Category: Columns

We would like to thank DDGER Randy Logan for his visit to our lodge on Wednesday September 16. We would also like to thank all the members for coming to the lodge sit down or “Take out” meals on Wednesdays and Fridays. Thank you to all who volunteer, our membership makes our lodge great! Keep up the good work of social distancing and wearing masks. Stay safe and God bless.

Marta Martinez, Trustee Chairperson

by Heather Shelton, Times-Standard Newspaper, portions of the article were copied with permission

“The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks brings much more to our communities than just a building. We provide a place where neighbors come together, families share meals and children grow up,” said Past Exalted Ruler Dennis Hunter.

“We invest in our communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today’s veterans and improve the quality of life,” Hunter said. “One of the ways we can save lives is to become directly involved with the blood bank. Since the onset of the COVID-19 virus, there has been a tremendous shortage of blood and the need for local blood donations.”

New donors are always needed, (Kate) Witthaus noted, especially now during the COVID-19 health crisis. “Locally, 38% of blood donations normally come from people 65 and older, but many seniors are now quarantining. Twenty-five percent of donations normally come from high school and college campus blood drives, but most of these schools are closed or partially closed,” she said. “We need new healthy, eligible donors to step in and fill these gaps, and we need new businesses and organizations to help us hold community blood drives to replace the ones that have been canceled.” Dozens of Elks and community members donated (at our Elks Blood Drive).

Randy Logan, District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, pictured with Kathy Payne, Exalted Ruler of Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652, made his annual visit to the lodge to inspect the lodge financial books, records, membership development, lodge activities and charitable works. His district is from the Golden Gate bridge to the Oregon border and east to I-5. He complimented Kathy, her officers and committee workers on their fine work and ranks it as one of the top lodges in his district.

Hello everyone! We are having dinners on Wednesday and Friday nights. There are Sit-Down outside or To Go meals available. We are able to seat 110 people on our two decks. Reservations MUST be made by 5 pm the night before; call 834-6612. Please remember that the Lodge is open to Elk Members in Good Standing
ONLY and we can not accept GUESTS (non members) at this time. The best way you, as a member, can help to support your Lodge is to purchase a meal. We have four heaters on the decks now to help keep us warm. Thank you Kevin Jenkins from McKinleyville Ace Hardware and Kevin Christie from Eureka Ace
Hardware for the donation of two heaters. We have 217 Members that have not paid their Member Dues yet. Please try to have your current year’s Dues paid as quickly as possible. We will be sending out past-due notices soon. We don’t want to drop anyone for non-payment!

We will be having our DDGER Randy Logan visit our Lodge on Wednesday, September 16th. All Officers and the Chairmen of all committees must write their
reports and have them available at the 5 pm meeting on September 16th. We will be having a Pot Roast dinner that night. Please be sure to make reservations at 834-6612. This is a great opportunity for members to meet visiting dignitaries. Please join us! Stay healthy and happy!

Kathy Payne, Exalted Ruler
“Get ’er Done and Let’s Have Fun.”

I was pondering about what to write for our Herd Talk this
month. A member suggested writing about what the Trustees do
in the Lodge.
The Trustees job is to maintain the land, oversee the facilities,
contracts, approve funds, and create a budget for the Lodge.
There are five Trustees on the board. The Chairman, Secretary
and Safety Officer are chosen within those five. Being a Trustee is a five-year
commitment. We meet the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 o’clock.
Our meetings are open to Elks in good standing.
Marta Martinez, Trustee Chairperson

The Golf Tournament was a great success! Everyone had fun and lunch was great. I
want to thank everyone that helped and all the generous sponsors and local businesses that
helped put it all together. Sponsors include: Leon’s Car Care, Hilltop Builders, Johnston
Construction, Bindel Real Estate, Straight Flush Plumbing, Carbonneau Tile, J.Z. Contracting,
Scott Construction, and Lodge Officer Ward Mengel. Our community is strong and our local
businesses really gave a lot, THANK Y OU!

I have a sign-up sheet at the bar if anyone (Elks only) is interested in entering their vehicle (car, truck, bike,
trike) in the Support Elks #652 Car Show fundraiser. Cars will be spaced six feet apart with lots of room for
social distancing. A lunch will be provided afterward out on the deck for a donation. The fee to sign up a
vehicle for the event is $25.00. We will have judging and some prizes will be given.

We had another fun five hour Zoom meeting with the District leaders and other lodges. I learn more about
Elkdom every time. I want to thank everyone that participated. In the meeting we learned that we are getting
a visit from our DDGER on September 16th so save the date and come on out.

Scott Reinsmith, Leading Knight, Major Projects

The Roamers have not been able to meet as a group due to pandemic restrictions. Roamers meet the first
Wednesday of every month at the Lodge. Our attendance for each meeting is around 50 which is more than
the recommended 10. Therefore, we are communicating and planning by email.

Daniel and Crystal Arbutnot, August Trailblazers, lead ten rigs to Joe Creek Waterfalls RV Resort (KOA) on
August 13-16 in Grants Pass, Oregon. The Roamers had a wonderful time despite the triple digit heat (107).
Hors-d’oeuvres were served Thursday night. Friday afternoon we took a jet boat ride down the Rogue River
through “Hells Canyon”. A delicious dinner was served halfway through the trip. Saturday, we had the
famous cinnamon rolls from Heaven on Earth for breakfast. We explored the area and returned for a pot-luck
dinner that included BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs. Sunday, we returned to cooler weather on the coast.
Charlie Blunk, in place of Hank and Mitzi Beck, will be the September Trailblazer for our outing to McCloud
and the Blue Grass Festival on September 17-20.
Please stay safe, wear your mask, and practice social distancing. Happy Trails to You!

Dale A. Stockly, Wagon Master

Welcome to our new members who were initiated on August 19: Kerri Hart, Dave Olson,
Rourke Soulis and Jeffrey Sterling. Bonnie Petersen participated in the ritual because she was
one of the members who had taken the oath via the mail during our total closure. Now that we
are holding regular meeting in-person I encourage all of our members who had taken their oath
via mail to attend the ritual and participate for the experience.

Please remember that we are open for meal service, but social distancing is necessary. That
means face masks when moving about or ordering food and drinks, and staying six feet apart
regardless of what you are doing. We have no known active cases of COVID-19 among our members, and
we want to keep it that way! I suspect the current restrictions will remain in place throughout the year, or
until we get a vaccine.

There are a lot of things happening at the Lodge in spite of the COVID-19
restrictions. The RV park is full or almost full every night. The meal service
has been getting bigger and bigger every week, especially with take-out
dinners. The Lodge Office is closed except for Fridays; however, someone is
here usually from about 8:00 am to noon weekdays.

Brad Smith , PDDGER, Lodge Secretary