Welcome to Brigantine Lodge #2428’s Website. I am glad that you are interested in knowing about our Lodge, its charitable works, and our calendar of events and activities. We have been putting my monthly message from the Antlers in this spot, but as our Website has grown we decided that a separate Exalted Rulers message should be posted. When you visit this site you will see that we are a very active Lodge, especially in the summer. The members volunteer cheerfully and with a loving heart.
Our charitable works are many, but we seem to gravitate to helping the Special Children, and the Veterans of our country. There seems to be a feeling in our Lodge that Special Children deserve nothing less than our best effort to improve their world. We have purchased beach accessible wheelchairs for their use, and we support Camp Moore both with our dollars and with twice yearly visits. Camp Moore is the New Jersey State Elks Association Special project located in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Currently over Six Hundred Special Children spend a week in the summer at the camp, and there is a ratio of staff to campers of nearly one to one. We support the Atlantic County Riding Academy Special Children’s program. We also focus on the Veterans; we want to assist them any way we are able. Twice yearly we visit the Vineland Veterans home and we always bring supplies for them with us. This year we had the Veterans to our Lodge to watch the Army Navy game. This is a something new for us and I know the entire Lodge is behind making this a yearly tradition. We are bringing the Vets to our Lodge in June for Flag Day and some beach and bay.
We also are very supportive of our community and schools and as you go through the Website you will see many of the things we do. In addition to the National Elks Scholarship program, our Lodge scholarship program gives Fifteen Thousand Dollars to deserving students from our member’s families. This lodge’s members give of themselves selflessly to better those around them, and I am as proud of them as I think anyone can be. There is another side of us though and it shows through in the fellowship and camaraderie we share with each other. We are a brotherhood and I know how the members help each other when one is in need. There are so many acts of kindness that it is impossible to even begin to recount them all. Maybe one of these days somebody will help me catch a Striper, and then our charitable works will really be complete. The fun of Friday nights as so many members gather for food and friendship, sitting on the deck on a sunny day, or watching the Eagles crush the Giants on a fall Sunday. This Lodge helps others and enjoys life, and that’s what it’s all about! I hope to see you at the Lodge whether as a member or as a prospective one.
Fraternally,
Dave B.
Exalted Ruler
