IN MY RESEARCH FOR THIS ARTICLE EVEN I WAS AMAZED AT THE ELKS
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE YOUTH OF AMERICA. I MIGHT ADD THAT I WAS
NOT ONLY AMAZED BUT ALSO A GREAT DEAL MORE PROUD OF BEING AN
ELK.
IN ADDITION TO THE BIG BROTHER AND SCOUTING PROGRAMS DISCUS-
SED IN LAST MONTHS NEWSLETTER, THE ELKS HAVE A MULTITUDE OF
PROGRAMS FOR TOMORROWS LEADERS.
DRUG AWARENESS (EST 1983) WORKING TO PREVENT DRUG USE BY THE
YOUTH OF AMERICA, NOT AS EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF PREVENTION, BUT
WITH DOLLARS, FACILITIES. AND VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH ALL AGE
LEVELS.
SPORTS PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE HOOP SHOOT.- WHERE MORE THAN
3 MILLION KIDS AGES 8 TO 13 YEARS OF AGE PARTICIPATED LAST
YEAR.FROM THE LOCAL LODGES TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
SOCCER IS THE FASTEST GROWING CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATORY
ACTIVITY AND IN THE EARLY 1980'S THE ELKS JUMPED ON BOARD AND
BEGAN TO SPONSOR LEAGUES AND TO DEVELOPE DIFFERENT SKILL
CONTESTS. THE SOCCER SHOOT - ALLOWS CHILDREN THROUGH THE AGE
OF 13 TO COMPETE WITH THOSE IN THEIR OWN AGE BRACKET . WITH
AWARDS FROM LOCAL COMPETITION TO THE NATIONAL FINALS.
THE AMERICANISM ESSAY CONTEST: GRADES 5TH - 8TH ARE ASKED TO
COMPOSE A 250 WORD ESSAY ON VARIOUS TOPICS. THIS YEAR "WHAT IS
AN AMERICAN ? ". US SAVINGS BONDS AWARDED FOR THE TOP 3 AT THE
LOCAL - STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS WOULD BE A NEWSLETTER BY ITSELF. THE
ELKS HAVE THE MOST VALUEABLE STUDENT - THE LEGACY AWARDS-
EMERGENCY EDUCATION GRANTS. PLUS MANY LOCAL LODGE AWARDS
FOR EDUCATION BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED -LEADERSHIP AND
COMMUNITY CHARITY INVOLVEMENT. MONIES EXPENDED FOR
EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP/GRANTS RANK SECOND ONLY TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN NUMBER AND DOLLARS.
SPACE PROHIBIT GOING ON AND ON BUT THE INFORMATION OF OUR
INVOLVEMNT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE NATIONAL WEBSITE OR FROM
YOUR LODGE SECRETARY. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT.
RICK G. PHELPS- LEADING KNIGHT