I hope all of you are having a great summer. I had the pleasure of going to the Elks National Convention in Charlotte, NC July 8th to the 12th. I learned a few things and also saw our own Stan Suess installed as our District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. I wish him the best of luck in the upcoming year and at the same time I would like to thank our Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Phil Watercutter for the great job he did for us and our district the past year. I will make my report on the convention at our next lodge meeting.
I wish to thank all of our members and officers who have been attending our District Vice President's Visitations at other Lodges. I am really happy at the turnout and hope it will continue.
Speaking of lodge meetings, at our last meeting, a motion was made to amend our Lodge By-Laws. Article IV: Section 1 states: "The regular sessions of this Lodge shall be held on the second and forth Monday evenings in each month throughout the year, except that in the months of July and August, sessions of the lodge shall be held on the second Monday evening of each thereof."
A motion was made to change it to: "The regular sessions of this Lodge shall be held on the second and forth Monday evenings in each month throughout the year, except that in the months of July and August, sessions of the lodge shall be held on the fourth Monday evening of each thereof."
The motion was made to amend the by-laws because by having the lodge meeting on the second monday instead of the fourth, several officers, including the Exalted Ruler, can not attend the meeting because they would be at the National Convention. By having the meeting on the fourth Monday, all the officers can be at the lodge meeting. As many of you know, the past few years the lodge meetings have been held in July and August on the fourth Monday, but this was contrary to our By-Laws. I believe it was origanally intended to say fourth Monday in our By-Laws but a mistake was made and never noticed until this year. We will be voting on this amendment at our regular Lodge Meeting on August 13th. If you wish to discuss this amendment or vote on it, please attend the lodge meeting on this date.
Some important dates to remember for August are; State President's Visit to Deland-August 3rd and 4th; Quarterly Meeting in Umatilla-August 18 and 19; District Deputy Clinic at the New Smyrna Beach Lodge-August 25. We are having meetings at the lodge every Wednesday to make plans for the visit by our State President David Lake. Vice President Tom Pollard is leading the meetings. There is a lot to do and we sure could use your help. This is a good way for you new members to become involved at the Lodge, find out what is happening, and at the same time meet some new and interesting Elks. There is more than one way to show your support for our State President, if you can not help out, at least plan on attending the dinner for our State President on August 4th.
On September 15th, Deland will have its first ever Soccer Shoot!! We will have registrations forms at the lodge or see our Soccer Shoot Chairman PER Tom Hoop. Since this is the first time we have done a Soccer Shoot at the lodge, I would like to see a good turn out,
If any of you are interested in joining a committee, please contact me or the committee chairperson. Their names are in every issue of the bulletin. The various committees can use any help you can give them. Remember, this is your lodge too. You get out of the lodge what you put in. If you have any ideas or suggestions, let us know. If you see something that needs to be, or should be done, join a committee and become involved. Get it done!!! Don't be like those people who sit in the bar and complain day after day. That does not do anybody any good. Join a committee and do something about those complaints.
See you at the Lodge
Dean Yeager
Exalted Ruler