Category: News

The 2020-2021 Drug Awareness Program Essay and Poster Contest Winners: Essay- Maile Russell – Sunny Brea Middle School, Arcata Ca. Poster- Ilya Kelly – Arcata Elementary School, Arcata, CA.
The lodge’s winners will each receive a monetary award of $100. Their entries were also selected by the Northwest District DAP Chairman to be submitted to the State Association contest. As the district winners they each will receive an additional $100 award. State Association winners will be announced in April. By Jack Harris, Lodge DAP Chairman.

The Elks National Foundation (ENF) dispersed $14.6 million in Grants this year towards community based COVID-19 relief projects. Through the efforts of the Veteran’s and South Bay/Pine Hill School’s Committees the lodge received $7500 in ENF grant funding which provided COVID-19 relief assistance to the following.
In June the Veteran’s Committee made a $2000 Gratitude Grant donation to the North Coast Veteran Resource Center. A portion of the funds were applied to their Transitional Housing Program to assist in food cost and disinfectant Supplies. The remaining funds purchased meal cards from local merchants, which were given to residents placed in alternate housing due to their high risk of catching the disease.

The Veteran’s Committee conducted two Drive Through Food Drives with a $3500 Beacon Grant. One in November and second in December. Each event provided local needy veterans with Two “Food for People” food boxes along with a meal box from the Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee. The December Drive Through, with the assistance of a $1500 donation from the United Bikers of Northern California, included an additional a $25 Gift Card to WinCo for each recipient. The combined drives provided 110 Elks meal boxes and 220 “Food for People” boxes.

The South Bay/Pine Hill School’s Committee used a Spotlight Grant of $2000 to make a “Financial Donation” to the South Bay Union School District for the purchase of the “Gift Cards” for meals to be distributed to disadvantaged families during this year Christmas/Holiday Break. The Gift Cards, redeemable at a local food market, along with food bags containing non-perishable items and fresh produce provided these families for food “expenditure” relief during the holiday season. Ninety families received 270 food bags which provide 343 meals. By Jack Harris, Veteran’s Committee.

Most of you know that we are back into the purple tier, which means the Lodge is closed. We will remain closed when we are in the purple tier to protect our members. Our average age is in the low sixties, so many of our members have a higher vulnerability. Although, we are a lot better off than those in central and Southern California, and I expect we will remain that way, considering we are above the redwood curtain. We will open up again when we reach the red tier. I don’t believe that will be too far in the future considering the vaccine is getting out there now. Our members will be getting vaccinated before much of the population, and that’s a plus for us. Ramping up distribution seems to be what the government is trying to do at this time. Our Lodge year begins April first, and I suspect we will be well along to recovery at that time. Many events that were cancelled during 2020, will be forthcoming in 2021. I expect we will be in full swing by sometime this summer.

Meetings in person with facial masks and social distancing started again on January 18.

Meetings of the House Committee, Trustees and general membership will continue at the Lodge with masks and social distancing; however, attendance is available through “zoom”. It will be possible for those without email to use zoom via their telephone. The following website Information should get you into any meeting: eurekaelkslodge652@gmail.com. Eddie Morgan is in charge of that program.

We have held off initiations because of COVID. We can resume them by having candidates read and sign off on the obligation; however, we would rather have all candidates attend the ritual. We expect the ritual to resume the second meeting in April.

Annual elections of officers are held during the month of February each year. This year is no
exception in spite of the COVID pandemic. We, as Elks, need to carry on with our philanthropic
ideals. A big part of that is the Officer Corps of every Lodge. The Officers conduct the ritualistic
initiation that we all take before becoming a member, but that’s not all they do. The Exalted
Ruler is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lodge, making daily decisions that affect each of us
as members. The Leading Knight is the second in command, taking over in the absence of the
Exalted Ruler. He or she also stands ready to hear the cry of affliction and to aid those in
destress. The other Chair Officers have duties, such as, managing the Major Project (Purple
Pig), and the Elks National Foundation (ENF). Both are the charity parts of Elkdom. The Lodge
Secretary and Lodge Treasurer are stand alone officers with duties as defined in the Statutes.
Every Exalted Ruler (ER) who completes their year becomes a Past Exalted Ruler (PER). The
PER’s act as mentors to the Officer Corps and the Lodge in general. Eureka has a very diverse
PER Association. Many have gone on to become State (CHEA) and National Officers, such as
Association Vice Presidents or District Deputy Grand Exalted Rulers. Officers that are often not
thought of are the Lodge Trustees. There are five of them that make up the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the assets of the Lodge (the money and property).
They are the ones who put the budget together, keep and eye on it, and manage the property.
Being an officer is sometimes demanding of time and energy, but it is always rewarding.

Nominations for the following Offices will be accepted on February 3, 2021. Exalted Ruler,
Leading Knight, Loyal Knight, Lecturing Knight and Tiler as Chair Officers. Two Trustee
positions will be up for election. The Secretary and Treasurer are also up for election annually.
Nominations will be accepted in writing from those who are attending via Zoom because of the
COVID situation. Naturally, masks and social distancing are required. Traditionally, the Chair
Officers move up in rank as there is rarely a contested election. The Chaplain, Esquire and
Inner Guard are appointed by the incoming Exalted Ruler. Nominations are closed at the end of
the meeting unless no one is nominated for a particular office. Nominees are elected by
ascension if only one nominee is presented. Elections if an office is contested are held by secret
ballot the following meeting in February. The PER’s run the first meeting in February.

Fraternally, Brad Smith, PDDGER, Lodge Secretary

Please note that the lodge will be closed whenever Humboldt County is placed in the Purple COVID tier. Please check before visiting.

Hello members,

As you know we are in the red zone now. While we are in this zone, we will be open for dinner Wednesday, Friday, and some Sundays. In order to
protect our members, during this time the Elks Lodge will only be allowing members, no guests. This is to protect our member the best we can!
Please check your calendars to see what is on the menu. The bar will be open during meals only! Unfortunately, at this time we are limited to 80 people in dining room. ALL TO GO ORDERS ARE WELCOME! Please make reservations by 5pm the night before. Please remember to speak clearly, with your name, phone number, party number, and whether you would like your meal to go or for dining in. You can make dinner reservations by calling the lodge 442-6652, press 2 for reservations, then simply follow the prompts for the specific night you would like to attend. If you need any help or have any questions please feel free to call me. Thank you!

December 12th we will be having the Drive Thru Kids Christmas Party! Santa is going to be here to hand out gifts! Each child will receive a gift bag with cookies, a gift, and a craft project. Be sure to sign up your kids, grandkids, and/or great-grand kids! Santa will be here from 11am-1pm. Please sign up by December 5th! Don’t forget to include their name, gender, and age!!

December 20th is the Annual Elks Christmas Dinner! We will be having baked ham with all the trimmings! Reservations are a must, please call early! 442-6652 **Just a reminder the lodge will be closed December 24th -25th.**

December 27th my crew and I will be doing an old fashion fried chicken dinner at5pm!

December 31st we will be having a News Year’s prime rib dinner $35. Afterwards, we’ll celebrate with party favors and a champagne toast!! Come
celebrate New Year’s at the lodge with us!

*Due to the unfortunate circumstances, we will be rescheduling the memorial service!*
Sending my best wishes for Christmas and New Years,
Kathy Payne, Exalted Ruler

Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee secured the Beacon Grant to provide several high need Veterans with local “Food for People” food boxes along with a meal box from the Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee. These boxes contained several non-perishable goods such as pasta, canned tuna, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, along with many other dry goods. The Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee meal box contained a meal for a family of 4 which included pasta, pasta sauce, a fresh salad, fresh bread and dessert. These boxes were distributed via a drive thru process where Veterans pre-registered and showed up the day of the event to claim their two “Food for People” boxes and their meal box. Veterans who had restrictions (i.e. no transportation or home bound) had their boxes safely delivered by the Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee members or other Veterans organizations such as a Veteran partner like the Eureka Vets Center. Veterans were also given a resource bag that had items such as the local food bank and other organizations that support our Veterans in need. Veterans who also had not yet received a flu shot could also do so with the convenience of a local VA staff and staff
nurse available onsite as well. This event serviced over forty Veterans.

Casey Stephens, US Army Retired, Veterans’ Committee Chairman

The last Roamer outing for 2020 was at Benbow/KOA Park on November 6-8. Roamers enjoyed for good food, campfires and good fellowship. The Roamers will start in person meetings on the first Wednesday of each month if CDC Guidelines have been lifted for large meetings. If not, we will still be collecting Toys for Tots. You may drop an unwrapped toy off at the Elks Lodge by December 2. Thank you! Please stay safe, wash your hands, wear your mask, and practice social distancing. Happy Trails to You!

Dale A. Stockly, Wagon Master

I like to welcome our newest members: Jim Finney, Jaden Herkert, Cheryl Johnson, Kimberly Herkert, Laraine Ryner, Jack Brow and Barbara Fields, who were initiated Wednesday, November 18th. We were holding our own financially, but the latest COVID restriction will close us down except for meal times. We need member support. Please come by for dinner on Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday nights, or order “To Go” and take it home. These meals are
helping out a lot. Naturally, social distancing and face masks are required any time you are in the Lodge. The card tables and pool tables are closed. These restrictions are necessary as long as the County is in the red tier. The Lodge will close entirely when or if we go into the purple tier.

I want to thank those who are remaining members in spite of the COVID. It’s important to remember that this COVID crisis will end sometime in the not too far off future, and maintaining an active membership is important for you and your Lodge. It looks like a vaccine will be available in the spring, which should ease the restrictions.

I am pleased to report that many of our members will be receiving their Herd Talk via email from now on. This saves the Lodge a lot of money in postal and printing expenses. It also saves two day of labor for a team of volunteers that fold and label the paper Herd Talk. Additionally, it gives the Lodge a way to let our members know what is happening on a weekly basis by giving us a method of instantly communicating calendar changes, etc. Please, give us permission to use your email address for Elk business if you haven’t already done so by completing this form, and returning it to the Lodge. Your email address will remain confidential and only be used for Elk business.

Brad Smith , PER, PDDGER, Lodge Secretary