State Public Relations Chair

Brad Smith
Marion #32

Public Relations is your Lodge’s year-round effort to show non-members in your locality that the Elks is a community service organization made up of people who like to have fun.  It’s your opportunity to proudly showcase your Lodge as the kind of group worth joining.

  1. Work with your ER, Secretary, Club Manager, Newsletter Editor, Facebook Editor and/or Activities Chairman to make sure you are informed of all upcoming events as far in advance as possible.

  2. Develop a system to gather information and photos of all newsworthy events.

  3. Recruit a PR Committee.

  4. Go out and meet the media personally.

  5. Promote your Lodge Events, 

PR Chairperson’s “Top 5 To Do” List

April
Installation of new officers      

May
Elks Youth Week
Mother’s Day events
Memorial Day events

June
Flag Day (pre-event announcement and post-event coverage)
Father’s Day events
Scholarship winners
Golf League
Little League/baseball team sponsorships

July
Hoop Shoot (announcement/winners)
Golf outings 

August
Lodge awards received at Ohio Elks convention  

September
Americanism Contest                                 

What Should Our Lodge Publicize?

October
Children's Halloween Party
Scholarship applications available

November
Veterans Day events 
Thanksgiving/Holiday food baskets
Hoop Shoot location/date announcement
Elk’s Memorial Service announcement – members to be honored

December
Hoop Shoot winners
Children’s Christmas party                          

January
Local winners at the District Hoop Shoot

February             
Americanism Contest winners
Valentine’s Day activities

March
Member Awards (like GER Membership Recruitment, Officer of the Year)
Scholarship applications available

Additional suggested subjects you can publicize.

  • National initiatives implemented on the local level (example: Dictionary Project)

  • Drug Awareness programs or literature distributed.

  • Events hosted (festival beer garden, track meet, etc.)

  • All donations (ENF grants, Community Service grants, etc.) 

  • Veteran’s activities (visitation, dinners, awards, etc.)                               

Remember:  your release will be 5 times more likely to be printed if it is accompanied by a photograph!

I have some press releases/stories for these events that have been used successfully. If you would like me to share them or post them on the OEA website, email me. 

Also, don’t forget to send copies of your releases to your District Public Relations Chairperson to have them included in the OEA News section, https://ohioelks.com/oea-news/ .