Going to Grand Lodge in Austin? We Need To Hear From You ASAP!
Greetings all Elks!
The 2024 Grand Lodge Convention in Austin, TX will be very special for Ohio Elks as we celebrate our very own Doug Schiefer from Bucyrus Lodge #156 as the next Grand Exalted Ruler!
We would like to get everyone from Ohio housed in a single hotel at convention and need your help to make sure we order enough rooms for our hotel block.
Please go to https://ohioelks.com/survey and tell us if you plan to attend in 2024. It will only take about 2 minutes and is just a quick survey to help us gauge our room order. Formal hotel reservations and registrations for Grand Lodge will be released early next year.
We need this information by September 8.
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this timely request!
Tammy Paterson
OEA Conventions Director
Salem Elks #305 Presents Community Service Grant to Perry Fire Department.
The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department received an Ohio Elks Association $1,000 Community Service Grant. Salem Elks Lodge #305 was very happy to present them with the check today. This will be used to purchase two chainsaws which will equip 4 out of the 5 trucks in the department. Sadly, they weren't available for this most recent storm, but in the very near future this won't be an issue.
Pictured are Brandon Smith, Fire Chief, Kim Chapman, PER of Salem Elks and T. Constantino, Fire Engineer.
Newark Elks #391 Hosts Annual Bicycle Run, Raises Thousands For Charity
On June 11th Newark Elks Lodge #391 held our annual Bicycle Run for Charity with 131 participants and 6 major sponsors. The sponsors were Modern Office Methods, Nader’s Insurance, Farnsworth Financial Services, First Federal Savings, La Paloma To Go and Elks 391 PER Association.
We raised $9,300 (after expenses) which allowed us to donate $3,100.00 to three local charitable organizations. The three organizations were Licking County Aging Partners, Licking County Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Division and Ronald McDonald House
Van Wert Elks #1197 Support Salvation Army
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $1,000 to the Salvation Army of Van Wert for their Wednesday Free Lunch Program. The monies are from a Spotlight Grant the lodge received from the Elks National Foundation.
Pictured left to right are Major Deb Wagner and Mike Stanley, Lodge Elks National Foundation Chairman.
The Elks National Foundation is a perpetual trust fund established in 1928 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Contributions to the Foundation are made each year by almost one million Elks and their families and friends from more than 2000 Elks Lodges across the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
With food prices rising and many still unemployed, there is a need now, more than ever to assist those who need a helping hand. The Wednesday Lunch Program relies on donations of monies as well as food items. They are presently serving between 300 to 350 meals per week. The Wednesday Free Lunch Program serves the free lunches on Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm each week.
Van Wert Elks Lodge is happy to be able to assist the Salvation Army with this important service for our community.
Toledo-Sylvania Elks # 53 Assist At-Risk Families
Members of Toledo-Sylvania Elks Lodge #53 Elks National Foundation (ENF) Committee presented Mom's House of Toledo with $2,000 and the Toledo Public Library $1,000 for their Ready to Read Program as part of their Gratitude Grant. Mom's House works with at-risk single parent families with educational goals and childcare as they break the cycle of poverty.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Spreads Drug Awareness Across Gallia County
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 Drug Awareness Program (DAP) Chairperson, PER Walton Brown assisted Gallia County HOPE in a Kids Prevention Day during the Gallia County Fair, and the Healthy Kick Start at the Gallia County Health Department and throughout the 6-day County Fair.
A total of 1,429 packets were handed out containing coloring books, crayons and Drug Awareness literature. Each packet contained 24 items. That is 24,552 Drug Awareness items that are now out in Gallia County.
Ohio Elks Lodges Putting Thousands of Dollars Back Into Our Communities
At the 2023 Ohio Elks Fall Reunion, checks were presented to individual lodges who applied for $1,000 Community Service Fund Grants. Pictured are representatives from lodges in attendance accepting the checks for the agency who will receive these funds. These agencies represent Fire, Police, and Parks & Recreation Departments within each lodge’s jurisdiction. These funds are made available through the Ohio Elks Association with support from the Elks National Foundation.
Proving yet again, That Elks Care, Elks Share.
Salem Elks #305 Announce Lodge Soccer Shoot Champions
The Salem Elks Lodge #305 held it's local Soccer Shoot and the following youth placed in their age groups. The 1st place shooters will advance to the next level at the NE District Soccer Shoot I September.
Front row: 2nd Marshall Hewitt-U8, 1st Austin Deem-U10, 1st Claire Shean-U10, 1st Kolton Bush-U8. Back row: 1st Drake Stewart-U14, 2nd Aiden Deem-U14, 3rd Peyton Jackson-U12, 1st Layla Hewitt-U12, Greg Davis-Chairman, 4th Chaya Murray-U12, 2nd Alicea Davis-U12, 1st Nora Shean-U14.
Kenton Elks #157 Supports Local Veterans 5K Run/Walk
Kenton Elks Lodge #157 presented a check for $1,200 from its Elks National Foundatio Freedom Grant to the Hardin County Veterans Service Commission to sponsor a Veterans 5K Run/Walk and lunch to be held September 30 at Boy Scout Lake in Kenton.
Toledo-Sylvania Elks #53 and Sylvania Family Services Host Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway
The Toledo-Sylvania Elks Lodge #53 were at the Sylvania Area Family Services on August 5 serving free lunches to over 300 people, as part of the Back-to-School Backpack giveaway for students in need. Over 350 backpacks, school supplies from the Elks donation drive, and a check for over $2,800 were presented to Dottie Segur, Executive Director of Sylvania Family Services, thanks to Elks donations and our ENF Beacon Grant.
Napoleon Elks #929 Brings Flag Football To Local Special Olympics
Napoleon Elks Lodge #929 recently made a donation of $2,829 to HOPE Services to provide equipment for a new flag football program. The donation will enable the Henry County Special Olympics to offer Flag Football for the first time this fall. The donation covers the start up costs for the team, including jerseys and equipment.
Pictured are (from left) HOPE Services Superintendent Kelly Aldrich, Napoleon Elks Exalted Ruler Dan Bischoff, local Special Olympics Coordinator Zach Meister and Napoleon Elks Trustee Yank Lindsay.
Lima Elks #54 Sponsor LJGA Tournament of Champions Invitational
For many years, Lima Elks Lodge #54 has sponsored the Lima Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions Invitational. Again this year, Lima Elks Lodge #54 sponsored the event which was held at Shawnee Country Club. 1st and 2nd place trophies were awarded at the banquet held that evening. We congratulate these winners:
Girls 16-18
Zoey Merritt
Maddie Fleck
Girls 15 & Under
Marian Nagel
Lyla Brewer
Boys 16-18
Tyce McClain
Kyle Sutton
Boys 14-15
Evan Altenburger
Davis Maag
Boys 12-13
Alex Bellman
C J Goffena
Berea Elks #1815 Helps 100 Local Families Get Back To School
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 stuffed 100 custom-made backpacks for the incoming 5th grade students at Berea Midpark Middle School. The backpacks were filled with 100% of all the school supplies a 5th grader needs for the upcoming school year, reducing the costly burden on families needing some help with the costs of school.
In all, more than $6,000 worth of school supplies and backpacks were assembled and will be donated later this month to the school. The funds were made possible through the combination of a Beacon Grant and a Spotlight Grant awarded to the lodge from the Elks National Foundation and donations from lodge members.
Dozens of members helped to shop, stage, and fill the backpacks.
Jackson Elks #466 Bring Drug Awareness To Local Kids
Jackson Elks Lodge #466 Drug Awareness Chair Sharon Brown Participated in the Jackson County Healthy Kick Start at Manpower Park. 359 Packets were distributed that included coloring Books, crayons, and Drug Awareness pamphlets. Pictured are Sharon Brown and several young participants of the event.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Spreads Drug Awareness to Local Courts
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 PER Walton Brown met with Morgan Hamad who is the Pretrial Officer for the Municipal Court. We discussed the Drug Awareness needs of the Municipal Court. 10 packets were given to Morgan for further review by her and her Team. Each packet contained coloring books, crayons and various Drug Awareness pamphlets.
Lima Elks #54 & Kenton Elks #157 Sponsor WOAL Championship Swim Meet
Lima Elks Lodge #54 and Kenton Elks Lodge #157 sponsored the WOAL (Western Ohio Aquatic League) Championship Swim Meet on July 7th and 8th, at the Kenton pool. Over 500 swimmers representing 8 swim teams from 4 counties participated in this event.
Winners who placed 7th through 16th received ribbons. Elks members presented medallions to the top six winners of each event. In addition, the 1st place winner for each individual and relay event received a t-shirt.
Thanks go to Scott Few, ER Jim Foust, PER Jim Plumb and PER Jean Zink from Lima Lodge #54 and PER Nate Davis and PER John Hines from Kenton Lodge #157 for their assistance with this event. Also assisting was Elks Scholarship recipient Mackenzie Langhals.
This event was started by Lima Lodge #54 over 40 years ago. It grew so large so quickly that we partnered with the WOAL. This event is the capstone event of the summer swimming season and is now known as the Elks Invitational Swim Meet and WOAL Championships.
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Award $1,000 Scholarship To Local Student
From Left: Michael Felice, PER, Jeff Romito ER, Linnea Lucas, Jonah Lucas, Karl Lucas and Susan Knight PER and Scholorship Chairperson.
Members of Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 had the opportunity to meet with Jonah Lucas and his parents Karl and Linnea. Jonah is our latest recipient of a $1000 Cole Bahattra Scholarship which is made possible from a significant bequest to the lodge.
Jonah will be attending Taylor University in Indiana. This particular scholarship is made available to any high school graduate who resides in Lake County, of any age, who is furthering their education in either a degreed or certificated education from an accredited institution. He is our 13th recipient since this bequest was made.
New Endowment Raffle Items To Be Drawn At Fall Reunion!
The Ohio Elks Endowment Committee has been hard at work putting together a number of amazing raffle items for the upcoming fundraiser event at the Fall Reunion. Items include a cool Jim Beam Black mobile cooler, a loaded Ohio State basket valued over $500, a fire pit with s’mores, 200 lb. of meat, a 75” 4K TV, a huge liquor wagon, and so much more! Be sure to join your fellow Elks Saturday night August 19th at the Fall Reunion in Dublin to help raise money for the endowment and possibly win some amazing prizes!
Gallipolis Elks #107 Helps Local Law Enforcement With Drug Awareness Materials
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 PER Walton Brown, met with Chief of Police, Jeff Boyer of the Gallipolis Police Department to discuss drug awareness literature that can be used for training of police officers, juveniles and adults in our community. The Gallipolis Elks Lodge donated 25 packets, which included cinch bags, coloring books,crayons and drug awareness literature.
Ohio Elks Bowling Champions Announced!
2023 Ohio Elks Association Bowling Champions
Mt. Vernon Lodge #140
Team Winners
Actual 3429----$250
Handicap 3603----$850
Anthony Tomacelli
John Kyle
Chase Stone
Brian Antill
Tim Carper
Jason Beckett
Newcomerstown Lodge #1555
All Events Handicap--$120
2328
Bobby Wenger
Wooster Lodge #1346
All-Events Actual---$50
2249
Jonathan Feldkamp
Lorain Lodge #1301
Singles Handicap---$225
790
Kevin Kommel
Kent Lodge #1377---$50
Singles Actual
763
Ed Hanna II & Ed Hanna III
Kent Lodge #1377
Doubles Actual---$100
1467
Doubles Handicap---$350
1602