Old Dominion Elk 2021 Fall Meeting, Portsmouth, Virginia
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Old Dominion Elk
2021 Fall Meeting, Portsmouth, Virginia
Grand Exalted Ruler’s Message
Community projects give back—and lure new Members
How are you doing with your Lodge Community Projects? Did you know that you
can enter your Lodge into the Community Project Contest offered by the Grand Lodge
Activities Committee? Visit the Grand Lodge Activities Committee on elks.org to see what
is needed to get your Lodge some additional recognition. If you have done some projects,
fantastic. If not, it is not too late to begin now. This is a great way for your membership
to get involved outside the Lodge. Who knows, it may interest new Members for your
Lodge.
October 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week. This is our nation’s oldest and largest drug
prevention program, reaching millions of Americans every year. The Federal Drug
Enforcement Administration, DEA, and others plan activities throughout the month.
Contact local law enforcement and community organizations to see if your Lodge can get involved. In addition,
encourage your Members to wear red ribbons for the month during their daily routine. Pass out red ribbons to your
schools, sponsor a red ribbon activity, submit public service announcements supporting your Red Ribbon program to
local media. Also, during this time, most DEA agencies sponsor a prescription Drug Take Back Day. Ask a local law
enforcement agency if your Lodge can volunteer to help in any way.
Now is the time for your six-month review of your Lodge operations. Lodge Secretaries need to give their bi-
annual report on the activities of their office to the membership. Exalted Rulers, if you have not done so, you need to
submit to the Lodge floor your report on the Grand Lodge Session. Auditing and Accounting Committees also need to
review the Lodge financials and report to the Lodge Members. Finally, make revisions (if necessary) to your annual
budgets to get a clearer financial picture of your Lodge and to make decisions moving forward. Keeping your Lodge
fiscally strong will ensure you continue “Meeting the Challenge.”
In addition to other activities, get started on the American Essay contest at your local schools. The deadline for
submission is in mid-December. Information for the essay contest is located in the Grand Lodge Americanism Manual
found on the Elks website. Have your Americanism chairperson examine the manual—There are great programs for
your Lodge and community, and it provides ways to interact with others outside the Lodge, promote our programs, and
find prospective new Members.
Finally, let us not forget Halloween at the end of the month. Think about planning an event for kids or working
with another entity to provide a safe and fun opportunity for our youth.
T. Keith Mills
Grand Exalted Ruler
State Sponsor’s Message
It is my pleasure to welcome the Elks of Virginia to the 2021 VEA Fall Convention in
Portsmouth, Virginia. Nancy and I are very-much looking forward to being with you as
the Virginia Elks host West Virginia State President and First Lady, Dennis and Louise
Hayes.
In 2021-22, our Order celebrates the Anniversary of several of our National
Programs. This is the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Elks National Veterans Service
Commission which has led to so many worthwhile Veteran Programs and helped
facilitate our motto “So long as there are Veterans, the Elks will never forget them.”
Our partnership with the Veterans Administration and other organizations, along with
our special focus on service to those in need, has helped ease and prevent Veteran
Homelessness and provide Veterans and Military Members with a vast array of
opportunities to have their needs addressed in over 330 facilities and throughout our communities. As evidence of our
impact, we were recently named the “2021 Partner of the Year” by Help Heal Veterans, a nonprofit organization that
helps hospitalized and home-bound Veterans rehabilitate and thrive. The Elks have donated over 923,000 square feet of
leather to Help Heal Veterans to help them create craft and therapeutic kits for Veterans.
We are also celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Elks Hoop Shoot, a program that provides every
contestant with the opportunity to participate in a fun, age-appropriate program that helps prepare them up for future
success. The Hoop Shoot was the idea of PGER Frank Hise and was “born” in 1946 with a free-throw contest at an
Oregon Lodge. In 1972 the first National Finals were held in Kansas City, Missouti, and in 1974, the Elks National
Foundation started funding the Program and Gerald (Getty) Powell was named as the program’s first National Director.
Since 1975, the names of the Hoop Shoot winners have been displayed at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.
Today, the Elks Hoop Shoot is recognized as one of the largest co-educational youth sporting activities in America.
In addition, we are celebrating Forty years of our Drug Awareness Program, the largest volunteer drug
awareness program in the United States. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and since 1982 the Drug
Awareness Program has strived to teach all children and parents about the dangers of illegal drug use and prevent the
abuse of legalized and prescription drugs by developing effective, community-based programs and partnering with the
Drug Enforcement Agency and other National and Local organizations. At the recent Grand Lodge Session in Tampa, the
DAP announced this year’s theme: “The Better Me is Drug Free.”
We have lots of good news to share during the Convention as we recognize and thank many outstanding Elks and
Lodges for their efforts throughout the year. It will be a special time of reflection, learning, and fellowship, so I hope
you come prepared to share a great experience and have a good time together.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Ronald L. Hicks, PGER/State Sponsor
“Elks Pride – Community Focus”
President’s Message
It has been an amazing several months of travel. Elizabeth and I have been
overwhelmed with the efforts of our Lodges and how they are touching their communities.
Virginia Elks are truly “GOOD PEOPLE DOING GREAT THINGS” We witnessed First
Responders picnics, Blood Drives, Bikers for Babies, National Nights Out and Summer
festivals with Elroy, Helping Boy Scouts, distributing school bookbags, The Mobile Food
Pantry, and of course the nationally recognized Safety Glass Program. What a wonderful
“STORY” we have to tell. All of you have made us proud to be Elks, particularly Virginia
Elks!
We have had the opportunity to visit The Elks Youth Camp on two occasions. Boy
are things changing. Lodges have begun to spruce up their cabins, the grounds and river
front look great. Looks like things are getting ready for next year’s camping season. The
Trustees are developing a relationship with Project Healing Waters. Healing Waters is a
fishing program used to help veterans cope with the scars left by the events of war. This
project will help us continue to keep the Elks promise that “no veteran will be forgotten.” I would encourage you to
attend the Youth Camp meeting on Friday October 8 at 4 o’clock to hear more wonderful news about our Camp.
Our Fall Convention will be a memorable event. Things start with a Casino Night on Friday with the proceeds
going to the Virginia Charitable Trust. Saturday starts with three breakfasts. The PER/ER breakfast, the Ladies Breakfast
(everyone is invited) where those behind the scenes Elks, or as Elizabeth calls them Angels, will be honored with a
special video. A third breakfast will be for those Elks that just want a quiet meal. Then on to the business session
followed by two breakout sessions, one on membership and a second on drug awareness. Don’t miss either of these.
They are being taught by two Elks that have great ideas and have had much success in both of these two topics. Then
the fun begins with the President and First Ladies Reception. The night finishes with a dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of
Norfolk. This is a weekend that you won’t want to miss.
Some final notes of Thank You. Thank you to Mike and Sue Ellen Miller for having a very successful Hospitality
Room at our National Convention. Thank You to all Virginia Elks for your generosity toward the Cynthiana Kentucky
Lodge. Thank you for the warm welcome we have received from our fellow Elks as we have visited your Lodge. Finally
thank you for being such “GOOD PEOPLE DOING GREAT THINGS” and telling “OUR STORY.”
SEE YOU IN PORTSMOUTH
Ray Dameron
VEA President
West Virginia Elks Association President’s Biography
Dennis G. Hayes is a member of Mannington West
Virginia Lodge 388. During his Elk career he has served on his
lodge’s Hoop Shoot Committee, Veterans Committee, and ENF
Chairman to name a few. Starting in 2004 as Tiler, President
Hayes steadily moved through the chairs of his Lodge obtaining
the position of Exalted Ruler in 2008. He served two terms as
Exalted Ruler and was award Officer of the Year in 2009.
President Hayes has served the state of West Virginia in many capacities. His
tenure includes the Safety Committee Chairman, State Major Project Secretary/
Treasurer, Business Practices Committee, Membership Committee, Audit Committee,
and ENF Committee. He was State Inner Guard from 2010 to 2011, served as a Trustee
for the West Virginia PER Association and as Vice President for the Central District from
2017 to 2018.
Mr. Hayes has served at the Grand Lodge level as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler in 2012. Prior to 2012 he
served as District Deputy Auditor for five years. Additionally he was appointed as a Special Chairman for the Clarksburg
Lodge 482 by the Grand Lodge.
President Hayes is currently serving his second term as President of the West Virginia Elks Association.
Dennis G. Hayes, President, West Virginia Elks Association
Virginia Elks Association Officers for 2021-2022 PRESIDENT INNER GUARD Raymond E. Dameron – Elizabeth Karyn Swenor – Eric Fredericksburg Lodge 875 Virginia Beach Lodge 2268 FIRST VICE – PRESIDENT PARLIAMENTARIAN Michael Miller – Sue Ellen Justin C. Reiter – Kimberly Chesapeake Lodge 82 Staunton Lodge 351 SECOND VICE - PRESIDENT PRESIDENTIAL AIDE Dennis Henline - Linda Roderick D. Jones – Gigi Front Royal Lodge 2382 Waynesboro Lodge 2270 THIRD VICE – PRESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR Vince Brandtner – Barbara Joseph E. Hicks Roanoke Lodge 197 Fredericksburg Lodge 875 FOURTH VICE – PRESIDENT TRUSTEE – ONE YEAR - CHAIRMAN Lynn Rutherford-Snow – Jimmy Robert Fender – April Waynesboro Lodge 2270 Galax Lodge 2212 SECRETARY/ TREASURER TRUSTEE – TWO YEARS Tammy Symons – Robert Donald B. White, Jr.–Joanne Winchester Lodge 867 Richmond Lodge 45 CHAPLAIN TRUSTEE – THREE YEARS Carol Baker Paul Shoemaker-Bonnie Fredericksburg Lodge 875 Virginia Beach Lodge 2268 TILER TRUSTEE – FOUR YEARS Stephen D. Moulton – Debbie Frank Burns-Sandy Chesapeake Lodge 82 Arlington-Fairfax Lodge 2188 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS TRUSTEE – FIVE YEARS Linda B. Pickering John M. Owen – Nancy Fredericksburg Lodge 875 Bedford Lodge 2844 In the interest of security and safety for all the Virginia Elks Association officers and their families, no personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, or emails is available in this publication. Such information is available in the password protected directory at http://virginiaelks.org/ .
Schedule of Events
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
The Children's Museum of Virginia
http://www.childrensmuseumva.com/
221 High Street
NAUTICUS - The National Maritime Center
https://nauticus.org/
1 Waterside Drive
Union Bank and Trust Pavilion - Concerts and Events
https://www.pavilionconcerts.com/
16 Crawford Circle
Elizabeth River Ferry departs every 15 minutes from the hotel
http://www.hrtransit.com/services/paddlewheel-ferry/
Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth just steps from the hotel
https://oldetowneportsmouth.com/
AAA Tides Baseball
https://www.milb.com/norfolk
Harbour Park, 150 Park Ave
Mac Arthur Center – Shopping
https://www.shopmacarthur.com/
Old Dominion University
https://www.odu.edu/
108 Alfred B. Rollins Jr. Hall
US Coast Guard
https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-5/
431 Crawford Street
USS Wisconsin
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/hrnm.html
1 Waterside Drive
Virginia Beach
http://www.vbfun.com/
Waterside District
https://watersidedistrict.com/
333 Waterside Drive
Chrysler Hall Norfolk, VA
https://www.sevenvenues.com/
201 Brambleton Ave
Virginia Opera House Norfolk, VA
https://vaopera.org/
1601 East Virginia Beach Blvd.
Attucks Theater Norfolk, VA
http://attuckstheatre.org/
1010 Church Street
2020-2021 VEA President John Owen and First Lady Nancy, PSP Geoff Cox and Former First Lady Susan, and PSP Frank
Burns and Former First Lady Sandy
Our Hoop Shoot for 2020-21 looked a little different this year! Grand Lodge only allowed Local and District
Shoots. We plan on being back for 2021-2022 full speed and look forward to celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the
Hoop Shoot Program! Here is the list of very important dates to plan your Local Lodge contest:
Central District Sunday, January 30, 2022
North District Sunday, January 16, 2022
Southeast District Sunday, January 23, 2022
Southwest District Saturday, January 22, 2022
Virginia Contest Sunday, February 13, 2022
Regional Contest Saturday, March 12, 2022
Frederick, MD ~ SNOW Saturday, March 19, 2022
National Contest April 28 – April 30, 2022
Chicago, IL Contest, Saturday April 30, 2022
If you plan to conduct a Lodge contest, you will need to submit a Lodge Contest Date on the Dashboard. Once
this is done, ENF will then send out a packet of printed materials to that Lodge. Make sure you allow enough time
between your Local contest and District contest in case of inclement weather. All District Directors should have their
District contest info to the Local Directors prior to their Local contest. This info should be given to the parents of the
Local winners.
I cannot say enough about our Elk members and volunteers who work from the local level to our State level each
year. Because of your devotion to our Order of Elkdom, I look forward to having another successful year as your Virginia
State Hoop Shoot Director with a little bit of COVID-19 added to the mix! I have great faith in our Order of Elkdom and
with all of us working together, we can accomplish great things. May God continue to richly bless our Great Order of
Elkdom!
Fraternally,
Mrs. Lynn Rutherford-Snow, PDDGER ~ Virginia State Hoop Shoot Director
Jlsnow81305@earthlink.net Home 434.823.1013 Cell 434.953.7072
Happy Fortieth Anniversary to the Elks Drug Awareness Program!! Since 1982, the Elks have developed an effective, community-based drug prevention program by partnering with federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and national organizations such as Pride Youth Programs. These partnerships ensure the Elks Drug Awareness Program addresses the leading drug abuse issues facing communities today.
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