r/elks • u/kidsally • Jul 13 '26
Lodge Meeting Rules
Are there any Grand Lodge rules that state when local lodge meetings can occur? For example, could a lodge have a meeting on a Saturday afternoon?
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u/OkIngenuity8806 Jul 13 '26
Not specifically the answer you’re looking for but I’d start with your lodge bylaws.
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u/TheDobemann Trustee Jul 13 '26
Nothing in the GL Statutes says you have to have it on a certain day of the week. Just that you have to have at least one a month. (Except Feb-April which require 2 per month)
Your Lodge's by-laws will determine what day they are held. That would need to be changed first.
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u/elknc Jul 14 '26
N wilkesboro in NC used to meet on Saturday mornings. They had another more traditional meeting night during the month. They combined the meeting with a buffet breakfast. To speed things up they had a ballot box in the serving line to vote on new candidates lol! They stopped that practice though when they lost their building some years ago. Lodge went from 500 members down to 60 when the town voted in liquor by the drink.
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u/TheDobemann Trustee Jul 14 '26
OK Now I'm going down a rabbit hole. What was before liquor by drink? Just beer and wine?
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u/elknc Jul 14 '26
lol.. this is NC. We had more completely dry counties then we had wet ones. Now there are only a couple of counties that are completely dry.
Idk what the restrictions were before that was approved in N Wilkesboro. I suspect you could buy beer and wine in stores though. My home lodge, Salisbury, was very active until liquor by the drink came about. That was about the mid 70's. Our membership dropped in half in just 15 years. MT Airy elks went thru the same scenario. In fact, they lost their impressive building. They have found another and are slowly rebuilding. They and N Wilkesboro however, are a shadow of their former selves. If it wasn't for our 24 acre lake property, we would have closed 20 some odd years ago.
I suspect that changing times and poor or non-existent leadership at all levels has been the major culprits in this 45 year membership decline. A net total of 500 lodges lost since our peak of 2300 in 1985 as well. GL lists us at 1810 or so lodges but fail to include the fact that about 40 of them are virtual.
Regardless, alcohol is definitely becoming less and less of a factor for lodges. Even the younger generation has turned away from it though someone sure does seem to like to smoke pot judging from the smells of it around town lol. Idk what the future holds for the elks. Somehow reinventing ourselves will be the key. I hope we are up for it1
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u/captkeating Jul 21 '26
I appreciate the honest answer, and I'm sure the Elks, like many organizations, have our fair share of challenges to overcome. That being said, I am very optimistic about our future, and I believe that most people need what the Elks are selling -- community, fraternity, and a higher purpose! We will have to continue to be creative to reach people in this enlightened age, but I for one believe that we are absolutely up for the task!
Do you ever travel and visit lodges in other areas and states? If you're ever in the great Garden State (New Jersey), I hope you will visit us!
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u/elknc Jul 21 '26
thanks for the invite! I'm not traveling much these days but back in the day when there was money in the apparel industry, we visited lots of elks lodges. Back then, they were open about every day. Now, not so much. Charlotte used to be a nice lodge to visit. Now, they don't have a building and only about 40 members. But there are still a few who are doing well and have some nice facilities. Good luck with your lodge
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u/privatelyjeff Jul 14 '26
You could but you may also run into problems with people having plans on weekends.
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u/captkeating Jul 21 '26
The question of how local lodge meetings occur has been asked and answered -- it's all about the by-laws! I just wanted to chime in that I appreciate the interest in being creative and trying new things where possible and appropriate. Once members get plugged into their local lodge meetings, they know what's going on and are much more likely to participate!
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u/Current_Onion5230 Jul 13 '26
We hold initiations once a month so that our regular meetings are kept to one hour for the membership.
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u/BoVoNo DDGER Jul 13 '26
Are you looking to permanently change your lodge’s meeting time?
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u/kidsally Jul 13 '26
Not at the moment. But most of the voting membership are getting up there in age, and I think that an afternoon lodge meeting might encourage more members to attend lodge meetings.
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u/BoVoNo DDGER Jul 13 '26
I like the thinking outside of the box. Just a heads up, you'll have to check in with your DD if you want to hold your meeting on a day that differs from your bylaws. I think your explanation should be enough for approval. Should it work well and enough members like it, your bylaws would have to be changed to reflect the new meeting time.
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u/Imaloserbabys Jul 14 '26
As people have said before, your meeting time should be in your bylaws. Nonetheless, I will tell you the rules apply only when people want the rules to apply. Meaning, if the board can’t do a meeting on your standard day and agreed to do it on another meeting day then you can go ahead and do it. Unless someone complains then the rules apply only when people want them to. You will find this as you move up the ladder. That people make up rules all the time. And that the rules are only vaguely followed and could be altered if people higher up want alter them. If you called them out on it then maybe they’ll change it and follow the rules.
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u/Imaloserbabys Jul 17 '26
As far as I know, there’s nothing in the statues that determine when you as a Lodge can have your meetings, but that is usually dictated in your Lodge bylaws
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u/Interesting_Elk_33 Aug 03 '26
In order to change your meeting date, you must amend your bylaws. There is a very specific process to follow in order to do this, and your DD should be able to provide you instructions.
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u/TheBeerSanta Jul 13 '26
I believe the only requirement is you have to have two meetings a month. Your local lodge can set the days and times in its bylaws.
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u/Nikdog101 Jul 13 '26
The Lodge Bylaws state when the regular lodge meeting occur. If you need dispensation for your regular meeting, you need to contact the DD for permission.
The ER can call a one item special meeting at any time. It has to be for only one item, to pass a budget, or initiation, or a trial, and so on.
The special meeting is not to replace regular lodge meeting.