John P Lawless Nomination for NYSEA President PGER David, PGER Bruce, President Tania and Members, I am honored to present to the Members assembled the nomination PDDGER John Lawless for the position of President of the NYSEA. John is a motivated and positively engaged man, who serves as a true inspiration. He lives his life by the Cardinal Principles of our Order – Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. He has unyielding values. He expounds them clearly. He acts upon them decisively. When the world throws problems in his direction, he is not baffled or disorientated or overwhelmed. He seems to know instinctively what to do. This nominee brings strong assets with him; and our association is incredibly fortunate to have him as our endorsed candidate for president. First, he is dedicated and hardworking. He is extremely organized and focused on continuously learning and developing ways to do things around his Lodge, and in the Order of Elks, both efficiently and effectively. He brings a positive high energy and a personal touch. He believes, deeply, that humility goes before honor. He brings true professional attributes to the Elks and genuinely cares about delivering excellent quality work. He strives to integrate both an understanding of the big picture strategy and goals (for the Order and for the Lodges), as well as attention to the details. Many times, over the last few years, I have approached him on an ‘outside-the-box’ matter with only a vague idea in my mind of what was needed or what should be done. He took the initiative to figure out what was needed with minimal guidance from me and then delivered on the task as well. He also goes well above and beyond the call of duty in pursuing excellence. For example, his leadership within his Lodge, District and State Association in support of ENF and the NY Major Projects Corporation are second to none! He frequently mentors Members from Lodges other than his own, in the procedures and practices of the Secretary’s office. When requested, he willingly serves and provides leadership wherever help is needed. When asked why he gives so freely of his time, I once heard him explain that we should help and support our brother and sister Elks because the Order of Elks is hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent and fair-minded. John easily develops and fosters relationships with Officers, Members and guests in our Lodges. He actively participates in meetings and events. He is terrific in welcoming our new Members, helping them adjust to Haverstraw Lodge and the Elks more generally. Likewise, candidates for membership encounter high quality interviews, a welcoming personal hello, and, in return, John’s Lodge gets rave reviews from them. But John isn’t only a pretty face in the crowd; indeed, he served in the US Army for 8 years, 3 years as a Rockland County Sheriff and 23 years with the town of Haverstraw Police Department. John has never been a man that lets the fear of death overpower his masculinity, his honor, or his sense of duty to his country. On Tuesday December 11, 2000, during his shift, Haverstraw Police Sgt John Lawless repeatedly entered a burning three-story, 52-unit apartment building to alert and evacuate many of the still sleeping residents. He had to brave thick smoke, intense heat and flames. Along with other officers, he worked his way through the building, at times crawling on the floor, to escort frightened and disoriented residents from the building. Many small children had to be carried out to safety. Here is a man who is devoted to his duty, no matter how great the odds, no matter how seemingly insignificant his duty appears at the time. On September 10, 2001, for his actions that saved many lives during that fire, John received the Police Officer of the Year Medal of Valor from Governor George Pataki, himself a fellow Elk from Peekskill Lodge #744. John has also received numerous other awards for bravery in the line of duty. John tends to look for the “funny” in everyday life. We all experience absurd moments in life; and, observing those idiosyncrasies in our own lives is truly the low hanging fruit when it comes to humor. Yet John’s humor often has a purpose beyond humor. Many of us in this room remember John having to leave a DD Clinic in 2016, to receive the life-saving gift of a donated kidney. In the anxious hours and days following the operation to see if his body would accept the new organ, his easy jokes gave reassurance to concerned family and friends. They were evidence that in the aftermath of the surgery and in the midst of the phrenzy, John’s heart remained sane and jocular. He was truly grace under pressure. And perhaps he even personified grace of a deeper kind. John himself certainly believed that he had been given back his life for a purpose. As he told us after his recovery, "Whatever time I’ve got left now belongs to the big fellow upstairs." Madame President, it is truly my honor and privilege this day to place the name of PDDGER John P. Lawless into nomination for the office of President of the NYS Elks Association. Paul H. Crumb, PDDGER Peekskill Lodge #744 Hudson Valley District #6180
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