Two local students were honored for their participation in a Statewide contest and won $100.00 each from the Elks Lodge State Contest on “Drug Awareness Program”, and $100 each from the local Elks Lodge No. 652 also.
Maile Russell, 8th grader, won the Essay Contest for the Northwest District for the slogan “Drug Abuse, No Excuse” and Ilya Kelly, 4th grader, won for her poster for the same slogan. Pictured from left to right, front row: Ilya’s brother, Arthur; her Mother, Julie; Ilya; Maile; Maile’s Father, Tim and her brother Huck. Back row: Ilya’s Father, Gabe; Lodge Exulted Ruler, Scott, Reinsmith; Drug awareness chairperson, Jack Harris.
Mother’s Day 2021
Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual Mother’s Day breakfast and
Mother of the Year Award. This years recipient was Sang Ae Huffman. She was
born in Seoul, South Korea. She lived there through both the Japanese
occupation and Korean War. She met her husband James when working for I
Corps, U. S. 8th Army. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1969 and became a
citizen in 1971. She lives in Fortuna and worked for the Rohnerville School
District for 30 years. She been volunteering at the Elks for the past 8
years, cooking and serving meals, and enjoys the hobbies of fishing and
reading. . Mother to son’s James and David and Grandmother to Faith, Kathryn
and Rebecca. Pictured from left to right: Son, David; Granddaughter,
Rebecca; Husband for 52years, James; Recipient, Sang Ae and Lodge Exalted
Ruler, Scott Reinsmith.
Exalted Ruler’s Column – May 2021
Dear Members, The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions plummeted our income this past year. We tried to reduce expenses to overcome the loss, but the monthly bills were significant enough to hurt our Lodge financially. Here’s some things that you can do to help us immediately. First, please pay your dues for 2021-2022, which were due by April 1, 2021. The most important number in any Lodge is the number of members. Secondly, pick a charity to contribute a little extra to. Our Lodge sponsors or assists Veterans and Children’s fund even in tough times. The State charity is Major Project (Purple Pig) and the National charity is the Elks National Foundation (ENF). Lastly, our facilities needs some rather expensive maintenance (Lodge Maintenance). We promise to deliver the best experience possible when you visit our Lodge as we slowly reopen. We are taking all the necessary precautions to keep our members and employees safe and healthy. Our dues is $150 a year. Give us an extra $100 and we will distribute it through our charities, or designate where you would like us to spend the money. Fraternally, Scott Reinsmith, Exalted Ruler.
Redwood Roamers – May 2021
The Redwood Roamers have had their first outing for 2021 to Benbow KOA park on April 16-18. Fifteen RV’s made
the trek. Everyone was excited to get out in the outdoors after a long year of staying home. On Sunday, we had a
party to celebrate Mickey Land-McLsaac retirement and marriage to Doug McLsaac. Twelve Roamers drove down
from Eureka to join the celebration making 42 Roamers in attendance. The evening provided campfires, fellowship
and good stories. The Roamers next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. All Elks are
invited to come regardless if they have an R.V. or not. Please stay safe, wash your hands, wear your face mask and
practice social distancing. Happy trails!, Dale A. Stockly, Wagon Master.
Flag Day 2021
Our Annual Flag Day Ceremony is June 6th at noon. This is a wonderful patriotic event celebrating the history of our
Flag. This year’s ceremony will include the Boy Scouts, Emblem Club, Mad River Military Honor Guard and the
Knights Templar. Members of these organizations, their families and friends are invited to attend. A free lunch of
Hot Dogs and condiments will be served at the Lodge after the event. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
Americanism Spotlight – May 2021
May’s Americanism Spotlight of Revolutionary War ancestors are John Reinsmith Sr, and his son John Reinsmith Jr, who were the 6th and 5th great-grandfathers, respectively, of our Exalted, Ruler Scott Reinsmith. Their service records are well documented and both are qualified ancestors with the Daughters of the American Revolution organization. They immigrated from the Valley of the Rhine, Germany, as crew members of the Dutch East India Company. The Reinsmith family settled in Lehigh County Pennsylvania where many of their descendants still reside.
We salute with much respect the adventuresome spirit of the Reinsmith father and son who crossed the great ocean, settled in the new world, fought for our freedoms and liberties, and were ancestors of a multitude of upright and patriotic descendants.
If you have a Revolutionary War ancestor, and would like to learn more about them, please leave your contact info with the Lodge Secretary. Gene Ology will contact you and prepare a free family history report for you. By Wendy Browne, Inner Guard.
Americanism Column – April 2021
Wendy Browne, the new Americanism Chairman for our Lodge, has some new ideas for the Americanism column. Each month she wants to spotlight a revolutionary war patriot who is an ancestor of one of our members. This could be expanded into the Civil War, which was a revolution of sorts. This months Revolutionary War Patriot is Johannes Soder (1740-1821), who was a Captain of the Fifth Militia, 3rd Battalion in Berks County Pennsylvania. His troops served as Minute Men at Brandywine and Germantown. They also served on the frontier against Indians. Johannes was born in Bedford Pennsylvania in 1740. His father was from Bern Switzerland, and arrived in America in 1733. Johannesenlistment dates are not known because the British destroyed the military records in Washington, DC during the was of 1812. Johannes had 4 sons and 8 daughters. Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Ward Mengel is the 6th Great Grandson of Johannes Soder. The information was submitted by Gene Ology. Submit articles to the Lodge Secretary.
Scott Reinsmith, 2021-2022 Exalted Ruler
Gary Payne Honored
2021 Installation of Officers
Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual installation of officer on
March 27th. The lodge was chartered in 1910 and held its first meeting on
2nd street, where the Oberon restaurant is today. They later moved to the
corner of H and 4th street, the current location of Umpqua Bank. Then in the
1970’s, moved to its current location on Herrick Avenue. The lodge is one of
the most active lodges in the state with over 1400 members. For further
information visit the lodge web site at www.elks652.org. Pictured from left
to right, front row: Treasurer, Ernie Nunes: Lecturing Knight, Ward Mengel:
Leading Knight, Marta Martinez: Exalted Ruler, Scott Reinsmith: Loyal
Knight, James Jones: Secretary, Brad Smith and Chaplain, Shawn Doebel. Back
row; Tiler, Dennis Doty; Inner Guard, Wendy Brown: Esquire, Eddie Morgan and
Trustees, Pierre Carbonneau, Karen Hunter, Sherie Bialous and Terry Long.