Mojave ELks Lodge #2059

ER Article – End of the Year Wrap-Up

Posted on March 1, 2019 by KiraPWMarch 1, 2019

As the 208-2019 lodge year comes to a close I look back and am amazed at how fast it has progressed!

We have changed a few things up like the birthday steak dinner, while it’s only held quarterly, you can get your free dinner anytime during the year without worrying if you’re gone during your birthday “month”.

This month we have the annual installation as well as a separate night to honor our Elk of the Year and other outstanding contributions over the course of the year. A significant change to this dinner is that for our Mojave lodge members, it is a night to show our appreciation to you, so the dinner is free to Mojave lodge members with their card. Of course, the dinner will be immediately followed by our St, Patrick’s Day Party so a fun evening all around!

The installation dinner on the 30th will be a time to party with others from the community and the district as we bring in our new slate of Officers and have some time to find out what is coming this new year.

Regardless of where you are or what may come, I appreciate all the support you have shown during the year so, one final shout of thanks to the following members: Ruben Andrade, Sandra Baker, Travis Behrens, David Behrens, Suzie Bunn, Dave Cleveland, Lynda Cook, Dollie Cooksey, William Fitzsimmons, Bob Friend, Bob Fusik, Josh Goff, Charlie Guest, Warren Guest, Homer Hansen, Gini, Colleen, Kenny and Ryan Heller, Cynthia, Joe and Ted Hodgkinson, Gene Ikola, Ramona and Michael Mestas, Ken Miller, Ed Orchard, Hank Parker, Robbie Pierce, Leslie Rex-Smith, Alexa Rogers, Steve Rushford, Gary Sampley, Bill Slack, Todd Smith, Jessica Smith, Deborah Smoot, Susan Vogt, Paul Wagner, Cynthia Watanabe, Ashley Wussick, and Cliff Yates. Thank you for your contributions this past year, I appreciate you.

Mojaveelks.com Takes First Place

Posted on December 10, 2018 by adminDecember 11, 2018

Our website, mojaveelks.com received a citation from California-Hawaii Elks Association (chea-elks.org) for having the best website out of all 168 CHEA lodges. Thanks to our members for providing timely and relevant information to the site.

In Keeping With The Season

Posted on December 1, 2018 by KiraPWDecember 10, 2018

Great Ruler of the universe, all-seeing and benign,
Look down upon and bless our work, and be all glory Thine;
May Charity as taught us here be ever borne in mind,
The Golden Rule our motto true, for days of Auld Lang Syne.
BPOE opening ode sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne

Whether it is a lodge meeting, committee meeting, charity work or simply having fun, these words ring through my mind and my heart as we work together to make something magnificent happen in Mojave.

During Thanksgiving, we gathered together with other members and businesses of the community to provide a meal for about 200 people. That’s 200 smiles, 200 thoughts of gratitude and well over 200 moments of hope.

In December we will party together and bring Christmas joy to somewhere between 150-250 children. That effort is a glorious representation of our motto to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. To be a little gentler, kinder, patient and in general, help make this world, this community, a better place to live.

2018 is rapidly drawing to a close and I am grateful for all of the efforts you have made to make this lodge a bright spot on the map of humanity.

My prayer is that you continue to find blessings and joy in uncommon moments and when you look into the eyes of those around you, you’ll see it reflected back tenfold.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Fraternally,

Kira Wagner, Exalted Ruler
Strengthening Elkdom Through Communication and Team Work

Mojave Elks #2059 Veterans

Posted on November 13, 2018 by KiraPWDecember 11, 2018

The Obligation, Our Faithful Guide and Constant Monitor

Posted on November 1, 2018 by KiraPWDecember 11, 2018

John F Kennedy, a notable member of our order, is often quoted as saying “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. While we often use this quote when we’re trying to rally support for an event or a cause, however, Former President Kennedy finished his speech encouraging the world to come together to further the cause of freedom for all mankind.

When we look around at the charitable activities supported by the Elks at our lodge, we have been known to cite our Major Project as well as the support we provide for youth, the veterans, the scholarships, the sick and Infirmed, and the list goes on… On an individual basis, I would encourage each of us to take a few minutes and recall the obligation that each of us took upon becoming a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In order to support some cause or organization, it is necessary to understand the guiding foundation. In our case, it is the statutes, rules, and regulations of our order, along with the individual bylaws of our lodge.

During the obligation we agreed to support all of this and more, both at the lodge and, as we’re charged, “You may well be proud that the Members of this Lodge have deemed you worthy of their confidence. I trust that you may continue to merit their approval and become a true and faithful Member among us. To accomplish this, you must at all times have in mind the solemn and binding Obligation which you have so recently assumed, and I charge you that your highest duty as an Elk is to keep it inviolate. Conscience will not permit you to expunge a paragraph, eliminate a sentence, or evade a responsibility; nor can you lay it aside when you leave the Lodge room, for it must henceforth be your constant guide and faithful monitor.”

Here’s to supporting each other in the order in a spirit of Thanksgiving that we may all be the best versions of ourselves!
Fraternally, Kira Wagner, Exalted Ruler

Why Elks?

Posted on October 1, 2018 by KiraPWDecember 11, 2018

In its entirety our mission statement reads: “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.”

The significance of that statement is awe-inspiring and I believe that, in spite of our differences (opinions, actions, beliefs…), we come together for the good of each other and all those within our sphere of influence.

As a TEAM, we work toward increasing our charitable contributions, the well-being of each member, continued development of our communities’ youth, instilling pride and support for our country and those who serve to protect, and more…much, more! Additionally, we have fun doing it.

I am grateful to you for your contribution – at whatever level. Without your membership – we would be less effective. I wish for each of you opportunity and as always – a sense of hope.

To those that have the time to be more actively involved – a special wish that you find the road smooth and that you have the vision and fortitude to achieve the goals we have set forth at the lodge.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Rib Cook-Off and having a great event!

Sincerely,
Kira Wagner, Exalted Ruler Mojave Lodge #2059
Strengthening Elkdom Through Communication and Team Work

Virtues and Blessings

Posted on July 1, 2018 by KiraPWJune 11, 2018

The faults of our members we write upon the sand, their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory…

Forgetting faults is not always an easy task and sometimes the sand tends to solidify for a time before it is blown away to become dust in the wind, but fortunately, I have seen the members of this lodge rise to every occasion and make a difference in this community.

Today it is those virtues I’d like to highlight as we move into July celebrating our country’s Independence and the courage of our ancestors to come together and create this Nation which subsequently gave birth to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

As a lodge:

We have provided more scholarships for graduating seniors than almost any other single organization here in Mojave
We give dictionaries to the elementary school students here and that simple act can provide a sense of hope because maybe, in some small way, we show them that we believe they can rise to the greatness that already exists in them
We support our Veterans and show our respect to them through our actions at meetings, meals and more for the sacrifices that they have made to protect our freedom
We support our community with events like the Chili Cook-off, Rib Cook-Off, Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas for Kids, and Halloween that allow the members to come together with the community in celebration of the human spirit
And last, but certainly not least, we care about each other like family. The trust comes easier sometimes than others, but family stands up for each other when the chips are down and the members of this lodge have shown time and again how they care for each other

Finally, last month I had mentioned a number of members that have actively and consistently supported the lodge this year. Moreover, I asked that if you knew of anyone I had missed and I’d like to add two more members to that list, Sandra and Ashley Wussick, who we can now add to our growing list of members, please take a moment to thank them along with the 20+ others you can find here…

Time Flies and Thanks Abound

Posted on June 1, 2018 by KiraPWJune 11, 2018

Time waits for no one and it is flying by here at the lodge!

It is so easy to find fault these days with what was done wrong, what wasn’t done, what should have be done differently… you get the idea. We all have our ideas of “how” something “should” be and too often, we are quick to remind someone else of those “facts”.

Here at the lodge, there are a LOT of things that could be improved, just look around and you will probably spot something that needs some attention. That is just what is on the surface. With a national non-profit organization, there are also dozens of reports and records that are required and as we prepare for our Association Vice-President’s visitation on June 6, our committee chairs and officers know this all too well.

As we move into summer (there are only 30 Monday’s until Christmas!) we have the Flag Day BBQ / Flag Retirement and Chili Cook-Off this month out at the Trap Range as well as food, music, and friendship happening at the lodge. These activities don’t happen on their own so I want to give a shout out to the many members who take the time to make it all work.

Some faces are here more frequently but all have a hand in making this lodge a place where friends can meet and Veteran’s, Youth and our community are supported throughout the year.

When you encounter one of these folks…please take a moment and say “thank you” – Alexa Rogers, Bob Friend, Charlie Guest, Cindy Hodgkinson, Colleen Heller, Dave Cleveland, Deborah Smoot, Dollie Cooksey, Fred Hudson, Gary Sampley, Gene Ikola, Gini Heller, Hank Parker, Homer Hansen, Joe Hodgkinson, Ken Miller, Kenny Heller, Leslie Rex-Smith, Mike Mestas, Paul Wagner, Ramona Mestas, Rebecca Watts, Ruben Andrade, Steve Rushford, Susan Bunn, Ted Hodgkinson, Theo Miller, Todd Smith, and Warren Guest. If I have left anyone out, please let me know and I’ll make it up to you!

Moving Forward and Ritual Contest Thank You

Posted on May 1, 2018 by KiraPWJune 11, 2018

April saw the lodge off and running full steam with many new officers and committee chairs. Life is like that – we never know how things may change and the beauty of this group is that we adapt.

You’ll notice we have a new Kitchen Manager and I’m SO excited that Sandra Baker has accepted the position. In conjunction with the House Committee and our Bar Manager, Ramona Mestas, I’m looking forward to some wonderful events ahead.

Speaking of events, I want to thank our Ritual Team for the great job they did at contest. Under the tutelage of our coach PER/PAVP Warren Guest our team made up of Ruben Andrade, Joe Hodgkinson, Susan Bunn, Charlie Guest, Paul Wagner and our Candidate Ted Hodgkinson have been practicing for weeks to be able to inspire new candidates as they become part of the history. Our Lecturing Knight Steve Rushford requested a sub due to a major scheduling conflict so our own Rebecca Watts graciously stepped in, as always, to allow us to have a full complement from our own lodge.

You’ll notice a new area in the bulletin with a picture for “Member of the Month”. Each month I’ll highlight a different member and it is NO EASY TASK since so many members work so hard for the lodge. But I want to thank our Member of the Month, Colleen Heller. I know attending another “meeting” isn’t the most fun we can have but the Lodge Meetings are where the decisions are made and as an officer, it feels good to have other members there so that we are not operating in a vacuum. Colleen always makes it into the meeting even though she must first secure the bar and then know that as soon as the meeting is over, she’s going to have to do it all over again. For that dedication, I really appreciate her and her efforts!

May brings many more activities to gather together including Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, our Youth Scholarship Dinner, Memorial Day and our CHEA Convention so I hope to see you at the lodge on one or more of the occasions.

Thank you for being part of my world!

Fraternally,
Kira Wagner, Exalted Ruler
Strengthening Elkdom through Communication and Teamwork!

Communication is Key

Posted on April 1, 2018 by KiraPWJune 11, 2018

With every change comes opportunity…

As your new Exalted Ruler, I look forward to building on the foundation laid by past administrations as well as making the most of our time together during the next 12 months! Additionally, I appreciate the fact that we have several PER’s still actively involved in the lodge – their experience and expertise only serves to make us stronger.

The single overriding goal for my tenure is to improve communication so that we know what’s happening, that everyone knows how important you are to the lodge and that regardless of position, we’re all in this together. We have so many opportunities to serve the community and each other that I am looking forward seeing what we can do this year. I encourage each of you to attend the lodge meetings, a House Committee meeting or two and participate in as many events as you can, it’s YOUR lodge and you help make the decisions in the directions we move only when you’re there.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank PER Warren Guest for all of his support and guidance over the past year – his vast experience in the world of Elkdom is much appreciated by both myself and the lodge!

Please know that if you have ideas or suggestions you can always reach me via email or my cell and if I’m not available at the time – I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Living closer to the lodge now, I also hope to be down there more frequently!

Finally, thank you to our new corps of officers and committee chairs! As a not-for-profit fraternal organization, there is a lot required to keep the doors of the clubroom open so the community of support run by volunteer effort is appreciated more than mere words can convey!!

As they say in the Corps – Semper Fi, and may we always be faithful to our purpose and each other.

Sincerely,
Kira Wagner, Exalted Ruler Mojave Lodge #2059
Major Project Chair, Inland District
kira@kirawagner.com
Strengthening Elkdom Through Communication and Team Work