Qualifications for Elk of the Year

To decide who in your Lodge has the work ethic, belief in fellowship, love of Lodge and fellow members is a task that falls once a year on a small group that has been honored to receive The Elk of the Year Award in past years.

It is an award that one good day, one good week or good month does not earn you. It is a labor of love to improve your Lodge and community, to help your fellow members over an entire year that brings you consideration for this award. It is not given lightly, and to those who receive it, much is owed by the members. It is a willingness to sacrifice and serve, a desire to help, a love of giving to others, a belief in the good that, what we do does make a difference.

When Joe Kelly enters the Lodge with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face the Lodge lights up with the glow of good feelings. His attitude and good nature precede him, and it seems everyone in the room wants to say hello to him and they have a big smile on their face as well. It’s a gift that he has and he shares it with all, and if that’s all he did around here it would still be more than most. But that’s just a small part of Joe’s contribution to our Lodge, he is Secretary to the House Committee, Chairman of the Veteran’s Committee, and at almost all of our events you’ll find him back in the kitchen smiling, and laughing, and you will see everyone else back there with a smile and having a good time to! His work with the Vet’s is well known throughout the Lodge and community, and he deserves all of our thanks for the job he does. Joe has been on the House Committee for three years and anyone who has ever been the recording Secretary of a Committee knows how hard and little appreciated that job is. Yet when you think of Joe, it goes back to that which he gives all of us, the gift of good cheer, and that’s about the highest praise you can give to a fellow brother. Thank you for the gift you give each of us whenever we see you!