picnic

The Lebanon Elks Lodge No. 422 along with the Warren County Veterans Service Commission hosted a picnic for 150-200 veterans and their families in July.  The picnic was funded by a Gratitude Grant from the Elks National Foundation along with Veterans Services matching the funds. 

The lodge provided the meal, musical entertainment, popcorn and cotton candy.   Veteran Services covered the venue, soft drinks and Civil War re-enactment entertainment along with an ice cream truck.

Veteran Services also brought their outreach mobile unit for individuals to obtain new identification cards, dog tags and information regarding services available to them such as assistance with travel to and from appointments, housing and clothing needs

Warren County Humane Society came with several dogs and cats ready for adoption as emotional support animals.

The event not only brought out younger families in need,  it also brought out veterans from WW II, Korean and Vietnam.  Our lodge had 42 volunteers to assist with cooking, serving, clean-up; some members provided face painting for the kids and others provided items to be given away as door prizes.

There was an overwhelming positive feedback from the veterans and their family members regarding the event, it's activities and meal provided.  Many veteran thanked the Elks for thinking of them and hosting the picnic,  asking if the picnic would be an annual event, and if so,  looking forward to next years picnic.

Newark Elks Lodge#391 Helps New Drug Awareness Club at Local High School

Newark High School started a new Drug Awareness Club this school year hoping to stop the drug addiction that is running rampant in our city.  Knowing that to stop any illicit activity, one has to start from the bottom, with the young people, and work your way up, the High School is hoping to teach the students about the different drugs and the effect on their bodies and brains.

When Lodge 391 DAP Committee heard of the new club we knew we could help!

Lodge member, Becky Underhill delivered 2 boxes of drug awareness materials, as well as Distracted Driving and Facts for Parents pamphlets to Principal Tom Bowman. Principal Bowman was delighted to not only receive the materials that will be of great use to the students, but to also know that he now has a resource to help the new club on an ongoing basis.

Of course, it goes without saying, that Lodge 391 is excited to be able to help battle the war on drugs at the local high school level, and the DAP Committee is hoping this will open the door to other opportunities to help other schools in our lodge area.

Columbus Grove City Elks #37 Torches Their Mortgage

The Columbus Grove City Elks Lodge #37 held their mortgage burning ceremony and celebration in August, hosting more than 190 people.  This is a great accomplishment for any lodge.

The lodge served pork tenderloin, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and baked beans with dessert provided by ER Randy Seymour's wife along with our 'dance group'. Following the ceremony the loge had an awesome party with The Fire Bird Band.

Congratulations to Columbus Grove City!

New Philadelphia Elks Helps Make Ice Rescues Safer For Local Fire Department

The New Philadelphia Elks Lodge #510, Exalted Ruler Jeffrey Warner along with Dave Johnson, PER presented a check to the Mayor and Fire Department of New Philadelphia. The check was for an “Ice Rescue Immersion Suit”. This is an expression of our commitment to the community in which we live and work. The funds were made possible by an Ohio Elks Association Community Service Grant.

It's The Little Things That Make A Difference

Ohio Elks Association State President, Nevin Taylor receives a photo plaque from the Iraq Troop who received specialty products for individual soldiers while they serve protecting freedom. 

South Central District Elks member Dave Williams' son and others from the Ohio division were overseas for one year.  President Taylor donated the photo back to Dave to be placed in his home lodge as a reminder of how little things can make a major difference as our soldiers defend freedom.

Larry Still Gets A "Kick Out Of Life"

1st Vice President Mark Ratliff of the Ohio Elks Association presents State Chairman Larry Clemens a ball signed by the State finalists and the adults who worked the Soccer Shoot finals in Coshocton, OH.

Larry has served the state as chairman since the beginning of Soccer as a State Youth Program.  Thank you Larry for all your hard work providing our kids to get a “Kick out of Life”.  If your lodge needs help setting up a shoot just go to the OEA website:  https://ohioelks.com/soccer-shoot/

Ohio Elks Deliver Donations to Veterans at Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky

At the recent Ohio Elks Fall Convention in Columbus numerous Lodges throughout the State graciously donated new underclothing, socks, toiletries etc. to our many Veterans presiding in facilities that Elk representatives are assigned to. These donations will fulfill the wish list and needs of our Veterans.

Elks Across Ohio Raised More Than $23,000 For The State Endowment!

The Ohio Elks Charity Endowment Fundraising Committee held its second fundraiser this past weekend at the fall reunion in Columbus. Once again the generosity of the Elks of OHIO was just fantastic and proved again you are truly the BPOE (best people on earth).

Together in just one evening, we raised $23,320.00 for the future of the OHIO ELKS Endowment. As a Lodge, District and State Association, we all should be very proud.

I must thank everyone that worked so hard to make this event the great success that it was, all of you on the committee know who you are (great job guys), all of you that helped sell door prizes you know who you are (we couldn’t have done it without you) thank you. And a very special thanks to all who bought tickets, came to the raffle, and gave sponsorships to the event the committee thanks you.

Congratulations go out to some of our big winners: Tony Federico, Jim Parks, Todd Hurd, Mike Manfredarici, Ron Adams, Todd Arnold, Zach Spieles, and John Schwartz.  I bet these guys will be back next year.

In closing, just a reminder, the OHIO ELKS CHARITY ENDOWMENT is the future of OHIO ELKS giving just as ENF is the National Organization of giving.

Again, we as Board and Committee welcome and thank for your support.

Lance C. Knight PSP

Ohio Charity Endowment Chairman