Bob Boyett, of Katy, TX, Lodge has been recognized for his record-breaking fundraising efforts on behlaf of the Elks National Foundation.

Everything's bigger in Texas. That's why it's no surprise that the Texas state Elks National Foundation chairperson, Bob Boyett, has big plans for fundraising. Since becoming the state chair in 2004, Texas has jumped from having the 13th highest per capita in the country in 2003-04 to third place the following year. The state finished the 2004-05 fiscal year with a per capita of $9.63, $3.00 greater than the previous year.

"The Elks National Foundation is the best product I've ever sold," says Bob, who has worked in sales for 38 years and is a member of the Katy, Texas, Lodge. "A donation to the ENF is a lasting gift that will support Elks programs forever. We must provide more funds for the endowment to continue to grow."

With nearly 18,000 Elks spanning the second largest state in the country, inspiring Texas Elks to donate is no easy feat. Bob approaches the challenge as an education issue. He focuses his efforts on attending as many inter-Lodge meetings as possible to teach Elks about the ENF and how its distributions benefit Texas.

"A lot of Elks aren't aware how much the ENF gives to state major projects," says Bob. "In fact, the ENF gave more money to the Texas state major project than any one district in Texas."

Think Big When Bob took over as chair, he was asked to increase the state's per capita by a nickel. But Bob wanted to do more. He set a goal to reach $10.00 in per-member giving to the Foundation. With that in mind, he knew he had to create something big, and a 3 million acre ranch served as his inspiration. The XIT Ranch was allocated in the late-19th century by the state to build a new capitol. Bob turned a Texas history lesson into a recognition program for any Elk who donates $100 or more to the Foundation in a year. The donors receive a special pin that features an outline of Texas adorned with a red heart that's inscribed with XIT, ENF.

"I want to recognize people making a significant contribution," says Bob. "People don't give $100 just for a pin though. They donate because they know about the ENF and they support the cause."

Shortly after joining the Elks, Bob was approached by his Lodge's ENF chair about why he should donate. "When I found out how much the Foundation contributes to scholarships, state major projects and veterans, I wanted to become involved," says Bob. "Now, it's my job as chair to educate people with the facts."

The Bigger Picture Bob believes that once people are aware of the ENF, it's easy to convince them that giving $100 is better than $10. Last year, Bob distributed more than 600 XIT pins. The pins were also given to Lodges and districts that met or exceeded $10.00 per member. He credits the enthusiasm and support of the state president and district ENF chairs for the success of the program.

"They made special trips to appeal to Lodges," says Bob. "Sometimes, they ended up selling the pins right off their own coats! The key is that people have to know where their money is going."

Bob will spend the rest of the year raising awareness for the ENF. During October, ENF Month, he plans on attending at least three inter-Lodge meetings and will host a weekly fundraiser at his Lodge. By the end of the year, Bob hopes that every Lodge in Texas will at least have met the GERs $4.00 per-capita goal. With everything being bigger in Texas- support for the ENF no exception-there's a good chance Bob will succeed.

Also featured: ENF's 2005-05 Grants and Appropriations