Event News
LODGE ACTIVITIES By Jan Trudeau and Pam Wedwaldt
LODGE ACTIVITIES
March is here and we have a busy month ahead. We begin with Bingo on Saturday March 1st. The fun begins at 2 PM. Come and join us. The PERA’s Lobsterfest is scheduled for Saturday March 8th. The
information and sign-up sheet is in the lounge. Be sure to sign up early-it’s always fun and yummy! Texas Hold ‘Em card games are now held on Sundays. The dates are Sunday the 9th and again on Sunday the 23rd. Games start at 1 PM. Please sign up in the lounge so we know how many tables to set up. Darts happen on the back patio on Saturdays at 4 PM, except when we have another event that uses the back patio. Check the calendar for dates. Wednesdays have full dinners on the 2nd and 4th
Wednesdays for $15.00. The menus are located on the sign-up sheet in the lounge and on the calendar too. Tacos are offered on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays for $2.00 each, Tacos and trivia will happen on Wednesday the 19th. A fond farewell to all the outgoing lodge officers, and a hearty welcome to all the newly elected officers for the Elk year 2025-2026. It’s going to be a great year!!
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
On Tuesday February 18th, 35 hard working Elks created bonus food bags for low income seniors thru our local food bank-Impact of Southern Arizona. Every senior registered with their Community Senior Food program will receive these bags in addition to their standard allotment this month. The bags included cans of fruit, vegetables, soup, and tuna. Also included were crackers, cookies, powdered
milk and granola bars and nuts. This awesome community project was made possible because of two grants from the grand lodge, a Beacon grant and a Gratitude grant totaling $8,000!!. THANK YOU to everyone who helped pick up the groceries, sort them and assemble the bags and load them into the Impact truck. Job well done Elks!
HOUSE COMMITTEE
By Pam Wedwaldt
I am happy to say that attendance at our House Committee meetings is up. We can always use some fresh ideas and value your input. We meet the first Thursday of every month at 4:30.
Where we are lacking is attendance at our Wednesday night dinners. We offer a 3 course dinner for
the reasonable price of $15. Check the calendar in the Bugle to see what Cindy is cooking up the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Bring your friends and enjoy a delicious meal and a night out. Sign up the Monday before in the lounge. Our bar renovation is in full swing and looking great. I can’t wait to see the finished result.
Don’t forget to check out the Lodge Activities article to see what’s planned for the month.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Sláinte
HAVE A HEART COMMITTEE ANNUAL EVENT
By Lisa Chavez
The Catalina Mountain Elks’ Have a Heart Committee was thrilled to host our Annual February Event, bringing together your generosity, our community, and lots of fun! While fundraising is our primary goal, we always strive to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for our guests.
Our Have a Heart Committee is dedicated to raising funds for Major Projects, supporting the University of Arizona’s Steele Children’s Research Center and the Jack C. Warter, Jr. Youth Camp. As Elks, we take pride in our mission to serve our communities and country, and this event plays a crucial role in fulfilling that commitment.
We were honored to welcome Dr. Pawel Kiela as our guest speaker, who emphasized the vital role of the Elks’ fundraising efforts in advancing research at the Steele Children’s Research Center, especially in an era of uncertain government funding. The knowledge gained through this research benefits the entire medical community, and thanks to our contributions, the center can continue its groundbreaking work.
Al Skorupski shared an inspiring example of our impact—the specialized microscope purchased by the Elks for the Steele Center is now being shared with other researchers, furthering collaboration and discovery. As Dr. Kiela told us, Your donations are needed and deeply appreciated. To show our thanks, we offered our guests an evening filled with great food, exciting prizes, some “back in the day” music with Austin Owen.
And when we say food, we mean a LOT of food! Cindy outdid herself with stunning and delicious charcuterie boards packed with meats, cheeses, nuts, crackers, grapes, and even chocolate-covered strawberries! For dinner, we were treated to smoked brisket, generously donated by Bubb’s Grub (Dan) and yummy side dishes!
Guests had the chance to win amazing raffle baskets, donated by Tractor Supply, Trader Joe’s, and many
generous individuals. Our newest addition, the Gift Card LotterTree Game, was a huge hit, with winners taking home gift cards to incredible local spots like $50 to Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, $30 to Sunny Side Up Café, plus gifts cards from Snooze, Starbucks, Fork & Fire, and more.
The biggest prize of the night? A two-night stay with breakfast for two at El Conquistador! This Incredible donation was just one example of the generosity of our Elk Members and our amazing community.
Thank You for Your Support!
We are beyond grateful to everyone who contributed, attended, donated, and made this event a success. Your support ensures that we can continue making a meaningful difference through the Steele Children’s
Research Center and the Jack C. Warter, Jr. Youth Camp.
Thank you for having a heart and being part of something truly special.