Commission Members

As provided in Section 4.290 of the Grand Lodge Statutes, the National Veterans Service Commission is composed of five members. Each member is a Past Grand Exalted Ruler and is appointed for a term of five years by the Grand Exalted Ruler. They elect a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary/treasurer. Commission members give liberally of their time and experience without remuneration.

• Section 4.290 states:
  • Section 4.290. The Elks National Veterans Service Commission shall be composed of five members whose term of office shall be five years, and until their respective successors have been appointed and confirmed. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

    a. To promulgate and supervise the Order's program for the benefit of members of the Armed Forces of the United States and the veterans of such services.

    b. To annually elect its Officers.

    c. To adopt rules for the conduct of its business.

    d. To employ personnel.

    e. To require bonds from its Officers and employees.

    f. To pay expenses of the Commission out of the funds under its control, provided that no Commission member shall receive any compensation for his services.

    g. To keep an accurate account of its receipts and expenditures and make an annual report in writing to the Grand Lodge of its activities and expenditures.

    h. To receive funds appropriated by the Grand Lodge for the conduct of the program. All funds in excess of the year's operating budget shall revert to the Order and be subject to appropriation annually in accordance with the approved budgeted requirements

    i. To submit its budget to the Board of Grand Trustees for review and approval.

Director

The Director works under the supervision of the members of the National Veterans Service Commission and is responsible for the operation of the home office. He is also the Order's National Representative to the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service.

The Director maintains detailed records of day-to-day transactions and attends to the volume of daily correspondence. He records and files monthly reports from Elks VAVS representatives in 172 VA medical centers and state veterans hospitals. It is also his responsibility to see that reports are current before issuing monthly allocation checks.

Additionally, he must maintain close contact with the commission chairman and hold himself in readiness to carry out all directives.

The state chairman is appointed by the state president.

The VAVS representative is appointed by the state chairman with the approval of the Past Grand Exalted Ruler of jurisdiction.

The district chairman is appointed by the state president.

The Lodge chairman is appointed by the Exalted Ruler.

Notice: Occasionally the National Veterans Service Commission is asked to intervene in legislation and matters relating to veterans benefits. Our position has always been one of noninvolvement because this is beyond the guidelines for which we were established. Furthermore, all veterans organizations have machinery in place to properly attend to these matters, and they are vigilant.