Membership requirements:
To be eligible for membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, you must be a United States citizen of good character, over the age of 21, willing to plege allegiance to the United States flag, and attest a belief in God. You must not be a member of an organization or engage in activities supporting the overthrow of the United States Government by force or violence.
Application process:
You must be sponsored by a currnet member in good standing of the Lodge and reside within the jurisdiction of the Lodge you wish to join. You will also need two other Elks who will be your co-sponsors. The Elk who proposes you for membership must obtain a Membership Application from the Lodge Secretary.
After your proposer fills in the required portion, you will be given the Application for Membership. Fill it in, following the instructions and answering all questions, and return the completed application to the Lodge Secretary. Please make sure you include as much complete contact information (mailing address, email address, home and mobile telephone numbers) as possible.
Alternatively, your Sponsor may use the Elks.org online proposal system to forward an link to an application to you via email. Once you submit the form, your application will be filed electronically with our Lodge Secretary.
Your application will be read at a regular Lodge meeting. It will then be forwarded to the Investigating Committee, who will call you and set up a time for you and your sponsor to meet with the committee so that they can interview you. After the interview is concluded, the committee will report to the Lodge concerning your membership. The members will be given a notice not less than 10 days nor more than two months before a vote will be taken to approve your membership. If the vote is concluded favorably, you will be notified and asked to present yourself and your spouse for Orientation.
During Orientation, you will learn more about the Order's programs and charities, and meet the Lodge Officers and committee chairs. You will also be told during the program the date you will be initiated. Initiation into the Lodge will not conflict with any of your personal political or religious beliefs, or your duties to your family or employment.
After initiation as an Elk, you can take part in all meetings and social functions of the Lodge. There are no degrees of Elkdom. Once you are initiated, you are an equal member to all other members of your Lodge. You may run for a Lodge office, join or chair one or more committees, and vote on any and all propositions.
If for any reason your application is rejected, you cannot make application for membership for six months from the date of rejection.