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Chaplain’s Corner – November 2018

What a month we had in October! The Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee participated in the year’s North Coast Stand Down. On Friday night the Veterans Committee provided and served meals for 320 Veterans and family members. On Saturday, the Veterans Committee served lunch for 409 Veterans and family members. Thank you to all that helped move clothing out to the Ferndale Fair Grounds on Thursday as well. A special thank you to Kevin Christie for heading up the meal preparations in the kitchen this year as well and a special thank you to Anne Poole for always going the extra mile and heading up the clothing donations and coordination for this event every year.

November 9th, 2018 is this year’s Eureka VA Clinic and Eureka Elks Lodge R.E.D. Friday BBQ. Ceremonies kick off at 12:00 (Noon) and will go until 3:00 pm. This event is open to Veterans. NO RSVP is required. Please come and join us in a day to ‘Remember Everyone
Deployed’ along with a special presentation Mad River Honor Guard and from the Eureka High School Choir. Lunch will be cooked by Kevin Christi and the Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee. I hope to see all our Veterans there.
Respectfully,
Casey Stephens, Chaplain
US Army, Ret. Veterans’ Committee Chairman

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Redwood Roamers – November 2018

At the Redwood Roamers meeting on October 3rd the following report was given on the outing to Apple Hill:
A first of its kind caravan of Roamers left Eureka on Thursday September 27th for the Placerville area. When we turned east on Highway 20 we were spread out so as to not cause traffic congestion, but we congregated for lunch at the casino in Upper Lake. Upon arriving at Hwy 16 (Rumsey cutoff) we headed south toward Woodland with a destination of a Yolo County Campground on Cache Creek with no hookups (dry camp). This was a first-time experience for a few in the caravan, but all weathered the adversity with confidence and lots of support. Our evening meal of venison stew added to the adventure followed by dessert around the campfire.

Our destination of Placerville was selected for the experience of the Apple Hill Apple Festival and dinner at the Placerville Elks in Shingle Springs. We joined in the lodge’s fun activity playing Jenga during and after dinner with one of our crew being a winner at the game (more on this later). Saturday was an Apple Hill adventure day with apple strudel, apple turnover and apple everything day! A few of the Roamers left Sunday for home, some stayed another night before returning to Eureka and others ventured on for more RV adventure. As usual everyone had a great time and enjoyed the nightly campfires.

After arriving back in Eureka, the excitement of Jenga continued to the point of wanting to involve our lodge in the game. Bill Barton funded the purchase of a game for our lodge. The idea is to get it out and play it during dinner at BPOE #652. Come join in the fun and test your skill, strength and calm playing Jenga at dinner on a Wednesday evening soon.

The Roamers cooked breakfast at the lodge on October 21st. We had a great turnout, at least 120 turned out for the breakfast. The next outing will be to Benbow RV Park on November 1st – 4th. There are 22 RVs going on this outing. We will be decorating a Xmas tree at the Lodge on November 12th at 5pm.

The next Roamers meeting will be November 7th, at 4:30. Any lodge member who is interested may attend.

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Exalted Ruler’s Column – October 2018

As the year 2018 heads into its final quarter, we enter an extremely busy and fun time of the year at our lodge. Starting with our annual Oktoberfest on October 6th, we have many activities planned over the next few months. The success of Eureka Elks Lodge #652 is totally tied to our volunteers. All meals are prepared and served by volunteers. The "adult beverages" you enjoy are served by volunteer bartenders. When you enter the lodge for an event, you’re greeted by volunteer door tilers. And, volunteer cashiers and ticket takers are there to accept payments by you and your guests.

We need your help. Please take the opportunity to volunteer for your lodge. Training for cashiers and ticket takers will take place on Tuesday, October 9th at 6:00 pm and training for door tilers will take place on Thursday, October 11th, at
6:00 pm. We’re asking that all cashiers, ticket takers and door tilers, experienced or not, attend their respective training sessions. We’ve also scheduled a training class for those who would like to become volunteer bartenders. This class, led by Jan Belarde, will be held on Sunday, October 14th, at 10:00 am. More details on this class are elsewhere in this Herd Talk. If you’ve never volunteered for any of these positions, this is the chance to be trained. All these positions provide an excellent opportunity to meet and greet your fellow Elk members.

Back in 1868 – 150 years ago – the Elks fraternal organization began with just a few volunteers. In 1901, our own Eureka Elks Lodge #652, started with volunteers leading the way. Now, in 2018, we are still one of the most popular Elks Lodges in Elkdom because of all our volunteers. The next time you’re at the lodge, be sure to give our volunteers a pat on the back for all their efforts on your behalf. Or, better yet, become a volunteer yourself. Together, We’re Elks!
Dennis Hunter, Exalted Ruler

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Secretary’s Corner – October 2018

Welcome new members: Frank Carpenter, David Kohl, Arvid Lacy, Kelly Pixley, Kathi Ray and Clint Stannard. Members ready for Balloting: Ruth Baker, Michael Bresnahan, Bryan Enloe, David Erquhart, Jack Justus, Larry Kinyon, Eric Murrell, Brenda Nevers, Linda Roberton, Shelby Schoenhofer and 2 Reinstatements, Patrick Blair and Todd
Coleman.
Ernie Nunes, PER, Lodge Secretary

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Leading Knight’s Corner – 2018

Greetings!

October is going to be a very busy month! We have the "Stand Down," October 4-7 in Ferndale. The annual Oktoberfest on the 6th at our lodge — this is always fun and yummy for your tummy!! (Did I really say that?!) It is really a great meal by our own Hans Gerstacker and his crew. We are scheduling training for the cashier and ticket positions along with tiler for the front door. Look in this edition of the “Herd Talk” for dates and times. Also scheduled is batending class on October 14 at 10 AM. Remember Halloween Havoc is on Saturday, October 27th.

Mark your calendars for the annual Men’s Fashion Show, November 17th, cocktails from 5-6, dinner at 6 with the fashion show to follow. Our own Sylvia Vader will be preparing Chicken and Polenta, a special salad and Spumoni ice cream to finish it off. Tickets are just $20.00 for the entire evening of fantastic food and fun!!! You will be treated to many of our lodge officers modeling some very fashionable attire. This is promised to be an unforgettable evening. Remember this is a fundraiser for Major Projects.

SIDEBAR: Major Projects will be sponsoring a Sweetheart Dinner on February 14th at our lodge. This will be like no other event we have had at our lodge. This event will be pre-sale tickets only!! More information to come in the weeks and months to come.

CCW TRAINING…..
Are you interested in qualifying for one?? I’m trying to put a class together, this will be open for ELKS ONLY, sorry no spouses or significant others.

If this is something you would like to do, then please email me at gwenk5472@gmail.com or text me at 707-498-3101 and let me know what date and time works for you—-majority rules.

Gwen Carroll, Leading Knight

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Redwood Roamers – October 2018

The Redwood Roamers held a meeting on September 5th at 4:30. A report and slide show were given on the outings to Florence and Gold Beach Oregon. The next outings on our schedule are to Apple Hill September 27th – 30th and to Benbow RV Park November 1st – 4th.

Some Roamers went to the Lodge on Thursday the 15th and cleaned weeds and mowed the lawns. We worked from 9 am till noon. Thank you to everyone who participated.

The Roamers will be cooking breakfast at the Lodge on October 21st. We hope everyone can make it to the breakfast.

The next meeting will be on October 3rd at 4 :30. Anyone interested in joining the Roamers may attend.

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Lecturing Knight’s Corner – October 2018

Hello members. Summer has wound down and the holiday season is quickly approaching.

For those of you that don’t know, October is Elks National Foundation (ENF) month and Oktoberfest is ENF’s biggest fundraiser. As the Lodge’s new ENF chairman I would like to invite everyone to come out and enjoy the great food chef Hans and his crew serve up. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and prizes for best German costume. I’ll be wearing my new Lederhosen.

There will also be 50/50 raffles on some Wednesdays and Fridays at dinner to benefit the Elks National Fund during October. I will also be tiling the door a few times in October to get to know our members better and hear what you have to say about our Lodge.

Scott Reinsmith, Lecturing Knight and ENF Chairman

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Veteran’s Corner – October 2018

Hello fellow lodge members.

The Eureka Veterans Committee is preparing for our 3rd Annual Veterans R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) Friday BBQ to take place on November 9th, 2018 from 12:00-3:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.

We are currently also in need of volunteers for this event. If you are interested in volunteering please give Kevin Christie a call at (707) 269-7013. Kevin does ask that you leave a message if you are unable to reach him.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing our Veterans at this event.
Respectfully,
Casey Stephens, Chaplain
US Army, Ret. Veterans’ Committee Chairman

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Redwood Roamers – August 2018

On July 3rd, 2018, eleven rigs headed north on the open road to rendezvous at the Klamath River RV Park with the sole purpose of Doing Nothing Well: pull up a chair, read a good book, take a nap and look at the mighty Klamath was the mantra of the trip. Some were distracted by the jet boat tour, Trees of Mystery, the Drive Thru Tree, Paul’s Smoked Salmon and the Pey Mey fueling station, while others thought about breakfast at the Log Cabin Diner and dinner at the Steelhead Lodge.

Three rigs went to McCloud over the weekend of July 13-16. We camped at Dancer’s RV Park on cement pads and had lush green grass around us. We went to Dunsmuir Saturday starting at the city park Botanical Garden, the Railroad Park, Castle Crags and had lunch in Dunsmuir, then went back to the trailers where we could get into our air conditioning! It was 100 outside! Sunday we took a tour of Weed, having a great time with plenty to eat as usual! Next meeting is on August 1st at 4:30 in the lodge.

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Exalted Ruler’s Column – August 2018

Thank you for the honor of representing Eureka Elks Lodge #652 at the Grand Lodge Convention held last month in San Antonio, Texas. Together with 8,700 other Elk members and guests, we celebrated 150 years of this fraternal organization. Collectively, Elks have donated over $6 billion to worthy children and adults over this 150-year span. That’s impressive! I had the opportunity to witness the installation of our new Grand Exalted Ruler, Michael T. Luhr and the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of our own "Great" Northwest District, Sandy Gowan. I am proud to be one of "Sandy’s Rangers!"

Please take the time to read their impressive bios elsewhere in this Herd Talk. A big thank you goes out to Terry Long and his long list of volunteers. Our Fireworks Booth was once again a great success! A lot of hard work by a group of dedicated Elks members paid off and all the proceeds raised by these fireworks sales will go toward children’s charities.

August promises to be a busy month at the lodge. On August 9th in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Eureka, Southwest Eureka and Old Town Eureka, we will be hosting our 4th Annual Cook Your Own Steak Night to honor the men and women who serve in the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Humboldt Bay.

On Wednesday, August 15th, we will be initiating new members into our lodge and will be joined by our District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Sandy Gowan, her Grand Esquire Ernie Nunes (yes, the same!) and her Auditor Tim Borges from Crescent City. Please join us for an excellent pot roast dinner, the meeting, and initiation.

Finally, remember to thank all who make the activities of the lodge possible: Our dedicated and hard-working volunteers. It takes all of us to run a successful lodge. Together – we’re Elks!
Dennis Hunter, Exalted Ruler