Category: News

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual installation of officers on Saturday, March 27th. The lodge was chartered in 1901 and first met in old town, the current location of Oberon Restaurant. It later moved to the corner of 5th and H Street. In the mid 1970’s moved to its current location, 445 Herrick Avenue. The lodge is one of the most active lodges in California, with over 1400 members. With the help of its members in volunteering their time to the lodge and the community, they have given many charitable donations to many local charities. Pictured from left to right, seated: Secretary, Joseph Di Loreto; Lecturing Knight, Nina Strang; Loyal Knight, Allen Caldwell; Exalted Ruler, Marta Martinez; Leading Knight, Shawn Lee Doebel; Treasurer, Ernie Nunes and Chaplain, Ward Mengel. Back row: Tiler, James Jones; Inner Guard, Ann Schuler; Trutees, Sherie Bialous, Alan Bobillot, Karen Hunter and Pierre Carbonneau. Not pictured, Esquire, James Kloss and Trustee, Terry Long.

The programs offered by Food for People are intended to serve as a safety net for those whose circumstances have left them at risk of hunger and food insecurity. Their goal is to provide individuals and households with the emergency and supplemental food they need, while working to address the root causes of hunger in our county. For information on their programs visit www.foodforpeople.org. Pictured from left to right; Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler, Scott Reinsmith: Food for People Fund Development Director, Carly Robbins and Elks Trustee, Pierre Carbonneau.

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual Drug Awareness Program Poster and Essay Contest. The program provides young adults the opportunity to express their feelings on rejecting peer pressure and what it means to be drug free through their participation in the annual program. Each winner receives a cash award of $100.00 from the Eureka Elks Lodge and an additional $100.00 from the North Coast District, along with a Certificate of Achievement. Pictured from left to right: Poster winner 5th grader, Ilya Kelly; Lodge Exalted Ruler, Scott Reinsmith; Essay winner 6th grader, Simon Zagone and Lodge Drug Awareness Chairman, Jack Harris.

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual awards night. This is the night they recognize members that give of their of time to the lodge as volunteers. The lodge volunteers are very important to the lodge and work in many ways. They bartend, wait on tables, cook, landscaping, improve the RV park, lodge improvements and more. On this night they also recognize a member as citizen of the year that works in our community. Pictured left to right: Citizen of the Year, Pierre Carbonneau: Volunteer of the Year, Rachelle Aubrey: Officer of the Year, Ward Mengel. Back row: Lodge Exalted Ruler Scott Reinsmith, accepting the Elk of the Year Award for Kathy Payne.

Marta Martinez will be installed as the new Exalter Rules of Eureka Elks Lodge No. 625. Marta was born and raised in Eureka, the daughter of Ignacio and Claudia Martinez. She graduated from St Bernard’s High and then attended College of the Redwoods and Western Institute of Science and Health in Rohnert Park, CA. She worked at Pacific Convalescent before going to Physical Therapy Assisting school, then worked at General Hospital for 19 years. She is currently working at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Student Health Center.

Martinez joined the Elks eleven years ago and has served as a Trustee for three years and was asked to become Leading Knight. She volunteers many hours, helping in the kitchen, bar area, RV Park and children’s activities. Marta is engaged to Shawn Doebel, the Elks Leading Knight. The installation will be Saturday, March 26th at 5:00 pm. Social at 4:00 pm. Dinner after the ceremony, cost $20.00 per person. This is open to family and friends.

District Leader Emeritus, Dale Colson was honored as a 50 year member of Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652, at a ceremony by District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Randall Logan. Dale joined the Eureka Elks Lodge in November, 1971 and served as Exalted Ruler in 1976-1977. He was State Vice President in 1980 and appointed District Deputy Exalted Ruler of the Great Northwest in
1986-1987. In 1988 he was appointed District Leader, where he served in that position until 2002. In 2003 he earned the honor of District Leader Emeritus. He was State Ritual Contest and Training Chairman and Ritual judge for 35 years. He is accomplished musician and was the lodge Organist for many years, retiring in 2019. Pictured from left to right: District Deputy, Randall Logan; Honoree, Dale Colson and Lodge Exalter Ruler, Scott Reinsmith.

Randall S. Logan, District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of the “Great Northwest District” visited Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 and conveyed the Message of T. Keith Mills, the Grand Exalted Ruler. Members heard Logan praise the lodge members and officers for their excellent involvement in the community, serving children and veterans. He stated “Lodges like Eureka with your 1400 members are shining examples of what the order of Elks stands for. Elks investing in their community through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug free, meet the needs of today’s veterans and improve the quality of life”. Logan serves eight Elks Lodges , from Vacaville to Crescent City. Pictured from left to right; District Deputy, Randall Logan and Lodge Exalted Ruler, Scott Reinsmith.

BPOE Historical January Events

The creation of the Grand Lodge was approved by membership in
January of 1871. Charter Number 1 was issued to New York and
Charter Number 2 was issued to Philadelphia. The incorporation of
Grand Lodge was enacted by the State of New York in March of the
same year. Grand Lodge requirement was to be a PER, Past Exalted
Ruler.

The Life Magazine edition of January 15, 1941 publishes the Elks
presentation of The Uncle Sam Poster to President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.

The Elks National Defense and Public Relations Commission becomes
the Elks War Commission on 4 January 1942.

Elks membership in 1871 was 243 and Elks membership in 1968
during the Elks Centennial was 1,452,187.

Most notable historical events are attributed to the Grand Lodge
year in which they occur and there have been millions of events.
The Millionth Elk was Raymond Cole of Bay City, Michigan, Lodge
No. 89.

Greg Rill