EXALTED RULER’S MESSAGE

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 Greetings, fellow Elks. I keep saying this, but I hope this finds you all well and safe. I’m sure you agree that this pandemic is getting old. I’m really looking forward to the day we can get back to some stage of normalcy, whatever that might be. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and stay safe. 

Not much is new at the Lodge this month. After the financial hit we took being closed for two months, we are doing fairly well in the lounge. Thanks to a group of regulars who spend time there, we are at almost the same income level that we had prior to our Queen of Hearts game. It would be nice to restart Queen of Hearts, but we just cannot allow the crowd it would draw to happen yet. It’s good for the Lodge that we are staying afloat financially cause there are a lot of Lodges that are not. We are still trying to keep some activities going. Texas Hold’em still draws a good size group of players, and Bingo is getting popular with between 20 and 30 players. Wednesday night dinners are still on for carry-out, and we are sold out most Wednesdays. The weekly 50-50 drawing is continuing and has actually done quite well. As of October, the Lodge’s take from 50-50 was $2,166. The same amount obviously went to our members who participated. 

The Order of Elks has decreed that the first Sunday in December be set apart for the Elks Memorial Service. That day is December 6th this year, and we will be paying tribute to our Departed Members.  Please join us at VISTOSO FUNERAL HOME if you can.  

I mentioned a while ago about starting a “Bugle Booster” group to help defray the cost of printing our Bugle. We’ve already had a couple of donations, but the plan is to include an option on the annual dues notice to donate an additional $10. to help the printing costs. The names of all the Boosters will be included in every Bugle and at a drawing to be held with all the names, a winner will receive 20% of what we collected. I’m expecting lots of $10. Donations. 

Again, not much else to report on. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and look forward to a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay well and keep safe. 

Steve.

On Veteran ’s Day, the lodge officers performed the Elk’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony. It was extremely nice of Doug Harpold, PER to allow us to hold the ceremony at the Vistoso Memorial Chapel. We were able to practice social distancing and celebrate the sacrifices our Veteran ’s have made for our country. Terry Ford, a retired Navy submariner, came to the ceremony in his uniform. Thanks to Veterans Mike Borah, Jack Baillargeon, Jeffrey Lindroth, Larry Wittenborn, Tom Wilson PER, and Lee Cook PDDGER for carrying the branch of service and the POW/MIA flags for the ceremony. 

The holidays are upon us and I hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving. 2020 is rapidly ending and I for one, am happy this year is almost behind us. With the virus surging again, parties and gatherings need to be limited this year; the lodge will not be sponsoring any holiday celebrations. I am hoping the house committee decorates the lodge for some semblance of normalcy. Steve and I have decided to decorate the house because it is important to find some joy. We are also thinking of those in need, many opportunities exist to help. Donations of food or funds to a local Food Bank could be especially important. As in years past, the lodge will also have a donation box in the lounge for Toys -for -Tots; new, unwrapped toys are appreciated. The box will be picked up on December 4 the . 

The lodge will not be sponsoring the annual Children ’s Shopping Spree and Christmas party for the children of Roadrunner School. Joyce Garcia, the Children ’s Shopping Spree Committee Chair, has included an article about what her committee is doing instead this year. Jan Trudeau has been able to continue the Adopt - a -Family program with Impact of Southern Arizona. It is good to know the lodge has been able to support some needy children and families in our community. See her article for complete details of her committee ’s efforts for the holiday season. 

Please be safe and embrace gathering safely – use Zoom and FaceTime. Let us hope the promised vaccines roll out smoothly and quickly in 2021. I for one am looking forward to the new year! 

Alane.

Now that the Ghosts and Goblins have gone away, we can focus on the Holidays. I hope you all had a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving. 

It is with my deepest sadness that I inform the membership that due to (not for health reasons) a difficult and time-consuming situation  in my personal life, I will need to step down as the Secretary of the Lodge. It has been my honor and privilege to have served in that position for almost six years. My resignation will be effective as of December 10 th , 2020. I will miss you all, but I will still be around the Lodge to help when I can. 

Reminders: - if you are a snow bird coming back to the area for the winter months, send an email, call the office or call the lounge for any updates on your address. This will ensure you continue to get any correspondence from the Lodge. - if you have not paid your membership dues for this Lodge year, please remit them as soon as possible (with no penalties) and get yourself in good standing with the Lodge. We miss you and need all of our members! 

Lodge Stats 

Membership 559 

Initiated 17 

To be Initiated (Dec 10th) 4 

Affiliated 9 

Transferring out 2 

Transferred out 2 

In various stages for membership 10 

Average age 70.92 

Delinquents 4 

Your Catalina Mountain Past Exalted Ruler’s Association hopes that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Even with all the uncertainty surrounding this year’s health concerns, there was much to be thankful for. We are thankful to all our members who support this Lodge in any way that you can and are very lucky to have you as a part of our Elk’s family. 

We are still throwing around ideas for a scholarship fund raiser and it seems as though we would like to raffle off some baskets. If you would like to donate a nice basket to the cause, please do so by December 15th. You can contact me (Gloria) at 520-237-2011 to make arrangements to get it to us. We are also taking gift card donations for the Diamond Children’s Medical Center at this time. These cards will be to assist the families who take their children in for medical treatment from the Steele Children’s Research Center Physicians and are in need of gas or groceries as they try to get their children well. The most requested card is for Fry’s as they can be used for groceries and/or fuel. Other cards needed include Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon or prepaid credit cards. Any denomination will be greatly appreciated. 

Please stay safe and Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!
Gloria Cisneros, PERA President