The Bedford Elks Lodge #2844 was granted a charter on November 20, 2005. Being a new Lodge we do not yet have a building of our own. We currently hold our meetings at the Elks National Home, but are in the process of purchasing 5 acres from the home, a place for our own lodge. Both parties have signed a sales contract. We are now in the process of moving through the steps to finalize the sale to make the property ours. Through donations and fund raising projects our Lodge has raised the funds to pay for the land.
Even though we are young in years, our membership as of May 4, 2010 was 745 members. We have been very blessed to have the support of Elks in the community of Bedford. Of course, having the Elks National Home in our city has had a huge impact on our growing membership.
The Bedford Lodge is active in our community. The Bedford Lodge is proud that Robert "Bob" Humphreys is our Exalted Ruler. Pat Shelor,a member of our lodge is the immediate past Virginia Elks State President. Member Father Steven McNally,is the Past Grand Lodge Chaplain. Member Steve Nelson is the Virginia State Chairman of the Past State Presidents Advisory Council and Pat Shelor is a member of this Council, one of the Presidential Aides to the current State President, and a Trustee of the State Association. John Owen, our Chairman of the Trusees,is the Deputy Esquire for the Southwest District, Southwest District Chairman of the Accident Prevention and Risk Management Committee and Southwest District Chairman of the Ritualistic Committee. Our major youth project is the Virginia Elks Youth Camp and our Secretary, Michael Haynes, is 1st Vice President of the Virginia Elks Youth Camp. Marie Haynes is a Director of the Camp representing our Lodge. The Bedford Lodge members are responsible for the "Bedford Cabin", performing all needed maintenance required on the cabin each year. This year we will sent 29 youths from the Bedford area to camp at no expense to the youths. We are proud to be able to extend this valuable experience to youths of Bedford.
We are also very involved with the Veterans at the Salem VA Hospital and the Virginia Care Center. Our member, Roy McGuire heads up the Lodge Vetarans Committee. We help sponsor bowling, ice cream and cake events, furnish winter coats to the Veterans in need and participate in the Southwest District Cookouts twice a year.
Our Lodge also participates in other local events; Bedford CenterFest where we distribute Drug Awareness materials; scholarships, where we had two winner of $1000-4year scholarships that will be awarded to local youths; we have a girl hoop shooter this year who won the State Contest, the regional shoot and placed 6th in the National Grand Lodge Shoot. We donate American Flags to local schools, have Flag Day and Memorial Day services at the National Home.
Our Secretary's Office is located on the second floor of the Elks National Home. Our lodge phone number is 540-425-9333 and our email address is elks2844@yahoo.com. We urge you to call or email for information. If not available please leave a message and we will return your call.
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[Contact Us]
Lodge Webmaster Email: elkswebmaster@elks2844.org