"Ready Elks - Let's Go!" is more than Timothy F. Jaeger's theme as the newly elected National President of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. It's a rallying cry inspired by a membership that has answered the call for help for more than 158 years.
Since its founding, the B.P.O.E. has answered the call when their communities needed it most. When a founding member of the Jolly Corks passed away, the remaining members rallied to support his surviving family, establishing a decades-long legacy of brotherly love.
That same brotherhood has guided the Order through some of our nation's greatest challenges. Just a few years after the Order's founding, the Great Chicago fire devastated the Windy City. Even as a young organization, members of the Elks sprung to action to help in the aftermath.
When San Francisco experienced a brutal earthquake in 1906, Elks were among the first groups to provide disaster relief to those whose lives had been upended.
Today, the communities where Elks live and work face unique needs. And today, the Elks continue to answer their call. Whether it's helping a veteran experiencing homelessness, providing meals to a neighbor facing hunger, or ensuring a child has a warm winter coat, the Elks show up.
For Jaeger, that commitment to service has defined his Elk career. Born and raised in South Dakota, he joined the Sioux Falls, Lodge No. 262 in 1985, kicking off his more than 40-year involvement with the Elks. After relocating to California, Jaeger served as Exalted Ruler of the Petaluma, Calif., Lodge No 901 in 2007-08 and later settled at Napa, Calif., Lodge No. 832.
His dedication to the Order and his community took off during his tenure with the California-Hawaii State Elks Association, where Jaeger held multiple leadership positions, including Assistant Director of the Drug Awareness Program, State President, and Board of Trustees member. His involvement with the California-Hawaii State Major Project and devotion to the Drug Awareness Program reinforces his theme's historical roots. From Sioux Falls to Napa, Jaeger learned that he can make the greatest impact when he answers the Elks' call to serve.
The Elks' history is a reminder that when their community needs help, Elks are there to answer the call. Tim Jaeger and his wife, Sandy, will spend the next year traveling across the United States as ambassadors of this fundamental principle of Elkdom.
So, are you ready, Elks?
Let's go!