We’re still not the largest Lodge in the U.S., but we are growing!  Thank you, members, for answering the call to increase membership!  Last month in this column, I mentioned how Bismarck-Mandan recently lost the distinction of being the largest Lodge in the U.S.  One of two ways we plan to address this is a through a Membership Drive.

As of this writing, we’re half-way through this Membership Drive and it has resulted in just over three dozen new members!  That means just over three dozen people are now helping fund the charitable work of our Lodge.

More good news: there’s still time to get involved in this drive!  Until February 29th, for each signed membership application submitted, your name goes into a drawing for one of five $50 Elks Gift Certificates.  If you sign up 6 or more new members, your name goes in twice.  That means if you sign up 3 people, you get three chances to win.  If you sign up 9 people you get one chance each for the first 5 and two chances for the next three new members, for a total of 11 chances to win!  Look for the membership application sent to you via direct mail, download one at www.bismanelks/membership/, or grab a couple the next time you stop into the Lodge.  Whether you are talking to family, friends, co-workers and clients, or your barber, stylist, lawyer, accountant, or mechanic, you can tell them with great confidence that their membership dollars help fund programs and activities like the Hoop Shoot, Children’s Christmas Party, Student Government Day and College Scholarships.

The second way we aim to take back our number one ranking is to collect dues from members who have let them lapse.  Perhaps they never received their dues invoice and subsequent reminders, perhaps they’ve simply forgotten.  Either way, if you see a name on the list soon to be posted in the main lobby, encourage them to bring their account current.  The benevolent and charitable work of our order needs them!

Speaking of the great works of our order, elsewhere in this newsletter, you will read the story of an ambitious recent UND graduate who, through the generosity of Elks members, was able to take a trip of a lifetime.  It all started with Elizabeth Schaff’s grandfather, Dominic Schaff.  His Bismarck-Mandan Elks membership qualified her for a 2012 Legacy Scholarship.  Legacy scholarships are available to High School Seniors who are children or grand children of paid-up Elks members.  Scholarship recipients – who receive a total of $4,000 – must perform service to the Lodge once a year for each of the 4 years they will receive funding.  On top of that, this year, Schaff and other “Elks Scholars” took a “life changing” service trip, where they helped combat hunger and homelessness. [Read more…]

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Dear Members and Friends of Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge #1199,

My name is Elizabeth Schaff. I am a recent graduate of the University of North Dakota, where I earned a B.S. in biology with a pre-health emphasis; I intend to apply to medical school this coming June. During my senior year at Century High School, I was honored to receive an Elks Legacy scholarship from the Elks National Foundation through my grandfather’s membership in the Elks. As a Legacy scholar, I maintained a commitment to community service at UND, and I intend to continue this commitment in the years to come.

Recently, Elks National Foundation has began offering opportunities for Legacy Scholars to participate in Elks scholar service trips. Thanks to a donation from the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge, I was able to participate in the most recent service trip to Oakland, California on January 3rd-9th 2016. The theme of the service trip was serving hunger and homelessness, issues that are extremely prevalent in Oakland and the greater San Francisco Bay area.

During this trip, our 19-member team served meals at a homeless shelter, sorted fresh produce for a food bank, assisted refugee and low-income children with homework at an after-school program, and planted more than 6,000 marsh plants in the San Francisco Bay.  We also were able to connect with local Elks Lodges by sharing a meal at the Richmond, CA lodge #1251 and the Alameda, CA lodge #1015. This was a unique and fun opportunity for me to connect with the Elks and express my appreciation for their service and support of all Elks scholars.

This service trip was life changing for me. It was an eye-opening experience to see the devastating effects of hunger and homelessness.  Above all, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve in the name of the Elks, who have done so much for me through my Legacy scholarship.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Schaff, 2012 Elks Legacy Scholar