ANY CHANGES are being discussed these days regarding the future of Elkdom, all of which are intended to improve and grow the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Grand Lodge Board of Grand Trustees, which also serves as the Board of Directors for the Elks National Home and Retirement Center, Inc., is also exploring and discussing many options to improve the Crown Jewel of Elkdom. Assessments to support the Elks National Home started even before there was a Home. The idea of a national home was initiated in the early twentieth century, and a 25¢ (almost $6 in today’s dollars) per member assessment was instituted to raise money to purchase a physical facility. That support has continued in some fashion ever since. In 1998, the Home began to reduce its reliance on the Elks National Foundation for funding, and in 2005, received its last annual funding from the foundation. In 2007, the current $1 per member per year assessment was established to help support the Home. The concept of a fraternal retirement facility is not unique to Elkdom. The Moose and the Eagles both have retire- ment facilities in the Southeast, and the Masons have a facility in nearly every state. Each of these organizations’ retirement facilities draws support from its respective organization’s member- ship, much in the way the Elks member- ship supports the Elks National Home. However, some organizations provide more support for their facilities than the Elks provides for the Home. Over the years, the GL Board of Grand Trustees has researched many
M
Over the years, the GL Board of Grand Trustees has researched many options to enhance the Home and its operations.
options to enhance the Home and its operations. At last year’s Grand Lodge Convention, in an effort to generate more revenue for the Home, the Board proposed a major project that would rehabilitate two undesirable and underused buildings and add forty-nine modern suites and apartments to the Home. As a means to fund this project, the Board proposed a $2 per member per year assessment for five years. This proposal was not approved by the membership. The Board continues to evaluate the core mission and operations of the Home and to pursue ways to maintain the facility within the current member assess- ment of $1 per year. Since previous renovation projects have generally reached full occupancy within a year of completion, the Board continues researching the potential benefits of adding an additional forty-nine units to the Home and exploring many other options.
The Elks National Home is our Home; it is there for all of us. More than four thousand members drawn from every state have resided at the Home, and it is available to any member looking for a great retirement option.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Mike Clark, Chairman GL Board of Grand Trustees
36 M A Y 2 0 1 1
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64