Newark Elks #391 Awards DAP Contest Winners

Newark Elks Lodge #391’s Exalted Ruler, Kathy Wise and Drug Awareness Chairperson, Becky Underhill presented 10 contest winners with their prizes for their winning entries in the Drug Awareness Poster, Essay, Video contests as well as a coloring page contest.

From left to right is Becky Underhill, DAP Lodge ChaiRPERSON; Elizabell Gambill, 2nd grader from Cherry Valley elementary winning the coloring contest and receiving a $10 Walmart gift card; Emma Davies, 6th grader from Heritage Middle School winning the essay contest; Heritage Middle School Video Team, Zavyer Elizondo, Asher Elizondo, Xahvier Spradlin, Landen Salina winning the video contest; PER Kathy Wise.

Not present are Tristan Fogle, Dominic Walton, and Nyree Street on the video team and Lydia Bawi from John Clem Elementary the poster winner.

The poster, essay and video winners all were awarded a $25 Walmart gift card and a certificate. They also won the South Central District contest and received a pennant.

Last Chance to Pre-Register For Spring Convention!

Greetings All!

The 125th Ohio Elks Association Spring Convention is just a few short weeks away. If you have not yet pre-registered, please do so right away!

The deadline to pre-register is Thursday, April 4, 2024

New this year is an all-new Fun Night format featuring a sit-down dinner and a comedy show buy the “FFN Comedy Troupe” which should conclude around 9:30 p.m. giving everyone more time to spend with fellow Elks in the hospitality rooms Friday night.

Cost is only $25/person with a paid convention credential. You won’t get dinner and show anywhere in town at that price! More than 60% of all attending members have bought tickets to Fun Night, so don’t miss out!

This year’s installation of officers will also be a change of pace with a great party in the main ballroom following the event and hospitality provided by the Southeast District.

After April 4th, members can register for convention in person, however Fun Night tickets may not be available at that time.

Van Wert Elks #1197 Support Local Aging Council

From Left: Mary Weisman, Lodge Chaplain presenting the check to Kevin Matthews, Executive Director Council on Aging.

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $200 to the Van Wert County Council on Aging.   The monies will go towards supporting their upcoming 12th Annual Designer Purse Bingo Fundraiser scheduled for Friday, June 14, 2024. The agency will use the donations to purchase designer handbags which will be displayed and used as bingo prizes throughout the fundraiser.

The Council on Aging transports seniors every day to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies or social service appointments free of charge.  The Van Wert County Council on Aging has be serving the Senior Citizens of our community for 43 years.  Without these vital services, many of the county’s seniors would be forced to enter long-term care facilities.    Through fundraisers such as this, the agency will be able to continue and expand their much-needed services for our senior citizens.

Ohio Hoop Regional Champions Advance to National Championship

Back Row: State Chairman Dennis Sabo, state president Tom Pavlik,  GER Elect Doug Schiefer. Front RoW: Ainsley Weaver, Parker Mueller, and Mason Malone

Congratulations to the Hoop Shoot Champions of the Regional Semifinal competition recently held in South Bend, IN.

Ohio winners were:

8-9 Girls - 1st place
Ainsley Weaver (Chillicothe #52) making 23 of 25 free throws.

8-9 Boys - 1st place
Parker Mueller (Mercer County #2170) making 22 of 25 free throws and 14 of 15 in a shoot off to advance.

12-13 Boys - 1st place
Mason Malone (Jackson #466) making 24 of 25 free throws and 5 of 5 in a shoot off to advance.

Kamille Smith (Ravenna #1076)  signing her book for fellow competitors.

Additionally, Kamille Smith (Ravenna #1076) who finished 2nd in 10-11 Girls was signing copies of her book "Girls Fall Down Sometimes". She gave a copy to all the girl shooters from Michigan,  Ohio, and Indiana.

These amazing competitors will represent Ohio in the National Championship contest in Chicago on April 20th.

Salem Elks #305 Hosts Abbey Road For Farewell Concert

So much fun at the Salem #305 Elks! Abbey Road, Beatles Tribute Band, completed their last performance as their Farewell Tour last night.  Amazing band who have been at it for 41 years and traveled all over the world, plus opened for the Monkeys several times!! 

This caps off the evening with John Gilbert Lecturing Knight as Paul McCartney. Bruce Hall as George Harrison; Scott Krejci as John Lennon; David Byers as Ringo Starr and Wayne Gorby, ER.

Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Donates To VA Domiciliary

Past Exalted Ruler Kirk Kokal of Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 dropped off 90 pairs of underwear and 100 pairs of socks to the VA Domiciliary in Downtown Cleveland, an often needed personal item.

Funds for this donation were made possible from The Gary Luster Memorial Fund. 

Gallipolis Elks #107 raise over $23,000 for Elks National Foundation

Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 held its annual Elks National Foundation (ENF) fundraiser in conjunction with an Italian Night Party and Dance.  Over 260 people attended the event that included a live and silent auction.  ENF Chairperson, Jason Bowers, his wife Jennifer and their crew, were able to rise $23,015 for the Elks National Foundation.

And in other news, in support of the Dictionary Project, the Gallipolis Elks distributed 147 dictionaries to all the third grade students in Gallia County this year.  To date, the Gallipolis Elks has distributed a cumulative total of 432 dictionaries to our local students.

Middletown Elks Lodge #257 Helps Students Learn Gardening

Middletown Elks Lodge #257 was recently profiled in a story by the Journal-News in Butler County regarding a Beacon Grant awarded to them from the Elks National Foundation to help local elementary kids learn about gardening and healthy eating.

The full story can be found below

Van Wert Elks #1197 Honor Students of the Month

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 have selected Emily Karcher and Adessa Alvarez, seniors at Crestview High School as the recipients of the Student of the Month for February.

FROM LEFT: Linda J. Stanley, Lodge Student of the Month Chair with Adessa Alvarez and Emily Karcher

Students are nominated by their high schools to receive this award.  Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year.   Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – Volunteerism, Character, Leadership, Service, Citizenship and Scholastic.

This program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for their achievements in school and community.   The Elks wish to recognize and praise those students for their accomplishments, their activities, and their contributions to society through this program.

Port Clinton Elks #1718 Help Battle Food Insecurity

SARA STAHL, SOCIAL WORKER, SUPERINTENDENT PAT ADKINS, AND JUDY MCKINNEY, ELKS LEADING KNIGHT

Port Clinton Elks Lodge #1718 presented a check for $2,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and $2,000 to Carole’s Cupboard, Port Clinton City Schools, (Bataan Primary and Intermediate School).  The donations are from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation (ENF) 2023-24 Beacon Grant which are investments to help address food insecurity.

JIM BOULE, FISCAL OFFICER OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD PANTRY AND JUDY MCKINNEY, ELKS LEADING KNIGHT.

Cuyahoga Falls - Akron - Barberton Lodge #1923 Hosts Veteran Workshop

Cuyahoga Falls - Akron - Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 welcomed Warriors Journey Home (wjhm.org) and its CEO John Schluep to our Lodge to do a presentation on the wonderful work his organization does to help Veterans locally. Plus share why there is a need to do the work he does to help bring awareness around suicide prevention and the signs of PTSD so we can do better for our Veterans. 

We presented a check, funded by our Elks National Foundation (ENF) Freedom Grant to pay for 30 Veterans to attend his healing workshops, plus give cash raised as a donation equaling a total of $1,000 to John and his board that evening. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room during his presentation. Especially when he talked about his recent trip with Vietnam Veterans heading back to Vietnam so they have a new memory of a country versus the one they had a lifetime before.

Ohio Elks Hoop Shoot Champions Announced!

2024 State Hoop Shoot Results

The competition was amazing at the Ohio State Elks Hoop Shoots Free Throw Contest, held at Liberty Middle School in Newark. A total of 36 youngsters competed for a chance to advance to the U.S. Great Lakes Regional in March. Results were:

FROM LEFT: STATE PRESIDENT TOM PAVLIK< KAMILLE SMITH, ISAIAH REVEAL, MASON MALONE, LILY LEACH, PARKER MOELLER, AND AINSLEY WEAVER

8-9 girls
Ainsley Weaver, Chillicothe #52, 25/25
Kamryn Smith, Ravenna #1076, 20/25
Gracie Sargent, Wilmington #797, 19/25
Remi Garrison, Wooster #1346, 16/25
Myra Unrast, Mercer County #2170, 15/25
Adley Duhamell, Newcomerstown #1555, 7/25.

8-9 boys
Parker Moeller, Mercer County #2170, 22/25
Corey Doster, Bellevue #1013, 19/25, 14/15
Finley Harrison, Jackson #466, 19/25, 13/15
Cole Huffman, Marietta #477, 17/25
Christian Barga, Greenville #1139 & Dominick Guerra, Cuyahoga Falls #1923, both 14/25.

10-11 girls
Kamille Smith, Ravenna #1076, 16/25;
Maggie VanFossen, Barnesville #1699, 15/25, 4/5
Rylee Shepard, Springfield #51, 15/25, 3/5
Ava Hawkins, Bellevue #1013, 15/25, 2/5
Reese Conley, Jackson #466 & Myma Dreyer, Van Wert #1197, both 13/25.

10-11 boys
Isaiah Reveal, Chillicothe #52, 21/25, 7/10
Trey Vanderwal, Marietta #477, 21/25, 6/10
Brody Ernsthausen, Lebanon #422, 19/25
Kellen Hirt, Bellevue #1013, 18/25
Marcus Eckstein, Mercer County #2170 & Gavin Dente, Alliance #467, both 17/25.

12-13 girls
Lily Leach, Barnesville #1699, 23/25
Elizabeth Burns, Ashtabula #208, 20/25
Kennah Hignight, Wooster #1346, 18/25
Mia Free, Chillicothe #52, 14/25
”Laci Dillman, Greenville #1139, 12/25
Jacklyn Carper, Findlay #75, 8/25. 

12-13 boys
Mason Malone, Jackson #466, 23/25, 5/5
Keaton Elwer, Lima #54, 23/25, 4/5
}Kyler Larrick, Elyria #465, 22/25
Eric Thompson, Lebanon #422, 18/25
Cruz Potts, Coshocton #376, 17/25
Braxton Thomas, Conneaut #256, 14/25.

All contestants and families were given Friday night lodging at the Newark DoubleTree Hotel, dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, and all contestants received Elks basketballs, Drug Awareness backpacks/goodies, water bottles, goodie bags and t-shirts, compliments of the Ohio Elks Association and The Bellevue Hospital.

The six age group winners now advance to the United States Great Lakes Region 4 Hoop Shoot the weekend of March 15-16, 2024, in South Bend, IN, and will take on competitors from Indiana and Michigan. Winners at that event will advance to the National Competition in Chicago, IL the weekend of April 18-21, 2024.

The 2025 Ohio Elks Hoop Shoot Finals has been set for Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Liberty Middle School in Newark.

Last Chance To Register For Elks Leadership Kollege!

The Ohio Elks Past Exalted Ruler’s Association is excited to host all incoming Exalted Rulers, Lodge Knights, Lodge Trustees & Board Members, Secretaries and Treasurers to our annual training summit being held at Newark Lodge #391 this Saturday, February 24, 2024.

This free event is designed to help all incoming leadership of a lodge get the fundamental tools and training for the upcoming lodge year in a relaxed one-day workshop. Meet fellow Elks leaders from all over Ohio. Connect with state leadership and better prepare you and your lodge officers for the upcoming year.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how to lead our great organization and how to make your upcoming lodge year the best it can possibly be!

Lima Elks #54 Honors Local Eagle Scout

On Sunday, February 4, 2024, the Lima Elks Lodge #54 recognized Garret Hark of BSA Troop #230 during his Eagle Scout Cout of Honor.

The award consisted of The American flag and the Eagle Scout Certificate frames for hanging along with the Grand Exalted Rulers' Congratulatory letter, Certificate of Merit and the Elks/Scouting Pin.

For his Eagle Scout project, Garret erected signage for the school gymnasium and dressed the area with landscaping.

Congratulations to Garret on his many achievements.

Van Wert Elks #1197 Honors Local Eagle Scout

FROM LEFT Michael C. Stanley, Lodge Scouting Liaison, Eagle Scout Cody Scannell and Louis Crow, lodge member.

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 participated in the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Cody Scannell on Sunday, February 11, 2024. Cody is a member of Boy Scout Troop #32, sponsored by the Middle Point United Methodist Church in Middle Point, OH.

Cody was presented an American Flag and an Eagle Scout Certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge.   He also received a letter of commendation and a special citation from Randy P. Shook, Grand Exalted Ruler/National President.

For Cody’s Eagle Scout Project he installed a play scape area consisting of swings, slides, etc. for the Family Process Housing in Lima, OH.

Willoughby - Cleveland Elks #18 Support Local Food Pantry

Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 were honored to present a donation of $1,000, which was made possible with an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Spotlight Grant to the Euclid Hunger Center.  Volunteers at the center operate a choice-pantry for local families in the heart of Euclid Ohio

Shown here are the manager of the pantry Kay O'Donnell, Elks members present are PER Kerrie McClain, ER Jeff Romito, Kay, PER Kirk Kokal and Terry Grey.

Berea Elks #1815 Raises $2,000 For Police Memorial Fund

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 hosted a Doubles Dart Tournament to benefit the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society (GCPOMS) a non-profit charity, whose mission is to honor peace officers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of service to their communities and the nation, especially those from the Greater Cleveland area, including Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and northern Summit Counties.

Twenty-one teams from law enforcement, and Elks members from Berea Lodge #1815, Willoughby-Cleveland Lodge #18; and Lakewood Lodge #1350, competed for top awards, raising nearly $2,000 for the fund. Refreshments were donated by members Danielle Mahoney and Debra and Pat Greenhill. The Cleveland Darter Club donated the use of the boards. 

Event winners were: 1st Place: Ron Hollenbuck and Derek Fess (Lakewood), 2nd Place: Fuzzy Foland and Dan Ruit (also Cleveland Police officer) (Lakewood Lodge) and 3rd Place: Luis Rivera and Frank Crutz (Cleveland Police Team). Finally, all in attendance were reminded that January 9, 2024, was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and showed their support for those who risk their lives on a daily basis.  

Lima Elks #54 Honors Local Eagle Scouts

Lima Elks Lodge #54 recently recognized Henry Black, Collin Ellerbrock, Benjamin Haughn, Ayden Klausing, Lukas Klear, Eian Lause, Brody Recker, Gage Recker, Caden Schroeder, Seth Thomas and Max Verhoff of BSA Troop #224 Troop #777 for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

Each Scout completed a project at a church, school or cemetery within the local villages of Putnam County.

The award consisted of The American flag and the Eagle Scout Certificate framed for hanging along with the Grand Exalted Rulers' Congratulatory letter, Certificate of Merit and Elks/Scouting Pin.

Congratulations to these young men on their many achievements.

Van Wert Elks #1197 Announces Students of the Month

Ethan Scaggs with Linda J. Stanley, Lodge Student of the Month Chair

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 have selected Sydney Dowler, senior at Van Wert High School and Ethan K. Scaggs, senior at Lincolnview High School as the recipients of the Student of the Month for December.

Linda J. Stanley, Lodge Student of the Month Chair with Sydney Dowler

Students are nominated by their high schools to receive this award.  Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year.   Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – Volunteerism, Character, Leadership, Service, Citizenship and Scholastic.

This program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for their achievements in school and community.   The Elks wish to recognize and praise those students for their accomplishments, their activities, and their contributions to society through this program.

Salem Elks #305 Announces Lodge Hoop Shoot Champions

The Salem Elks Lodge #305 held their local Hoop Shoot competition with the following placing.

Kinley Gfeller 1st Girls 10-11
Chaya Murray 1st Girls 12-13
Mason Wortman 1st Boys 12-13
Emmy Blevins 1st Girls 8-9
Maryn McFadden 2nd Girls 12-13
Lucas McDowell 2nd Boys 12-13

Not pictured: 

Brycen Sox 1st Boys 8-9, 
True Hartsoe 1st Boys 10-11 & Adrien Rosch Boys 10-11

Doug Rudibaugh, PER is the Hoop Shoot Chairman. His team of volunteers, especially Mandy Smith and family, did a great job. We thank the Salem Community Center for the use of the basketball court and equipment. 

1st place winners advance onto the NE District level of competition which is at Ravenna HS gymnasium on Saturday, January 20th.