Officers | Location | General Information | The Elks Mission | House Rules | Monthly Calendar

General Information

Meetings 1st and 3rd Mondays 7:30 PM

Buffet meals on Wednesdays and Fridays, plus orders from menu.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

At the June 7, 2011, meeting, the Lodge voted to change summer hours to:

Between June 1 and August 31:

• Sunday: 3:00- 7:00. The Lodge will "hard close" at 9:00, regardless of number of members present.

• Monday- Thursday: 3:00- 9:00

• Friday and Saturday: 3:00- 11:00

Every day but Sunday, if 3 or more members are present at the posted closing time, the Lodge may stay open. In no event shall the Lodge remain open after 1:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday or midnight Sunday.

We resume normal hours on September 1.

• Monday - Friday: 3:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

• Saturday: 12:00 noon-11:00 p.m.

• Sunday: 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

If 3 or more members are present at closing, the Lodge can remain open later.

GUESTS
As a friendly reminder, members are allowed to bring the same guest to the Lodge a maximum of three times. After that time, the guest needs to become a member in order to continue experiencing the benefits the Lodge affords its membership. What a great way to increase our membership!

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Our lodge takes extreme pride being known as one of the leaders in our community in charitable work and contributions. We are the proud sponsors of numerous youth organizations and functions and have awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships yearly for the past 12 years, with $13,250 going to local seniors in 2007 alone. We proudly sponsor many veteran causes and functions. Chillicothe Lodge 656 is widely known in our local area as being the front runner in generosity when it comes to helping our community members in need of help. Our current building was built in 1996 and is available for rental.

SCHOLARSHIPS
The Chillicothe Elks Lodge will award several local scholarships valued between $250 and $1000. Applications will be judged on academics, character, leadership, participation, and financial need. You do not have to be a "straight A" student to be considered for this scholarship. Applications may be downloaded and printed here as a PDF file and completed, or you may complete it on your computer as a Word file, then print and send in or email it to us as an attachment. The deadline for the 2010-2011 student scholarships is March 18, 2011.

2010 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED
Our scholarship committee met recently and chose our area senior scholarship winners. Those receiving scholarships were:

• Bill Tharp Scholarship - $1,000 - Kaley Hayward (Chillicothe)

• Stanley Dewitt Scholarship - $1,000 - Willie Ray Howe (Meadville)

• Tanner Edmundson Scholarship- $1,000 - Brittany Tutt (Southwest)

• Joe Murrell Scholarship - $750 - Mecalia MacWilliams (Breckenridge)

• Willard Renzelman Scholarship - $750 - Amber Kieffer (Chillicothe)

• Max Littrell Scholarship - $750 - Kendra Holcer (Meadville)

• Mary Ellen Valbracht Scholarship - $500 - Lauren Melte (Chillicothe)

• $500 winners - Patrick Lindley (Chillicothe), Meredith Brick (Chillicothe), Jared McCauslin (Chillicothe), Shannon Baker (Chillicothe), Madeline Brick (Chillicothe), Brooke Westcott (Chillicothe), Darcy Crackenberger (Hale), Emily Hutchison (Tina-Avalon), John Haley (Braymer)

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS
Separate accounting has been established to track donations to our Scholarship Fund. If you're interested in donating to the fund, the proceeds of which are used solely for scholarships, simply so designate on your check or a note accompanied with your cash donation. We'll send you a letter of acknowledgement.

CHARITABLE GIVING
One of the guiding principles of our order is charity. One of the things that make many of us most proud to be Elks is our charitable giving. At the initiation ceremony held on January 20, 2010, those present were reminded that Charity is "the cornerstone of every Elk structure, the highest virtue of every Elk creed." The presentation from the station of the Leading Knight reminded us all that Charity is the greatest of all the virtues.

Are you upholding your responsibility as an Elk to support Charity?

Are you willing to donate at least $10 a year to either the Elks National Foundation or the Missouri Benevolent Trust? Or both?

Are you willing to volunteer your time for some activity of the Lodge during the course of a year?

The Elks National Foundation is the Elks national charity. The Missouri Benevolent Trust is the State Association's charity. Our lodge has goals of $4.50 per capita contributions to each, or about $4,500. In the past, a handful of members would honor an existing pledge or make a new pledge. The balance between that committed amount and the per capita goal of the Lodge would be paid for by the Lodge. Over $4,000 a year goes from Lodge funds to the combination of two charities. That is $4,000 that does not go toward a local or other charity designated determined by the membership.

Here is an invitation to renew your oath as an Elk and your commitment to Charity. Print the form, complete it, and mail it in or drop it by the Lodge in support of one or more charities.

You should be proud to know Elks Care, Elks Share.

Officers

2011 Elks Lodge Officers

Click officer and award photos to see a closer view.
Pictured above: Officers 2011; Pictured below: Annual Awards 2011 (C-T Photos)

2011 - 2012 Lodge Officers:

• Exalted Ruler - Martha Berry
• Leading Knight - Fred Simmer
• Lecturing Knight - Brenda Thomas
• Loyal Knight - Brett Romeiser
• Treasurer - Steve Howe
• Secretary - Steve Palmer
• Tiler - Lanny Dixon
• Esquire - Carl McBee
• Chaplain - Amie Spears
• Inner Guard - Fred Hinnen

PAST OFFICERS (OUR HISTORY OF SERVICE)

2010 Elks Lodge Officers

Click photo to see a closer view.

2009 Elks Lodge Officers

Click photo to see a closer view.

Installation and Awards Banquet 04 06 09

2008 Elks Lodge Officers

Click on photo to enlarge! - C-T photo by Laura Schuler

2007 Elks Lodge Officers

Click on photo to enlarge!

Location

US 65 (Washington Street) to Ryan Lane
Turn East at Post Office
Go 3 Blocks to Elks Lodge
Use South Door

401 Harvester Road, P.O. Box 377
Chillicothe, MO 64601

The Elks' Mission

To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.