By Tom ScudderConvention News Reporter

“Thank you for taking pride and taking action,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon to the assembled delegates on day two of the Grand Lodge Session.

He praised the Elks for taking pride in the young people of America and believing that they are the leaders of tomorrow, and in taking action by distributing millions of pieces of drug awareness literature, partnering with Marvel Comics, and working in many other ways to inspire the nation’s youth to avoid the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Dhillon pledged that the DEA would continue to help with this effort by enforcing the law against the drug traffickers attacking American communities. He noted that the DEA had been able to increase prosecutions of drug traffickers and others who have put illicit drugs into the hands of children, including those who abused their positions as doctors to worsen the opioid epidemic. He noted that the DEA has been able to significantly increase recruitment to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration Academy, and that the new graduates would lead to a net increase in the 5,000 agents in service for the first time in years.

He thanked the Elks for their participation in the annual Red Ribbon Week, during which eight million young people in schools across the country take a stand against drug abuse, and encouraged the Elks to devote the whole month of October to Red Ribbon-related activities.

Following Dhillon’s presentation, National Drug Awareness Program Director Kent Gade presented him with a Red Ribbon card signed by Mika Camarena, the widow of slain DEA Agent Enrique Camarena; a numbered Red Ribbon storybook from the first year of Red Ribbon Week; and a poster from the first year that the BPO Elks was involved in Red Ribbon Week.

Also during the second day of the Grand Lodge Session, delegates passed eleven and rejected four resolutions to amend the statutes of the Order during the legislative session. Delegates also heard from several Grand Lodge com-mittees and commissions concerning their activities over the previous year and their plans for the future, and con-gratulated the All American Lodge win-ners and the finalists of the Ritualistic Contest.

The resolutions that were passed included a constitutional amendment to make it possible for state associations to merge when it proves necessary. This amendment will be returned to the Local Lodges to be ratified before it can take effect. Other resolutions that were approved included one authorizing a new standardized online financial reporting system; one allowing non-Member caregivers to remain in the social areas of a Lodge during Lodge meetings; and one requiring all Lodges to meet twice a month in February, March, and April. The resolutions that were rejected included one allowing for a different rate of dues for married Elks residing at

the same address; one requiring Lodge officers to perform the initiatory ritual during district deputy visits; one adding the secretary and treasurer to the board of directors; and one allowing district deputies to be appointed to districts other than their home district.

Prior to the legislative session, Grand Trustee Chairman Paul Ryan, in his final report, indicated that the 2019-2020 dues would be fixed at $19.00—$6.50 for the Grand Lodge, $7.00 for the insurance assessment, and $5.50 for The Elks Magazine. Next, Louis Ringger, Chief Justice of the Grand Forum, gave his final report, during which a resolution was approved naming GER-Elect Robert Duitsman, who will be unable to complete his fifth year on the Grand Forum, as an honorary Past Chief Justice of the forum.

While the results of the voting were being tabulated, David Lake, chairman of the Activities Committee, announced the results of the Community Project Contest, of which the first place winners were El Paso, TX (Division One), Presque

Elks Welcome DEA Acting Administrator

Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Director Uttam Dhillon, here posing with Elroy, spoke to assembled delegates during the second day of convention.

155th Session Care — Share St. Louis, Missouri

USA

Grand LodGe

Convention News Wednesday Z July 3, 2019

Please see CONVENTION Page 2

Page 2 Care — Share grand Lodge

2019 - 1 To authorize the merger of two or more State Associations. Yes= 2,477 | No= 496 Passed2019 - 2 To provide a procedure for the merger of State Associations. Yes=2,413 | No=555 Passed

2019 - 3 To require the Officers of the Lodge to perform the Ritual during the official visit of the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. Yes=1,156 | No=1,811 Failed

2019 - 4 To make sure that no jewels or regalia are worn outside the Lodge room except during special ceremonies. Yes=2,478 | No=490 Passed

2019 - 5 To allow Lodges to amend their By-Laws to provide for a different rate of dues for married couples residing at the same address. Yes=834 | No=2,126 Failed

2019 - 6 To add the Secretary and Treasurer to the Board of Directors. Yes=1,363 | No=1,595 Failed

2019 - 7 To allow caregivers and/or drivers of disabled Members to remain in the Social Quarters during a meeting. Yes= 2,527 | No=440 Passed

2019 - 8 To define a Member in Good Standing and confirm that an Elk who is suspended from Club privileges is still a Member in Good Standing. Yes=2,128 | No=840 Passed

2019 - 9 To move the definition of an Unaffiliated Elk to the Definition Chapter and confirm that an Elk whose Membership is suspended in any manner is an Unaffiliated Elk. Yes=2,671 | No=295 Passed

2019 - 10 To transfer the responsibilities for membership marketing from the Fraternal Committee to the Committee on Public Relations and Membership Marketing. Yes=2,678 | No=291 Passed

2019 - 11 To codify that an Executive Order issued by the Grand Exalted Ruler may suspend a Member’s social privileges in the Order. Yes=2,682 | No=293 Passed

2019 - 12To require Lodges to meet at least twice in February, March and April and to provide an alternative method of Notice for special meetings called for the sole purpose of Initiation.

Yes=1,813 | No=1,140 Passed

2019 - 13 To allow District Deputies to be appointed to Districts other than their home District. Yes=1,399 | No=1,577 Failed

2019 - 14 To replace the requirement of an Annual Financial Report (audit, review or compilation) with a standardized on-line financial reporting system. Yes=1,776 | No=1,181 Passed

2019 - 15 To provide how the Board of Director positions in a for profit corporation shall be constituted. Yes=2,155 | No=775 Passed

~ TUESDAY’S RESOLUTIONS BALLOTING RESULTS ~

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Isle, ME (Division Two), Zephyrhills, FL (Division Three), Sarasota South, FL (Division Four), Rotonda, FL (Division Five), and Keizer, OR (Division Six).

He also announced that the Soccer Shoot competition would have a new “virtual” national championship, which would involve comparing the results of the winning shooters at the state and regional levels and crowning as national

champions the winners with the highest score at those levels. Along with this virtual championship, he also indicated that the Activities Committee would encourage the creation of regional competitions in those areas of the country that do not currently have one.

Next up was the report of the Government Relations Committee, which was given by acting chairman James Martsfield, who dedicated the report to the late chairman Robert Guillen. He reported that the total national giving by the Order in time, money, and in-kind donations was an impressive $460,704,156, which, however, was a slight decrease from the previous year.

Fraternal Committee Chairman Dennis Ramsey congratulated the winners of the Americanism Essay Contest. The winner of Division One was Angeline Todorov, who was sponsored by Ocean City, MD Lodge No. 2645. The winner of Division Two was Emily Scott, who was sponsored by Lockport, NY Lodge

CONVENTION from Page 1

Please see CONVENTION Page 4

Convention news wednesday • JuLy 3, 2019 Page 3

Registration Final TallyOn this last day of the convention, the

grand total number of Elks, Spouses and Guests tallied at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday is:

Grand Exalted Ruler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Past Grand Exalted Rulers . . . . . . . . . . . .19Grand Lodge Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Grand Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Grand Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Grand Lodge Committeemen . . . . . . . . . .75District Deputies-Designate . . . . . . . . . .234Special Deputies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33State Association Presidents . . . . . . . . . .46State Association Secretaries . . . . . . . . . .30Grand Lodge Members . . . . . . . . . . . 1,677Non-Voting Members . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,863Guests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,298Reps to G/L and Alternates . . . . . . . . 1,529Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Grand Total of 6,865

~ WEDNESDAY CONVENTION SCHEDULE ~3rd day Business session

08:00 Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael T . Luhr, GER — Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev . Father Stephen McNally, Grand Chaplain — Pledge of Allegiance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All08:10 Memorial Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malcolm J . McPherson Jr ., PGER09:00 PR & Membership Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard F . Gathen, Manager09:15 Installation of 2019-2020 Grand Lodge Officers . . . . . . . .Michael F . Zellen, PGER09:30 Grand Exalted Ruler Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert L . Duitsman, GER09:35 Installation of DDGERs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert L . Duitsman, GER09:38 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carl A . Robinson, Grand Esquire09:40 Special Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roger R . True, PGER09:45 Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan R . Klatt, Grand Secretary09:55 Presentation of Jewels to outgoing GL Officers . . . . . . . . . Michael T . Luhr, PGER10:00 Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan R . Klatt, Grand Secretary10:05 Special Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . “GER Badge”, Bryan R . Klatt, Grand Secretary10:08 Special Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Minnesota “Ring”, gift from State Ass’n10:11 Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alaska “Watch”, gift from State Ass’n10:14 Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert L . Duitsman, GER10:18 Presentation of GL Officers & Committee Chairmen . . . . .Robert L . Duitsman, GER 10:23 Closing Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Lodge Officers10:30 Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev . Father Stephen McNally, Grand Chaplain10:32 Grand Lodge Closed

~ ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. ~

By Taylor OdishoENF Communications Coordinator

Diverse. Outgoing. Ambitious. Bright. These are just a few adjec-tives that describe the members of the 2019 Most Valuable Student scholarship class. Their talents and personality were on display during the sixth annual Leadership Week-end in Chicago in April.

Throughout the weekend, the group had workshops that allowed them to share stories about their families, the adversities they’ve faced, and their hopes, dreams, and goals. Their vulnerability turned them from strangers to friends in just a few days.

On Friday, the finalists had a unique opportunity to have breakfast with the ENF’s Board of Trustees before packing hygiene kits that they hand-delivered to veterans at a Chicagoland V.A. Medical Center.

The next day, national judges interviewed finalists to determine who would receive the top priz-es. As soon as the interviews were done, scholars unwound with a vis-

MVS Class Convenes For Leadership Weekend

The 2019 Most Valuable Student scholar-ship top winners were Tabitha Escalante (left) and Victor Ramirez.

it to the Willis Tower Skydeck. That night, the scholars relaxed and re-flected during a dinner cruise along the Chicago River. Jake Mann, sponsored by Fort Myers, Fla., Lodge No. 1288, knows this will be the first of many weekends spent with his Elks family.

“I learned that the Elks community is something that I’ll be a part of for the rest of my life,” Mann said. “This weekend was just the beginning!”

This year’s top winners were Victor Ramirez, sponsored by South Miami/Coral Gables, Fla.,

Lodge No. 1676, and Tabitha Escalante, sponsored by Maumee-BG, Ohio, Lodge No. 1850. They will each receive $50,000 to attend Princeton University and Harvard College, respectively. Ramirez and Escalante received their awards and gave speeches during the Opening Ceremony.

For 2019-20, the Elks National Foundation allocated $2.9 million to fund the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, which includes 500 four-year scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $50,000. For more information about the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, including eligibility and deadlines, visit enf.elks.org/MVS.

Escalante spoke at the Opening Ceremony

Page 4 Care — Share grand Lodge

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No. 41. He announced that the 2019-2020 contest theme will be “What Does Freedom of Speech Mean to Me?” Next, he congratulated the 18 winners, including seven first-place winners, of the All-American Lodge contest.

GER Elect Robert Duitsman spoke about his program for the coming year. He centered his remarks around the phrase, “If they know you, and they like you, they will want to be part of you.” He encouraged Lodges to actively publicize their good deeds, meaningfully engage with the community, and seek to be welcoming places for both new and existing members.

Next was the report of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, which was given by PGER David Carr. Carr congratulated the 300 Lodges that had made creative and effective use of ENVSC Freedom Grants to assist veterans, highlighting projects by Lake Oconee, GA Lodge No. 2849, the Vacaville, CA Lodge No. 2638, and the Saint Louis, MO Lodge No. 9. He noted

CONVENTION from Page 2 that the Elks Voluntary Service Program assisted 633,865 veterans at 343 VA facilities in the past year.

Turning to the Elks Veterans Leather Program, he congratulated the states of Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas for

finishing first, second, and third in providing hides to the program. He reviewed the dramatic effects the Welcome Home Program has had upon the lives of veterans struggling with homelessness, noting that 1,733 veterans have been given emergency financial assistance to help them stay in their homes, that 2,701

veterans have been provided with basic household supplies to let them turn bare apartments into homes, and that 1,556 veterans have been assisted in eight areas of the country that are on the front lines of the battle against veteran homelessness.

Ritualistic Committee chairman Douglas Jones closed the session by recognizing the winners of the national Ritualistic Contest, including outstanding officers from the preliminary rounds as well as the top four winners of the national finals.

Ritualistic Committee Chair­man Douglas Jones was the final speaker Tuesday

Convention news wednesday • JuLy 3, 2019 Page 5

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Pledge Makes Vision a RealityBy Joannah Vaughan and Franny WhiteMilwaukie-Portland, OR Lodge No. 142

Thanks to a $20 million pledge from the Elks, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, OR broke ground June 2 on a $50 million, 60,000 square-foot building that will be named the Oregon Elks Children’s Eye Clinic.

Oregon State Elks and OHSU: By the Numbers

• 18,000: number of annual patient visits at the current Elks Children’s Eye Clinic

• 40: percentage of patients at the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic who are uninsured or underinsured, and whose care is assisted by the Oregon State Elks

• 7,844: number of Head Start students screened statewide this year through the Elks Preschool Vision Program

• 6,000: number of hours Elks volunteers provide patient help at the OHSU Casey Eye Institute

information desk annually• 500: average number of quilts Elks

members make and donate annually to pediatric ophthalmology surgery patients

• $20 million: amount Oregon State Elks have pledged to help construct the new Elks Children’s Eye Clinic building

• $50 million: total amount Oregon State Elks will have provided to sup-port OHSU pediatric ophthalmology efforts once the new Elks Children’s Eye Clinic is built

Rendering of the new Oregon Elks Children’s Eye Clinic Building. (Rendering by NBBJ)

Page 6 Care — Share grand Lodge

Visit us at our Booth!

6-19

~ RITUALISTIC CONTEST FINAL SCORES; St. Louis, MO ~

From left: Mary Playford, Margaret Archambault, and Michael Archambault

It’s a Family AffairBy Mike ChamernikConvention News Reporter

Father, mother, and daughter all call the shots in a southeastern New York Elks family.

Michael Archambault, his wife Margaret, and his daughter Mary

Playford have all been, or will be, Exalted Rulers of their Lodges.

Michael was the ER of Catskill, NY Lodge No. 1341 in 2018-19 and Margaret is expected to be ER of that Lodge in 2020-21. Playford was ER of Saugerties, NY Lodge No. 2574 in 2018-19 and will be again this year.

First Place 97.1198 Kenton, OH No 157Second Place 96.2105 Carthage, NY No 1762Third Place 96.1075 Okmulgee, OK No. 1822Fourth Place 95.9031 Carlsbad, NM No. 1558

Convention news wednesday • JuLy 3, 2019 Page 7

Congratulations to 2018-19 Ritualistic Contest Winners!

First Place — Kenton, OH No. 157Front, from left: Esteemed Loyal Knight Michael Sturgeon; Esteemed Leading Knight Derek Kaufman; ER Todd Daquino; Chaplain Gina Hoelscher; Estemeed Lecturing Knight Nate Davis. Back, from left: Coach D. Jack Buroker; Coach David Beazley; Inner Guard Terry Haudenschield; Candidate John Hines; Esquire Chad Spencer.

Third Place — Okmulgee, OK Lodge No. 1822Front, from left: Esteemed Loyal Knight Veronica Biddle; Esteemed Lecturing Knight Tabetha Boss; ER Kristal Dearmon; Chaplain Connie Siebert. Back, from left: Esteemed Leading Knight Dewayne Hurt; Candidate Kevin Johnson; Coach Dale Siebert; Esquire Brian Sibert; Inner Guard Sid Boss.

All American Officers — Western DivisionFront, from left: Esteemed Lecturing Knight Lori Siebern (Hillsboro, OR #1862); Chaplain Anoop Bhatheja (Phoenix, AZ #335); ER Frank Luers (Casper, WY #1353); Candidate Bonnie Days (Reno, NV #597); Esteemed Loyal Knight Veronica Biddle (Okmulgee, OK #1822). Back, from left: Inner Guard Rich Axe (Garden Grove, CA #1952); Esteemed Leading Knight Thomas Strudd (Phoenix, AZ #335); Esquire Brian Siebert (Okmulgee, OK #1822); Coach Dale Siebert (Okmulgee, OK #1822).

Second Place—Carthage, NY No. 1762Front, from left: Esteemed Loyal Knight Elizabeth Gamble; ER Michael Higman; Esquire Tyler Clemons. Back, from left: Candidate Jeremy Thesier; Esteemed Lecturing Knight Kody Heukrath; Esteemed Leading Knight Robert Sugar; Inner Guard/Coach Brian Scott.

All American Officers — Eastern DivisionFront, from left: Esteemed Loyal Knight Michael Sturgeon (Kenton, OH #157); Esteemed Leading Knight Derek Kaufman (Kenton, OH #157); ER Todd Daquino (Kenton, OH #157); Esteemed Lecturing Knight Nate Davis (Kenton, OH #157); Coach D. Jack Buroker (Kenton, OH #157). Back, from left: Coach Jerry Haudenschield (Kenton, OH #157); Coach David Beazley (Kenton, OH #157); Chaplain Ned Thompson (Dalton, GA #1267); Candidate John Hines (Kenton, OH #157); Inner Guard David Gibson (Dalton, GA #1267).

Fourth Place — Carlsbad, NM Lodge No. 1558Front, from left: Inner Guard Rusty Block; Candidate Russell Elyasevich; ER Jeff Gordon; Esteemed Leading Knight Damon West; Esquire Dustin Thompson. Back, from left: Coach Kent Hitchen; Esteemed Loyal Knight Kelly Calicoat; Chaplain Lee White; Esteemed Lecturing Knight Robert Roberson.

Page 8 Care — Share grand Lodge

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