Midday with the ENF: 2017 (Season 4)

Debbie and Jim

Join the ENF for lunch! Listen to the latest episodes of Midday with the ENF. The Elks National Foundation's monthly podcast--hosted by Jim O'Kelley and sidekick Debbie Doles--features stories, jokes, and an inside look at ENF programs.

Have a question or comment? Send it to the Midday Mailbag by emailing enf@elks.org with subject Midday.

On the go? You can also subscribe to Midday with the ENF through iTunes.



Episode 41: December 2017 | Talkin' Vets--Mary, Debbie and the Duke

We welcome back Mary Morgan to talk all about veterans and the Welcome Home effort to end veteran homelessness. 

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the December episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Fernando--not Francisco!--Barrera and Anthony D'Angelo.)
Read all about the 2018 class of Impact Grant recipients!
The Most Valuable Student contest is now wending its way toward the Leadership Weekend in April.
Meet the crack ENF staff, including newcomers Taylor Odisho and Makenna Cannon.
Hoop Shoot Assists, where finalists and their families packed care packages for Chicago-area veterans, was featured in the film about the 2017 Hoop Shoot Finals.
Taylor Odisho blogged about the staff outing to the Chicago Standdown.
Pat Gleason, the Chief of Voluntary Service at the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center in Chicago, keeps coming up on our pod. Here he is in a helpful video he did with us.
Meet our Elks Scholar Fellows. And if you know an Elks scholar, encourage them to consider applying.
Learn more about the Welcome Home initiative, including focused grants, the kits, and the emergency assistance fund. You can also watch some great videos here!
Notre Dame's study on preventing homelessness.
Patrick's story is in this great video about the CIP Volunteer of the Year, Gretchen Peterson from Hopkins, Minn., Lodge.
Keep up with the Veterans Service Commission on Facebook, in their blog, and their newsletter.
Check out the Veterans Service Commission's Annual Report.
Ray Lozano is the headliner of the Elks Drug Awareness Program's speaker tour.
The ENF's Board of Trustees is here.
Our idea to bring 150 Elks scholars to San Antonio to celebrate the Order's 150th anniversary? That's a thing.


Episode 40: October 2017 | Carolina on Our Pod

In the landmark 40th episode, we interview Jenna and the CIPsters, newly returned from their epic barnstorming tour through the Carolinas. Also, Jim turns 50. 

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the October episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Fernando Barrera and Anthony D'Angelo.)
Check out the ENF blog for posts about the trip from Colleen, Jocelyn, Chelsea and Jenna.
They also wrote this nifty journal. Definitely worth a look.
Follow our elksinaction Instagram page to see pictures from the #ScholarCIPMegaTrip and also what’s happening in Lodges across the nation. Don’t forget to send your digital pictures to enf@elks.org so we can share them on our social media, too! Take a refresher on our photo and video guidelines.
If you’re ever in Asheville, check out
Moose Café for “biscuits as big as the table” and gravy on the table.
Learn more about--and even apply for--the Scholar Service Trip to Asheville!
Learn more about the Community Investments Program and its many components.
And this is what a barnstorm is in case you hadn’t heard of it before the Carolinas trip like some of the ENF employees.


Episode 39: August 2017 | The Bearded Ladies of the CIP

The reclusive Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie to talk all about the Foundation's little known and underappreciated Community Investments Program. The episode also features interviews with members and grant partners of Hopkins, Minn., Lodge.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the August episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Fernando Barrera and Evan Ullrich.)
Everything you need to know about the Community Investments Program.
Meet the 2017 CIP Volunteer of the Year, Gretchen Peterson. (The film about her is embedded on this page, too.)
Learn about and meet the Scholar Advisory Board.
The CIP Club is the program's monthly e-newsletter. Want to receive it? Email LodgeGrants@elks.org.
Check out the slides from the CIP's seminar in Reno.
Learn more about Impact Grants and access the application...but be quick! The deadline is September 8.
All about the special, one-year-only (...probably) Anniversary Grants.
Watch (and download) the 150th anniversary timeline video here.
Learn more about our Elks Scholar Service Trips, with previews of the upcoming trips to Santa Monica and Asheville.
Meet the Class of 2017 Impact Grant recipents.
Unfamiliar with our cumulative donor recognition program?
150 scholars for 150 years: The mega service trip planned for San Antonio in 2018.
The National Scholarship Providers Association. We belong.
The Most Valuable Student and Legacy Awards scholarship contests kick off on September 1. Let the high school seniors in your life and community know!
Don't miss a thing! Follow us on social media.


Episode 38: July 2017 | You Had to Be There

This special episode recorded before a live studio audience at the Elks National Convention in Reno features the CIP Volunteer of the Year and a whopping 11 scholars, plus one remarkable mother. Check it out!

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the July episode of Midday.
Elks Scholar Service Trips.
Our ambitious attempt to get 150 Elks Scholars to serve in San Antonio.
Elks Scholar Fellow.
Meet the 2017 CIP Volunteer of the Year, Gretchen Peterson.
More information on Hopkins, Minn., Lodge No. 2221's Welcome Home Kits for veterans in need.
Learn more about the Community Investments Program and the Gratitude, Beacon, Freedom, Impact, Promise and Anniversary grants!
More information on Hopkins, Minn., Lodge No. 2221's Teaming Up 4 Teens program.
Brush up your knowledge on the Scholarship Programs.
Photos and Films from all four Leadership Weekends.
Meet the 2017 MVS Top 20 Winners.
Check out a recap of the 2017 Leadership Weekend.
Learn more about Colin Norick and Zoi Urban the 2017 MVS Top Winners.
Get to know the SAB here.
Watch the video How Do You Spell Success featuring Anji Radakrishnan and her father.
Watch the Convention Films on our YouTube playlist.
Get to know the 2017 Alum of the Year, Sean Loosli.


Episode 37: June 2017 | The Midday Workout

Jim and Debbie help you get your sweat on as they talk Scholar Service Trips with Jenna Johnson and preview the Reno Convention with Kate Edsey.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the June episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Austin Long and Denis Pagoada.)
Elks Scholar Fellows.
The Most Valuable Student Scholarship.
Lots of content from the Summer Service Trip to Chicago.
Learn more about the Welcome Home Program for homeless veterans. You can also find the wonderful One Last Stand (facilitated by a brilliant, if humble, interviewer who is totally unsung) film at the bottom of the page. Watch it!
Photos and films from the first four Leadership Weekends. Watch, look and learn!
We have an excellent relationship with the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center.
More information about the Chicago Standdown.
Our ambitious attempt to get 150 Elks Scholars to serve in San Antonio.
The upcoming Service Trips.
Elks Night at the Reno Aces.
Follow us on Facebook.
Meet the top two Most Valuable Students.
Meet the 2017 CIP Volunteer of the Year.
Meet the 2017 Alum of the Year.
The newly overhauled Donor Hall of Fame.
Everything you need to know about the new Anniversary Grant.
Confused? Here are the hashtags we'll be using in Reno: #ENFinReno, #ElksFamily, #ReuniteinReno, #Elks150, #CelebrateThruService, and #ElksInAction.


Episode 36: May 2017 | The Fill-in Sidekick

The versatile Mary Morgan dons two hats for this timely episode about serving veterans in need.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the May episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by a brand-new team, students Austin Long and Fernando Barrera. Great job, Guys!)
The Veterans Service Program.
Great news coverage, Elks helping homeless veterans in the D.C. area.
Veteran's Service's fantastic Facebook page.
Veteran's Service's fantastic Twitter feed.
The Community Investments Program. Click the appropriate button for more info on Gratitude, Beacon, Freedom and Anniversary grants!
Instagrants: Gratitude Grants Edition. Check out these starter-project ideas!
The Leadership Weekend.
The Hoop Shoot Program.
Girls Allowed, a great short film about the need for female volunteers in the Hoop Shoot starring Jim's better half.
The Welcome Home initiative. Lots of good information about the program, including grant opportunities and emergency assistance.
Notre Dame's study on preventing homelessness.
The Elks Scholar Fellows.
The upcoming Summer Scholar Service Trip.
Chicago's Summer Standdown.
Voluntary Service at V.A. facilities.


Episode 35: April 2017 | Taming the Beast

Jim and Debbie recap April's two-headed beast: the Leadership Weekend and Hoop Shoot.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the April episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced--for the last time--by students Evan Ullrich and Matthew Ybarra. Best of luck, Guys!)
Which one is Billy?
The Hoop Shoot Program.
The Leadership Weekend.
More info on the brand-new, for one-year-only Anniversary Grants.
The CIP website. (Honestly, Jim wasn't trying to trick you into donating by giving out the wrong address for this page...)
The Foundation Fellowship annual giving recognition club, with revamped giving levels and benefits.
The Loyalty Club for consecutive-years giving.
The Fidelity Club for recurring giving.
The John F. Malley Society for planned giving.
Scottie Pippen's 1994 playoff protest.
Cloud Gate, a.k.a. the Bean.
Photos from the Leadership Weekend.
Leadership Weekend Film. (Coming soon!)
North by Elks Family, a recap of the Leadership Weekend including the top winners.
Monday Madness, the Foundation's Hoop Shoot Finals Selection Order Announcement show. You have to dig a little to find the videos, but they're there. We shot the six segments on April 17.
Photos from the Wednesday tip-off dinner at the Elks Veterans Memorial.
Photos from the rest of the Hoop Shoot Finals weekend.
Meet the Elks Scholar Fellows.
Meet the Backboard Alumni Advisory Board.
National Finals Results.
Anything You Can Do, a short film about the Cowgill Hoop Shoot dynasty.
Mike Hargrove, the Human Rain Delay.
Highlights film for the awards banquet. This short film highlights the first two days of the Hoop Shoot Finals weekend. (Runtime: Worth it.)
Meet keynote speaker Victoria Arlen.
Rags of Honor, the Hoop Shoot's apparel partner.
The Summer Service Trip to Chicago.
If you like our pod, why the heck aren't you following us on Facebook?


Episode 34: March 2017 | Being Jim O'Kelley

There's something not quite right about this episode, but never mind that. The show is filled with great Hoop Shoot stuff as Billy Donnelly joins Jim and Debbie to preview the upcoming Finals.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the March episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Evan Ullrich and Matthew Ybarra.)
Scholar Service Trips.
The special Anniversary Grant.
A recap and reactions from the Dallas service trip.
The Hoop Shoot.
The Regional results.
Send e-greetings to the Finalists.
Want to help out during the Finals? Email Billy at billyd@elks.org.
Watch all the Hoop Shoot Griteos!
Meet the 2017 Backboard, the Hoop Shoot's alumni advisory board.
Meet the Elks Scholar Fellows.
Keynote speaker Victoria Arlen.
The fiscal year ends March 31. Donate online today!
Meet the top 20 Most Valuable Students!


Episode 33: February 2017 | Won't You Be My Neighbor?

The multi-talented Maryann Slater returns to the show to preview the Leadership Weekend, recap the Dallas service trip, talk about homelessness, and sing an original song. Jim, meanwhile, overbids at an auction.

Show Notes

Here are the links to web pages and videos mentioned in the February episode of Midday.
Tribeca Flashpoint College. (This episode was produced by students Evan Ullrich and Matthew Ybarra.)
The Community Investments Program.
Legacy Awards for children and grandchildren of Elks.
An O'Kelley family staple. (Even though they keep dumping Jim's favorite dishes.)
Donate $100 to the Hoop Shoot by March 20; get your name in the program book for the National Finals.
The Elks Hoop Shoot.
The Foundation's approved distributions for FY2018.
Learn more about Meghan's gig at Girls in the Game.
It was the morning after a night out. Pete Rose, of course, is not a Hall of Famer.
Take your auction to the next level with Bidding for Good.
The Most Valuable Student scholarship program.
The Leadership Weekend.
A recap and reactions from the Dallas service trip, plus more info about the organization we served with. Links to related videos can be found here as soon as they're available.
Electronic copies of our quarterly Heartbeat newsletter.
Want to learn more about the Spring trip to New Orleans?
Want a scholar to speak at your event?
Details about the Summer service trip.
Check out what's in store for San Antonio!
Schedule of upcoming Regional Hoop Shoot contests.
Jim is normally pretty good at addition, but there are 16 Griteos, not 14.


Episode 32: January 2017 | We're Not Ogres

Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie for a final push to the 2017 grant season. Lots of great grant ideas in this episode.


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