To my Elks family, friends, and members,
I find myself in a conundrum. I preach and preach that we need to include members and guests in the things we do!! I've said we will never turn away help, help is always welcome! we will find something for you to do, and many other statements that I now feel like I have become a hypocrite. Why? because I have heard people say, we don't need you, we got this, no that's OK, we don't need your help! Have you ever been told one of these statements? Hurts, doesn't it? The thoughts going through your mind, fine they don't need or want me, I won't HELP.
The Lodge belongs to all of us. What we make of it determines it and our future. I love may aspects of the Lodge and that's where I focus my attention to, yeah there are parts that aren't my favorite, but then I try to avoid the things I don't like to do, like the yard sale, God bless Virginia and Rose! If they need help and I have the time yes I will help but you aren't going to see me say hey I'd love to help, because I wouldn't, just being honest, but I will if they need me. There are over 300 members of this Lodge, did you know that? We have..... I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and say over 200 events a year. Dinners, breakfast, car show, fair parking, graduation parties, weddings, banquets and the list goes on. I hate begging people too, but sometimes we get to that point, but that comes with a cost too. Those members get upset and get a bad taste in their mouth for me and the Lodge, believe me one member even said to me when I said hello, oh no, the only time you talk to me is when you need me to do something. EYE OPENER!!! So now I say hello, ask how things are going and move on.
One person doesn't own the bar, the pavilion, the kitchen or any part of the Lodge, we all do!!! Projects take people, many people. There are 52 weeks in the year. No one wants to work every Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. Many hands and bodies make the load easier to carry. I truly don't know what to do or how to even fix this.
I am, and so are you, doing the best we can for ourselves and the Lodge. As members we take an oath that the Lodge will not affect our family life, however when you move up to a chair or an officer, you agree to take on more and more responsibility. I don't want anyone biting off more than they can chew, but we need to move forward. Officers positions, and chair positions are not meant to be a career!!!
I do appreciate everything that you do to help at the Lodge and with the Lodge!!! If you sponsored someone and YOU haven't gotten them involved, please do!! call them invite them over, have them meet new people, have them work a function, have them attend darts, or a meal with you, I know that within the first year of membership if you are not involved we are going to be begging them to pay their dues, and you know what they are going to say.....? IT'S NOT FOR ME, I DON'T GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT!!, my reply.... what did you put in?
I truly am grateful to the membership, the non members that bust their butt, and you!!! YOU are the future of this Lodge and it is what YOU make of it.
respectfully,
Annie