Kenton Elks #157 Supports local 4-H Group
Kenton Elks Lodge #157 PER Elisa Umbaugh presented an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant for $3,500 to Amanda Raines, 4-H Youth Development and Extension Educator. The Grant is being used to assist 35 local youth with 4-H camp expenses. Hardin County 4-H members will be leaving early Monday morning to attend 4-H camp at Camp Ohio in Licking County, July 22-25.
Cambridge Elks #448 Awards Four $750 Scholarships To Local High School Seniors
From left: John Glenn H.S. Graduate Kaycie Wilson with Southeast DAC Brian Caldwell
Cambridge Elks #448 recently awarded their Thomas C Chappelear Memorial Scholarhsips. Thomas was a very active Elk in the day, and started the scholarship to help students in four local schools with a $750 scholarship for each one. He was also a high school football coach.
One recipient this year was Kaycie Wilson, a graduate of John Glenn High School and she is attending The Ohio State University.
Napoleon Elks #929 Support Local Special Olympics Program
Napoleon Elks Lodge #929 recently donated $4,000 to the local Special Olympics program from a Beacon Grant issued by the Elks National Foundation (ENF).
From Left: Napoleon Elks Ex-alted Ruler Dan Bischoff, Special Olympics Coordinator Zach Meister, Special Olympics Assistant Renita Kuehner and Napoleon Elks Treasurer Jessica Cramer.
The funds are intended for equipment purchases for use by the athletes in multiple programs, including equipment and uniforms for track and field, bocce, golf, softball, football, eSports, volleyball and cheerleading.
Napoleon Elks #929 Support Local Children In Need
During the recent Napoleon Elks #929 Rally in the Alley, the lodge donated $4,000 to the Symphony of Trees. Symphony of Trees supports local organizations that help children in need, including Northwest Ohio CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), The Center for Child and Family Advocacy, and The Henry County Hospital. Funds were made possible through the lodge’s charitable gaming program.
From Left: Heidi Mekus and Priscilla Dietrich, Symphony of Trees; Meredith Kelch, member of the Rally in the Alley Committee, and Dan Bischoff, Napoleon Elks exalted ruler.
Napoleon Elks #929 Helps Local Seniors With Nutrition Assistance
From Left: Napoleon Elks Trustee Jim Wulf, Nanci Westhoven with the food pantry and Napoleon Elks Exalted Ruler Dan Bischoff.
Utilizing an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Spotlight Grant, Napoleon Elks Lodge #929 recently donated $2,000 to the St. Augustine Catholic Church St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. The pantry serves an average 100 households per month throughout Henry County, and delivers to seniors at Riverview Terrace and some home-bound individuals.
The pantry participates in a United States Department of Agriculture assistance program, and in addition to distributing USDA food, it distributes food re-ceived through donations and food purchased with monetary donations.
Hamilton Elks #93 Helping Local Children Services
Hamilton Elks Lodge #93 was recently awarded a $3,500 Gratitude Grant from the Elks National Foundation. This grant is being used for the Kinship Program at the Jobs & Family Services in Butler County. We have been in partnership with this organization since 2014.
Becoming a Kinship Caregiver is a selfless, life changing decision. Many of these selfless acts are performed by the family members who find themselves taking a relative’s child out of an abused home.
The Butler County Children Services works to protect children by strengthening and preserving families. Our Hamilton Lodge is providing 8 Baby Trend EZ Rider Strollers, 10 Diono Saleno No Back Boosters, and 24 Store N Go High Back Seats.
These items will be used by Nancy Lisec, Manager of the Kinship Program throughout the year 2024 – 2025 helping families in need. Our Hamilton Lodge #93 has made a commitment for the past 10 years to keep our Butler County children safe from harm.
Pre-Registration Now Open for 95th Ohio Elks Fall Reunion!
Come to Dublin And Celebrate with Doug & Julia Schiefer
With the 159th Grand Lodge Convention in Austin now behind us, and our very own Doug Schiefer duly installed as the Grand Exalted Ruler with First Lady Julia at his side, it is now time to prepare for our upcoming Fall Reunion!
Pre-registration for the 95th Fall Reunion is now open! Be sure to join your fellow Elks in Dublin, Ohio August 16-18, 2024 as we welcome Doug and Julia back home!
Also, new this year, Friday Night Fun Night has been transformed to the Ohio Elks Honors Banquet, recognizing and honoring our members, lodges, and leaders that have made an impact in Elkdom over the last year. This is something you won’t want to miss!
Hamilton Elks #93 Making an "Impact" in Community For Low & Fixed Income Seniors
We wanted to share our journey with getting the award for the $10,000 Elks National Foundation Impact Grant for 2024. Our Impact Grant helps seniors who have low-income and have food insecurities in Butler County.
We have teamed up with Job & Family Services who has their Adult Protective Services Department that handles only seniors. Our project goal was to help 15 senior families each month with non-perishable food items and perishable food items. Our budget from the Impact Grant was $833.00 monthly and $167.00 from our Benevolent Fund contributions which our board voted in to help support the fund for the year. This combination gave us $1,000 for our monthly budget.
This was our first time receiving this award and we are really excited to proceed with our project goals.
We are halfway through the Impact Grant process and only six months to go until we have completed our Impact Grant journey. We have had full commitment from all our Golf Groups which has been wonderful to see this Impact Grant be so successful so far.
We wanted to share the six-month journey and how working with this grant has been so rewarding. We have partnered with Job & Family Services with the Kinship program for over 10 years. But this is the 2nd year we have worked with the Adult Protective Services and the 1st year working with them concerning the seniors with low-income and food insecurities.
Salem Elks #305 Present $7,700 To Local Cerebral Palsy Organization
Ben Blevins, Exalted Ruler of Salem Elks Lodge #305 presented Andrew Garber, Principal of Robert Bycroft School with a Check for $7,700! This was a grant provided through the Ohio Elks Association CP Fund Board.
The school requested the funds to purchase a new Galileo S25 which would help the older children; as the previous one purchased was for a lower weight limit. This vibration device helps reduce spasticity, improves muscle strength, increasing joint mobility and muscle thickness, promoting postural stability, improving balance ability and enhancing gross motor ability. Andrew commented they have found the Galileo device will help others that don’t necessarily have Cerebral Palsy.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Announce Legacy Scholarship Winner
Van Wert Elks Lodge#1197 have announced the awarding of a $4,000 Legacy Award Scholarship by the Elks National Foundation to Kaden Hohman. The Legacy Award Scholarships are awarded by the Elks National Foundation and are only available to children and grandchildren of Elk Members. Kaden graduated this spring from Lincolnview High School and will be attending this fall Bowling Green State University and will be majoring in health sciences.
During high school Kaden was the Class president his Junior and Senior year. Service Club president, Spanish Club president and Student Council president. He also was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Theatre and Cheer. Kaden also participated in Cross Country and Track and Field.
He is also involved in Dance, All Star Cheer, Classroom assistant, Volunteer cheer coach and Dance convention assistant at Kim Hohman’s Dance Works.
Kaden is the son of Dan and Kim Hohman.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is only second to the United States Government in the number of scholarships awarded each year. Van Wert Lodge is proud to have been a sponsor for Kaden during this competition.
Salem Elks #305 Recognizes Outstanding Membership Drive By One Of Their Own
PER Wayne Gorby presenting watch to ANDREW GREEN
Salem Elks Lodge #305 presented Andrew Green with his gold watch from the Grand Exalted Ruler for bringing in 11 members to the Lodge within the past year. He has been trying to accomplish this over the last couple years. Finally success. We thank you for being so diligent in growing Salem #305 Lodge membership numbers. Two of those new members are now serving as an Inner guard and a Trustee.
Congratulations 👏🎉 Drew!!
Kenton Elks #157 Celebrate Flag Day with Community
Pictured are Scouts and Scoutmasters from Troop #124, Ada, Ohio, flanked by current Exalted Ruler, Derryck Menard, on the left, and speaker, Roger E. Crowe, on the right.
Kenton Elks Lodge #157 held its annual Flag Day ceremony on Friday evening, June 14, with 45 members and guests in attendance. Boy Scouts from Troop 124 of Ada, Ohio, acted as flag bearers, while the "Kentones" Male Chorus sang a wide variety of patriotic numbers throughout the service.
Roger E. Crowe, Past State President of the Ohio Elks Association, PDDGER and current lodge Secretary, shared the history of the American Flag.
Following the ceremony, a sponsored meal of "picnic foods" was enjoyed by all those who attended the Flag Day service.
Van Wert Elks #1197 - Supports Local Veterans Food Pantry
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $1,000 to the Veteran’s Food Pantry in Lima, OH. . The monies are from a Freedom Grant the lodge received from the Elks National Foundation.
Freedom Grants can only be used for projects to support our nation’s veterans.
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.
Van Wert Elks Lodge is happy to be able to assist the Veteran’s Food Pantry with this important service they provide to our area veterans.
Pictured left to right are John Ream, Leading Knight, Betsy Potts, Food Pantry Supervisor, Mike Martz, Lecturing Knight, Al Zimmerman, PER and Joe Ketchum, Food pantry volunteer.
East Liverpool Elks #258 Connects Kids With Nature.
East Liverpool Elks Lodge #258 hosted more than 75 children for their annual "Fish & Fun Day" at the Lodge’s 25-acre lake/park located in the country. The event gives inner city children the opportunity to interact with nature by participating in games, fishing and archery. Each child is provided lunch and snacks throughout the day, and a fishing pole and tackle box of their very own to take home.
Berea Elks #1815 Supports UCP of Cleveland
From Left: Sarah Zarcone, UCP Director of Development, A UCP Client, Danielle Mahany, PER Berea Elks #1815, and BETH LUCAS, UCP President & CEO
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 recently presented a $25,000 check to UCP of Cleveland. The funds were made possible by a grant from the Ohio Elks Association Cerebral Palsy Board Fund. Cerebral Palsy is the Ohio Elks major project donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations across the state annually who support people with CP and other similar disabilities.
UCP of Greater Cleveland serves over 1,500 children and adults every year. While the agency initially served only children with cerebral palsy, we are now a network of support for people with a wide spectrum of disabilities including but not limited to, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, genetic disorders, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, among others.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Announces Americanism Essay Contest Winners
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 announced the winners of the 2023-2024 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Americanism Essay Contest. This fraternal year, the theme for the contest was, “What the Bill of Rights means to me”. The students competed in divisions, by age group.
The local winners, which were forwarded to the District for further judging, were:
1st Place Winners (pictured left to right, front row)
Div. I – 5th Grade – Londyn Burley – Crestview Elementary School
Div. II – 6th Grade – Mackenzie Kreischer – Crestview Middle School
Div. III – 7th Grade – Breanna Sinn – Crestview Middle School
Lynne Etling – Van Wert Elks Exalted Ruler
2nd Place Winners (pictured left to right, middle row)
Div. I – 5th Grade – Addi Horstman– St Mary’s Catholic Elementary
Div. II – 6th Grade – Kendall Hesseling – St Mary’s Catholic Elementary
Div. III – 7th Grade – Brooke Stoller – Wayne Trace Middle School
Div. IV – 8th Grade – Annabel Horstman – Lincolnview Middle School
3rd Place Winners (pictured left to right, back row)
Div. I – 5th Grade – Liam Greenwalt – Lincolnview Middle School
Div. II – 6th Grade – Katelynn Hurd – Wayne Trace Middle School
Div. III – 7th Grade – Maverick – Lincolnview Middle School
Anita Carvajal – Lodge Americanism Committee Chair
Absent was Xehrya Esparza who placed first and Graylie Grose, who placed third, both in Division IV.
Winners in the Northwest District level were Londyn Burley placed first; Liam Greenwalt placed second and Addi Horstman placed third, all in the Northwest District Division I competition. Katelynn Hurd placed first in the Northwest District Division II competition. Maverick Hammons placed third in the Northwest District Division III competition. Xehrya Esparza placed first in the Northwest District Division IV competition.
Van Wert Lodge had three who placed in the State competition. Londyn Burley placed third in the Division I level. Katelynn Hurd placed third in the Division II level and Xehrya Esparza placed first in the Division IV level.
Van Wert Lodge is proud to announce that Xehrya Esparza will be competing in the National Level.
Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 would like to congratulate all of our winners and we wish to thank all of the students, teachers and schools for their participation in this years essay contest.
Northeast District Hosts Ohio Elks Association State Officers
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 hosted the Ohio Elks State Officers and lodges from across the Northeast District the past weekend. In addition to raising hundred of dollars for charities, the weekend included a range of fun activities including a golf outing, tours of landmarks around the Cleveland area, a concert and pig roast, and culminated with the installation of the Northeast District Officers for the 2024-2025 district year. Thanks to all who worked the weekend and to all who visited from around the state.
Buckeyes From Around The Country Are Heading to Austin!
Native Ohio residents, Barry and Linda Goodballet, currently residing in Encinitas, CA, sporting the new shirts for the endorsed candidate for Grand Exalted Ruler Doug Schiefer and wife Julia. Both Barry and Linda will be traveling to Grand Lodge in Austin, TX in support of Doug and Julia, and their brother, Ohio Elks Association State President Brad Goodballet. Look for them Austin!
Newark Elks #391 Helps Train Sheriff Department’s Newest Recruit
Meet Stella, the newest recruit with the Licking County Sheriff’s Department. Stella is a sheepadoodle, a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Standard Poodle. When fully grown, she will weigh around 80 pounds. She is hypoallergenic, doesn’t shed and is a soft ball of fur. She has a very calm disposition and loves attention.
From Left: Lecturing Knight, Becky Underhill; Leading Knight, Ginger Rife; Captain Barbuto, Stella and her handler, Deputy Van Balen; Lieutenant Crider; and Exalted Ruler, Mark Gilligan.
Right now, this 15 week old puppy is learning basic commands and skills but in a few months she will start training to be a therapy dog. Her job will be to calm the fears and anxieties of children in stressful situations or to sit with children at hearings where they are giving testimony. When off duty, Stella will visit area schools and give the students the opportunity to read to her. What a life!!!
Newark Elks #391 is thrilled to be able to help with Stella’s training by donating $2,500 from our PER Association and, of course, Stella is welcome to visit our lodge at any time to get some affection. We love soft balls of fur too!
Berea Elks #1815 Help Local Seniors With Nutrition Support
Members of Berea Elks Lodge #1815 recently helped to repack 10,500 lb. of shelf stable food at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank which will be distributed to nearly 400 elderly around Northeast Ohio providing nutrition assistance for those on fixed or no incomes.
Members packed everything from milk, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, rice, and other items that can hold longer shelf life.
In all, 18 members of the lodge worked to do their part to make our community a better place.
