exalted ruler's MESSAGE
Kim McIlonie
Happy June!
Membership remains one of our top priorities. We must continue reaching out to our delinquent members and reminding them of all the reasons it is important to remain an Elk. If you know someone who has not yet paid their dues, please take a moment to contact them. Together, we can keep our Lodge strong, active, and thriving. May was another busy and rewarding month at and around the Lodge. We began the month with our Youth Awards Ceremony, honoring some outstanding young members of our community. Medals and certificates were presented to our Hoop Shoot and Soccer Shoot winners, certificates were awarded to our Essay Contest participants, and several scholarships were presented to extraordinary graduating seniors. Chris Chavez served as our guest speaker and did an incredible job encouraging the students to always strive to do and be their very best. I cannot thank Gloria Cisneros, Lisa Chavez and Cindy Weiss enough for taking charge of this wonderful event. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I also attended the Annual AEA Convention along with our Ritual Team. While our team left somewhat disappointed despite delivering a very strong performance, the convention itself was incredibly inspiring. Of course, my favorite part of the convention, as always, was the AEMP portion.
This is when we honor Dr. Gishan and his extraordinary staff at the Steele Children’s Research Center. During the convention, the AEA presented Dr. Gishan and the Center with a $250,000 donation, an additional $100,000 for his Endowment Fund, and another $160,000 from the ER March of Checks – our portion of that march was more than $10,600.00. Hearing his gratitude for everything the Elks have done — and continue to do — for this cause is truly humbling. On June 14 at 11:00 a.m., we will hold our Flag Day Ceremony at Vistoso Funeral Home. On Father’s Day, June 21, we will host a Cornhole Tournament at 1:00 pm followed by a Chili Cook-Off at 4:30 pm. Then, on June 27 at 11:00 a.m., we will once again enjoy the famous (or infamous!) Mimosa Brunch fundraiser for AEMP. Feel free to contact me, but remember, I work a full-time job and may not answer during working hours. (714) 853-9934 or kimage3961@gmail.com.
I look forward to seeing you around the Lodge! Fraternally,
Kim McIlonie
LEADING Knight Message
Lisa Hensley
Hello everyone,
May was another busy and meaningful month for our lodge, and once again I continue to be amazed by the dedication, generosity, and heart of our members and volunteers. Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815 truly shines because of the people who step up time and time again to make every event special. One of the highlights of the month was our Youth Awards ceremony. What an incredible group of young people we had the privilege of honoring this year. Listening to their accomplishments, hearing about their goals, and seeing the character and leadership they already possess was both inspiring and uplifting. It always feels wonderful to recognize and reward such deserving students, and it reminds us why these programs are so important. A very special thank you goes out to Gloria Cisneros and Lisa Chavez for the amazing work they consistently do organizing and coordinating this event year after year. Their dedication and care truly make the evening memorable for the students and families involved. Thank you as well to Al Peterson and Lucy Suddath for all their help and support in making the evening run so smoothly. The Annual Convention was another major event this month and a truly valuable experience for all who attended. The Ritual Team put in an incredible amount of hard work and dedication preparing for convention, and we are very proud of their efforts and commitment. They represented our lodge with pride and did their very best, which is something worth celebrating.
The meetings throughout convention were informative and productive, but one of the most meaningful portions is always hearing about the work of the Steele Children’s Research Center. It is absolutely amazing to learn about the life-changing research and care being provided for children and families. During the meeting alone, over $150,000 was raised in support of the center, which speaks volumes about the generosity and compassion of our Elks family. Hearing the stories of the work being done there is always inspiring and reminds us how important our charitable efforts truly are. As we move into June, we have several wonderful events to look forward to. On June 14th, we will hold our annual Flag Day Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. at Vistoso Funeral Home. This is always a beautiful and moving ceremony that reminds us of the meaning and history behind our nation’s flag and the freedoms it represents. Please also remember that we will need volunteers to assist with raising the flags at 7:00 a.m. and lowering them at 5:00 p.m. Your help is always appreciated, and it truly takes all of us working together to make these patriotic displays possible. Our Father’s Day event will be held on June 21st and will feature cornhole along with our always-popular Chili Cookoff. This event is always full of fun, laughter, friendly competition, and great food. Be sure to bring your best chili recipe and come ready to enjoy the day. Judging will be $5 per person, with all donations benefiting ENF, making it a fun event for a great cause.
Fraternally,
Lisa Hensley
SECRETARY’S CORNER
Mimi Wittenborn - Secretary
Welcome to the Secretary’s corner.:
Mimi is away on a well earned vacation and you are definitely got the second team over the last month. I have struggled mightily during May but with Alane and Cathy’s help we have managed to keep the office afloat.
Congratulations to our Ritual Team comprised of all our elected and appointed officers with no substitutes (it’s been a while since that’s happened). Of the 43 Lodges in Arizona only 6 finalists got to compete at the mid-year convention. Congrats again we are proud of you.
Also congratulations to our own Alane Asp who was appointed as District Leader South by our Sponsor PGER Jim Grillo.
Dues are slowly drifting but we still have about 15 percent of our membership delinquent. It is our membership that keeps us strong so let’s get everybody back in so we can have another banner year and continue to serve the principles of Elkdom, Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity.
Always remember: Be Proud, Be Loud, and Be Visible. Acting for Mimi
Jack Baillargeon PDDGER
LODGE STATS YEAR-TO-DATE
Membership to Date .... 611
Candidates: ...................... 14
Delinquents ...................... 86
Life Members ................... 46
Average Age ..................... 70.36
Past Exalted Ruler Association
Past Exalted Ruler Association - Paul Slater, PERA President
Howdy!
It would seem that summer is going to ease its way into Tucson this year, and I am just fine with that!! As our snowbirds are departing, we wish them safe travels and look forward to their return. I wanted to provide an update on a couple of items: First, Lobsterfest raised $ 2,100 in profit! Huge thanks to the PERs who helped support this great event. Thanks to the great team, we served more than 100 lobsters in record time. Secondly, I want to provide an update on the PER scholarships, as there was some confusion about their eligibility. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in college or a trade school. This year, we discovered that neither of our winners was yet enrolled. The PERs discussed this and decided to award both scholarships to our winners after they complete their first semester! A friendly reminder that you must have a valid membership card (paid your dues) and PLEASE make sure that your name is legible, and there is a phone number on each ticket. I did notice that my first time selling, there were a few tickets with just a name. If a ticket without a number is picked, it will be discarded, and another “properly filled-out” ticket will be selected.
For the last decade, donations to Friends of Pima Animal Care Center have fueled innovative animal lifesaving programs, providing care and hope for countless animals and pet-loving families. This local nonprofit organization has helped more than 75,000 families with veterinary care, behavioral support, supplies, and pet-friendly guidance. The Pima Animal shelter is located at 400 N. Silverbell in Tucson and needs our help. With money from generous Elks, we can ensure that the pets in the shelter are well taken care of. All donations go directly to the care of animals and not to the salaries of employees of the center. The House Committee’s goal is to buy items for the shelter from their wish lists (Amazon and Chewy) and then present an itemized list of what we were able to buy. Please see our “Doggie Bank” located in the bar to donate. Thank you in advance. YTD Donations: $967.00
ENF Report - Ron Starjnski, PER
Hello everyone,
The Elks National Convention is right around the corner, and the Elks National Foundation hopes to see you there! Convention is a jam-packed event, and while it’s impossible to see everything, you won’t want to miss all the ENF will have to offer. While you’re at the ENF booth in the Convention Hall, pick up a special ENF ribbon for your badge and ask any ENF-related questions you have! You may be able to finally put a face to the name of an ENF staff member you’ve communicated with, and the staff is always eager to do the same with Elks. You will also have the chance to interact with all your favorite ENF programs, including the 2026 Elks Hoop Shoot Getty Powell Award winners and members of the Scholar Advisory Board, who want to show their appreciation to the people who have made their awards possible. Convention isn’t just about spending time with fellow Elks—it’s also a time to learn! Of course, the ENF will be hosting several seminars to equip you to continue building stronger communities. The Community Investments Program session on Sunday is all about grants and the best practices for using them (including the $500 increase to the Spotlight Grant); the Elks Hoop Shoot team is hosting a session on Monday about the upcoming season and how the program unleash-es gritty kids; and the Development team will teach you how to implement broad-based fundraising techniques to help your Lodge exceed the per-member-giving goal on Monday. The ENF can’t wait to see you in Windy City, you’ll be blown away! A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Elks National Foundation helps Elks build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. For more information on the ENF, visit elks.org/enf
Thank you all and if you have any questions my email address is rstarjn-ski@gmail.com
I will see you at the lodge.
Ron Starjnski PER, ENF chair
