The California-Hawaii Elk “Elks Care ~ Elks Share” Official Periodical of the California-Hawaii Elks Assn., 5450 E. Lamona Ave., Fresno, CA 93727-2224 Volume 56, Number 3 May/June 2009 Jerry Rucker’s VPs (“Jerry’s Broadcasters”) Raise Over $26K for the Purple Pig! What a finish for Jerry Rucker’s Homecoming celebration at the San Bernardino Elks Lodge No. 836 on March 7th! As you know, the “Broadcast- ers” staged a fundraiser drawing for a one-week stay in a condominium in Kona, HI (including airfare for 2 and an automobile). This fantastic prize was donated by PER Robert Schlesinger (Bellflower-Long Beach Lodge No. 888). Note that Robert was also the CHEMPI Poster Child from Long Beach in 1967. The competition for ticket sales was fierce across the districts. All of the proceeds from the ticket sales were given to the Purple Pig. After all of the donations were finally collected and tallied, the total was $26,270! The Broadcasters have set a new record, surpassing the $17,000 mark that was set by Oren’s “Sparks”. It looks like the incoming team of VP’s have a challenge on their hands! The Top 3 Districts: 1st Place: $3,650 - South (John Lieser, VP) 2nd Place: $3,615 - Southeast (Manny Rodriguez, VP) 3rd Place: $1,910 - West Central (David Coleman, VP) The Top 3 Lodges: 1st Place: $1,125 - Moreno Valley, No. 2697 (Southeast, Manny Rodriguez, VP) 2nd Place: $615 - Needles, No. 1608 (South, John Lieser, VP) 3rd Place: $545 - Santa Maria, No. 1538 (West Central, David Coleman, VP) The winning ticket was drawn by Jerry and Bonnie’s 4-year old granddaughter. You won’t believe it, but the winner was the South District VP John Lieser! The ticket that won was from the first $20 that John put in on his first visitation to help get the ball rolling for Blythe Lodge! Carol Lieser says the Broadcasters did a superb job, and “Aloha, and lots of hugs!” San Jose Elks Lodge No. 522 Honors Law Enforcement and is Honored in Return! On Thursday, January 29, the San Jose Elks Lodge No. 522 held a “Law Enforcement Appreciation Night.” Approximately 30 peace officers and officials were guests of the lodge for dinner that evening. Exalted Rul- er Georgette Poole presented a plaque to the three guest speakers to hon- or them for their part in law enforcement and community leadership. The guest speakers were: the Mayor of San Jose, the Honorable Chuck Reed; Crime Stoppers USA Western Region Director Ken Kelly, and Santa Clara County Chief Arson Investigator Dennis Johnsen and Rosie, a Labrador Re- triever who is trained to recognize flammable liquids at the scene of a fire. The big surprise was when the Crime-Stoppers Board Members Ken Kelly, Bud LoMonaco and Dave Castro presented the San Jose Lodge with a plaque acknowledging its long-term continuous support of law enforcement and the crime stopper program. Left to Right: Dennis Johnsen, ER Georgette Poole, Ken Kelly and Chuck Reed www.chea-elks.org May/June ‘09 2 The California- Hawaii Elk (USPS 010-116) President’s Periodical postage paid at Fresno, CA and additional mailing offices. Post-Master: Send address changes to: The Message California-Hawaii Elks Association, 5450 East Lamona Ave, Fresno, CA 93727-2224 This month is the changing of the guard for the California-Hawaii Elks Association. Bon- Official Periodical of: nie and I have spent this entire year doing The California-Hawaii Elks Association what most Elks would be proud to do. We 5450 E. Lamona Avenue have visited all of the districts in our Associa- Fresno, CA 93727-2224 tion. During these visitations we have had the Published 5 times per annum in the interest of opportunity of a lifetime in seeing many of the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc. Lodges in our Association. I am proud to tell you that our districts and their Lodges are be- Distribution: ing run by a fine group of Americans. They are CHEA Lodges & All Paid-Up Members dedicated to making the lives of our citizens a better place. There is no possible way that I AssOCIATION OFFICERS can thank each of you individually for making Jerry Rucker. .President this year such a success. Lee Karjola. .First Vice President Ronald Howell. .Secretary We had the opportunity to visit with American Veterans who will not Donald D. Schultz. Treasurer let us forget those that have made the supreme sacrifice so that we may Robert Cones. Sergeant-at-Arms enjoy the freedoms with which we live. We visited with the Scouts Catherine “Kitty” Tufford. .Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms and listened to the success of our work with young people. We visited Donald Schafer. Tiler with the Antlers and found this program being instituted in many of Arthur Echternacht. Assistant Tiler our lodges. We had the opportunity to visit with students that are re- William “Bud” Morgan. Chaplain ceiving Elks scholarships. We visited with the students that are being Fred P. Krinke. .Organist recognized for their essays on Americanism. I could go on and on telling you of all of the programs and how they are being implemented by our AssOCIATION VICE PRESIDENTS Lodges. But I would rather thank all of the State Chairpersons and their Richard Gay – Bay; Edward “Trill” Torrilhon – Central; supporters in the districts and Lodges. You have done an outstanding Bob Couch – East Central; Ronald Mizuno – Hawaii; job this year. Jeff Brown – Inland; Kelvin Swanson – Metropolitan; George Waters – North; Jerry Landreth – North Central; As President of CHEA, I asked that two individuals be chosen at each Bill Chelonis – Northeast; Rich Simmons – Northwest; Lodge to receive special recognition in the “Mouth of the South” associa- Ed Repic – Orange Coast; David Delgado – San Gabriel tion. You just had to be selected for your dedication to Elkdom. As we Valley; John Lieser – South; David Morgan – South went to each district, I was impressed at how much the recipient of these Central; Landon Strattan – South Central Coast; David pins felt rewarded for their efforts. They were wearing the pin proudly Hosted – South Coast; Manny Rodriguez – Southeast; and wanted to share their gratitude with me. My “Thank you” goes to Steven Mayne – West Central; David Coleman – West those that received the pin. Central Coast Even in this time of financial turmoil, I am pleased to announce that we SUBMIssION AND COPY DEADLINES are keeping up the financial support that our work requires. Our per 1st Day of Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Dec capita for donations to the National Foundation again far exceeds the Grand Exalted Ruler’s goal. Those of you that attend the CHEA Con- Copy: Microsoft Word preferred. Article should be sent as an vention in Ontario will be there, hopefully, when we reach the goal of attachment to the e-mail $3,000,000 for our Major Project. I am overwhelmed when I think of the Photos: Digital (*.jpg) format, using a 4 megapixel hard work that has gone into reaching these two goals. Thank you to (or higher) camera everyone for your efforts. Send electronic items to: [email protected] Guidelines: www.chea-elks.org/MagazineGuidelines.pdf A special “Thank you” must go to the Vice Presidents for their efforts in Only if necessary, mail items to: making this such a great year. I could not have asked for a finer group Concourse Communications to carry the message of Elkdom to the Lodges and communities of our 1175 Shaw Avenue 104, PMB#304 Association. Clovis, CA 93612 Bonnie and I want all of you to know that you have made this a truly www.concoursecomm.com memorable year for us. I guess it just goes to prove that: EDITOR ELKS MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Ian Lanouette PUBLISHER Fraternally, Concourse Communications 1175 Shaw Avenue 104, PMB#304 Jerry Rucker Clovis, CA 93612 President, California Hawaii Elks Association www.concoursecomm.com Ph 559.322.2215 Fx 559.322.2219 www.chea-elks.org May/June ‘09 The California- Hawaii Elk 3 William F. Young Passed ASSOCIATION TRUSTEES DISTRICT LEADERS Away Richard McDonald . .Chairman Floyd “Skip” Henke . Vice Chairman John B. Damonte . .Bay The Association office has been notified Joe Cenoz . Member Fred H. Hewins . Central that William F. Young, member of the CHEM- James Nuse . Member Lou Aguiar . .Central PI Board of Trustees and Bay District Leader, Dr. Eugene DeAngelis . Member Dwayne Hutson . East Central passed away Friday morning, March 27, 2009. Norman “Mike” Pettigrew . Member Dave Davidson . East Central Eugene Beckel . .Member Wayne Howard . Hawaii Fremont Elks Lodge No. Robert “Bob” Burns . .Member Vern Ungerecht . Hawaii 2121 Distributes David Williford . .Member Donald D. Schultz . Inland Dictionaries Ronald Howell . .Secretary Richard J. Hickey, Sr. Inland Donald D. Schultz . Treasurer John G. Holt . Metropolitan For the third year in a row, the Fremont Elks Hugh H. Scanlon . .Metropolitan Lodge No. 2121 has provided dictionaries to MAJOR PROJECT TRUSTEES Sim Nathan . North third grade students. This past November, the Dwight L. Roberts . North Lodge distributed 4,008 dictionaries to third John G. Holt . Chairman John A. Parker . North Central graders in 47 schools in four school districts: Fred Hewins . Vice Chairman Billey J. Skarles . North Central New Haven School District, Fremont Unified Vern Ungerecht . Secretary Stephen Haydn . .Northeast School District, San Lorenzo School District, Billey J. Skarles . Treasurer Robert D. Souza . Northeast and the Castro Valley School District. E. F. “Gene” Pendergast . .Member Russell L. Clarke . .Northwest Dwayne Hutson . Member John Holsapple . Northwest Simi Valley Elks Lodge No. Wayne Howard . Advisor Lee Northcutt . Orange Coast 2492 Honors the Arthur Echternacht . Orange Coast Community Rex E.