ER's Message

To my Kinderhook Elks family and friends,

So many thoughts are going through my head at 5 am, but what better time to write. Yesterday after the 2nd car show of the year, lol, David and I went back to the Lodge to return signs and other things so I could see out my back window. When we got to the Lodge there was Rich Fisher doing his thing, the committee of one getting things done. He was painting the spindles on the ramps. He was never asked, he saw something that needed to be done and was on it. There are so many that do that in the background, and that is so much appreciated. You all know its coming, HOWEVER, we need members to step up and help out, so I am asking every member that has sponsored a new member to take a look..... is that new member here? Are they involved? Have you as their sponsor brought them in to meet people, get them on a crew or get them engaged in the workings of the Lodge? That is what I am asking of you this month, all those new members that came in over the last five years, if you signed off as the proposer or as a reference, get going on getting them involved. Bring them in, have them meet new people and make them feel comfortable to be at the Lodge. The Lodge can be an intimidating place for a new member. So help get them in and involved, please......We have worked so many functions on a skeleton crew or with the same people over and over again. I have been told I'm too easy in my letters to members and that I have to be bold and blunt.....

Thank you to the people over the past month that have helped repeatedly at all the functions we have/had going on at the Lodge. Remember we are all volunteers, we are all not members, but we all volunteer our time and talents for the betterment of the Lodge and the community. My proudest moment as a member of the Lodge was raising money to actually make a difference, to support an organization to help people. I hold on to that! because we do make a difference, we impact individuals, family and even the community with what we do and what we give back.

We are reaching out to members to do meals and Sundays and help with functions, because email isn't working!! We need that personal connection, a phone call, a test, a face to face conversation. I truly don't know the answer, but somehow, someway we need to get members involved. Maybe it's actually mailing our newsletter out, maybe it's getting on the phone and calling, I don't know, but we need to do something. I love what the Lodge does for the community. I see the shirts on kids at baseball and soccer, but we need to get more involved!! Please if you have an idea or you have a few hours to give let us know.

It's wind down time for me. The HUGE events of the year are behind us, however we always need to keep moving forward and making a difference. It's the halfway mark, would you like to be more involved? Are you willing to make a difference in your life and the lives of others? Step out of your comfort zone and get involved, chair a program, become an officer, join a crew. I heard over the weekend that it's all old people there, why would I want to join there. Organizations across the nation are struggling to get volunteers to make their events and their organization work, be beneficial, to themselves and the community, I have no answers but maybe you do...... there is no I in team but there is in ideas!!! let's make them happen!!!

Thank you for everything you do for the Lodge and the community we serve.

Respectfully
Anne Leiser PER/ER