Once again, one of the my favorite Holidays for the food connoisseurs in the home is almost here. In the movie “Christmas Story”, when the Bumpkus' dogs eat the tur-key all to themselves, what a downer for Ralphie's family! Waiting all day for turkey to be done, smelling it all day, and all of a sudden it is taken away. But we still have football, the season starting to wind down getting ready for the playoffs. If your favorite team makes it thru the gauntlet of other good teams who are just a little bit better, or have a good day. No mistakes made by the team, no penalties, everything just goes right. But we all know that just doesn't happen without loads of practice doing your part as a team.
Much like the ELKS, we are a team looking out for each other, helping the Lodge grow and prosper, adding new members, retaining the old members, reminding them why they became members, helping youth, helping the veterans, helping out fellow members and the list goes on. Lincoln Lodge #80 has donated to charity over 11 million dollars over the years in Lincoln and the surrounding communities. We are making a difference. It sometimes doesn't seem so, but we are going to the meetings, going to the monthly dinners, making new friends, sharing a common bond. All leading to this, our playoff. Showing what as ELKS we can do, leading the way in Justice, Brotherly Love, Charity and Fidelity.
November is a busy month for us all. The Holidays really starting to kick off with a Great Celebration of all of us to give thanks and look back at what we have accomplished, and will do in the future; see old family members grow old and the kids starting to be young adults making there way thru life.
Volunteer in our community thru the ELKS or some other charity such as the F street community center thru donations or thru volunteering your time, it's a great feeling helping kids. So as always, keep the EOG handy, visit the Lodge, go to the dinners and just have fun!
Troy Pedersen ER Lincoln Lodge #80
Grand Exalted Ruler
A Message from the Grand Exalted Ruler
Hon. Douglas A. Schiefer
November begins the season of caring and sharing
The Order of the Elks has designated November as Veterans Remembrance Month, the month of Veterans Day. Every Elk should know our solemn pledge of "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."
Veterans are our heroes!
Please find a way to honor veterans in your Lodge and in your community. Some ways to say you care would be by hosting a veterans' dinner at your Local Lodge, distributing care packages, and attending local events that coincide with your community's recognition of veterans. Remember, our organization led the way in 1917 to fund and later establish the first veterans' hospital.
Thank you to all the state and Lodge veterans chairpersons and the volunteers who help make our program for our veterans a priority and success.
Speaking of recognizing other important people, it's time to make sure the youth in your local schools are getting the essay contest information they need. Their essays should be submitted for judging by December 15.
November also marks the need to be active citizens by voting in the election, always held the first Tuesday of the month during November.
Thanksgiving is the hallmark of the month, a time for families to come together and fellowship and give thanks to God. I wish you and your loved ones a blessed holiday season as you show "Elkdom's Heart For America."
Secretary Laurie Montag
We are entering the busiest time of year – the holiday seasons! Please read the newsletter thoroughly so that you know what opportunities are available to you. WE NEED YOUR HELP! None of our remarkable programs complete themselves! It takes many hands to do the good works we do. There are opportunities galore in the upcoming months. Please pick something and participate! Hoop Shoot on November 3rd; Youth Football banquets in early November, monthly dinner on November 16th, and our Memorial Service on December 1st are some of the opportunities!
Our Cash Calendar is included in this issue – it’s a fun way to contribute to support your Lodge. The daily drawings brighten up an otherwise dreary post-holiday January. It's fun to try your luck! They even make great stocking stuffers – the gift that keeps on giving (at least during January)! Once again, I invite you to attend our Lodge dinners; they are fun, the food is great, and it gives us an opportunity to become acquainted with new friends and to see old friends. Your attendance is important to support the Lodge financially.
It is nearing that time of year – 2025-2026 dues notices will mail in mid-January! Please remember, lodge dues are always due by April 1. As of April 2, a unpaid member is counted as delinquent, and lodge privileges may be curtailed. We don't want that to happen, so please plan to pay your dues on time. We are currently down to 11 delinquent members, so we are still making progress this year.
Please think of why you became an Elk to begin with. We do so much in the community that you will read about in these newsletters, Facebook, Instagram, and sometimes the news media, but those things cannot continue to happen without the support of our members. To those who have paid their dues – a BIG THANK YOU!
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need assistance with all things Elk. There is voicemail on the lodge phone, or you may contact me as below. See you at the Lodge!
Laurie Montag / secretary@elks80.org / 402.202.6673 by text or phone Laurie Montag / secretary@elks80.org / 402.202.6673 by text or phone.
Leading Knight Randy King
The Leading Knight message is not available at this time.
Loyal Knight Dr William Jackson
The Loyal Knight message is not available at this time.
Lecturing Knight Bryan Leavitt
The Lecturing Knight message is not available at this time.
Saturday, November 16th Thanksgiving Dinner We will be featuring Turkey and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Buttered Peas, Cranberries, Roll, and a Great Pumpkin Dessert. $14.00 per person Social hour: 5:30pm Dinner: 6:30pm Please call ahead for your reservations. Sponsored by the Schrage and Montag Families
Saturday, December 7th Meatloaf Dinner Salad, meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, rolls, carrots, and ice cream with toppings. $14.00 per person Social hour: 5:30pm Dinner: 6:30pm Please call ahead for your reservations.
Karaoke, December 15th 6:00-9:00pm Bring a goodie to share.
The lodge was informed that the Elk-O-Gram newsletter is available to current Elk members only.
With that in mind, it was decided to have members log on to the website to view the EOG.
In order to log on to the website, you will need to register a user id and password to obtain access.
To register, click on the words "Logon - Members only" in the upper right hand corner of a elks80.org web page. You will be taken to the logon page.
On logon page click on the "No password, please Register" words in the bottom right of the logon page. You wil be taken to the Registration form.
On the registration page, You will need to enter data in each field to create your password. This data must match the data that is on the CLMS (The Grand Elks Lodge database.) If you have problems with obtaining a password, please contact the webmaster (link at the bottom of every elks80 web page).
After you obtain your user credentials, return to the logon page and log on. You will then see a link to the newsletters on the menu on the left side of the screen.
Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.
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To All Lodge #80 Membership
The Covid-19 pandemic has truly disrupted and changed our lives in unprecedented ways. Places we used to visit or frequent have changed as we have. We all need to adjust to the new norm.
If you look around Lincoln, you can see the economic impact that we are currently experiencing. For the first time in my life I was left with a very unsettling feeling going to the grocery store and discovering shelf's that had no product on them or please limit yourself to 1, signs.
Even our lodge is struggling to make ends meet. We were given an increase in our property valuation, we were closed for several months, we did not have meals or events scheduled. Revenue that used to flow was nonexistent.
We had to do something. Since we had very limited resources coming in, we had to find ways to reduce costs. One way was to ask the County Tax commissioners to grant us a tax exemption, I am very sure that you have heard the term Quid Pro Quo. (This for that) So in exchange for a considerable savings (to all of us) we had to give up some hours of operation. We did not have to lay off any current employees we simply did not replace, again saving us a large chunk of money. We changed supply companies, soon cable companies, pest control companies and other things just to name a few.
We are making these changes to stay within our financial constraints and to be good Stewards of your money.
I appreciate your understanding. I am looking forward to seeing you all soon