elyriaelks

As we enter the month of March my term as Exalted Ruler of Elyria Elks Lodge 465 is rapidly coming to an end. Although what we all experienced this year has been extraordinary I take with me many positive memories of my time as the E.R. of the Elyria Lodge. Most notably, the members and officers of the Lodge that in spite of the uncertainty that the pandemic posed on all of us worked tirelessly to make our Lodge better while navigating uncharted waters. The Lodge faced many challenges throughout this past year including multiple closures but I am happy to report we are sound financially. This is due to the efforts of many to manage expenses and obtain grant money. I am grateful to everyone involved for their hard work. To the incoming officers and in particular Exalted Ruler elect Bill Medlen I wish them nothing but success and the fervent hope the Lodge can return to a degree of normalcy over the next few months.

Finally, first and foremost we are a benevolent organization that supports our veterans, the needs of those less fortunate and the physically challenged. The current need is significant so we all need to continue supporting our sponsored charities to the best of our abilities.

In closing, thank you for the honor and the privilege to serve as the Exalted Ruler of Elyria Lodge 465 over the past year. As always, please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

With January 2021 in the books we should
continue to look forward with optimism that we will
see improvement to the conditions that currently
surround us as the year progresses. The Lodge
reopened as planned on January 11th with normal
hours of operation. Weekly food events are planned
and details will be communicated to our membership
as they become available.

As mentioned in the January message the Lodge applied for grant
dollars through various government agencies. In addition to the $5,000
we received in December two additional grant requests for $2,500 each
were approved. The $10,000 in total grant dollars received will be used
to cover operating expenses.

Preparations have begun for Lodge year 2021/2022. This includes
preparing our operating budget, selecting and voting on Lodge officers
and trustees. As mentioned last month, if you are interested in being
considered for a leadership role please contact a current officer or P.E.R.
to better understand the commitment. To be considered you must be a
member in good standing and must be nominated by a member in good
standing. Nominations will take place at the regular 7:30 business
meeting on Wed. February 10, 2021.

Finally, as we all know the needs of those afflicted with Cerebral
Palsy is the primary charitable cause supported by Elks at all levels.
The United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland prepared a video
highlighting the good work that our support of this charity facilitates. The
video clip under the title “Our Financial Support of Cerebral Palsy at
Work” has been as added to the home page of the Lodge website which
can be accessed at www.elyriaelks.com .

I encourage you to view it as it reinforces the benevolent aspect of
being an Elk. A special thanks to P.E.R., Dean Robinson for providing
the video.

In closing, please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors
and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin ER

This is not the message that I planned on writing
as we enter the month of December and the
Christmas Holiday season but what follows is
dictated by the world we currently live in.
I am sure most, if not all of you are aware the
Lodge is closed through December and is currently
scheduled to reopen on Monday January 11th, 2021.
Many factors influenced this decision with the most important
being the health, safety and well being of our members and
employees. As difficult and painful as this decision was to make it was
the correct one. It was made easier by the fact we are currently
financially stable and can endure the shutdown. It is important to note
this is largely due to the strong support from our members during these
difficult times. In addition, the Lodge Board of Directors continue to keep
a watchful eye on recurring and variable expenses to keep them at a
minimum. This includes in no small part to the countless hours that the
Lodge Trustees, all volunteers, put in taking care of routine and
emergency maintenance issues keeping the use of 3rd party contractors
to a minimum. We all owe them a debt of gratitude!
The Board of Directors will continue to meet during the shutdown to
monitor a fluid situation and changing guidelines from the State of Ohio
and healthcare professionals. Any significant changes will be
communicated to our membership.
We are all growing weary of the pandemic and the impact it has had
on our lives. However, as we approach the end of this extraordinary
year there is hope on the horizon. A number of vaccines with high
efficacy rates are projected to become available in the near future. Let
us all hope and pray this is true and marks the beginning of the end to
this pandemic.
In closing I sincerely wish all of you, your family and friends a Merry
and Blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Finally,
please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and know
that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin ER

As always, I continue to hope that you are all safe, in good health and good spirits and making the best of these extraordinary times and taking stock in the truly important things in life. The officers and trustees will continue hold weekly food events that offer a variety of different menus. Attendance and feedback from our members remains positive. Details for these events will be continue to be listed in the Echo, posted to our Facebook page, website at https://elyriaelks.com, communicated via email and posted throughout the Lodge as they become available. I encourage you to plan on attending one of these food events and support the Lodge. The Lodge will continue to be open for Sunday Browns games. We continue to look for members to volunteer and sponsor their own food event. A “special” thanks to all that volunteered and to put on a successful Walter “Joe” McMannus C.P. Golf Outing. The weather was outstanding and good times and fellowship prevailed throughout the day. All the proceeds from the event went to support C.P. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and thank Dave Noren and Kaaren Sand for their involvement and support of this event for twenty-four years! There are a number of special messages listed throughout the November Echo so please look at them as they pertain to all Lodge members and their guests. A friendly reminder that as the weather gets cooler and we all begin to spend more time inside we must continue to be vigilant with our safety precautions to keep Elyria Elks Lodge 465 safe for our employees, members and their guests. Simply stated, wear a mask to protect those around you. As always, please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers. I hope to see you all at the Lodge soon!

Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin ER

As we move into the fall season, I continue to
hope that you are all safe, in good health and good
spirits. While we all continue to be impacted by the
pandemic we are slowly getting back to some
semblance of normalcy; The Indians are in the post
season, the Browns are back and Ohio State football
will be returning in October.

The Lodge continues to offer food service on a limited basis that
ensures the offerings are both safe and cost effective and the feedback
from our members remains positive. The officers and trustees have
started to hold weekly food events that will offer a variety of different
menus. Details for these events will be listed in the Echo, posted to our
Facebook page, website at https://elyriaelks.com, communicated via
email and posted throughout the Lodge as they become available. I
encourage you to plan on attending one of these food events and
support the Lodge. In addition the Lodge is open for Sunday Browns
games.

We continue to review the hours of operation for the bar based on
member feedback and attendance patterns and will make and
communicate any changes that best serves our members.
A “special” thanks to the A.O.L. Committee for a successful “Reverse
Raffle” that was well attended. We all owe a debt of gratitude to this
group for all they do behind the scenes to make improvement to the
Lodge that benefits all of our members.

There are a number of special messages listed throughout the
October Echo so please look at them as they pertain to all Lodge
members and their guests.

As the weather gets cooler and we all begin to spend more time
inside we must continue to be vigilant with our safety precautions to
keep Elyria Elks Lodge 465 safe for our employees, members and their
guests. As always, please stay safe, look out for family, friends and
neighbors and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers. I
hope to see you all at the Lodge soon!

Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin ER

As summer 2020 winds down, I hope that you
are all safe, in good health and good spirits.
As we move towards fall season it will be without
Ohio State football. While the N.F.L. is planning
on a full schedule of games our hometown
Browns may be playing in an empty stadium. The uniqueness of
this year continues to march on &
The trustees have put in place a plan that will offer food service
on a limited basis that ensures the offerings are both safe and cost
effective. The food events that have been held as of the message
have been well attended and the feedback from our members has
been positive. Details for future events will be posted to our
Facebook page, website at https://elyriaelks.com, communicated
via email and posted throughout the Lodge as they become
available.
There are a number of special messages listed throughout the
September Echo so please look at them as they pertain to all
Lodge members and their guests. Of special note the Walter “Joe”
McManus C.P. Golf Outing is scheduled for Sunday September
27th. Sign-up sheets are at the Lodge.
Thank you again for your cooperation to keep Elyria Elks Lodge
465 safe for our employees, members and their guests. As always,
please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and
know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers. I hope to see
you all at the Lodge soon!
Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin E

I hope that this month’s message finds you all safe, in good health, good spirits and enjoying the hot summer weather. As you know we reopened the
Lodge to our members on Monday June 15th. We continue to comply with the State of Ohio’s social distancing guidelines and cleanliness protocols. I can say with confidence that the Lodge is as safe as we can make it and encourage all of our members to come in and socialize with a cold beverage of your choice and support our Lodge.

The trustees are still working to develop plans for limited food services that are both safe and cost effective. Unfortunately I have nothing definitive to share with you at this time. Details as well as plans for future events will be posted to our Facebook page, website and communicated via email as soon as they become available

As we move towards fall there is still uncertainty as to the state of Big 10 and N.F.L. football. Let’s hope that workable plans are put in place soon so we can enjoy Ohio State and Brown’s football games at the Lodge.

During these unique times we are offered an opportunity to reflect on those things that are important in our lives; God, family, friends and country. It is  equally important that based on our ability to do so lend a helping hand to those in need. We all need to remember that “Elks Care – Elks Share.”

On behalf of the Officers, Trustees and our employee’s thank you for your cooperation to keep Elyria Elks Lodge 465 safe for our members. As always, please stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

I hope to see you all at the Lodge soon!

Fraternally Yours, Chuck Martin ER

Read the entire Echo Newsletter

I hope that this month’s message finds you all safe, in good health, good spirits and enjoying the summer weather. We were able to reopen the Lodge to our members on Monday June 15th after a long shut down. Many positive changes were made to the main floor of the Lodge and the State of Ohio’s social distancing guidelines and cleanliness protocols were put in place to protect our employees, members and their guests. They are posted throughout the Lodge and will be enforced. If you have not had an opportunity to visit the Lodge I encourage you to do so as I think that you will
be pleased with what was done.

The Memorial Golf outing has been rescheduled for Saturday July 25th at Brentwood Golf Course. The format will be a Four– Person scramble and more information and sign sheet will be posted at the Lodge. Event details will soon be available on our Facebook page and website.

The officers and trustees are in the early stages of developing plans for future social events and limited food services. More information will be forthcoming but please note that no definite date has been set for resuming food services. As I stated in my June message we should all be grateful to our members that have worked very hard to prepare the Lodge for our re-opening. They exemplify what it means to be an Elk. A special thanks to the A.O.L. Committee for all that they did during the shutdown and for the new chairs they donated to the Lodge. I would also like to recognize the hardworking group of Trustees and officers that donated their time and talents. I will break from my standing practice of naming anyone in particular and give a “shout out” to to P.E.R. and former Trustee Sam Schroeder for all the work that he did on behalf of the Lodge and its members. Finally, to all those that worked behind the scenes you have my deepest gratitude and respect. In closing, we continue to need everyone’s cooperation to comply with the social distancing guidelines that have been put in place so that this will work for all of us. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support!

I hope to see you all at the Lodge soon. Until then, stay safe, look out for family, friends and neighbors and know that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

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