Category: News

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and is looking forward to a great new year.

A reminder: dues statements will be coming soon. Let us know of any changes: names, addresses, etc.

There was no initiation in December, so there are no new member names to report. Did you know that any Elk in good-standing is eligible to invite new members to join? We will initiate our newest members at the January 15 meeting. If you haven’t seen this ritual in a while, it’s always a nice meeting to attend and welcome our incoming members!

Ernie Nunes, PER, Lodge Secretary

The Roamers had their annual Christmas Party at the Elks Lodge on December 3rd. Roamers brought presents for the Marines’ Toys for Tots. Dale Bridges thanked the Roamers for their generous support. Howard Ritter updated the club on the proposed improvement for Elks #652 RV Park. Everyone enjoyed the hors d ’oeuvres
and good fellowship.

Please note that our next meeting will be on the second Wednesday, January 8th. This will be an important meeting because we will be accepting suggestions on where we want to roam in 2020! See you on January 8th at 4:30 at the Lodge.

The New Year brings a new format for our Jenga Tournament on Wednesday, January 22nd the Roamer Ladies vs. House Committee. The tournament will begin after tacos. See you there!

Happy Trails and Happy New Year!
Dale A. Stockly, Wagon Master

As 2019 winds down and 2020 is lurking around the corner , the New Years Eve Party is on the agenda. The theme for New Years Eve, is the “Roaring 20’s,” where you will need a password to enter the Speakeasy. This password will be found on your ticket for the evening. Once you enter the Speakeasy, you will find that the Lodge has been transported back in time where flappers and gangsters roamed and period signature drinks will be on the menu and for dinner, prime rib with all the fixings with Dan and Starlene at the helm. The music for the evening will be by Donna Landry and the A Train – New Edition, with the selections of tunes spanning the 20’s through the 80’s. We will have the traditional champagne toast at midnight along with a brunch at 12:30 to finish the evening off. There will be vans for the evening but I would strongly advise most that can drive, drive to the lodge and then ride home in the vans as the vans may be overwhelmed at the beginning of the evening and you may be late for the “Ball.”

But before the “Ball,” we are once again offering HOOP SHOOT to the community on December 8th. This event is being headed up by Jack Harris and will be at St. Bernard High Academy gym. Please look for further information in this edition of the Herd Talk. We will need assistance with this event to assure a successful endeavor.

The Elk’s Children’s Christmas Party will be held on December 14th. Remember, our Youth Activities Chairman, Sherie Bialous PER does her best to purchase age and gender specific gifts for your children and grandchildren so when you sign up for this event, put the ages and gender down. The event includes lunch and gifts from Santa. Yes Santa will be making an appearance and maybe an elf or two!! Children are free and adults are $5.00, the menu for the event is child friendly food!!! So bring your children or grandchildren and be a kid too!!!

The annual ER Tom & Jerry Party is scheduled for Sunday, December 22nd from 2-5 PM. Come on out and share a toddy with me. As always, we need volunteers to assist in the kitchen and dining room throughout this holiday period, with your help we can remain a successful lodge. Speaking of volunteers, anyone who would like to help with the decorating for New Years Eve, come out to the Lodge on Sunday, December 29 at 10 AM.

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a very wonderful new year! Hoping to see you all at the Lodge throughout December!

Gwen Carrol, Exalted Ruler
Deeds Not Words

Hello to All,

Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy and help out with the Chicken
Fried Steak Dinner, we made over $1,200 in credit card sales alone! If you’ve
turned in your Purple Pig and need another one, please ask next time your at
the lodge. Best holiday wishes to all!

Kathy Payne, Leading Knight

The Redwood Roamers RV Group is alive and well as we approach the holiday season. The first weekend in November marked our last excursion to Benbow. This trip is a tradi,onal pre-Thanksgiving celebra,on with a Friday night turkey pot-luck dinner served with all the trimmings followed by a campfire. Saturday was Kindell Bruga’s birthday and we surprised her with a special cake. That evening our group a/ended the tradi,onal steak dinner at the community center to benefit the Piercy Volunteer Fire Dept.

On November 5th the Roamers a/ended the Lodge Christmas decora,ng party and everyone had a festive evening followed by dinner and great fellowship. Our Redwood Roamer tree proudly stands in the hallway for all to see.

A new tradition for the Roamers occurred on Sunday, November 17th when our group met at the lodge for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Kathy Payne and her kitchen crew. Some Roamers brought a guest to dinner.

Please note that our next Redwood Roamer meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, December 3rd at 4:30PM for our annual Christmas party and slideshow. Please bring an Hors d’oeuvre and your favorite beverage.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Dale A. Stockly, Wagonmaster

The Lodge has a new accountant/bookkeeper. Please extend a warm welcome to Debbie Conrad, and thank you to Trustee Bob Gish, ER Gwen Carroll, PER Dennis Hunter, and long-time member John Goff, who stepped up and volunteered to organize/handle the interview process. Debbie starts work on Monday, December 2nd. Maggie Stinson, our current bookkeeper, will continue to work with the Lodge through March 31, 2020, as she will be retiring.

The Trustees are continuing to work on alternative power solutions for the Lodge during power
outages, with materials and installation quotes being received. We will keep you updated.

Thank you to the volunteers who stepped up to decorate the Lodge for the upcoming Holiday
seasons. It is very warm and festive. I am seeing a lot of new and old faces around the Lodge who have stepped up in their volunteerism here at the Lodge, to make our Lodge what we are so well known for.

As you gather with family and friends, please take a moment to remember and include our departed
Brothers and Sisters, and those who are less fortunate.

Please have a Happy, Healthy and Safe Merry Christmas and New Year as you meet and travel.

Fraternally and Respectfully,
Kevin Christie, Chairman, Board of Trustees

A somewhat unknown fact about Humboldt County is that there are a lot of good cooks, many of whom use recipes and skills passed down through their families from a variety of countries and traditions. Many of these folks volunteer at the Eureka Elks lodge and show off their skills throughout the year at Lodge dinners and events. These culinary delights include Oktoberfest dishes, such as schnitzel, sausage, and sauerkraut with bacon in the Bavarian tradition; the Sons of Italy’s polenta and chicken feed; International Day, with dishes ranging from Greek Baklava to Irish Stew; and the pièce de résistance, Wild Game Night, where diners are introduced to dishes that were probably very familiar in Northern California in the 1850s, such as elk cutlets, venison meatloaf, bear stew, and roast duck and coot, all contributed and prepared by local hunters. Granted that some of these dishes may be unfamiliar to suburbanites, but true food lovers appreciate the authenticity and love given to traditional exquisite dishes made at the Elks Lodge.

Elk members are privileged to have access to Lodge events and all the great food and camaraderie involved, but guests are always welcome. So, if you know an Elk, don’t be too shy. Ask them to invite you to one of our special events and expect that they will graciously welcome your interest. Perhaps they’ll even invite you to show off your own cooking ability at Cook Your Own Steak night, held three Fridays a month for only $20.

Eddie Morgan, Public Relations Coordinator