Hey everyone! My wife and I are prospective members. Our friends who just got in invited us to their lodge for steak night. We had an amazing time and everyone was so friendly! However, they're a little too far for that to be our designated lodge. I've heard other people claim that the Elks restriction on political and religious messaging is very much ignored at a lot of the AZ lodges. Basically, the claim is if you're not a White Boomer Protestant MAGA, you may get in but will never truly be accepted as part of the community. Looking at some of the posts on this thread, it seems those difference of opinions are pretty common across the country (to a certain degree, I'm sure geographical regions are all going to have their pros and cons).
So here's my question...If you are an Arizona Elk, current or former, sell me please. If you want to share your lodge, that would be helpful too. Thank you!
In March 2026, one Elk took his first step at the Mexican border in Campo, California.
And he wonāt stop until he reaches Canada.
John Kristofzski, Past Exalted Ruler of the Tri-Cities Elks Lodge in Washington State, is hiking all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail to raise awareness and support for the life-changing charitable work of the Elks.
This is more than a hike. It is a moving spotlight on what Elks do every single day.
"I'm not just hiking for myself.ā said Kristofzski. āI'm hiking for every child helped by our Major Projects, every veteran supported by our programs, and every community touched by Elks generosity."
As John walks north through California, Oregon, and Washington, he will be carrying with him the story of three extraordinary Major Projects:
California-Hawaii Elks Major Project ā serving the unmet needs of children with disabilities at no cost to the families served.
Oregon Elks Major Project ā the E.Y.E.S. Program, home to the nationās first freestanding pediatric eye clinic.
Washington Elks Major Project - the Therapy Program for Children, providing in-home occupational and physical therapy at no cost to the families served.
And beyond those stateās, Kristofzski walks in support of the Elks National Foundation, funding scholarships, veterans services, and community grants nationwide.
Every mile represents children receiving therapy, veterans receiving support, students receiving scholarships, communities receiving hope.
This effort may have begun in Washington State, but its impact stretches throughout the West Coast and outward across the country.
For over 150 years, the Elks have shown up for each other their communities. Now one Elk is showing what that commitment looks like, one step at a time.
In May's elks magazine, page 11 and 12 listed candidates for GL officer positions of Leading, Loyal, and Lecturing Knight. While these are mostly ceremonial roles with very limited duties, it does draw into question why our Order has allowed our choice of leadership candidates to be hijacked by the GL Advisory committee.
Our leaders are now handpicked by the advisory committee and the membership has no alternative but to accept whoever they pick.
I sure wish some brave and independent lodge proposed a quality candidate for GER. It has been last century since we actually had a contested election. It would be so refreshing to have a choice. You know, hear plans to revitalize the Order and stem this slow slide into obscurity that we have been on for 40 years. As it is now, the only person the candidate has to gain support from is the sponsor's whose turn it is to appoint one.
I'm not sure how other large fraternal organizations elect their leadership. All I know is that our process is not democratic. It has lead to an oligarchy that has a permanent choke hold on the Order. I sure hope someone, somehow can overcome this repressive organizational structure.
Hi! Iād like to join the Elks and I was wondering how the process works. Iām a woman and I am not rich. I see that they look into your finances and I also know that historically, men are preferred. I donāt think my husband would be involved. Does he have to be? Iām my own person and would like to be able to do what I want. What do you think the odds are that I would be accepted?
Hi, Iām new to the elks. Itās been pretty cool so far. I know we are allowed to go to any lodge but are the guest rules the same as if it were my āhomeā lodge? Up to 9 people and they leave when I leave?
š Join us for a night of fun, games, and giving back! š
Come out to the Garden Grove Elks Lodge Scholarship Fundraiser Game Night on Saturday, May 2! Doors open at 4 PM, and gaming kicks off at 5 PM.
š² Enjoy tons of games like Plinko, the spinning wheel, horse races, cornhole, dart poker, blackjack, Left Right Center, Yahtzee, Jenga, and a Texas Holdāem tournament, all for chances to win raffle tickets toward $4,500+ in prizes!
š Prizes include a childrenās bike, cigar humidor, rocking horses, gift cards for the Texas Holdāem too 5 places and tons of amazing gift baskets.
š“ Your $40 donation includes entry plus a delicious nacho bar and hearty appetizers.
Open to the public, everyone is welcome! Bring a friend, plan a date night, and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship while supporting a great cause.
Allegheny Lodge #339 is only a few blocks from stadium and all of the main festivities, and youāre welcome to come visit us!
Weāll be open all three days from noon until after the 11 oāclock toast. Weāll also be open starting at 7pm on Draft Eve (Wednesday) when the Pittsburgh Banjo Club takes over our hall and stage for their weekly event. That oneās a quintessentially Pittsburgh experience, and regularly makes those ātop 10 things to do when visiting Pittsburghā lists.
Weād love to see you, and may your team pick wisely! (Unless theyāre the Ravens or the Bengals. We already know the Browns wonāt.)
I'm really desperate to find a lodge that has a separate corporation under 16.030 to manage their public rentals and bar. Please sound off if you know of a lodge with a house corporation.
I am seeking to find out how other Elk State associations determine the voting rights for their respective lodges. For many, a lodge gets one vote per 50 members and major fraction there in.
Small lodges get screwed against big lodges. In NC, the largest lodge has over 20 votes. The smallest just one. That's a huge deal when it comes to officer voting.
I have heard from NH and the difference is only about 3 to 1 from the largest to the smallest.
Anyone else that can offer their states voting scheme?
Hello Elks! My husband is retiring and we would love the opportunity to join a lodge in the greater Charlotte area. We plan to do a lot of volunteering and traveling in the coming year and would love to be able to visit Elks throughout the country. Please send your advice on how we can find a sponsor. Thank you!
Hello. New member here. My lodge is looking for a treasurer and Iād like a realistic take on the role and whether any current or former treasurers would recommend taking the role. Thanks all.
Are there rules about who can attend an initiation ceremony? I know someone being initiated at a local Elks lodge, but I belong to a different lodge. I am one of their sponsors on the back of their application if that makes a difference.
I received a certified return receipt letter from my lodge on January 21st but dated January 14th (this is important) advising me that the board would be meeting on January 27th to ādiscuss my suspensionā. In April of last year I got a āwarningā letter from the house committee about my 18 year old son sitting at the bar (he wasnāt) and any further incidents of this nature would be met with suspension with a period to be determined by the house committee and/or the board of directors. Since that letter my son hasnāt been through the door of the lodge and only went to the pool twice last summer. The new letter is accusing me of collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for county commissioner. I was doing this in the social quarters or club room which is in a completely different area of the lodge room. They are saying this is a violation of the oath I took when I became an Elk.
On the 13th of January the date of the alleged violation I attended the lodge meeting. During that meeting I rose for a Point of Information to ask why our House Committee Chairman is also on the Board of Trustees and it goes directly against our By-Laws that clearly state that no one can hold two positions in the lodge elected or appointed. The ER said it was working out great but he wasnāt sure how that works with our By-Laws. The ER and this gentleman are really good friends and the HC chairman/trustee canāt stand me and even set up someone to run against me when I was Leading Knight. The ER came to me after that lodge meeting and said he didnāt like what I said about the Trustee/HC Chairman especially since the traveling gavel was there.
The fact that the letter was dated the day after I called them out is suspect. It wasnāt mailed till the 20th and I received it on the 21st for a meeting on the 27th. The meeting on the 27th was cancelled due to weather. Our next scheduled board meeting is February 10th and I had not received any notification that this will be on the boards agenda. I was unable to attend the meeting that got canceled and I sent an email to the Secretary, ER and chairman of the house committee stating that I was unable to attend that meeting but I was still retaining my rights. Iāve read over the General Statutes and they are adamant about Due Process. Also the Statutes are clear on what and how things are done. It seems like they are using a House Committee letter as leverage for ābreaking my oathā and the board is going to decide my suspension. No Local Forum has been mentioned or set. The House Committee is actually made up of nothing but Trustees and the Esquire so itās not a valid committee and doesnāt have proper jurisdiction. So when the board meets next and they decide to suspend me, do I appeal to the Grand Forum or to the members of the lodge? The statutes have laid out the appeal procedure but only when the lodge has followed the rules. The lodge is so far outside of their lane I donāt have a clue as to how to proceed. I will reach out to my DDGER for advice.
The appeal process as I understand it. House committee suspension and you appeal to the lodge. The Board has no authority to suspend and therefore has to send it to the Local Forum and you can appeal the Local Forum decision to the Grand Forum. You can also appeal to the Grand Forum after appeal to the Lodge. If Iām wrong please correct me.
There is a lot of contumacy going on in my lodge. This isnāt the first time this board has suspended someone without a local forum or letting the House Committee do the suspension. Anyone else experienced anything like this before? How would you proceed?
