Hello,
My name is Ed Dyer, and I am the Exalted Ruler for Decatur Elks Lodge 993 for 2011-2012.
I am excited to be at the helm of Decatur Elks Lodge 993 as we begin this new Lodge Year.
As Exalted Ruler, I am well aware of where we have been, and where we want to go. With this said....I am quite comfortable in saying that we want to continue with everything we have been doing for the past several years.
I see us with an active group of young Elks who are dedicated in working to keep our Lodge viable.
We have just completed one of the best years in recent Decatur Elks history. Our Exalted Ruler from last year, Cassie Gemmer, led our Lodge with tireless energy, and to wonderful results.
Here are some of the highlights of this past year:
1. We were in the top 10 statewide with our giving to Elks Cancer Research, our State Major Project.
2. In Elks National Foundation giving, we were.....
.1st in the Northeast Indiana District
.2nd in Indiana for the 2nd consecutive year
.24th in the US with Lodge of 300 or less
.32nd in the US for all Elk Lodges.
3. We were Elks Promise Grant Recipients, and Elks Gratitude Grant Recipients.
4. We won the ENF Chairman's Challenge for Indiana for the 2nd consecutive year.
5. In Elks Scholarship, we had a national winner.....Jason Brune was awarded $1000/year for 4 years.
Our local concerns include:
The Decatur Boys and Girls Club
The Adams/Wells Women's Crisis Center
The Elks Adopt a Vet Program
The Elks Drug Awareness Youth Program
The Elks Mothers Day Program
...We regularly participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot
...We pride ourselves on doing an impressive Ritual program for our new Elk Members. We participate in all Ritual Competition events
...We are active in the Northeast Indiana District, and the Indiana Elks Association
...We have an honorable and respectful Elks Memorial Service
...We do Elks Funeral Services on a regular basis
...We have weekly dinners for our Elk Members
...We have bi-monthly breakfast buffets for our Elk Members
...We have regular bar-room events that are popular with our new base of young Elks.
...We regularly adopt a needy family and help them through Christmas
With all of this happening in our Lodge, it is no wonder that then ER Cassie Gemmer and Decatur Lodge 993 was awarded the prestigious Northeast Indiana District "Lodge of the Year" award for 2010-2011.
We have a dedicated group of Lodge Officers and Committeemen who continue with service first in their hearts.
I earlier mentioned where we have been and then where we are going. I am confident that we are heading in the right direction with our Lodge. We have people in place who truly care about what we do; and, as ER, I am very proud that everyone wants to do things right.
We care about our Lodge, our community service, and our relationship with our Decatur Lodge Members.
We have a good group of new young Elks and their families. This bodes well for our future.
I do have some specific goals for this year:
...To keep our Lodge rooted firmly in our Decatur community,
...To continue in our charitable giving,
...To keep our Lodge financially stable and viable, and
...To have an increase in our Lodge Membership for this year.
Doing this, and following on in what we have seen works in this past year, means we are going in the right direction.
Again, I am very proud of our Lodge, and I feel honored to follow in Cassie's footsteps as we continue to serve our Decatur community.
I have always believed that we are a Lodge first and then we have our bar-room facilities. I understand that much of what we are able to do is because of the finances that our bar-room enables us to do.....but I know that none of it would be possible without our being an Elks Lodge first.
I am coining our Lodge as "The Little Lodge with the Big Heart!" I think it speaks pretty well as to what we are all about.
I would encourage you to stop in our little Decatur Elks Lodge, and let us show you our hospitality.
Thank you for visiting our Decatur Elks Lodge website.
Ed Dyer, Exalted Ruler
Decatur Elks Lodge 993