Canon City, CO 610

Clem Audin Fund

Clem Audin Fund

This fund can be used exclusively for the education, health, development, and care for young people.

Who was Clem Audin?

Clement Audin Jr., a dedicated Elk, prominent throughout Colorado Elkdom, a member of Hotchkiss Lodge #1807, was killed August 3, 1973, in a tragic accident, that took place at the Hawk's Nest Coal Mine at Somerset, Colorado, when a coal loading tipple collapsed and dumped crushed coal on him and the truck he was loading.

At the time of his death, Clem was serving the State Association as First Vice President and was due to be installed as President within 30 days. He was Past Exalted Ruler of Hotchkiss Lodge, Past District Deputy for Colorado West and served as a Ritualistic Judge. In addition, he was a Past State Youth Activities Chairman of the National Foundation and a Ritual Checker at the national contest held in New York in 1968. Clem and his wife, Evelyn E. Audin, were widely known throughout Colorado for their continued assistance.



Clem Audin Endowment Fund

On December 18, 1975, Evelyn E. Audin created a $100,000.00 trust fund through the Denver Foundation with First National Banks of Denver as trustees. As specified in the trust agreement, half of the interest income from this trust would be given to Hotchkiss Lodge, Clem's Lodge and the other half of the interest income would be given to the Colorado State Elks Association, for the benefit of young people in Colorado. The distribution annually of such income would be used exclusively for the charitable purposes of education, health, development and care of young people.



Clem Audin Memorial Fund

An additional Memorial fund was started in December 1976 by a contribution of $1,000.00 from Montrose Lodge # 1053. Through individual and other Lodge donations, by 1988; this fund had totaled over $140,000.00. Only the interest income can be used for the education, health, development and care of young people.

Recently, the Elks National Foundation added additional annual grants to the Colorado Elks Association to be used in conjunction with the Clem Audin Endowment Fund and the Clem Audin Memorial Fund.

A committee is appointed each year by the President of the State Elks Association to handle the methods and procedures of income and disbursements. The Clem Audin fund can only contribute up to $200.00 to any one person. This was established so that more people could participate. Each Lodge should have the procedures for the Clem Audin Request.