exalted ruler's MESSAGE
Doug Harpold, PER
Happy December to all of you wonderful Elks! As the holidays approach we hear the ringing bells out on the sidewalks asking us to give a little and help those in need, but as Elks the bells of charity are always ringing. Elks do not need a holiday to be giving, caring, and to share. It is just what we do year-round. The Christmas and Holiday Season do bring us a little more joy and maybe for some an increased awareness of the needs of others, but remember what the Grinch learned, “Maybe Christmas he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.” Elks have many ways to help that do not come from a store. We have the opportunity to offer our time and take some children in need Christmas Shopping (okay maybe that does come from a store, but your time and care of these children does not), we can go visit some of our Veterans in the veteran home and wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and as always we can offer our time to help feed some of the less fortunate families in our community for the holidays. The smile received from a child who has been given a gift at Christmas time, when one might not have otherwise come, is enough to make the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes in a day, so just imagine what it can do for you! All are wonderful ways to share and bring a smile to someone who may have not smiled in a while and may not have felt that anyone cares about them.
I want to take a moment and all of those on the Golf Committee for putting forth a terrific event that raised over $5600.00 to give to ENF. Everyone who attended this event had a great time and it was great to go out on a beautiful day, swing the clubs, and swear at that little white ball!
On December 14th, our lodge will be hosting the American Red Cross for a blood drive. They will be bringing the blood mobile to try and get some much-needed blood (Cross your fingers that the mobile is in working condition). Please contact me at 520-403-9406 or doug.vfh@gmail.com if you are interested in donating. You can also go to the Red Cross website and register for the drive there.
Thank you all for all that you do and for being the amazing people that you are!
A Merry Christmas to us all; God Bless us, everyone! Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
Doug
LEADING Knight Message
Paul Slater
Howdy!
Happy holiday season!
This month we get to have one of my favorite events, the Children’s Shopping event. If you have not participated in this great event, I strongly suggest you do so, even if it is just to join the children for lunch at the lodge after their shopping. I guarantee you will find a little more Christmas joy when you see the impact that our lodge provides this kids.
In keeping with Charity as the greatest of all virtues, this month the AZ Elks Association was awarded the Outstanding Foundation Philanthropist at the annual National Philanthropy Day. We were nominated by the Steele Children’s Research Center Foundation. To date the AZ Elks has donated more than $10 million to the Steele Foundation as well as the Jack Warter Youth Camp.
If you have been wanting to get involved, there are a few committee openings that need a chairperson. The youth activities are looking for someone with a passion for children. Please consider volunteering in this or any of our many committees.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, you can always reach out to me via email (pslates1987@gmail.com) or phone (520.268.2375)
Take care,
paul
SECRETARY’S CORNER
Mimi Wittenborn - Secretary
I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy and blessed Thanksgiving. Being with family and friends is truly something to be thankful for.
Again, I want to thank Jack Baillargeon for f illing in for me as we had to leave town for a few days. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. As you will notice at the below Lodge stats we need to work on our numbers. We still have 22 delinquents, so if you are one of them, please get your dues paid. Sorry for the nag again.
LODGE STATS YEAR-TO-DATE
Membership to Date ............... 571
Candidates................................. 5
Delinquents ............................. 22
Life Members ........................... 55
Average Age ............................ 70
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!!!
Past Exalted Ruler Association
Past Exalted Ruler Association - Ron Starjnski, PERA President
Hello Everyone,
The Past Exalted Rulers Association (PERA) will be purchasing a Forever Brick in the Legacy Garden at the Arizona Heroes Memorial in the Naranja Park, Oro Valley, AZ for $295. The brick will read Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815, Serving Veterans, Community, and Youth. You can purchase a brick by going to the Arizona Heroes Memorial website.
We will also be donating $100 to the Arizona Elks Association for the Veterans leather Program, Leather is used to provide professionally-crafted gloves for veterans in wheelchairs, which are distributed at veterans’ adaptive sports clinics and gatherings throughout the country.
Clothe-A-Child is always in our hearts and minds that is why the PERA will be donating $300 to this year’s event.
Information on Lobsterfest (March), the PERA golf outing (Spring), and PERA hosted breakfasts and/or brunches (January) will be coming your way soon, keep and eye out for these events in the bugle, email blasts and signup sheets in the lodge, all proceeds from these events will be used to pay for the 25th anniversary celebration the week of October 14, 2025.
Do not forget about the Queen of Hearts every Friday night at 6:30, get there early to get your tickets before someone else does.
I will see you at the lodge.
Ron